Audeze Mobius gaming headset overview: Encompass sound throughout

The Audeze Mobius is one thing of an oddity amongst gaming headsets. Historically, headsets are tuned to ship bass-heavy audio that enhances the bombastic experiences that video games like Name of Obligation and Madden present. Although the bar for high quality has risen dramatically up to now decade, they’re typically the alternative of what audiophiles search for in headsets, which is pure, sonic reality. So when Audeze, maker of spectacular high-end headsets for audiophiles, determined to make its first gaming headset, it raised the query: Is that this truly going to be higher?

After all it’s. Audeze’ planar magnetic drivers produce a cleaner sound out and in of video games. The headset additionally affords a bunch of superior encompass sound options, equivalent to 3D audio—digital encompass sound the place you may as well hear issues “above” and “under”—and head-tracking know-how, so your encompass sound maintains directionality whenever you flip your head. These options aren’t distinctive anymore, however the Audeze Mobius’ unimaginable high quality nonetheless makes it an unimaginable PC gaming headset for those who’re seeking to splurge.

Audeze Mobius: Feel and appear

The black plastic body is roofed with gray accent strains and clustered dot designs over the ear cups, which maintain it from wanting plain, however don’t precisely stand out both. In contrast to normal headphones, gaming headsets typically pattern towards daring and colourful peacockish aesthetics. This one’s restrained sufficient that you may use them as a pair of on a regular basis carry headphones in a pinch.

The headscarf and earcups function reminiscence foam padding lined with synthetic leather-based. The highest band padding is a bit skinny, however the cups are lots plushy, creating a good, however cozy house in your ears. Weighing in at 13.2 ounces, they’re on the heavy aspect, however nonetheless mild sufficient you can simply neglect you’re carrying headphones, even throughout an extended gameplay session. Regardless of all that padding, the Mobius doesn’t do a lot in the way in which of blocking out ambient noise, although.

Getting linked

Curiously, the Mobius helps three connection sorts: digital, analog, and Bluetooth wi-fi. The headset consists of cables to attach the headset utilizing normal USB (USB-A), USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack. USB remains to be the popular selection, as you might have restricted management of the 3D audio and head-tracking in 3.5mm and Bluetooth modes. Regardless of that, I’d solely advocate utilizing them in wi-fi mode for non-gaming functions. Bluetooth typically introduces sufficient audio lag to create a jarring gameplay expertise, particularly in multiplayer video games. 

Plus, with solely an estimated 10 hours of battery life, based on Audeze, there are much more substantial wi-fi gaming headsets. All that apart, being able to plug the Mobius right into a console or pair it with a telephone makes it extra versatile, even for those who’re higher off retaining it tethered to your gaming rig.

Constructed-in ports and controls

Talking of connections, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the earcups. The Mobius has quite a lot of inputs and ports stacked on the left cup. From again to entrance, you might have two quantity rollers—one for quantity and one for microphone monitoring—a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C twine for digital connections and charging, the removable wire increase microphone, and, lastly, the “3D” button. The 3D button permits you to calibrate and recalibrate the Mobius’ head-tracking function by “centering” the monitoring so the route you’re taking a look at turns into the brand new ahead.

There are additionally two inputs on the again of the left earcup; a microphone mute swap and an influence button, which additionally doubles because the Bluetooth pairing button. In actual fact, virtually the entire inputs have a number of features whenever you faucet, double-tap, or maintain them. Studying these inputs is a little bit of a trouble to be taught. In some circumstances, it’s value it, however I’m not going to memorize these media controls when I’ve completely play and observe choose keys on my keyboard.

Audeze Mobius: What are planar magnetic drivers?

One of many Audeze Mobius principal attracts is its 100mm planar magnetic drivers. They generally present up in high-end, audiophile-grade headphones, however hardly ever make their method into gaming audio. Most headsets (and consumer-grade audio system) sport dynamic Neodymium drivers, which function a cone-shaped diaphragm. Planar magnetic driver headphones, against this, are flat, which consultants will inform you minimizes minute moment-to-moment distortions to sound high quality. They’re additionally conducive to bass-heavy audio experiences, which describes most AAA video video games.

On the planet of gaming headsets, although, the Mobius planar magnetic sound doesn’t come off as bass-heavy. It feels extremely exact and well-balanced. It’s able to producing large, booming appears like grenades going off with unimaginable element and texture. On the similar time, although, you’re additionally getting robust mids and sharp highs with none trace of tinniness. In each scenario I examined—from listening to pop, hip-hop, and EDM on Spotify, to taking part in multiplayer shooters Name of Obligation: Black Ops Chilly Conflict and Splitgate—there’s unimaginable element and nuance in each second of each track and sound impact.

Audeze Mobius: Encompass sound that turns heads… and turns with them

Mobius stands aside, even from the Audeze Penrose console headset line, due to its 3D audio and head monitoring. Digital encompass sound has been the preferred improve amongst gaming headsets in the previous couple of years. Just about each headset both has it or is optimized for providers like Dolby Atmos, which simulate it in your laptop. The Audeze Mobius not solely affords a really exact, natural-sounding digital 7.1 encompass sound, but additionally 3D audio, which might simulate audio coming from any route, together with above and under you. 

Relying on the sport, having 3D audio could make refined variations in the way you react to video games. In Name of Obligation: Black Ops Chilly Conflict, for instance, it permits you to hear the precise trajectory of a bullet whizzing by your head, somewhat than merely what route it got here from. In different video games, you may observe footsteps extra clearly, or are merely extra immersed in a recreation’s cinematic qualities.

The Mobius additionally options head-tracking know-how, which permits the digital soundstage to observe your real-life head actions. With out head-tracking, the “ahead” audio system are all the time going through the middle of your display screen. With head-tracking, ahead is wherever you’re wanting.

In concept, it’s a game-changer. Head-tracking prevents your audio from breaking your immersion in a recreation by making certain that audio info all the time sounds prefer it’s coming from the proper place. In apply, its use is pretty restricted. When used for digital actuality, the place you’re bodily transferring round in 360 levels, it’s mind-blowing. It additionally ought to theoretically make a refined distinction for gamers utilizing a really massive curved monitor, who will tilt their heads to see one thing on the aspect of their screens. With a standard setup, you don’t flip your head as a lot, so its magic is extra refined.

For the reason that Mobius was initially launched in 2018, a few of these options have develop into extra widespread. Most notably, the PlayStation 5 options know-how that may imbue 3D audio in any headset you hook up with the console. Nonetheless, 3D audio stays uncommon amongst PC gaming headsets, doubly so whenever you pair it with head monitoring.

Audeze Mobius: Observe your head monitoring

To fine-tune the Mobius’ sound and 3D, head-tracked soundscape, Audeze affords a configuration app referred to as Audeze HQ. As an audio app, HQ is fairly fundamental. You’ve entry to a handful of sound profiles, together with a aggressive mode for detecting footsteps, an ultra-low ballistics mode for punchy explosions, and non-gaming choices “music” and “heat.” Past that, you may swap amongst completely different 3D audio modes and select between stereo and encompass sound, however these are additionally out there by way of onboard controls.

As an alternative, HQ is primarily meant for fine-tuning how the Mobius senses your head. The primary time you boot it up, you’ll wish to measure the circumference of your head and modify that setting. (It makes a distinction!) You’ll additionally have the ability to fine-tune the sensitivity of the top monitoring in a lot of methods. Personally, I discovered the top monitoring extremely correct, so I didn’t really feel a necessity to vary these settings, however I might see a VR knowledgeable tinkering with it over time.

Frankly, although, my favourite a part of the app is that it animates your head place. It’s the simplest option to affirm that the top monitoring is working precisely, and it’s additionally very enjoyable to hearken to music and watch the digital head bop alongside.

Audeze Mobius: However what in regards to the microphone?

It’s straightforward to neglect in regards to the Audeze Mobius’ microphone within the face of those attention-grabbing headphone options. Comparatively talking, the Mobius’ removable wire increase mic feels pretty normal. Removable wire mics have develop into the de facto normal amongst gaming headsets. The Mobius has one—it’s skinny, versatile, and holds its form. The sound high quality can be excellent: In testing, I discovered that it picked up voice very nicely with out an excessive amount of positive adjustment and filtered out quite a lot of ambient noise. I can’t say that the microphone high quality is noteworthy, although. The Mobius is, unsurprisingly, a listener’s headset.

Who should purchase the Audeze Mobius?

The Audeze Mobius headset is among the many finest headsets I’ve ever examined. It’s, nevertheless, extremely costly. At $399, it’s the most cash you’ll spend on a devoted headset. Between the unimaginable sound high quality and superior encompass sound options, although, the Mobius has the tech to again up that value. That mentioned, not all people wants audiophile-grade sound and head-tracking, so I’d primarily advocate it for VR hobbyists and PC gamers who can pay any value to lose themselves in a recreation.