Наушники — Audio-Technica ATH-GDL3

The ATH-GDL3 is an open-back gaming headset from Audio-Technica, launched in Japan on October 22, 2021 in black (BK) and white (WH) versions. It arrived together with the closed ATH-GL3, and the two share their microphone and control layout - the GL3 was styled around the idea of earth, the GDL3 around air. The brand aimed it at console and PC gaming, esports, music and films, as well as remote work and online classes.

Key specs that matter

A newly designed 45 mm driver sits in each open-back earcup. The headphone section is rated at 10 to 35,000 Hz, 98 dB/mW and 45 ohm. The whole headset weighs about 220 g without a cable, and about 227 g once the microphone is attached. The detachable microphone is an electret condenser type with a hypercardioid pattern, -43 dB sensitivity (0 dB = 1 V/Pa at 1 kHz) and a 30 to 20,000 Hz range, and it comes with a windscreen. Two detachable cables are supplied - a 1.2 m lead with a gold-plated 3.5 mm four-pole mini-plug, and a 3.0 m PC lead that splits into two gold-plated 3.5 mm three-pole plugs, one for microphone and one for headphones. Specified operating temperature is 5 to 40 degrees C.

Engineering and use context

Open rear housings are meant to help a player judge where other players or hidden enemies are in a shooter by ear, which is the main reason the brand chose an open design for this model. Low mass is the other priority - the frame is shaped around the human ear to reduce load on the head, neck and shoulders, and the earpads and headpad are chosen for skin comfort. The headpad detaches and can be rinsed in water, then dried and refitted. A flexible, adjustable boom lets the microphone reach the mouth regardless of head size, and it can be removed when not in use. Volume and microphone mute switches sit on the left housing. Left and right markings are drawn in a style based on kanji characters, and the packaging artwork is by Kentaro Yoshida, a Japanese illustrator based in Australia.

Pairing

The shorter four-pole lead is intended for PS5, Xbox Series X and other consoles, and listed compatibility also covers PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and laptops. Desktop PCs with separate jacks take the longer split lead. Replacement earpads (HP-GDL3), headpads, microphones, windscreens and both cable types are sold separately. The open construction lets outside noise in, so a quiet room suits it better than a shared space.

Alternatives

For players who want sealed earcups, Audio-Technica's ATH-G1 gaming headset uses drivers of the same size in a closed design.