Наушники — Audio-Technica ATH-GL3

The ATH-GL3 is a closed-back wired gaming headset from Audio-Technica with a detachable boom microphone and two cables, one for computers and one for consoles. Audio-Technica announced it on January 19, 2022, together with the open-back ATH-GDL3, and it went on sale through the maker's own store on February 28, 2022 with an MSRP of USD 99, USD 30 below the USD 129 asked for its open-back sibling. Audio-Technica describes both as high-fidelity wired gaming headsets aimed at players on both PC and console. It is offered in black and white finishes, and the maker lists compatibility with PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, laptops and PCs. Its sealed earcups keep out much of the surrounding noise in a busy room.

Key specs that matter

Both earcups house a 45 mm dynamic driver, and the stated range runs from 10 Hz to 35,000 Hz, sensitivity is 98 dB/mW and impedance 45 ohms. Without cable the headset weighs about 230 g. The microphone is an electret condenser with a hypercardioid polar pattern, a sensitivity of minus 43 dB (1V/Pa at 1 kHz) and a frequency range of 30 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Both leads detach from the headset. The 3.0 m cable splits into separate 3.5 mm microphone and headphone plugs for computers, and the 1.2 m cable has a single 3.5 mm TRRS plug for consoles.

Engineering and use context

The microphone sits on a flexible, detachable boom fitted with a windscreen, and its highly directional pickup is intended to capture the player's voice while rejecting sound from the sides and rear. With the boom removed, the ATH-GL3 works as a plain pair of headphones. A volume dial and a mute switch are built into the left earcup, so level and microphone muting are adjusted directly on the headset itself. Headband length is adjustable, and earpads can be replaced, with spare pads sold separately. The low mass is aimed at long sessions of play.

Pairing

As an easy load, the headset runs directly from a controller jack, a laptop or the audio outputs of a desktop PC without a separate amplifier. For a PC with split audio jacks the long cable is the right choice, while the short TRRS cable plugs straight into a PS5 or Xbox Series X controller or any other single combined jack. No USB connection or wireless link is provided.

Alternatives

The Audio-Technica ATH-GDL3 is the open-back gaming counterpart with the same driver size and impedance, weighing 220 g without cable.