MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller is a big fan of various shooters and values hearing the footsteps of his enemies early on. In the past 6 weeks, he has tested in-ear headphones for under €30 and was surprised at how well he could locate his opponents with them.
After my old headphones have passed away, I had to look for new ones. My goal was to find ones suitable for locating footsteps in games. Good sound can make a big difference in a shooter. If you can hear your enemies precisely, you know exactly where they are standing.
I therefore purchased in-ear headphones whose sound was mixed by the well-known audio expert “Crinacle”. Crinacle himself has tested many different headphones and describes himself as “audiophile.” He advocates for neutral sound and clear as well as detailed soundscapes. Manufacturers do not win his favor with excessively strong bass.
He also recommends using standard headphones and an external microphone for gaming and says that there are no gaming headphones. For me, that was enough reason to test the IEMs created in cooperation with Crinacle in various shooters.
7Hz Salnotes Zero – Headphones for under €30
The headphones are the 7Hz Salnotes Zero. These are called IEMs, or “In-Ear Monitors” – a type of headphone often used by musicians and sound engineers to ensure precise and as neutral sound reproduction as possible.
The 7Hz Salnotes Zero cost just €28.99 and come with a detachable cable as well as ear tips (the rubber caps of in-ear headphones) in various sizes.
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LINSOUL 7Hz Salnotes Zero HiFi 10 mm dynamischer Treiber In-Ear-Kopfhörer IEM mit... | Zu Amazon |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
It is important to mention, however, that the Salnotes Zero do not have a microphone. They can also be purchased with a cable that has a microphone attached, but that can cause annoying noise disturbances when in contact with clothing. I personally use an external USB microphone – the Marantz Pod Pack 1 for just under €51.
Phenomenal Sound for Little Money… in Shooters
I have now tested the Salnotes Zero for nearly six weeks in various shooters, most notably in the tactical shooters Rainbow Six: Siege and Valorant. In both games, I really liked the sound of the headphones. I noticed after only a few rounds that I could hear details that I hadn’t noticed before.
In Rainbow Six: Siege, you can lower the sounds you make while walking, for example. To do this, you move forward in a crouch or press the “walk” button. Crouching or walking makes you noticeably slower in the shooter, but also much quieter. With the Salnotes Zero, I was able to hear this over several meters. It even got to the point where opposing players accused me of cheating several times. And I can assure you, it was definitely not my aim.
I know exactly where an opponent is because I can hear him extremely precisely. Even if someone moves only slightly, for example, turns in a different direction or angles the weapon, I can hear it because the in-game character makes minor movements. Sometimes it is the fabric of the clothing that makes sounds. Sometimes it is small tiptoe steps – it doesn’t matter, I hear it.
Whoever plays shooters on console benefits from a good controller. Especially extra buttons are often used to crouch or dropshot. Such extra buttons are also offered by the DualSense Edge:
The Influence of the Expert is Tangible
This extraordinary perception of sound is – I am sure of it – thanks to the influence of Crinacle. He himself explains in a video that pronounced bass may be good for the immersive feeling in a game or a movie, but is rather detrimental for locating footsteps. This is where the Salnotes Zero shine, as the bass is very neutral and does not mask important step or gunshot sounds.
This influence is also noticeable when listening to music. I don’t like the Salnotes Zero that much there. Although the sound is still very clear and detailed, the low bass is noticeable. Audiophiles like Crinacle may like that, but I am more of a casual listener and enjoy the bass. However, that is not a criticism, as I specifically bought the headphones for playing shooters.
And they not only fulfill their purpose – they have exceeded my expectations.
However, if you are looking for headphones for listening to music and want a noticeable bass, the Salnotes Zero may not be the perfect choice for you. However, I have gradually gotten used to the comparatively low bass of the Salnotes Zero, so it no longer bothers me when listening to music.
Gaming Headphones and IEM Competitors Lose the Direct Comparison
My old IEMs and gaming headphones cannot even come close to the Salnotes Zero when it comes to locating footsteps, although I have tested various headphones.
After being disappointed by gaming headphones from Triton and Turtle Beach, I ended up with the significantly more expensive Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless. I found it to be a good gaming headset, even better sound than the renowned competition from HyperX and Astro. But my first IEMs, the KZ ZS 10 Pro, made the headset a dust collector in the closet.
The KZ ZS 10 already made me feel like I suddenly heard things in shooters that I didn’t know could be heard. They were, however, a bit bass-heavy compared to the Salnotes Zero. I liked that when listening to music, but that is also the reason why I can locate footsteps much better with the Zero.
One of the biggest competitors of the Salnotes Zero for me before the purchase were the Moondrop Aria, which shooter expert Marko Jevtic was also enthusiastic about. They are priced at around €80, making them more than double the price. The Moondrop Aria were considered by audiophiles for some time as the undisputed price-performance winner, but were dethroned by the in-house competitor, the Moondrop Chu.
The Moondrop Chu cost only about €20 and showed at their release what price quality sound can be had. Ultimately, I wanted to decide between the Chu and the Salnotes Zero. The decisive point for me was on the one hand the detachable cable of the Zero, and on the other the collaboration with Crinacle. He also tested the Moondrop Chu and had the opportunity to really enhance the Salnotes Zero.
Compromises in Comfort
As good as the sound of the Salnotes Zero is, I found the supplied ear tips to be poor. However, I completely understand that it may happen that not everyone finds a perfectly fitting size. I subsequently resorted to the fortunately fitting ear tips from my old IEMs and the problem was solved. Alternatively, I would have had to look for replacements online. My choice would probably have fallen on one of these two options:
- AZLA SednaEarfit XELASTEC – €19.90 on Amazon
- They deform by body heat and thus adapt to the ear canal.
- SpinFit W1 – €19.99 on Amazon.
- Insider tip: Moondrop Chu + supplied ear tips – €21.99 on Amazon.
- The Moondrop Chu come with a selection of ear tips comparable to the SpinFit W1. So you could buy the Moondrop Chu instead of the SpinFit, use their ear tips and have a pair of headphones for on the go, as a spare or as a gift for a family member who needs a different size for ear tips.
That also means: If you do not like the ear tips, you have to buy other tips for the Salnotes Zero for about €20. This could raise the total cost of the headphones to up to €50.
In this price range, that may seem disproportionately expensive, but in my opinion, the Salnotes Zero have better sound than gaming headphones costing €80 and above. Therefore, I still consider the total price of around €50 to be very good, since suitable ear tips positively influence the sound – especially the bass perception. Additionally, the ear tips fit most IEMs and can thus also be used with a variety of other headphones.
Conclusion: Clear Purchase Recommendation for Shooter Fans
The 7Hz Salnotes Zero are very good for hearing footsteps, making them explicitly suitable for shooter players. If you do not play story games, listen to music, or watch movies and want to feel the bass, I can really recommend the headphones to you – especially for the price of under €30.
The only criticism I have when playing shooters with the Salnotes Zero is the supplied ear tips and the associated wearing comfort. However, even with additionally purchased ear tips for €20, the overall package is in my opinion better than gaming headsets that often cost many times more for a comparable sound and ultimately are still worse.
Even if I include a USB microphone in the calculation, everything together costs under €150, sometimes even under €100, and a USB microphone like the Marantz is far superior to that of a gaming headset.
I give a clear purchase recommendation for the 7Hz Salnotes Zero for playing shooters, even if additional costs for ear tips and microphone arise.
Gaming headsets, of course, still have a right to exist. They are a simple and comfortable “all-in-one” solution. If you do not want to buy in-ear headphones, a USB microphone, and other accessories, you might find a suitable product in our list of the best gaming headsets 2023.
