MyMMO editor Maik Schneider has long underestimated headsets and headphones in general as gaming accessories. Then he took advantage of a sale – Sony Inzone H9 in the PS5 look – and can never go back.
For a long time, I played the way I knew it from my childhood room. Turning the TV towards the bed, volume at stress level; with a runny nose and greasy fingers on the controller and failing in the first level – over and over again.
As long as there’s fun, preferably in multiplayer.
The runny nose went away, but the internet came into play. And with it came the problem with headsets. I was never willing to spend much money on them – even though I am a shooter fan and a customer who always wants to win. For a long time, I was satisfied with the childhood room level.
Whether the enemy comes from the left or right, I can notice that with a 15€ stereo model, right? It was important to me that I could be heard well by my teammates – end of story. With a microphone of tin can phone quality, I even ran back to the store. Swapping one generic headset for another.
Today, I have a bit more disposable income, so last year I took advantage of Black Friday. The Sony Inzone H9 was available for 219 euros. I’m not completely satisfied, but I probably can never buy cheap headsets for a few bucks again.
‘Active Noise Cancelling’ (ANC) is just too good.
My controller collection for PS5 has also grown recently. Here you can find my assessment of the SCUF Reflex FPS and in the video, you see the unboxing of the Dual Sense Edge by colleague Benedikt Schlotmann:
What is this feature? ANC uses sound waves to combat sound waves.
At first, it sounds nonsensical, but in fact, the technology uses microphones to perceive external noises and suppress them with counteracting sound waves. These come from a speaker in the ear cup.
Don’t ask me about the technology behind it, but it works (via bang-olufsen.com)
But the Inzone H9 can not only shut off but also turn on. When I’m gaming on the couch, wrapped in thunderous sound effects, my fiancée Alicia can briefly wave, I press a button on the device and hear the external sound in my ears.
Active Noise Cancelling – Like a Cloud in My Ear
What makes it so good? The ability to turn on external sound is really cool. It makes the closed headphones almost feel open, and surrounding noises are easily heard.
I am truly amazed by the shutting off. I really hear no sound from outside when I’m sitting at my desk and close to the technology.
The PS5 is not my problem here. It is audible, but not intrusive. It’s more my gaming PC – my first one, and I built it myself. Unfortunately, it’s quite loud, and even a case from be.quiet can’t help with that.
A few weeks ago, I had a moment of revelation that opened my eyes.
I found the ANC interesting from the beginning, but I played with it more than effectively using it. I was scheduled to game on the PC and arrived a bit earlier, so I could test all the ANC settings.
Without great expectations, I pressed around on the headset and could clearly hear the poorly adjusted fan of my graphics card. Then suddenly … silence.
I would have loved to see my surprised face. It was a revelation, without exaggeration. I sit next to my PC noise machine all day, and it doesn’t bother me while I’m working. When gaming, it sometimes does. This silence was so liberating and relieving. Suddenly, the fan noise was simply gone, as if the PC wasn’t running.
If I had to describe the feeling: It’s like a loose, soft cloud in my ear.
By now, I use the feature consciously, and it has convinced me so much that my future headsets will need this as well. Always. Because I never realized what a difference it makes to enjoy sound without disturbing noises. Greetings to my retired PS4 jet.
What bothers with the Inzone H9? Ironically, what was once most important to me about headsets is the weakness of the H9: the microphone.
I keep getting feedback that while I can be understood reasonably well, my voice sounds terribly. That’s why I use another microphone when we connect via Discord. The PS5 can join in now as well – here’s my conclusion on that.
Otherwise, I am satisfied with the Inzone H9. If you have any questions about comfort or the features of the headset, leave me a comment. Just don’t ask me about technical details!
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for shooters, check out my colleague Dariusz Müller’s post: Audio expert designs headphones for under 30 € and I’ve never heard footstep sounds so well in a shooter
But the Inzone H9 can not only shut off but also turn on. When I’m gaming on the couch, wrapped in thunderous sound effects, my fiancée Alicia can briefly wave, I press a button on the device and hear the external sound in my ears.
Active Noise Cancelling – Like a Cloud in My Ear
What makes it so good? The ability to turn on external sound is really cool. It makes the closed headphones almost feel open, and surrounding noises are easily heard.
I am truly amazed by the shutting off. I really hear no sound from outside when I’m sitting at my desk and close to the technology.
The PS5 is not my problem here. It is audible, but not intrusive. It’s more my gaming PC – my first one, and I built it myself. Unfortunately, it’s quite loud, and even a case from be.quiet can’t help with that.
A few weeks ago, I had a moment of revelation that opened my eyes.
I found the ANC interesting from the beginning, but I played with it more than effectively using it. I was scheduled to game on the PC and arrived a bit earlier, so I could test all the ANC settings.
Without great expectations, I pressed around on the headset and could clearly hear the poorly adjusted fan of my graphics card. Then suddenly … silence.
I would have loved to see my surprised face. It was a revelation, without exaggeration. I sit next to my PC noise machine all day, and it doesn’t bother me while I’m working. When gaming, it sometimes does. This silence was so liberating and relieving. Suddenly, the fan noise was simply gone, as if the PC wasn’t running.
If I had to describe the feeling: It’s like a loose, soft cloud in my ear.
By now, I use the feature consciously, and it has convinced me so much that my future headsets will need this as well. Always. Because I never realized what a difference it makes to enjoy sound without disturbing noises. Greetings to my retired PS4 jet.
What bothers with the Inzone H9? Ironically, what was once most important to me about headsets is the weakness of the H9: the microphone.
I keep getting feedback that while I can be understood reasonably well, my voice sounds terribly. That’s why I use another microphone when we connect via Discord. The PS5 can join in now as well – here’s my conclusion on that.
Otherwise, I am satisfied with the Inzone H9. If you have any questions about comfort or the features of the headset, leave me a comment. Just don’t ask me about technical details!
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for shooters, check out my colleague Dariusz Müller’s post: Audio expert designs headphones for under 30 € and I’ve never heard footstep sounds so well in a shooter
