Review on 🎧 Audio-Technica ATH-G1WL Wireless Gaming Headset for Laptops, PCs, & Macs - 2.4GHz, 7.1 Surround Sound, USB Type-A, Black (Adjustable) by Samantha Davis

TL;DR: They sound pretty good, very light and feel nice but can't maintain a stable connection even if I touch the USB receiver most of the time. Some details are given below. The first paragraph provides context and some comparisons to my other game settings. Continue to the second paragraph if you are only interested in these questions. So, first some background information to give context to my review. I'm an average audiophile with a decent set of relatively high quality headphones (Sennheiser HD700, Sennheiser/Massdrop HD6XX, AKG/Massdrop K7XX, Oppo PM-3, Bowers & Wilkins PX, Sony WH-1000XM3). When working with wired devices, I have an external "Schitt Stack" DAC/amplifier to drive the headphones. However, I was desperate for a wireless gaming headset that wouldn't be tethered to my desktop. I enjoy walking around the room a bit during breaks between games and really appreciate being able to get up for a drink without removing my headset and chatting with my friends on Discord. Unfortunately, I've tried several "high-end" wireless gaming offerings (and been disappointed). I first tried a pair of Logitech G930 Wireless in 2015, but gave them up almost immediately due to connectivity issues, extremely poor audio quality, and an exceptionally cheap plastic feel. After that I gave up being wireless for a few years and used my regular wired headphones (mostly Sennheiser HD700) with an Antlion ModMic attached. It worked really well - *great* quality for both my sound and the mic. However, I still wished for the convenience of a full wireless setup. especially after trading in my everyday Oppo PM-3 at work for a pair of Bowers & Wilkins P7s (which in turn were later replaced by the more comfortable Sony WH-1000XM3). I've returned regularly to explore wireless gaming headsets, but have consistently been turned down by mixed or mostly bad reviews. I finally found another one that seemed good enough to be worth trying - the Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless. On paper they seemed almost perfect. decent sound quality, low latency, 2 hot-swappable batteries, and pretty good reviews. In fact, they've become my go-to gaming headset every day. Unfortunately, they still have 2 major flaws for which I am still looking for a replacement. 1) The comfort really isn't great, but more importantly 2) The build quality is really not very good. Every time I tilt my head, I hear the creaking of the plastic resonating in both earcups. Since the main reason I want wireless is freedom of movement, in practice this means almost constant creaking. So I kept looking. They look almost perfect on paper. In fact, my very first exposure to the audiophile world was through a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50x, so I really saw their potential and already had great respect for Audio Technica. Unfortunately, those high hopes were dashed pretty quickly. My first impression was actually quite positive. they were *extremely* light. When I first picked up a box of Revain I thought they had sent the wrong item. It's impossible for a wireless headset to be this light with all the packaging. But it was. I played around with them a bit, put them on (taken off) to see how they feel and moved around a bit looking for that plastic squeak that drives me crazy on my Steelseries. I was impressed - they felt good and the build quality - while still heavily dependent on plastic - seemed much better. So I connected it to the charger and waited. Once they were filled as instructed, I plugged in the receiver and turned them on. The first impression was also positive - they sounded good. Not quite on par with my wired Sennheiser pairs, but that's to be expected. The DAC + amp + headphones in this setup are more than 3 times the price of these wireless ones, even without the mic setup. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. I noticed very quickly that there were 0.5-1 second cuts occurring in my audio every 3-5 seconds. And that was just TV through my Plex home server. I haven't even tried adding the extra bandwidth required for voice transmission. I switched between speakers and headset to make sure it wasn't an issue with audio or streaming, just the headset output. Thinking it might be related to power issues with my desktop USB hub, I tried plugging the dongle into the ports on the front of my case. No luck, still shutting down every 3-5 seconds. I also tried using a few different ports on the back (USB2 and 3) but nothing helped. And all while sitting less than 60 cm away from the wireless adapter. This is a fatal mistake. My Steelseries may be less comfortable and creaky, but I can walk all over my apartment without cutouts, unless I go to the dead far corner and my apartment is old enough that there's still lead paint on the walls, which is far from it the case is an ideal environment for wireless transmission. If I had trouble just broadcasting in another room, I'd still use them instead of Steelseries, but they're completely useless as they are. So unfortunately I'm back on the hunt for the perfect wireless gaming headset. The cost is not really an obstacle. I'd happily pay over $500 for a wireless headset if it meets *all* my needs, but there doesn't seem to be such a thing. I'll probably continue to use the Steelseries while I'm on the hunt. A few alternatives I've tried and/or considered (and why I haven't used them)1. Steelseries Acrtis Pro Wireless - current everyday drivers but poor workmanship (creaking plastic resonates)2. Logitech (any) - poor build quality, mediocre or poor sound quality3. HyperX (any) - poor quality driver4. Sennheiser GSP-370/670 - all reviews say they sound great, but that's where the pluses end. uncomfortable and BAD software. also reports connection problems5. Corsair (any) - poor quality drivers6. The Audeze Mobius is SO tempting, but they're *technically* only wireless in the sense that you can connect the device via Bluetooth. all "basic" features actually involve a wired USB connection.7. Astro A50 Gen 4 - might honestly try them next time. had a pair of wired A40s YEARS ago which were pretty decent although their wireless ones seemed to have had mixed reviews