Audio-Technica Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming Review
Audio-Technica's foray into gaming headsets is a miss. We tested it and found a confusing product with a bad microphone and mediocre sound that doesn't justify its price.
The 30-Second Version
Skip this confused hybrid. The mic is awful for gaming, and the sound isn't good enough for music. At $139, it fails at both of its jobs.
Overview
Look, we love Audio-Technica for studio headphones, but this 'High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming' headset is a confusing misfire. The one thing to know? It's trying to be a gaming headset and an audiophile headphone at the same time, and it's not great at either. For $139, you're getting a wired, open-back design with a detachable mic, which sounds promising on paper. But when you look at our data, it's scoring in the bottom half for sound, comfort, and build quality. This feels like a product built from leftover parts, not a focused gaming tool.
Performance
What surprised us was how mediocre the performance is across the board. With a name like 'High-Fidelity,' you'd expect the sound to be a standout, but it lands in the 25th percentile. That's not high-fidelity, that's just average. The microphone is even worse, sitting in the 22nd percentile, which lines up perfectly with its abysmal 'calls' score of 7.4 out of 100. For a gaming headset, a bad mic is a deal-breaker. The only thing that performs as advertised is the lightweight feel, but even comfort is only in the 38th percentile.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight at under 220g, so it won't weigh you down. 77th
- Includes two detachable cables for PC and console, which is a nice touch.
- Open-back design can provide a wider soundstage for positional audio in games.
Cons
- The microphone quality is terrible for a dedicated gaming headset. 33th
- Overall sound quality is mediocre and doesn't live up to the 'High-Fidelity' branding.
- Build quality feels cheap, scoring in the 42nd percentile.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | Over-Ear |
| Open/Closed | Open |
Audio
| Driver Type | Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming Headset - White |
| Codecs | Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming Headset - White |
Connectivity
| Wired Connector | Yes |
Features
| Gaming Mode | Yes |
Value & Pricing
Not worth it. At $139, you're paying a premium for the Audio-Technica name on a product that doesn't deliver. You can get better-sounding headphones for music or better-performing gaming headsets for the same price, or less. This hybrid approach fails to excel in any single category.
vs Competition
This headset is stuck in a no-man's-land between real gaming gear and proper headphones. If you want a great wireless gaming headset with a good mic, look at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova series. If you want fantastic open-back sound for music and don't need a mic, the Philips SHP9600 costs half the price and sounds better. Even compared to the listed competitors like the JBL Tune 770NC, which are wireless with noise cancellation, this Audio-Technica feels like a relic.
| Spec | Audio-Technica Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming | Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony - WH-1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Cancelling | Sennheiser Momentum Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Noise-Canceling Wireless | Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Bowers & Wilkins - Px7 S2 Wireless Active Noise | Apple iClever BTH12 Kids Bluetooth Headphones,Colorful | Bose QuietComfort Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming Headset - White | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | - | 30 | 42 | 40 | 40 | - |
| Impedance Ohms | - | 48 | 470 | 33 | 32 | - |
| Wireless | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | - | Closed |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | - | 30 | 60 | 30 | 55 | 24 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-Technica Audio Technica High-Fidelity Open Back Gaming | 40.4 | 33.3 | 48.1 | 42.1 | 62.7 | 38.1 | 76.7 | 55.3 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 94.4 | 99.7 | 98.3 | 99.1 | 95.1 | 91.6 | 99.9 | 97.9 |
| Sennheiser Momentum Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Compare | 99.5 | 99.3 | 48.1 | 99 | 98.3 | 72.9 | 98.5 | 89.3 |
| Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Over Ear Compare | 94.4 | 92.6 | 99.9 | 93.8 | 94.1 | 67.9 | 93.3 | 94.3 |
| Apple iClever BTH12 Kids Compare | 87.7 | 92.6 | 98.3 | 93.8 | 97.7 | 99.7 | 94.9 | 94.3 |
| Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active Noise-Canceling Compare | 87.7 | 92.6 | 48.1 | 88.2 | 94.4 | 91.6 | 98.1 | 89.3 |
Common Questions
Q: Is this good for listening to music?
Not really. It scores a 22.4 out of 100 for music in our tests. You can get much better-sounding headphones for the price if music is your priority.
Q: Can I use this on PlayStation 5?
Yes, it comes with a shorter cable that has a TRRS plug for the PS5 controller. Just know the mic quality will be poor.
Q: Are open-back headphones bad for gaming?
No, open-back can be great for competitive gaming because they often have a wider soundstage. The problem here isn't the design, it's the execution. The sound and mic on this specific model just aren't good.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a headset with clear voice chat, this isn't it. Go get a HyperX Cloud II or a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 instead. If you're an audiophile on a budget, skip this and grab the Philips SHP9600.
Verdict
We can't recommend this. It's a compromised product that doesn't know what it wants to be. The bad microphone alone kills it as a gaming headset, and the average sound quality makes it a poor choice for music. Save your money and buy a dedicated product that actually excels at one thing.