The... catwalk?

Taking the GH70 to the catwalk?

I've said this before, but there is clearly a formula for the mid to high end of the gaming headset market, and MSI have ticked pretty much every single box with the GH70's. Big earcups? Yep. 50mm driver? Yep. RGB? Yep. Software control? Yep. The formula has been with us for a while now, and depending on how up the price bracket you go, those aforementioned features will be added with varying degrees of success. In fact, below is the product pre-amble that you can find on MSI's website page for the GH70, which I will link here for those that are interested, though I really don't know why a simple volume up/down control box necessitates the name 'Smart Audio Controller'?

• Hi-Res certification guarantees the highest sound quality.
• Enhanced Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound.
• Amazing LED Light Effect
• Smart Audio Controller.
• Choose from millions of colors with RGB Mystic Light.
• Fine-tune detailed settings with Gaming Center.
• Comes fully geared up with all accessories and carry pouch in the box.
   

So, let's begin to take a deeper dive in. First up, and my ultimate headphone bases nemesis... comfort. I will admit that I was initially concerned that the weight of this unit would severely hamper both its short and long-term comfort prospects, but I was pleasantly surprised. Whilst not in the same league as my Kingston Hyper X Cloud II's, the GH70's were easily comfortable enough that I was able to wear them on two separate occasions for extended periods of time without a problem. The level of adjustment on offer is fairly standard, but it was with minimal tweaking that the GH70's sat well on my head. The ear cups themselves have a significant degree of swivel to them, and the headband is easily adjusted for height/tightness using the old/gold rail system. No surprises here, but you will not catch me complaining if I had to wear this headset for a significant length of time. The headband is, to be negative for a single moment so far, not quite as thick as the one found on the significantly cheaper Corsair HS60s or Cougar Phontums. This didn't, however, mean it was less comfortable, as MSI has found a way to reduce pressure on the top of the head and shift more to the sides, and I cannot help thinking that the double headband design has something to do with this? Finally, the cups were sufficiently deep to allow even my fairly large ears to sit inside them without touching the mesh that covers the good stuff. Again, this is expected from a headset with such big cans, but nonetheless, it's good to at least note.

I was impressed with the overall build quality of the GH70s. It's always a good sign when your first reaction is 'Blimey, these are hefty' (verbatim my words of choice). The mostly metal construction is the cause of this, but given that heft + metal usually equate to increased quality and longevity, I think some praise is needed here toward MSI for not cheaping out (with the exception of the control unit). The box, sadly, does take away from the unit scoring perfectly in this department, and I wish more care had been taken here. It feels a bit like being served an excellent bowl of pasta, only for a waiter to shake pre-ground black pepper over it. Not the end of the world, but a small letdown. Anyway, culinary analogies aside, I think we should move onto the bit I am sure you are all more interested in. How does she game?