The PG16, which is at the lower end of the Austrian Audio headset lineup, is marketed as a "professional gaming headset." Priced at $135/£129, it is of rather exceptional quality compared to those on our Best Gaming Headsets (open in new tab) list. And while it has some great features, such as cross-platform compatibility and excellent portability, and even meets the correct pitch in terms of basic sound quality, there are a few things that make it hard to recommend for everyday use.

There is much to be said for the sound clarity of the PG16; on its own, the PG16 may sound a bit tinny, but once you enter the Spatial Sound Card L (open in new tab) software, the sound quality improves dramatically. The software is a bit on the sparse side, as there are only a few options to play around with. Surround sound settings (up to 7.1. Unfortunately, there is no EQ slider.

However, there is a strange "location" setting that gives you Dubai, Paris, and New York as options, which seems to change the soundscape somewhat, but does not explain exactly what it does. Some make the audio sound more distant and increase reverb, while others bring the sound closer. In any case, it would be nice to have some explanation of what these things actually are.

Another setting that I have not seen in other audio software is the option to change the "latency target," which allows you to balance high-quality audio with CPU performance. Lowering this should help gamers like us free up CPU resources when we are not craving peak audio performance. We assume this feature is to lower the amount of processing the software applies to the audio and reduce the latency that may be added to the feed. The app reports a latency of 5.3 ms with the "Professional Use" setting and a professional PCIe audio DAC.

I could not test this as I do not have such a thing, but I did note that CPU usage is high at this setting; even with the "FPS-Enthusiast" setting and latency lowered to 10.7ms, CPU usage can reach about 5% at At 60fps, audio latency is less than one frame", but if the PC crashes during the game due to CPU overload, low-latency audio won't mean much. Metro: Exodus" would be out of options at that point.

The lowest latency is for "movies and music" and is intended to "maximize battery life while providing low enough latency to keep movies in perfect lip sync."

CPU utilization is capped at about 3.5%, and the lower the setting, the more bass distortion However, it will certainly help to extend battery life.

The PG16's frequency response of 12Hz to 24kHz is not terrible, given that most have an upper limit of 20kHz, but the 44mm driver is not the most punchy around.

Other than the software CPU usage in low latency mode, there are no major issues with sound quality. My questioning of the price is mainly due to other design choices, but I'll get to that later.

The product comes in an oddly unique box with a velcro strap closure. I have already lost the strap and will probably never close it properly again. More importantly, the headset's frame impressively emulates the look of the HyperX Cloud (opens in new tab), with a deep red metallic trim on a black background. finish that satisfies the peel (open in new tab). Overall, it brings out the gamer's aesthetic nicely, especially with my red and black Arozzi Arena gaming desk.

The headset is durable and has a reasonable amount of elasticity, which I appreciate. The fact that the microphone can't be removed means it's not as portable, though. At least it can flip up out of the way, and if it does, it mutes.

My biggest complaint, however, is that the headband is not comfortable for long periods of time. I could not wear it for more than a few hours before the top of my head started to hurt.

Until you get to that point, unlike something like the Roccat Elo (open in new tab), it fits nicely and doesn't put pressure in odd places around the face. The ear cups swivel nicely and are actually comfortable, but they don't block any ambient sound. The website states that the headset "blocks out external noise," but its performance is not that great. Literally translated, this means "This headset does not have passive sound insulation." Unless you turn the volume up quite a bit, you won't be able to forget the rest of the world.

The headset is light enough that it didn't shift much when I moved around. Just long enough that I was able to stand up and change the light on my Vertagear SL5000 (open in new tab) gaming chair while wearing it, but the cable is only 1.4 meters long, which may be problematic. It is also connected to the right side of the headset, making it difficult to reach and crosses over the body if the PC is on the left side.

When the splitter is attached, the cable extends about 15 cm. Also included is a small carrying case, with metal hinges on the frame so that the ear cups can be folded down for transport.

I just don't know if that's necessary; portable headsets with 3.5mm jacks have a fairly niche audience. And if you're one of those who preach the superiority of audio jacks over USB, you'll probably end up buying something from the list of best headphones for audiophiles (open in new tab) instead.

All of these little oversights, such as CPU usage issues and discomfort after extended use, are unfortunate; the Austrian Audio PG16 started out with a strong appearance and a few useful features, but $135/£129 for a headset you have to constantly remove It's not a big draw to spend $135/£129 on a headset that you have to constantly remove. Especially one with a lumpy microphone and software that eats up CPU usage.

Why pay an extra £30 when you can get a wired headset like the Razer BlackShark V2 (opens in new tab) for £100 these days, with its 55mm drivers, wider frequency response, removable mic, and overwhelming comfort?

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