As gaming headsets go, Audio-Technica’s ATH-ADG1 High-Fidelity Gaming Headset is hands-down one of the best I’ve used, but it does come with some minor caveats. It’s wired, the open ear design means it’s more for home use than a set you want to bop around with in public (it’s your call, of course) and at $299.95, it’s not for budget-brained audiophiles.

Then again, I’d say the words “budget” and “audiophile” don’t quite go together, particularly when it comes to headphones of this outstanding quality. Sure, you can use them for their intended purpose (super high quality audio in your PC gaming experience), but if you’re like me, you’ll stick these lightweight wonders on your head every chance you get…

The first two things you’ll notice about these headphones is their size and weight. The sturdy box they’re packed into looks pretty imposing, but actually weighs more than the headphones inside. Those huge 53 mm drivers with Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils might make those of you used to smaller sized ‘phones laugh a bit at first, but as soon as you pop these onto your head and feel how comfortable the headset is, you’ll want to plug into the nearest audio or gaming device and hear what you’ve been missing. You get a short 1 meter cable that’s great for PC, laptop, tablet or any other portable device with a 3.5mm jack, but there’s also a 2 meter extension cable included in case you’re plugging the headphones into a TV or game console.

For the record, I have well over 25 game systems here as well as older CRT televisons in two rooms and an HD set in a third, so these headphones were plugged into as many systems and sets as I could unearth and connect in about two weeks’ time. EVERYTHING sounded fantastic and I think I was exercising smiling muscles in my face I hadn’t used in a while by the end of all that extensive testing. Every bit of music and sound I heard from pre-8-bit blips and bleeps to whatever Blu-Ray I popped into a PC or console was rich and deep, even with the open air design. I actually prefer this style of headphone over total noise canceling ones, as I play the majority of my games indoors so playing it loud isn’t a problem. Well, not too loud, as I kind of like my hearing in its current state.

One other great thing about this design is it makes me a LOT less likely to hit the ceiling if I’m playing a horror game and the doorbell rings or someone pops into the room to let me know I’ve got a package to sign for. Granted, there’s a great use for those closed ear headphones, but I hate jumping out of my seat for no reason unless I need to. The ATH-ADG1 also sports a great microphone on the left cup with a very handy mute button exactly where it needs to be. Sound quality on the mic is also stellar – clearly, Audio-Technica wants this model to be a showpiece for gamers who want to move a few steps up from stock headsets or products that don’t pack as much sonic greatness into their price points.

Some may consider the lack of any wireless functionality a minus with this model (which also come with a detachable USB Digital to Analog Converter, by the way). But for me, corded headphones deliver an all around superior sound and you can’t go wrong with how these rock both a retro and modern look. I did venture outside a few times with these on just to gauge reaction and I actually had a few people ask me about them, including one really funny old guy who I let try them out and made me laugh because he wanted me to give them to him so he could sit in the park and blast opera into his skull to “drown out the noises of all those screaming kids and that stupid music they listen to!”. Hmmm. I’ll make sure I’m nowhere near his lawn (or favorite park) bench if I happen to see him out and about again.

As noted earlier, $299.95 isn’t inexpensive to some of you out there, but if you can swing it and want your socks blown off by some amazing sound, you need a pair of these, stat. Given this is the age of internet window shopping before one actually whips out that credit card, I figure I’ll smartly link to the A-T online shop and let you have at it if you’re in the mood to shop around for a better deal elsewhere. Of course, if money is no object, you’ve bought a pair of these before you’ve finished reading this, right?

Score: A (95%)