When E.D.G.E. Acoustics, the gaming division of Etymotic Research, offered to let me try out their new high-fidelity headphones with the promise that the GX400 would help to improve my game, I was more than a bit apprehensive of setting my expectations too high.
As an avid gamer for many years, I have always been willing to try out any product that would help me to get a leg up on my competition. And while many products have come and gone making that very promise, only a handful have ever managed to live up to that boast.
Fortunately, the GX400 is one of those rare few.
At first glance, these headphones look similar to any other earbud style headphone. However, this is where the similarities end.
High-fidelity headphones from E.D.G.E. Acoustics.
Unlike conventional ear buds, these in-the-ear headphones also offer built in noise suppression.
This allows the user to tune out the ambient background noise and focus solely on the sound coming from the earphones themselves.
To some, it may not seem as though drowning out the sound of a fan in the room or muffling the hum of a computer means a lot, but to anyone that has ever played a first-person-shooter, this little feature makes a world of difference.
For example, during my evaluation, I played "Soldier of Fortune 2" and "Counter Strike: Source" using the GX400. With these headphones I was able to isolate subtle noises such as enemy footsteps much easier than with my older ones.
The GX400 also helped me to pinpoint my opponent's position more precisely, often aiding me to get the drop on them or in some cases avoiding unnecessary battles.
This enhanced ability makes a huge difference in infiltration-type games in which where stealth is often just as important as accuracy.
I also tried the game Etymotic packages and developed exclusively for use with the GX400. In "Marco Polo," players are tasked with locating certain items on a map using only audio clues while being timed.
During one test, I was tasked with finding a rustling flag, while noise from a car engine and other distractions served to make the mission more difficult. Using the GX400, I was able to finish the mission in only a few seconds.
I also tried the same mission using two other brands of headphones only to find that my total times were much longer than when I used the headphones from Etymotic.
Unfortunately, if you want this type of quality you are going to have to pay for it. The GX400 retails at $179.99 on Amazon.com. However, for serious and competitive gamers looking for that little something extra to improve their game, the GX400 delivers on that promise.
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