One of the saddest days of my professional reviewing career was when I had to return my pre-production sample of the VZR Model One Headphones that I previewed earlier this year. My initial impressions were about as glowing as they could get, and the in-game audio experience that those headphones offered was second to none – an equally as impressive feat given the fact that the headphones I was testing out weren’t even the final product. Alas, I had to give up my auditory advantage and go crawling back to my other gaming headset while I waited on the final version of the VZR Model One.
And then it happened. The headset, protected in its aesthetically-pleasing hardshell carrying case, arrived on my doorstep and has positioned itself as one of my most prized gaming possessions. But it does more than just cater to gamers. Oh, so much more. Whether you’re gaming, watching movies, or listening to music, the VZR Model One Headphones are unquestionably the “audiophile headset for all” – and then some.
Before we dive into the experience that the Model One provides, let’s first bask in the glory of, quite possibly, the most comfortable headset that I’ve ever encountered. One of the major components of the Model One’s design is that it is “designed to fit comfortably on a variety of head shapes and sizes – and remain comfortable over periods of sustained usage.” The Model One hits on every element in that statement. Rather than having a typical headband that you’re probably used to – one that extends by pulling down on the earcups – the Model One has a suspended, adaptive headband that fits to your head as you put it on. This allows for a surprisingly weightless feeling, which also means that you’ll experience less headset fatigue coming from the headband specifically. The multi-point articulation of the band also means that you’ll be comfortable regardless of the size or shape of your head.
This idea extends to the earcups of the Model One, with the headband acting as a means to alleviate any pressure that earcups might typically otherwise give off – again, providing you with a headset that actively prevents fatigue during longer sessions of wear. You’re also able to push in on the earcups themselves to create an air-tight seal with the memory foam earpads, which offers up the best acoustic performance. More on this in a bit.
The Model One headphones are a wired headset, with individual cords attaching to each earcup. Being used to single cord headphones, I thought this would be a bit distracting. However, I barely even notice the cords at all, thanks in large part to the fact that the outlet for the adapter is angled ever so slightly to the front of the earcups, preventing the cord from brushing up against my face or body while gaming. This likely isn’t a feature that is a dealbreaker for you if you’re in the market for a new headset. It just shines a light on the amount of detail and care that has gone into creating the Model One experience.
And what an experience it is! I gave plenty of examples in my preview of the device that convey just how incredible of an auditory experience the Model One provides. I’ve never felt so immersed in a game, movie, or even a YouTube video as I have while using the Model One.
The first time I used the final version of the headset, it was in my office while I watched some of the suggested YouTube clips that VZR recommended. Call of Duty. Shadow of the Tomb Raider. These were just some of the gameplay clips I watched on my laptop screen, none of which were watched in fullscreen mode. Especially during the Shadow of the Tomb Raider clip, I found myself sucked into the video because of the audio. I’ve played the game and was familiar with the chase scenes that were being shown and how they end up playing out, but it felt like I was right there with Lara Croft as she ran from the massive flood that was wreaking havoc on the village behind her – crashes, explosions, and screaming happening all around me in my Model One earcups.
The immersiveness continued while playing Call of Duty, with the Model One providing a noticeable level of advantage in being able to hear encroaching enemy footsteps. While playing Madden NFL 22, it was like I was right there on the playing field, hearing all of the calls on the line of scrimmage, as well as all of the stadium noise from the fans and announcer. VZR’s CrossWave technology makes it allpossible by acoustically reshaping audio waves before they actually hit your ear, resulting in a spacious, natural sound more like hi-fi speakers that happen to be captured in your headphones.
The VZR Model One Headphones really are something special. I’ve never experienced anything like it, and have a hard time imagining that any headset will live up to what VZR has put into its first headset. VZR has officially set the bar for headphone quality, and I can’t wait to see what it does next.
A sample of the VZR Model One Headphones were provided to TheGamer for this Review. The VZR Model One is now available from VZR’s website for $349.99.