Fractal Design - Scape Light

I like the M4 and they're my recommendation for ANC under $250, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them for gaming due to lag/latency (though the Sennheiser BTD 700 dongle helps with that). Are you going to be using them at home, or out and about? If at home, I'd recommend the Fractal Scape; a really really impressive gaming headset for both gaming and music. If out and about, probably the M4 plus the dongle. Folks really like the Audeze Maxwell, but they're really heavy and the apps are pretty terrible, especially on mobile. Reviews: \- M4: [https://daemonxar.com/2025/06/29/an-apology-to-sennheiser-momentum-4-fanbois-theyre-better-than-i-thought/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/06/29/an-apology-to-sennheiser-momentum-4-fanbois-theyre-better-than-i-thought/) \- Scape: [https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/)

If it's available in Germany, I'm really, really impressed by the Fractal Scape at $200 or so. Really good sound for music and games, well designed, very comfortable, mutable and removable mic. Review here: [https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/)

Fractal Scape. My wireless gaming pick; great design, really good sound, well built, comfortable, all aroujnd $200 USD. Full review here: [https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/)

Fractal Scape, and it's not particularly close. The Audeze Maxwell has arguably slightly better sound for music before EQ, but the app is so, so terrible and the Fractal so well designed that I can't really recommend spending $300 for the Maxwell instead of $200 for the Scape. As good as the Maxwell sounds, the Scape has reset my expectations for gaming headphones going forward. Full review: [https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/)

The Fractal Scape would be my recommendation. It's not super bassy out of the box but the EQ is super easy to use and you can find a very bassy profile to apply pretty easily. It's also around $140 right now. [https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/](https://daemonxar.com/2025/11/29/the-fractal-scape-please-let-this-be-the-future/)

I’d go with either the PC38X if you’re fine with wires (the earcups are a tad shallow for me, but … fine) OR the Fractal Scape if you want wireless. The Scape sounds better and is more comfortable for me, but also around $50 more. I’d skip the Beyers and the Philips; the former based on the tuning and the latter based on their resolution and detail. The 560S is pretty close to the PC38X overall, but I think the 38x is a little better built and has a good flip-to-mute mic. Definitely get a $9 JCALLY dongle just to get away from your motherboard’s audio output.

Neither of the Razers are particularly good headphones, in my honest opinion (nothing Razer makes is really worth the pricing to me). The Audio-Technicas are better, but still not great. Also all of those are closed backs (they isolate you from external noise) instead of open backs (where you can hear the world around you, and vice versa). Do you want to hear the world around you, or would you prefer isolation? What's your budget? The $50-100 price point is hard, particularly if you want a mic. If you don't care much about sound quality for music, either of the Razers will serve that purpose. At around $170, the PC38X from [Drop.com](http://Drop.com) is probably the best budget-ish wired gaming headset, with really good sound and a decent mic you can flip up to mute or when you don't need it. The Fractal Scape is $200, but is a truly excellent wireless gaming headset that's easy to swap between devices on.

I personally would take the Fractal Scape over the PC38X just because it's a little shallow on my big ears, and the Fractal offers a lot more functionality, but either one would be great. If you want wired, go with the PC38X. If you want wireless, the Scape. Both are worlds better than any of the ones you mentioned.

Select USED LIKE NEW for $164.89 with 30% coupon at checkout. https://headphones.com/blogs/reviews/a-gaming-headset-for-grown-ups-fractal-scape-review >At the $200 asking price, the Scape is easily the best gaming headset that I've tested. Do read or watch the review for some of the drawbacks of the headset. ---edit--- Lite version is $110.66 https://www.amazon.com/Fractal-Design-Scape-Flip-Mute/dp/B0D5HK6JRS/?th=1 Again, select Used - Like New.

I have one of these and I like it! The finition is really good. Sound ans Mic are on points. It's comfortable and very classy. I didn't find it that expensive considering the overall quality and the fact it is a wireless headset.

I just got mine, only issue I have with it is it doesn't get loud enough, at max volume it is only 40-50% equivalent of my IEM earbuds (SONY InZone, B&W Pi8). Without any EQ it needs an increase to gain of atleast +5dB. u/Fractal-Design maybe something for a firmware update to fix?

For reference, my Fractal Scape at 100% volume is only as loud as my SONY InZone and B&W Pi8 earbuds at 50-60% volume. The other guy saying 10% volume on Windows is loud enough is misleading, there is a reason why there are multiple video reviews and commenters saying it is only just loud enough at max volume compared to one person saying it is loud at just 10%.

I have a set of fractal scape headphones that i love. The mic is easliy removable and the headset doesn’t look “gamery” so it pulls triple duty for me as a professional headset for zoom calls while also being great for gaming and just general bluetooth usage. The config tool is also browser based so there is no comparability issues with linux. You can connect over the dongle or bluetooth and the included wireless charging stand is high quality.

I am a razer fanboy, and I have been for like half of my life They unfortunately have a horrible tradeoff of “good audio for the price but they will break” or “constructed like a tank but don’t sound great” I love the default audio balancing on their kraken series but they’re completely constructed with plastic, and usually the band fails or the ear swivel breaks. The black sharks are a little bulky, they may clamp your noggin a little too hard and they sound fine at best for the wireless version (I haven’t tried the wired), I didn’t like them because it was great for games, not so much for hearing your friends. I believe the mic on that one is okay but it’s a wireless mic so it’s going to be a little bad. I haven’t tried that audio technica headset specifically, but I have one that’s a step up or two that’s really nice, but they don’t have a microphone like you want. I think if you’re looking for wired with a mic, on a budget, steelseries choices in your budget, or thehyper x clouds are a good starting point. My wireless headset with a mic of choice is currently the “Fractal Scape”, but they’re about $200 on Amazon. They have great default balancing, a 2.5gz and Bluetooth mode so you can use them on your pc, then seamlessly your phone or switch, and the microphone on it is decent. I love razer but there will be compromises, that’s your warning!

i recently got this : [https://www.fractal-design.com/products/headsets/scape/scape/light/](https://www.fractal-design.com/products/headsets/scape/scape/light/) incredible product so far.

I know this is the Audeze subreddit, and not everything I'm about to say is 100% positive, so to those reading, unless I get something egregiously wrong, please don't downvote. **The bad:** If you live somewhere humid, it's a no go. Planar drivers are extremely sensitive, and *will* build up moisture if given the chance. These are not headphones you can take to the gym, or use on the go - you need to keep them somewhere cool and dry when not in use. I cannot overstate just how sensitive the drivers are compared to most other wireless gaming headsets out there. Additionally, there's a couple things to keep in mind budget-wise. * many people report the default earpads as too thin (ear touches driver), too warm, or both * the default faux leather headband gets oily/dirty and is hard to clean without the rubber edges crumbling As a result, if you want to replace those things, be prepared to shell out at least $25 for a replacement headband and another $30 for earpads [https://capraaudio.com/products/audeze-maxwell-mm100-comfort-strap](https://capraaudio.com/products/audeze-maxwell-mm100-comfort-strap) [https://wickedcushions.com/products/audeze-maxwell-earpads](https://wickedcushions.com/products/audeze-maxwell-earpads) That's the lower end - I went with the highest end and spent $160 on Dekoni elite sheepskin earpads and Understated Montreal buffalo leather. [https://understatedmontreal.com/product/comfort-strap-for-audeze-maxwell-mm-100-headphones/](https://understatedmontreal.com/product/comfort-strap-for-audeze-maxwell-mm-100-headphones/) [https://dekoniaudio.com/product-category/elite/](https://dekoniaudio.com/product-category/elite/) There is no carry case included - I bought this on Amazon and it works great: [https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Replacement-Compatible-SpaceOnePro-WH-1000XM5/dp/B01I4MVQ6W](https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Replacement-Compatible-SpaceOnePro-WH-1000XM5/dp/B01I4MVQ6W) There have been some reports of QC issues. As some other comments state, and your search will probably show, some folks took great care of their headsets and they still went bust within 2 years. **The good:** It doesn't get better than this. These are advertised as gaming headphones, but they are straight up some of the best wireless headphones you can buy for the audio quality. They're *really really* good. The boom mic is detachable and has fantastic audio, and does not pick up unwanted sounds at all. Everything you need (minus carry case) comes in the box. The software is lightweight, very customizable, and works great on any platform. I have had *zero* connectivity issues with my PC, Mac, and PS5 Pro. Some folks don't like the weight, but for me the weight means it doesn't move even over extended periods of use. I am lucky in that "the bad" mostly doesn't apply to me, including the QC issues - I am having a phenomenal time with these headphones. **Alternative:** If that's too much bad - and keep in mind, it's an aggregation of bad things I've heard, not what every other user faces - then this is the only alternative I would recommend: [https://www.fractal-design.com/products/headsets/scape/scape/light/](https://www.fractal-design.com/products/headsets/scape/scape/light/) It costs less, and everything about it, including the earpads and headband, are excellent out of the box. It reaches 90% of the Maxwell for audio quality. The mic is great too. It's lightweight for those who prefer lighter headphones.

For wireless gaming headsets, I'd only recommend three of them, and none of them are from the usual gaming brands. Sound quality: Audeze Maxwell > Master & Dynamic MG20 > Fractal Scape. Gaming features: Scape > MG20 > Maxwell Simply put, the Maxwell is still one of the best wireless headphones in the hobby for its price, gaming features aside. At $200, it's a steal. Followed up by the MG20 for sound quality, with a superior mic to the Maxwell's. The Fractal Scape isn't tuned as well as those two sets out of the box, but gets high marks for being one of the best first outings from a non-gaming brand producing a wireless gaming headset. Fractal nailed it, and with some EQ the Scape holds its own, while having most of the other gaming features you're looking for -- including a very good charging bay that doesn't look like it should have a "Sponsored by Red Bull" logo slapped on its side.

Steelseries is better than Corsair. In the wireless gaming headset space: Audeze Maxwell >>> Astro A50 > Fractal Design Scape > HyperX Cloud Alpha/Steelseries Nova Pro > Everything else Maybe I don't know or have overlooked some smaller brand though. Maxwell is huge and heavy and might not be that comfortable but it's just overall a very good headset. If you are willing to go wired with a mic, then after Maxwells you can squeeze in Sennheiser/EPOS pc38X and Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R If you are willing to go no mic wired + separate mic if needed then a whole new conversation appears that outperforms any of the gaming headsets at actual gaming.

Fractal scape out of these. Razer is garbage and Steelseries has dropped in quality and doesn't sound very good either. I would go for Astro A50 instead of any of them if I wanted a wireless headphone.