MSI GH61 Gaming Headset & HS01 Stand Review

A Closer Look

The headset comes hard-wired with a black braided cable and a 3.5mm 4-pole jack. That means you can plug it into a console controller, mobile device, or just about anything really and it’ll work just fine.

However, you also get this USB powered AMP/DAC combo with built-in controls. This is ideally what you want to use the headset with on PC for the best performance

There’s a huge clip on the back with a heavy spring.

Perfect for clipping to your shirt, so the headset cable is unlikely to pull away the headset.

It’s a nice size controller too, with very easy to reach and use buttons. Volume, microphone mute and surround on/off, nice and simple.

The headset its self is full of ergonomic tricks and treats. It can fold in on its self, which makes it easier to store in the carry case, and just smaller in general for storing in a backpack, drawer, etc.

The ear cups themselves can be rotated too, allowing you to wear the headset comfortably around your neck between uses.

Of course, a little wiggle in either direction always helps with the overall fit too, ensuring the ear cups are evenly balanced.

They’re also mounted on a small pivot, allowing each driver some further angle adjustment. This is also vital to ensuring a balanced fit. The headset has a firm clamping force, but all that movement in the mount means it doesn’t feel forceful and distributes really well.

There’s a metal headband, allowing for a huge range of size adjustment too. Normally I have to max these out, but I only needed about half what was on offer for a comfortable fit. Beldar Conehead will be pleased with this.

The headband has this incredible soft padding on it too. It feels like a soft air cushion, but is coated with a slightly grippy rubber finish so the headset doesn’t slide around.

It’s not a particularly heavy headset, but this cushion soaks up most of the weight anyway and really helps with the long-term comfort.

Tucked into the bottom of the left ear cup, you’ll find the hard-wired cable, as well as a retractable microphone boom.

It’s a simple flexible boom, so easy enough to work with and just slides back in when you’re done with it.