Edifier G5 MAX Wireless Gaming Headset

Introduction

The Edifier G5 MAX headphones are designed for gaming, with an emphasis on wireless Bluetooth playback. They come in two colours: white and grey. I had the grey ones.

Some Details on Design

The headphones come with a wireless dongle via a USB stick and a detachable Boom microphone that connects via a 3.5mm jack. They feature THX Spatial Audio and Bluetooth 6.0. One thing I like is that you can charge these headphones while still using them. They come with a phone app and even PC software. The battery life is claimed to be 305 hours, which is plenty. I still haven’t charged them, and they are still working fine after three weeks of normal use.

53mm drivers and a stated frequency response of 20Hz – 40kHz. Build quality is amazing, and I can not fault the design. They look impressive with cool LED lights that change with functions. They are light, and given the battery life, it’s an impressive 300 grams.

The Ear pads are soft and comfortable; I haven’t felt fatigued after listening for up to 4 hours at a time. I found the fit wasn’t great on my head. This is personal, and when I tried these with friends, they didn’t have those issues. I must have a strange-shaped swede!

The PC app is surprisingly extensive, with a huge amount of adjustments from headphone EQ to microphone EQ. You can set up and save presets, which is great for different games or music. I would suggest that it’s the sort of thing you use once or twice and then never again. If you are a tweaker, these are the headphones for you.

Specification and Price

Performance

So, how do they sound? My gaming headphone of choice is the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition, which I have loved for years. The G5’s sound signature is very similar: a rounded presentation with a slight emphasis on mid-bass. When gaming (this is what I do most), the G5’s are excellent, very clear with precise stereo separation.

Playing Fortnite, I can hear and detect the direction of footsteps in the distance. These sonic cues that are so clear on the G5 can give you a real edge in a game.  The bass is full and moving, with strong sound effects like explosions that heighten the sensation and create a realistic experience, all while you’re surrounded by comic characters. The boom microphone is very clear, and my teammates can hear everything I say; it even has an LED to show it’s working. The built-in microphones aren’t great for gaming but work perfectly well for a phone call. Over extended periods, I have not once felt fatigued by the G5s.

In Bluetooth mode, connected to my iPhone, Spotify playback is solid and every bit as good as my £100 over-ear Bluetooth headphones. The sound seems balanced and evolving, and again the stereo separation is very good. With such a long battery life, it is tempting to use these as everyday headphones, walk the dog, go to work, etc and indeed you can. However, I would say leave these for best. Use something else for day-to-day and keep these for gaming.

Overall

What is good?

• Battery life… amazing
• Detail and separation
• The ability to charge while playing is excellent
• You can pair your phone and connect to your PC at the same time. This means you can answer calls and keep gaming. Brilliant!

What I don’t like

• The fit on my head was slightly off. However, that is a personal thing