For fps gaming, open back headphones for fps gaming are best served by the Sennheiser Neumann NDH 30, whose precise stereo imaging is built for sharp positional cues. The Audeze is the runner-up, with powerful 100 mm planar drivers for players who prefer a warmer, fuller presentation.
For fps gaming, open back headphones for fps gaming are best served by the Sennheiser Neumann NDH 30, whose precise stereo imaging is built for sharp positional cues. The Audeze is the runner-up, with powerful 100 mm planar drivers for players who prefer a warmer, fuller presentation.
• Sennheiser Neumann NDH 30 — best for pinpointing positional audio; pick this if its high-precision stereo imaging and sharp localization suit your focus on in-game cues.
• Audeze LCD-2 — best for a weightier, more immersive sound; pick this if you want 100 mm planar magnetic drivers and a warmer tone.
• MEZE AUDIO 109 — best for long sessions and flexible wired setups; pick this if you value its self-adjusting headband, low impedance, and two included cable lengths.
• MEZE AUDIO 105 — best for warm sound and repairable construction; pick this if you want velour earpads, a self-adjusting headband, and replaceable components.
The NDH 30 is an open-back, over-ear wired headphone designed around detailed, precise sound. For competitive play, its most relevant feature is the claimed high-precision stereo imaging and sharp localization. Those qualities make it my pick for players who want to attend closely to direction and separation rather than prioritize a bass-heavy presentation.
Its linear soundstage and transient response are described as suited to demanding audio work such as mixing and mastering. In gaming terms, that design emphasis makes it a compelling option for listening carefully to distinct sounds and shifts in a scene. It has a dynamic driver, a stated frequency range of 12 Hz to 34 kHz, and 120-ohm impedance. That relatively high impedance is worth considering when matching it with your wired audio source; the product information does not specify a microphone or gaming controls.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The NDH 30 connects by cable through a 3.5 mm jack and weighs 245 g according to its listed item details. The open-back design is a fit for a quiet room where you can tolerate sound escaping and outside noise coming in. Its main trade-off is straightforward: it is a focused listening headphone, not a gaming headset with a built-in mic, and its 120-ohm impedance may make source compatibility more important than with the lower-impedance Meze models.
The LCD-2 Classic is an open-back, over-ear wired headphone with 100 mm planar magnetic drivers. Audeze describes its sound as warmer than the regular LCD-2, with strong bass response. For a player who wants game audio to feel full and enveloping, that character may be more appealing than a leaner, more analytical style.
Planar magnetic drivers and a frequency range listed as 10 Hz to 50 kHz are part of its specification. Those details indicate broad stated frequency coverage, but they do not by themselves tell you how easily the headphone will reveal a footstep or where a sound will appear in a particular game. For fps gaming, I see it as a sound-rich alternative to the NDH 30 rather than the most specifically cue-focused choice in this group.
The LCD-2 has 70-ohm impedance and a 6.35 mm jack. It includes a steel suspension headband and leather-free memory foam earpads, with glass-infused nylon rings in its construction. Its main trade-off is practical: the listed connection is 6.35 mm, so check that your audio setup supports that plug or can accommodate an appropriate adapter. It also has no listed built-in microphone, so voice chat would need a separate solution.
The MEZE AUDIO 109 is a wired, open-back headphone with 50 mm dynamic drivers and 40-ohm impedance. Its low impedance is described as making it usable without amplification, which gives it an easy-to-understand advantage for a player plugging into a compatible everyday audio source. It is also supplied with detachable cables in two lengths: 1.5 m and 3 m.
For gaming, the longer cable can help when your system or listening position is not right beside you, while the shorter one offers a tidier option at a desk. The self-adjusting headband is reinforced with manganese spring steel, and the ear cushions are velour. Those features point toward a design intended to spread pressure and support extended listening. The open construction is still best suited to a quieter space, not a noisy room where you need isolation.
The 109 uses genuine walnut wood earcups and is designed with replaceable components, including the earcups, headband, cables, and driver. That repairable construction may appeal if you want headphones you can maintain rather than treat as a sealed accessory. Its trade-off for fps play is that the provided information does not establish the same explicit focus on precise positional imaging as the NDH 30. I would choose it for a blend of comfort-oriented design and simple wired flexibility, not on the assumption that it includes a mic or game-specific features.
The MEZE AUDIO 105 is an open-back, wired headphone with 50 mm dynamic drivers and 42-ohm impedance. Its sound is described as warm and full-bodied, with some added emphasis in the bass and sub-bass. That can suit players who enjoy a more substantial, immersive sound, though it is a different priority from making directional cues the central selling point.
The 105 has velour earpads and a self-adjusting headband, features that may be welcome during a long match or a long stretch of music afterward. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 30 kHz, and it uses a 3.5 mm connection. The supplied detachable cable is 1.8 m, and the package includes a hard carrying pouch and a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter.
Like the 109, the 105 is designed so that components can be replaced, a useful distinction for someone who values serviceability. Its main trade-off is its warm tuning: players who want the most explicitly cue-focused option should look first at the NDH 30, whose product details directly emphasize stereo imaging and localization. The 105 also has no listed built-in microphone, so plan on a separate voice-chat setup if needed.
I compared the published specifications and design features relevant to wired gaming: imaging claims, driver type, impedance, connections, and comfort-oriented details.
The order is my independent editorial opinion based on those differences and the needs of fps players.
No brand paid for placement.
They can be a strong fit in a quiet room, especially if you value an open presentation and directional listening. Open-back designs do not isolate you from your surroundings, and nearby people may hear sound from the headphones.
The Sennheiser Neumann NDH 30 is described with high-precision stereo imaging and sharp localization. That makes it my first pick here for players prioritizing positional cues, though those specifications cannot guarantee a particular result in every game or setup.
The provided product details do not list a built-in microphone for any of the four models. For voice chat, plan to use a separate microphone or another compatible communication device.
All four are wired, but their listed connections differ: the NDH 30 and MEZE AUDIO 105 use 3.5 mm jacks, the LCD-2 uses a 6.35 mm jack, and the MEZE AUDIO 109 includes 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm connection options. Check the ports on your particular device before choosing.
For fps gaming, I recommend the Sennheiser Neumann NDH 30 if your priority is clearly specified stereo imaging and sharp localization. Choose the Audeze LCD-2 instead if a warmer, bass-forward presentation matters more to you; the Meze models make sense when their cable flexibility, comfort details, or repairable construction better match how you play.
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