Tech Review | Avermedia SonicWave GH335

For the past month I’ve been using the AVerMedia SonicWave GH335 as my secondary headset. This budget headset is supposed to offer some of the comforts and quality of a premium headset, but at a substantially cheaper price. So what do you get when you purchase this?

AVerMedia provided us specs for the device, which I have listed below for those who like reading charts:

SonicWave GH335 Specs

  • Tuned Acoustics for Gaming: Oversized 50mm neodymium drivers with 20–20K Hz response, 97±3 dB sensitivity (@ 1 kHz), 32 Ω impedance
  • Stay Focused on the Game: Closed-back design puts the game front and center
  • Sensitive Microphone: Omnidirectional pickup pattern with a Ø 6.0 x 2.8 mm capsule; ≤ 2200 Ω and 38 ±3 dB sensitivity
  • Compatible with all Analog Interfaces: 4-pole 3.5 mm audio jack and 3.5 microphone jack with splitter cable work with PC, PS4™ and Xbox One™ consoles and mobile (some Xbox One controllers may require a stereo adapter; sold separately)
  • In-Line Controls: Volume and microphone mute switches
  • Lightweight and Comfortable: Only 340 g / 11.9 oz with 2.2 m / 7.2 ft cable

As for the rest, let’s just dive right into what it’s like to use one of these. When I received the review sample for this product I was surprised by how much came in the box. In it you get the headset with a long non-removable braided cable. You also receive a mic and audio splitter attachment, along with replacement ear cups. All of this was a surprise to me because I’m accustomed with budget headset and even some high-end ones being bare-bone.

The included ear cups have a softer more velvet-like feel to them. Some people may fancy this texture, but I opted to stay with the standard leather feeling ones. They offered a soft comfortable feel during extended use. In fact these are probably the third most comfortable headset I’ve ever used after the HyperX Cloud II and the Lucidsound LS30. Their plastic build makes then feel rather cheap, but this also affords them the luxury of less weight. This lack of much weight correlates to a device that feels almost non-existent when in use. What this means is that you will be able to use them for extended gaming sessions without fatigue or sourness to your ear lobes.

With it’s 7.2” braided cable, the GH335 is able to connect easily to numerous types of devices in different set-ups. I was able to use it with my PC, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita and PS4. Now though the headset itself is lightweight and comfortable to use, the cable detracts from that. Unfortunately this is an issue with almost all cable configurations, especially the braided kind. Braided cables, though usually durable can be heavy and depending on your setup can be uncomfortable during extended use. Mine kept rubbing on my arms and legs during gaming sessions, constantly reminding me it was there. This resulted in me constantly readjusting myself and the cable. It is however a minor issue, but one worth noting.

What is a major issue is the connection of the cables. You see these types of 3.5m jack cables tend to not be the best when in use with PCs. When trying them with my PC I encountered some issues with getting audio, and the mic quality wasn’t the best. On my laptop it was somehow worse with people reporting unbearable static sounds when talking to me over Google Hangouts. This is an issue related to the basic sound card in most PC. It’s an issue I’ve noticed with almost every 3.5mm jack headset. So it’s not necessarily the headsets fault, but it does make it a product not for all users. This problem can be solved by upgrading your sound card or by using an adapter to eliminate the static. Both options that require more expenditure, thus alleviating the budget appeal of this product.

Avermedia SonicWave GH335 Sounds Premium

Now it sounds like this isn’t a good device, with cheap feel to it, but it’s not. Those getting this for console use are in luck. It’s a great headset for gaming on console as they don’t have the same issues as the PC. Using this with my consoles was fantastic. It works easily by just connecting to them and the audio is rich. I’m no audiophile, so my expertise with sound is limited. Although as a podcasters and gamers I do know what sounds good to me and this is a great sounding headset. The base, and clarity of the audio was immediately apparent. As for the mic, it’s not detachable, but it folds up nicely. It also performs well on the console. Allowing for clear, uninterrupted speech. It’s great for voice chat and streaming, though I’d still prefer to use my professional recording mic if given the option.

The device has one control unit attached to the cable. It allows for adjusting of the volume, and switching the mic on and off. Like the rest of the headset this controller does feel cheap, but it is functional, and that’s all that really matters.

Final Verdict

At an MSRP of $60, this is a very well priced device. Why I say that is because you get what you pay for, and what that entails is something pretty good. A comfortable lightweight headset that offers premium sound quality for less than $100 is impressive. What AVerMedia have managed to do at this price point is fantastic. If you’re a console gamer working with a tight budget then I’d highly recommend checking these out. As for the PC crowd I’d recommend making sure you have a high quality sound card or looking into a USB type headset instead.

All that being said I’d like to be completely transparent, and inform you that there is a better option as of writing this review. Currently the Lucidsound LS20 which usually retails at $99 USD is retailing at $35 USD on Amazon. The LS20s are a better more premium product, so with it on sale like this I have to recommend it over this one. If you see them both at their regular price and not planning on spending much then i’d recommend the GH335.

The AVerMedia SonicWave GH335 used for this review was provided to us by its manufacturer, AVerMedia.

Qudduws Campbell

That messy hair bloke: Romantic, Food lover, Gamer, Sports Fan, Manga Reader, Tech Head, Podcaster... Pretty much do a bit of everything.