Audeze Penrose review: a pleasure to listen to, difficult to wear

The Audeze Penrose has almost everything I want in a wireless gaming headset. The high-quality planar magnetic drivers deliver rich, balanced sound quality that is easily superior to other models I have recently tested. It’s also packed with features, with individual volume and microphone levels, USB-C charging, a number of wired connectivity options (USB-C or 3.5mm), and support for simultaneous Bluetooth 5.0 audio connections. As a gaming headset, it’s stacked – what it should be for something costing $ 299.

After reviewing a headset, I usually can’t wait to get back to the familiar plushy, warm-sounding cans of my own Sony WH-1000XM3, but the Penrose is a joy to listen to. Game audio sounds punchy without being delivered too much, I don’t have to blow up the volume to hear subtle details, and while this headset doesn’t have active noise canceling, I was almost convinced it was thanks to a combined effort of its closed-back design and thick ear pads that provide better than average sound isolation.

The specific model sent by Audeze for review has been made compatible with PS4 and PS5 consoles and with PCs via the 2.4GHz wireless receiver. (It also works with the Nintendo Switch, even though it is not promoted.) It is lined in black with a blue border to indicate which console family it is designed for. The company also makes an Xbox version called the Penrose X with a green border, and that model’s unique receiver has a two-position toggle switch that allows it to work with Microsoft’s proprietary wireless technology in one mode and then on the PC in the other. Otherwise it is the same hardware.

There’s a caveat to all this goodness: I didn’t find the Penrose comfortable to wear, even for short gaming sessions. I’ve never forgotten it was on my head because I felt squeezed all the time, and that’s a deal breaker for me. I should note that I have a somewhat large head, so it is likely that people with smaller noggins will not feel so compressed. But I imagine its 320g weight would feel heavy on just about any noggin.

Other recent headsets I liked, like the HyperX Cloud II Wireless, are also 320 grams, but the weight is much better distributed. I hardly notice that model on my head even after some time has passed, which is what I personally look for in a headset. Granted, HyperX Cloud II doesn’t have hefty 100mm magnetic drivers like the Penrose, which equates to better sound at the expense of heavier earcups.

I’d pass Audeze more by if the Penrose were an original design, but it’s nearly identical to the $ 399 Audeze Mobius released in 2018, which had improved 3D sound processing and head tracking. (The Penrose lacks both features.) It’s also similar to the $ 299 HyperX Cloud Orbit, released in 2019, featuring Audeze’s planar magnetic drivers and much of the Mobius design. The Penrose’s build quality is still exceptional, but I wish the company had put more thought into refining the design, especially in terms of comfort.

As for the controls, the layout isn’t unintuitive, but some of the buttons don’t stand out enough when you feel like it, especially the volume and mic level buttons. These are integrated into the back of the left pinna and they are raised, rather than built into the pinna flat, to make feeling easier for them (at least that seems like the goal). Those raised pieces of plastic actually make the thin dials difficult to distinguish and adjust.

Otherwise, it’s easy to take advantage of the Penrose’s main functions, such as being able to mute the microphone with the switch on the outside of the left earcup, or switch wireless mode with the multi-function button near where the detachable microphone is connected. It’s not the only headset that lets you connect to a phone via Bluetooth and be connected to your game console at the same time, but I love the performance here. If you receive a call while gaming, tap the Penrose power button to answer or hang up. (Beware though: Audeze says your voice will be sent over both Bluetooth and wireless channels.)

Battery life is lackluster. I’ve gotten about 10 hours of use per charge, while some of the cheaper competing models in our headset buying guide offer 30 or more hours per charge. It’s not great considering the price, but it’s not a big deal for me as I usually leave my headset charging overnight on my PC or PS5 anyway (made easier by the reversible USB-C port).

I can easily recommend the Penrose based on its features and sound quality alone, but comfort is equally important to me – which is where this headset lacks the most. It’s a shame the fit is so exhausting because it’s really the only deal breaker. Otherwise, the Penrose could be an ideal addition to any gamer’s life, especially those who want a headset that can be connected to multiple devices at the same time. Just pay attention to the warning that for certain head shapes and for those sensitive to wearing heavy headphones, it may not fit your head very well.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge