Austrian Audio PG16 Pro gaming headset: simple and still good?

The Austrian voice should say very little, especially to the players. However, the Austrian audio manufacturer has an interesting background, as it was founded by former employees of the well-known audio company after the closing of AKG from Vienna in 2017. After so many studio headphones, headphones and microphones, now it’s gaming as a target group, namely With the PG16 Pro gaming headset for 139 euros as a product for the first time.

Austrian Audio PG16 is a fairly simplistic gaming headset that is powered only by a cable with a 3.5mm jack connection. This has the advantage that PG16 can be used on almost all platforms without any problems, but only with a wire. The cable length isn’t quite perfect at 1.40m – too short for a PC, but too long for a gamepad. A short Y key is included. A slightly shorter cable length for a gamepad connection and a longer Y-key would probably be better.

The headset itself makes a high-quality impression and looks very elegant, especially thanks to the dark red elements. However, there are also some high-gloss items that could have been saved. They break up the noble look a bit and are also prone to fingerprints. On the other hand, the workmanship leaves nothing to be desired. The head pillows are comfortable, the headband is sturdy yet flexible, and the ear cups are equipped with soft cushions with traditional leather covers and rotatable. Small gimmick: Thanks to the two hinges, the headset can be folded and stowed away in the provided cloth bag to save space.

The weight is very moderate at 265 grams, resulting in a very comfortable fit that does not break even during long sessions. You won’t find any controls, the PG16 is pure minimalism in that respect. Unfortunately, because we would have loved to see at least one volume control. We really miss that possibility, especially when using a console gamepad. Unusual: Connect the detachable device on the right side. Gentle: The cable can be locked into the headset by rotating the plug.

The microphone is tightly attached and can be muted by flipping it over, but there is no noticeable turning point. There is a pop filter on the panel, so that ambient noise and breathing are well filtered. The transmission of speech into the microphone is good and sounds quite natural, but is slightly prone to sharp hissing sounds. However, this hardly disturbs the voice chat, but the PG16 is less suitable for voice recordings.

To strengthen the sound, Austrian Audio relies on specially designed 44mm high-profile drivers, which are also used in other products. It is worth noting the low resistance of 25 ohms instead of the usual 30-32, as well as the frequency range from 12 to 24000 Hz, which exceeds the usual gaming range from 20 to 20,000 Hz. This gives hope to many, but the PG16 doesn’t manage to shine across the board – perhaps because the inner workings are more headphones than gaming headphones.

Essentially, the PG16 delivers fiery, detailed and very accurate sound with a good stereo picture. The highs come out clearly, even a small background noise is clearly recognizable and direction perception is good too. The fine details are especially fun when listening to music and e-sports fans will surely appreciate it.

The problem, however, is that balance and dynamics suffer somewhat, as the Austrian sound has largely sacrificed punch in favor of clarity and detail. The bass and low mid notes both obviously lack pressure and emphasis, which is especially noticeable when gaming. Engines in racing games lack a deep rumble, explosions sound flat, and monuments may not quite show up in the soundtrack and epic soundscapes. During shooter battles, the PG16 sometimes looks uncomfortably sharp.

It seems as though the drivers are more into the studio headphone realm and don’t really want to match the gaming audio picture. You don’t always have to be cracking and roaring, a lot of bass definitely doesn’t appeal to us, but something is missing here. Although the level of detail and sound clarity are impressive, in general it would be desirable to slightly increase the balance of the frequency bands for gaming.

If you want at least more on PC, you can also download the program thanks to the attached code. It’s called Spatial Soundcard L for 5.1 and 7.1 and it allows you some ambient sound settings. Basically, this improves the perception of direction and sound again. Really necessary? Not necessarily, because with Dolby Atmos or Windows Sonic you have very good alternatives on PC that can be used with a headset. As a nice addition but not a bug.