Edifier G2 II 7.1. Surround Gaming Headset Review – Real 26-euro price bomb for the price-conscious beginner

1 - Introduction, Unboxing, Comfort and Technical Data 2 - Teardown: Speakers, Ear Shells and Software 3 - Real Measurement and Microphone Test 4 - Subjective Sound-Check, Summary and Conclusion

Is there still the real bargain alert? I regularly check what else there is to pick up outside of all the noname Amazon Chinese, if you’re looking for something decent for beginners. Because there are enough people for whom the money is no longer quite so loose. Currently, you can find the Edifier G2 II, which costs about 38 to 39 Euros, for a paltry 26 Euros at a large electronics chain in a promotion, which almost provokes a test. With the last action I had still wavered, but this time the curiosity simply had to be satisfied.

Since the price is permanently below 40 Euros even without such recurring promotions, the expectations are naturally not too high. A headset with a built-in USB sound solution, 7.1 surround and RGB lighting in this price range usually smells like a review and cheapest product without real added value. But for a real bargain hunter, that’s no reason not to give it a try, especially since I haven’t had any problems with Edifier products so far. By the way, no one in the market wanted to (and could) join me in this, which increased the ambition even more.

What can such a 26-euro device really do then? As usual, the bar is not too high for such a product and it can only get better. And without spoiling too much now: Writing a review, as everyone knows by now, I really would have refrained from doing because of the lack of relevance and the pointless effort. So the part can’t be as bad as the price might suggest. No, it’s not a hi-fi burner for one euro, but the part surprised me positively. It should also be noted that Edifier does not buy anything from anywhere, but also manufactures everything itself. And since the resellers and resellers in the form of low-priced gaming labels are missing from the chain, you can certainly offer a lot of things cheaper than the rest. Let’s see…

Scope of delivery

The packaging is completely made of recyclable cardboard and contains the headset (unfortunately wrapped in too much plastic film) without the attached microphone, which is included as a detachable component with pop protection. Piano lacquer look everywhere, which you want to protect with further foils. Unfortunately, this is not really environmentally friendly, so please dispose of it dutifully in the yellow garbage can. The part with the sound solution is already integrated into the permanently installed, 2.5 meter long USB cable. Apart from a small quick start guide, that’s it. But it is enough.

In addition to the things listed, there is also some air bottled in Asia and software to download yourself, but you don’t need it at all. First, let’s take a look at the 360° flight around the Edifier G2 II:

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Optics, feel and wearing comfort

For less than 40 Euros, you still get solid fare in terms of material selection and design. It doesn’t look like one of the usual plastic bombers at first glance, nor do exposed metal brackets and fluffily stitched PU leather give off the cheap whiff of the usual cost-down contortions with gaming overtones. Yes, you simply can’t get much for this price if you want to install decent chassis. The price has to come from somewhere. I’m still looking.

With its 216 grams (measured) with microphone and 196 grams without, the G2 II is a real lightweight. 50 mm neodymium drivers have been installed and the internal impedance is 32 ohms. In addition, there is the detection sensitivity of 98 dB, although unfortunately no indication is given as to whether this refers to 1 mW or the voltage. It doesn’t really matter, because you can only operate it via the integrated solution. The hinge mechanism is simple, due to the price, but still functional.

Only one axis, but a moderately flexible headband and the somewhat yielding earpiece are just enough to allow the shells to fit properly on the ear. For me as a wearer with a size 64 hat, it’s a bit more difficult to find the best position, but it worked out in the end. You don’t even have to do without a dignified headbang, because if you want it tight, it goes by itself. Only do you want that? A bit of looseness for longer use is better taken after all. And that’s where it got a little tight after two hours. A clearly defined grid at least helps to “remember” the comfort compromise once it has been found,

The cow, from whose petroleum fur the soft imitation leather of the earpiece padding and that of the two removable ear pads was cut, unfortunately only got to eat pure polyurethane in its short laboratory life. That closes extremely soft, but not very contoured, but quite tight, so after prolonged wear you will feel the very special microclimate. More about that in a moment in the teardown. But as nice as the soft foam of the closed headphones may be for pressure point rehab, it is somewhat detrimental to the sound when the earpiece is pressed too close to the ear. Once again, I can only advise everyone to attentively optimize the seat with the sound source running, so that the bass does not disappear completely.

The microphone is plugged into the socket provided for it and please also pay attention to the two lugs for the guide. If the plug is inserted really tight, you can lock the mic by turning it in any direction. I’ll have a little life hack for that later, but that will have to wait for now.

The rather long and somewhat stiff cable also houses the control box with the integrated USB sound solution at a comfortable distance from the head. Besides the volume control as a wheel on the side, whose initial synchronization is really bad at low volumes (so it’s better to turn it up to at least the middle), you’ll also find the mute button that glows red when activated and the on/off slider for the RGB lighting. The color change is permanently integrated and cannot be changed via software.

There is not much more to say about the headset, at least not on the outside, except that you can be quite happy with this part up to this point, even if you can definitely feel the price pressure. I’ll go into more detail about the plug-in microphone later. The headset is connected with the already mentioned USB cable and remote control. As a conclusion to this chapter, I also have the mini-manual for you, before I crack the headphones on the next page and the teardown may expose the inner values.