Audio-Technica ATH-GL3 Closed Back & ATH-GDL3 Open Back Wired Headphones Review – There’s an abundance of choice for players when it comes to choosing a good pair of gaming headphones.
Choosing one that works for your needs isn’t always easy, and it can be tough to find one, or two headphones that do what you’re looking for them to do.
The Audio-Technica ATH-GL3 Closed Back and the ATH-GDL3 Open Back wired headphones are two headphones that for many people, could be what they’re looking for, if for no other reason than how comfortable they both are.
That similarity, and others, are what makes both the GL3 and GDL3 good choices if you’re on the lookout for a good pair of wired headphones.
Their differences however do put one at a significant disadvantage, depending on your use case.
Beyond that however, it’s tough to find a wrong answer in either. In other words – pick you poison.
Audio-Technica ATH-GL3 Closed Back & ATH-GLD3 Open Back Wired Headphones Review – Pick Your Poison
Comfort Lite
Before going into their sound differences, from a pure comfort level, these are both some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever owned.
That’s not attributed to heavy amounts of padding and foam everywhere, but the fact that these are both two of the lightest headphones I’ve ever seen.
It’s amazing how light they are, and just how well balanced they are. It’s not too much padding, but rather just enough, and they’re so light that wearing them for long sessions does nothing to make my neck ache.
I’m always stunned at how weightless they both feel the moment I put them back on. Though I should point out that part of why this is so important to me is because I often wear my glasses while playing games.
Though many headphones today are very accommodating to players who wear glasses, I still find that many headphones will eventually feel like they’re just pressing my glasses into my head.
Not having that extra weight in the headphones is almost freeing, in how comfortable it feels.
A heavy set pair of headphones can still be comfortable, but I know I’ll be more likely to feel the weight of them after a longer play session. I don’t feel the weight of either of these Audio-Technica headphones, and I love them both for it.
Heavy Quality, Lightweight Package
I think part of what makes the weight of the headphones feel almost surprising to me every time I use them is that they’re as light as they are, while still being great headphones.
The GL3 and GDL3 both feature 45mm drivers and a frequency response of 10 to 35,000hz. Their sound quality though, depending on your use case, differs significantly.
If you’re looking for a pair of gaming headphones, then you shouldn’t look any further than the GL3. The GDL3 simply doesn’t stand up to its twin on this front, because the sound doesn’t have the depth or clarity really required while gaming, particularly anything competitive.
It’s not that the GDL3 is entirely muddy so to say, it’s just not as clear as the GL3. When it comes to just casual listening, whether that’s music or a podcast – the GDL3 do not make for a poor choice.
Like I said, your use-case will vary, so if you’re looking for headphones that are gaming focused, more than anything, the GL3 is your best choice in terms of sound quality.
If you’d rather something that you might game with, but will generally use for everyday listening, the GDL3 will be a good, comfortable choice.
In terms of mic quality, both headphones feature a detachable mic that seems to be no different between both headphones.
Having the mic detachable is always a welcome design feature, and the mic’s are both malleable enough in their movement making adjustments simple and easy.
Tied To A String
My biggest gripe with these headphones though will remain that they are wired, and not wireless. I know that there are those who still prefer a wired headset, but I am not one of those people.
Especially when today we have wireless headsets so good, that I can walk through my house to get water, a snack, do a quick task without having to leave a party chat, or stop listening to a game’s music if I don’t want to.
These are little convivences, yes, but they are ones that I’ve experienced and know I prefer to have. It’s not the same trying to carry your controller around with you while a wire dangles between everything you’re trying to do.
I don’t think wire’s will fully go away any time soon, but it does feel like things will just continue to lean more towards wireless options, as technology advances and improves.
If having a wire isn’t an issue for you then that’s your call, but when there are wireless options that deliver just as good or even better sound, it becomes difficult for me to recommend a wired option instead.
Pick Your Poison
The GL3 and GDL3 wired headphones from Audio-Technica are both impressive headsets, due to how comfortable and light they are while still delivering good sound quality, particularly in terms of the GL3.
I don’t think I would say the sound quality of either of them are up to par with previous headphones I’ve reviewed, though they are the best wired headphones I’ve ever used.
When you consider how comfortable both headphones are, and if you’re looking for something that will do a little better than “get the job done” while still feeling good to wear, you don’t need to look farther than either of these.
Although, between the two I’d recommend you lean towards the GL3 over the GDL3. Besides the improvement in sound quality, particularly for gaming, they’re the cheaper option between the pair, with the GL3 coming in at just $99.99, and the GDL3 coming in at $129.99.
But as I’ve said constantly through this review and will say again, I don’t think you’re really making too big a mistake with either pair, especially if you’re alright with something wired.
Review samples generously provided by Audio-Technica.