The Audeze Penrose gaming headset for PS5 is available now
You can pre-order the Xbox version as well.
After missing its original September release date, Audeze’s $299 Penrose gaming headset is now available to purchase. First announced in July, it drew a lot of attention with its planar magnetic drivers. Like other headphones that feature the technology, the Penrose promises to deliver more natural sound with less distortion and a more immersive soundstage.
The Penrose comes in two flavors. The standard edition is compatible with the PS4 and PS5, as well as Windows and Mac PCs. The Penrose X, meanwhile, works with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles, and Windows computers. The latter will start shipping to consumers in December.
With Bluetooth 5.0 support, you can also use both headsets with your phone, allowing you to connect to Discord while still listening to audio from your console or computer. Additionally, both models come with a built-in microphone designed with help from Shure, a dongle for 2.4GHz connectivity and a battery that will get you about 15 hours of use on a single charge.
At $299, the Penrose is more expensive than your average gaming headset like the SteelSeries Arctis 9, but relative to other planar headphones you’re getting a lot of value. The least you can expect to spend on a pair of planar headphones is $220 for a model like the HiFiMan HE5XX from Drop. It’s possible to turn that into the HE5XX into a gaming headset with a ModMic and an external soundcard like the Sennheiser GSX 300, but once you start factoring in the cost of all those components, you’re easily past the $299 the Penrose will set you back. You’ll also end up with a more complicated setup that’s tricky to get to work with consoles.
