TECKNET GH001 Gaming Headset Review: cheap wired headset that does the basics right

I picked up this TECKNET wired gaming headset as a backup for my main (more expensive) headset, mostly for PC and a bit of PS5. I wasn’t expecting much at this price, just something that works, has a mic, and doesn’t crush my head after an hour. After a couple of weeks of on-and-off use, I ended up using it more than I thought, especially for late-night gaming and Discord calls.

In day-to-day use, it’s a pretty straightforward product: 3.5 mm jack for audio and mic, plus a USB plug only for the RGB lights. No software, no drivers, no surround emulation setup. You plug it in, set the audio input/output in Windows or on console, and you’re done. That simplicity is honestly one of the strong points here, especially if you don’t want to mess with settings for ages.

It’s not perfect, obviously. The sound is decent for gaming but nothing mind-blowing, and you can tell it’s tuned more for explosions and footsteps than for music. The mic is usable and clear enough for teammates, but if you’re into streaming or content creation, you’ll still want a separate USB mic. And the build feels more “budget plastic” than premium, even if it doesn’t feel like it will break in a week.

Overall, my first impression was basically: it does the job, and for the price that’s already a win. If you expect audiophile sound or premium comfort, you’ll be disappointed. If you want a cheap wired headset that works on PC, PS5, Xbox controller, Switch, and your phone (if it still has a jack), it’s honestly a pretty solid option.

For the price this headset usually sells at, I’d say the value is pretty solid. You get multi-platform support (PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, Mac, laptop), a working microphone, basic noise isolation, and RGB lights if you care about that. No weird software, no subscriptions, no dongles. It’s the kind of headset you buy, plug in, and forget about the technical side. At this price level, that simplicity is a plus.

Compared to some other cheap headsets I’ve tried (no-name brands or very low-end models), this one feels a bit more thought-through. The mic is actually usable, which is not always the case on budget gear. The sound is clearly tuned for games, not for music, but that’s fine given the target use. If you’re a student, casual gamer, or you just need an affordable backup headset for voice calls and occasional gaming, it makes sense financially.

Where it loses points is if you start comparing it to slightly pricier headsets from bigger brands that sometimes go on sale. For a bit more money, you can get better sound balance, more comfortable pads, and sometimes a stronger build. So if your budget is flexible, there are better options. But if you’re trying to stay around this price and want something that actually works across multiple platforms, this TECKNET holds its own.

In practice, I’d call it good value if your expectations are realistic: you’re not getting premium audio, you’re getting a budget wired gaming headset that covers the basics well. If that’s what you need, then the price/performance ratio is hard to complain about. If you’re picky about audio quality or long-term comfort, you might want to save up a bit more and look higher up the range.

Design-wise, this is clearly a “gamer” headset: big over-ear cups, RGB-style LED lighting (when USB is plugged), and a fairly chunky headband. It’s all black, which I liked, because at least it doesn’t scream neon toy. The LED lighting is more of a soft glow than a light show, so it looks decent on a desk without being ridiculous. If you’re not into lights, you just don’t plug in the USB and it stays dark.

The build is mostly plastic with an aluminum alloy bracket inside the headband. When you pick it up, it doesn’t feel premium, but it also doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap in your hands. The headband adjustment is smooth enough, and it holds its position. The earcups swivel a bit but not a lot, so there’s a tiny adjustment range to fit different head shapes. I’ve twisted it a bit intentionally to see if it creaks or flexes too much; it flexes like a budget headset, but nothing crazy.

The cable is rubber-coated and not braided. It’s a decent thickness, not super thin, but you can tell it’s an area where they saved some cost. The inline remote is a small plastic block with a volume wheel and a mic mute switch. It works, but the wheel doesn’t feel very precise, and there’s no indicator for the mute apart from the position of the switch. It’s fine, but you’re not getting a premium feel here.

The microphone is on a flexible boom that you can adjust in height and angle. It holds its position fairly well, and there’s a small detachable foam pop filter that helps a bit with breathing noises. Visually, it looks like a standard gaming mic, nothing special. Overall, the design is functional and clearly budget, but it’s not ugly and it fits in fine on a desk next to a console or PC.

Comfort is where I was a bit cautious, because cheap headsets often clamp too hard or use rough pads. On this one, the ear cushions are soft synthetic leather with decent padding. They fully cover my ears (I have medium-sized ears), and I didn’t get any sharp pressure points right away. The headband has some padding too, and the overall clamping force is moderate. It doesn’t feel like it’s squeezing your skull, but it’s tight enough that it doesn’t slide around when you move.

I did a few longer sessions: roughly 3 hours of PC gaming (FPS and some MMO) and a 2.5-hour Discord call. After about 2 hours, I started to feel some warmth and a bit of sweat around the ears, which is pretty normal with leatherette pads. It wasn’t unbearable, but I did feel the need to take a quick break and lift the cups off for a minute. So, for long sessions it’s okay, but not ultra-breathable. If your room is hot, expect your ears to get warm.

Weight-wise, it’s on the lighter side for an over-ear headset, especially compared to some heavier wireless models. That helps a lot with neck and head fatigue. The headband adjustment has enough range for larger heads, and it fit both me and a friend with a bigger head size without maxing out the extension. The clamp is a bit stronger out of the box, but after a few days it loosened slightly and felt better.

As for passive noise isolation, the closed-back design and the pads do a decent job of blocking out most ambient noise like keyboard clicks, fans, and some outside sounds. It’s not full isolation, but for gaming it’s enough to stay focused. Overall, comfort is pretty solid for the price: not super luxurious, but good enough for multi-hour sessions if you take occasional breaks.

In terms of durability, you can tell this is a budget headset, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart right away. The headband has an aluminum alloy frame inside, which gives it some rigidity. I flexed it a few times wider than my head to see if it would creak or complain, and it held up fine. The plastic on the earcups and yokes is basic, slightly glossy in some spots, and it will probably pick up scratches over time if you throw it around in a bag.

The cable is the main part I’d be careful with. It’s not braided and not super thick, so if you tend to roll over your cable with your chair or yank it from the port, you might have issues in the long run. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks and it’s fine so far, but I wouldn’t abuse it. The strain relief near the headset and the plug is okay, not the strongest I’ve seen, but not completely absent either. Just treat it like a cheap wired headset, not like a tank.

The ear pads are synthetic leather, which usually means that after a year or two of intensive use they might start peeling, especially if you sweat a lot. That’s standard at this price point. They are not obviously replaceable with an easy clip system, so if they wear out, it might be a bit of a DIY job to swap them or you just move on to another headset. For now, the stitching and glue look fine, no loose seams.

There’s a 36-month support mentioned by TECKNET, which is reassuring on paper, but I obviously haven’t tested warranty claims. Overall, my feeling is: it’s durable enough for regular home use, as long as you’re not tossing it in a backpack every day or letting kids bend it in all directions. For the money, the durability seems reasonable, but don’t expect tank-like construction.

On the sound side, this headset is clearly tuned for gaming. The 50 mm drivers push a good amount of bass, so explosions, gunshots, and engine noises have some impact. It’s not super precise bass, more on the boomy side, but for shooters and action games it does the job. The mids are okay; voices in games and chat are clear enough, which is what matters most here. Highs are present but not super detailed. You won’t notice tiny background details like on a higher-end pair of headphones, but you can hear what you need.

Positional audio is decent. In games like Warzone and Valorant, I could tell where footsteps and shots were coming from well enough. It’s not true surround, just stereo, but stereo done reasonably well. If you rely heavily on very precise audio cues in competitive FPS, there are better headsets out there, but for casual to mid-level play, this is absolutely usable. For movies and YouTube, it’s fine; dialogue is clear, and the extra bass gives action scenes a bit of punch.

For music, it’s honestly just okay. The bass is a bit heavy and the overall sound is not very balanced. If you’re picky about how your music sounds, you’ll notice the limitations. I’d describe it as good enough for Spotify while gaming or working, but I wouldn’t buy this as a primary music headset. If you mess with your PC’s EQ you can improve it a bit, but out of the box, it’s clearly tuned for games.

The microphone is one of the better surprises. My friends on Discord said I sounded clear and loud enough without much background noise. The built-in noise control isn’t magic, but it does cut down on keyboard clacks and fan noise a bit. With the foam pop filter on, breathing sounds and plosives (p, b sounds) were reduced. It’s not broadcast quality, but for in-game chat and calls, it’s more than fine. No weird crackling, no random volume drops during my tests.

Out of the box, the TECKNET GH001 is very simple. You get the headset, a user manual, and a 1-to-2 3.5 mm splitter cable (red for mic, green for audio) for PCs that have separate mic and headphone jacks. There’s no fancy pouch, no spare pads, nothing extra. For the price, I wasn’t expecting more, but it’s good to know it’s very barebones. The cable is permanently attached to the headset, so if it dies, the whole thing is basically done.

In terms of connections, the main plug is a single 3.5 mm jack that carries both audio and mic, which is standard for controllers, laptops, and most modern devices. For desktop PCs with separate jacks, you use the included splitter. There’s also a USB plug but that’s only to power the LED lights on the earcups. If you don’t care about the RGB, you can ignore the USB completely and the headset will work fine. On my PC, it was literally plug-and-play, and on PS5 and Switch it worked the same way through the controller/console jack.

I tested it on: a Windows 11 PC, PS5 controller, Xbox Series controller, and a Switch OLED in handheld mode. In all cases, it was immediately detected with no driver issues. The only small annoyance is if you’re on an older Xbox One controller, you’ll need that separate Microsoft 3.5 mm adapter (not included), but that’s a known thing with almost all headsets, not just this one. Mic mute and volume are handled via an inline control on the cable, which is basic but functional.

So in practice, compatibility is the strong point: if it has a 3.5 mm jack, this headset pretty much works. No software, no firmware, no app. If you like simple, you’ll be happy. If you want virtual 7.1, EQ presets, or wireless freedom, this is not that product.