Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

VZR’s new Model One headphones bring audiophile quality 3D sound to gamers

By

There’s a new name entering the gaming headphone space: VZR. The audio company aims to bring audiophile quality to gamers at a reasonable cost with its new VZR Model One headphones.

Preorders for the VZR Mode One open in Q2 2021 and the headphones are expected to ship out in that timeframe as well. The device costs $349, with VZR saying that it’s aiming for the kind of audio quality available in headphones in the $4,000 range.

The big draw of the audio device is its patented CrossWave technology, which is designed to more accurately render 3D audio. It accomplishes that with acoustic lenses that actually reshape sound waves, rather than digitally alter the audio source.

That selling point is especially notable at the start of a brand new console generation, where 3D audio is a PlayStation 5 selling point. Digital Trends tested the headphones on several games, including Resident Evil Village’s Maiden demo, and found that they provided natural and detailed spatial sound that made it easy to pinpoint directionality.

VZR Model One
Image used with permission by copyright holder

VZR says that the CrossWave tech is meant to future-proof its closed-back headphones in order to keep up with a rapidly changing technology landscape. Rather than relying on a DSP chip that could become obsolete in a few years, the Model One’s focus on acoustics. While the headphones especially take advantage of new gaming tech, they’re built as a robust, all-around option that works for movies, music, and any other audio application.

The Model One come with a patent-pending, noise-canceling boom microphone that’s designed to keep its foam covering from pressing on the mic itself and muffling sound. The package includes an additional in-line microphone on the headphone cables as well.

VZR was founded by former Apple lead acoustics engineer Victor Tiscareno. The team includes several industry veterans from both the video game and audio industry. VZR says it used that collection of expertise to predict where audio technology was heading and develop a pair of headphones to match that trend.

Based on our time with the VZR Model One so far, the headphones deliver both highly detailed sound and a comfortable, but sturdy design. For the level of quality the headphones deliver, that balance paired with the $349 price point makes the VZR Model Ones feel like a perfect match for gaming audiophiles who want to get the most out of spatial audio in games like Call of Duty: Warzone.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni Colantonio
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works
Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Read more
Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like
An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Read more
Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28
Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.

Read more