MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller is a big fan of various shooters and values hearing his opponent’s footsteps early on. In the past 6 weeks he has tested in-ear headphones for under €30 and was surprised at how well they can locate his opponents.
After my old headphones died, I had to look around for new ones. My goal was to find ones that would be good for locating footsteps in games. Because good sound can make a big difference in a shooter. If you can hear your opponents precisely, you sometimes know exactly where they are.
So I bought in-ear headphones with the sound mixed by well-known audio experts Crinacle. Crinacle itself has tested many different headphones and describes itself as an “audiophile”. He is an advocate of neutral sound and clear and detailed sound images. Manufacturers do not win his favor with excessively strong bass.
He himself also recommends using normal headphones and an external microphone for gaming and says that there are no gaming headphones. For me, that was enough reason to test the IEMs, which were created in cooperation with Crinacle, in various shooters.
7Hz Salnotes Zero – Headphones for under €30
The headphones are the 7Hz Salnotes Zero. These are so-called IEMs, i.e. “in-ear monitors” – a type of headphone that is often used by musicians and sound engineers to ensure that the sound is reproduced precisely and as neutrally as possible.
The 7Hz Salnotes Zero cost just €28.99 and come with an interchangeable cable and ear tips (the rubber caps of in-ear headphones) in different sizes.
*Affiliate links. We receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!
It is important to mention, however, that the Salnotes Zero have no microphone. You can also buy them with a cable to which a microphone is attached, but this can cause annoying noise when it comes into contact with clothing. I use an external USB microphone myself – the Marantz Pod Pack 1 for just under €51.
Phenomenal sound for little money… in shooters
I’ve now tested the Salnotes Zero for almost six weeks in various shooters. Above all in the tactical shooters Rainbow Six: Siege and Valorant. In both games I really liked the sound of the headphones. After just a few laps, I noticed that I was hearing details that I hadn’t noticed before.
For example, in Rainbow Six: Siege, you can reduce the noise you make while walking. To do this, you move around while crouching or press the “walk” button. Crouching or walking you are noticeably slower in the shooter, but also much quieter. With the Salnotes Zero, I was able to hear that over several meters. It went so far that opposing players repeatedly accused me of cheating. And one thing I can assure you, it was definitely not my aim.
I know exactly where an opponent is because I can hear them extremely precisely. Even if someone moves only minimally, for example turns in a different direction or angles the weapon, I can hear that because the in-game character then performs minimal movements. Sometimes it’s the fabric of the clothes that makes the noise. Sometimes it’s small tapping steps – it doesn’t matter, I can hear it.
Anyone who plays shooters on the console will benefit from a good controller. Additional keys in particular are often used for crouching or drop-shotting. The DualSense Edge also offers such additional keys:
DualSense Edge for the PS5 in the unboxing – our first impressions of the Pro Controller in the video
More videos
The influence of the expert is noticeable
This extraordinary feeling of the sound is – I’m sure – due to the influence of Crinacle. He himself explains in a video that a pronounced bass can be good for the immersive feeling of a game or a film, but is rather detrimental for locating footsteps. This is exactly where the Salnotes Zero shine, because the bass is kept very neutral and doesn’t hide any important footsteps or shots.
However, this influence can also be felt when listening to music. I don’t like the Salnotes Zero that much there. Although the sound is still very clear and detailed, the low bass is noticeable. Audiophiles like Crinacle like that, but I’m more of a casual listener and like to take the bass with me. But that’s not a criticism for me, since I bought the headphones specifically for playing shooters.
And they not only fulfill their purpose – they have exceeded my expectations.
However, if you are looking for headphones to listen to music and value a clear bass, then the Salnotes Zero may not be the perfect choice for you. For my part, however, I got used to the comparatively low bass of the Salnotes Zero over time, which is why it no longer bothers me when listening to music.
I blind tested 5 in-ear headphones and was surprised by the winner
Gaming headphones and IEM competitors lose the direct comparison
My old IEMs and gaming headphones can’t even begin to match the Salnotes Zero when it comes to tracking footsteps, although I’ve tested different headphones.
After being disappointed with gaming headphones from Triton and Turtle Beach, I ended up with the significantly more expensive Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless. I always thought that was a good gaming headset, and the sound was even better than the well-known competition from HyperX and Astro. But my first IEMs, the KZ ZS 10 Pro, already put the headset in the closet, where from now on it only serves as a dust collector.
The KZ ZS 10 already made me feel like I was suddenly hearing things in shooters that I didn’t know could be heard. However, they were a bit more bass-heavy than the Salnotes Zero. I liked that when listening to music, but it’s also the reason I’m much better at locating footsteps with the Zero.
Before I bought it, one of the Saltontes Zero’s biggest competitors was the Moondrop Aria, which shooter expert Marko Jevtic was also enthusiastic about. However, they are priced at just under 80 € and therefore cost more than twice as much. The Moondrop Aria was considered the undisputed price-performance winner among audiophiles for some time, but was ousted from the throne by its in-house competitor, the Moondrop Chu.
The Moondrop Chu cost just under 20 € and showed when they were released for what price high-quality sound can be had. Ultimately, I wanted to choose between the Chu and the Salnotes Zero. The decisive point for me was the Zero’s interchangeable cable on the one hand, and Crinacle’s collaboration on the other. He also tested the Moondrop Chu and had the opportunity to go one step further with the Salnotes Zero.
sacrificing convenience
As good as the sound of the Salnotes Zero is, I found the included ear tips bad. However, for me it is completely understandable that it can happen that not everyone finds a perfectly fitting size. I then used the fortunately matching ear tips from my old IEMs and the problem was solved. Alternatively, I should have looked around the internet for a replacement. My choice would probably have fallen on one of these two variants:
But that also means that if you don’t like the ear tips, you have to buy other attachments for the Salnotes Zero for around €20. This means that the total package of headphones can go up to €50.
This seems disproportionately expensive in the price range, but in my opinion the Salnotes Zero have a better sound than gaming headphones for, say, €80 and up. I still consider the total price of around €50 to be very good, since the right ear tips have a positive effect on the sound – especially the bass sensation. In addition, the ear tips fit most IEMs and can therefore also be used with a variety of other headphones.
Conclusion: Clear purchase recommendation for shooter fans
The 7Hz Salnotes Zero are very good for hearing footsteps, which is why they are explicitly suitable for shooter players. If you don’t play story games, listen to music or watch films with them and want to feel the bass, I can really recommend the headphones – especially for the price of less than €30.
The only point of criticism I have when playing shooters with the Salnotes Zero are the included ear tips and the associated wearing comfort. But even with additionally purchased ear tips for 20 €, the overall package is better in my opinion than with gaming headsets, which often cost many times more for a comparable sound and are ultimately worse.
Even if I include a USB microphone in the calculation, everything costs under €150, sometimes even under €100, and a USB microphone like the Marantz is far superior to that of a gaming headset.
I give a clear buy recommendation for the 7Hz Salnotes Zero for playing shooters, even if there are additional costs for ear tips and microphone.
Of course, gaming headsets still have a right to exist. They are an easy and convenient “all-in-one” solution. So, if you don’t feel like buying in-ear headphones, USB mic and other extra stuff, you might find a suitable product for you in our list of the best gaming headsets of 2023.