Title: Tech Review: Audio-Technica ATH-PG1 and ATH-PDG1 Cross-Platform Headsets
Author: TheStrangerHAZ
Recovered Author: TheStrangerHAZ
Published Date: 2016-12-12
Original URL: https://geeknode.co.za/2016/12/tech-review-audio-technica-ath-pg1-ath-pdg1-cross-platform-headsets
Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20170917083434id_/http://www.geeknode.co.za/2016/12/tech-review-audio-technica-ath-pg1-ath-pdg1-cross-platform-headsets/
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You may be wondering, dear reader, why there are two headsets in this review. In fact they are one and the same with two small exceptions, the PG1 is a closed-back set with slightly larger drivers than it’s other brother, the PDG1, that is an open-back set. I previously reviewed the Audio-technica ATH-AG1, the company’s high-end entry into the gaming headphone market. The PG1 and PDG1 would be considered their mid-range entry, both vying for this highly coveted spot…even against each other. Come with me as we venture through their natural environment, witnessing the furious and ferocious battle to the death of these damned brothers.

Again, in my company, I have the one and only, Mr Stunt as we prepare to track through the audio-stricken wilderness in search of our beasts. If anything were to happen to us and this journal found, share its missives so our work shall not be in vain.

The Beasts’ Coats and Markings (The Looks)

Day 1 : A short time into our trek, we found the first clues to what we were looking for, signs of the beasts’ activity, in particular a black fur with red accents.

Day 3 : So soon into our journey we spotted one! A black body with a red stripe and a few red accents. Terrifying and beautiful. This was our first sighting of the PDG1.

Day 7 : We heard a rustle in the trees and witnessed a monkey, desperately fleeing for its life with an incredibly large mass following suite. We didn’t stay long enough to get a good look but what we did see, was a flash of gold mixed into the black. We’ve concluded that it was the PG1, hunting.

The PG1 has only a splash of gold colouring on the rims of the cups whereas the PDG1 has slightly more on the head band as well. Both look good as far as I’m concerned and still continue Audio-technica’s standard of not containing LEDs.

The Beasts’ Skeletal Structure (The Design)

Day 12 : Roughly a week and a half after we started this incredible undertaking, were we treated with the sight of a lifetime. In the basin of an almost dried-up lake, there stood both of these incredibly beasts in all their glory. We made it to the overlooking hill just in time to see them land blows and both causing massive injury to the other. The PG1’s larger size however seemed to carry more weight behind its attacks and do just a fraction more harm to the smaller brother. At this point they both retreated to find respite and live to fight another day.

Apart from the aforementioned colours, both of them have detachable boom microphones with attached cables and in-line volume control. This is exactly the same design philosophy they should’ve followed with the high-end AG1, it could’ve greatly benefited from having the same design as it’s smaller cousins. Included in the box are cables that allow the headphones to be used with mobile phones as well as separate audio jacks for PC’s.

The pair is quite light weighing in at 225g for the PDG1 and 245g for the PD1 on account of it’s slightly larger 44mm drivers. The comfortable bands add very little in terms of ear or head fatigue making it easy to wear for long gaming sessions. The cups can swing about 120 degrees upside-down and , it’s nice to have a range of movement in your headphones, this may be a bit too much as whenever I took them off, they would swing all the way back and bash into each other which did get quite annoying.

The PDG1’s cups are made of cloth which makes them quite breathable and soft. The PG1’s are leather and are actually quite stiff. I personally prefer the cloth as my ears didn’t get as hot and sweaty.

The mute and volume buttons on the in-line controller were easy to reach and comfortable.

The Beasts’ Behavior (The Performance)

Day 25 : After tracking these frightful creatures for close to a month and studying their every move, we’ve concluded that the PG1 is slightly more powerful in its attacks and moves quite a bit quieter than the PDG1. It seems that it uses it’s overwhelming strength to quickly pounce upon unsuspecting victims and ending the confrontation quickly. The PDG1 on the other hand, is not a stealthy surprise attacker but rather a brute who chases it’s prey in the open and relishes in extended bouts using it’s stamina to get the upper hand. Both fascinating in their ways, we will continue keeping an eye on these two.

The PG1 is closed-back which makes it (and along with it’s leather cups) quite good at noise cancellation and internal noise-bleed. It also has been equipped with 44mm drivers instead of the PDG1’s 40. The difference you would immediatly assume is better sound right? Wrong.

The highs of the PG1 and PDG1 were both nice and fairly crisp, not the best I’ve heard however but still pretty great nontheless. The real comparison comes in at the lows. The PG1 with it’s larger drivers had the habit of completely overpowering all other sound with it’s bass.

I play a lot of Rainbow 6 Siege (one of the games I played extensively while wearing both these headphones) where sound is incredibly important to finding out where people are. As a result, whenever an explosion went off, all other sound was drowned out, making it quite frustrating to hear what was really going on. The PDG1 however didn’t have this problem. Sure, it’s open-back so I heard more background noise and others could hear more of my noise BUT when it comes to sound quality, it was clearly superior.

Both mics were clear (as you can hear for yourself below) and easy to use while also not being uncomfortable like the AG1’s one was.

Below: CM Storm Sirus, PG1 and PDG1 respectively.

http://www.geeknode.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cm-storm-mic-control.wav
http://www.geeknode.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Audio-technica-ath-pg1-mic.wav
http://www.geeknode.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Audio-technica-ath-pdg1-mic.wav
The Box

Obviously since they are both basically the same headset, the boxes are almost identical. The boxes contain: The headphones, the removable microphones with attached cables(1.2m in length) and inline controller, a 2m extension cable with separate audio jacks, a 1.2m smartphone cable, all the manuals and warranties.

The End of the Beasts’ Conflict (The Conclusion)

Day 30 : On the day that marked one full month of us being on this trip, it all came to a conclusion. We heard an ear-splitting roar from the now-familiar direction of the barren lake-bed and we rushed to the same ridge we had all those weeks ago. From our vantage point we saw the two beautiful monstrosities once more squaring off against each other. This time however, it looked like the battle wouldn’t end until one of them lay dead. With a start they both jumped at each other, the PG1 laying in some large hits with it’s immense strength and crumbling the PDG1 to the floor, the latter didn’t stay down long however and managed to circle around and rend flesh from the PG1’s back. With a terrifying roar, the PG1 swung backwards putting it’s full force into a swipe that seemed would tear the PDG1 in two after impacting him straight in the chest. This time, the PDG1 didn’t get up.

The PG1 roared triumphantly and started making its way away from the carcass of it’s smaller brother. In an instant, the PDG1 pounced up on top of the PG1 and rendered massive damage to the skull of the gargantuan creature, collapsing it to the ground. It seemed like there was finally a winner as the PDG1 limped away having earned its title as king of the this barren wasteland.

From using these two products, I can say without the a doubt that the PDG1 is the superior of the two. It provides crisp sound without being muddied by overwhelming bass, it’s cups are incredibly comfortable and sweat resistant thanks to the awesome cloth covering. At the time of writing, they both cost R3290 and in my opinion there is only one you should be looking at, in terms of audio quality the PG1 is just not where it needs to be in order to warrant a purchase.

You may be wondering, dear reader, why there are two headsets in this review. In fact they are one and the same with two small exceptions, the PG1 is a closed-back set with slightly larger drivers than it's other brother, the PDG1, that is an open-back set. I previously reviewed the Audio-technica ATH-AG1, the company's high-end entry into the gaming headphone market. The PG1 and PDG1 would be considered their mid-range entry, both vying for this highly coveted spot...even against each other. Come with me as we venture through their natural environment, witnessing the furious and ferocious battle to the death of these damned brothers. Again, in my company, I have the one and only, Mr Stunt as we prepare to track through the audio-stricken wilderness in search of our beasts. If anything were to happen to us and this journal found, share its missives so our work shall not be in vain. The Beasts' Coats and Markings (The Looks) Day 1: A short time into our trek, we found the first clues to what we were looking for, signs of the beasts' activity, in particular a black fur with red accents. Day 3: So soon into our journey we spotted one! A black body with a red stripe and a few red accents. Terrifying and beautiful. This was our first sighting of the PDG1. Day 7: We heard a rustle in the trees and witnessed a monkey, desperately fleeing for its life with an incredibly large mass following suite. We didn't stay long enough to get a good look but what we did see, was a flash of gold mixed into the black. We've concluded that it was the PG1, hunting. The PG1 has only a splash of gold colouring on the rims of the cups whereas the PDG1 has slightly more on the head band as well. Both look good as far as I'm concerned and still continue Audio-technica's standard of not containing LEDs. The Beasts' Skeletal Structure (The Design) Day 12: Roughly a week and a half after we started this incredible undertaking, were we treated with the sight of a lifetime. In the basin of an almost dried-up lake, there stood both of these incredibly beasts in all their glory. We made it to the overlooking hill just in time to see them land blows and both causing massive injury to the other. The PG1's larger size however seemed to carry more weight behind its attacks and do just a fraction more harm to the smaller brother. At this point they both retreated to find respite and live to fight another day. Apart from the aforementioned colours, both of them have detachable boom microphones with attached cables and in-line volume control. This is exactly the same design philosophy they should've followed with the high-end AG1, it could've greatly benefited from having the same design as it's smaller cousins. Included in the box are cables that allow the headphones to be used with mobile phones as well as…

Tech Review: Audio-Technica ATH-PG1 and ATH-PDG1 Cross-Platform Headsets

Tech Review: Audio-Technica ATH-PG1 and ATH-PDG1 Cross-Platform Headsets

2016-12-12

TheStrangerHAZ

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 and PG1

Score (PDG1) - 7

Score (PG1) - 4

55
5.5

Average Combined Score

The PDG1 is a great pair of headphones with awesome sound quality and a very comfortable cloth covering however there are incredibly strong contenders for cheaper out there. The PG1 on the other hand, is much too expensive for what it provides in sound quality.

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TheStrangerHAZ

Tech Editor / Gaming Author at Geek Node

Gamer, programmer and pc masterrace-er, my heart has pumped all things digital for longer than I can remember. I firmly believe that if you want to see the best of human ingenuity and passion, you need not look further than your local group of gamers.

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Article Tags:
ATH-PDG1 · ATH-PG1 · Audio-technica · Audio-technica ATH-PDG1 review · Audio-technica ATH-PG1 Review · Cross-platform Headsets · featured · Medium-high end Headsets · Reviews · The next David Attenborough

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Tech Review
