FIFINE H19 Review: Open-Back Audio Changes the Experience
Open-back gaming headsets are still a small club. Most gaming headphones go closed-back. The FIFINE H19 picks the other path. It’s one of the most accessible open-back options on the market.
Combining audiophile open-backs with features gamers actually use, the FIFINE H19 feels like FIFINE’s most ambitious headphone yet. We’ve been testing the H19 across competitive shooters, single-player RPGs, Discord calls, and casual music listening. Here’s what we found.
FIFINE H19 Review Head-to-Head
Overall Score: 8.7 / 10
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 9 / 10 |
| Microphone Performance | 8.5 / 10 |
| Build Quality & Comfort | 8.5 / 10 |
| Features & Software | 9 / 10 |
| Connectivity & Compatibility | 7.5 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 9.5 / 10 |
Pros
- Genuinely immersive open-back soundstage
- Surprisingly punchy bass for an open design
- 7.1 virtual surround that actually helps in-game
- Microphone with effective noise cancellation and a clear mute LED
- Metal components where they matter, padded headband, lightweight feel
- RGB lighting and EQ are fully customizable in the companion app
Cons
- USB-only — no 3.5mm option for plugging into mixers or amps
- Not Xbox compatible
- Earcups don’t swivel side-to-side
- Spring-loaded volume flick instead of a scroll wheel
- Switching EQ modes doesn’t produce very noticeable changes
FIFINE H19 Review: Measurements Details
#1: Sound Quality
Category Score: 9 / 10
The first thing you notice with the H19 is space. Closed-back gaming headsets often feel like sound is being shoved at your ears from inside a small box. The H19 unclamps that — footsteps, gunshots, music, and ambient effects sound like they’re happening around you rather than at you.
The frequency balance is the real surprise. Open-back designs are notoriously weak in the low end, and most cheap ones sound thin or hollow. The H19 doesn’t. The bass has surprised many reviewers, like Barry Watson. It won’t massage your skull, but kick drums hit with weight and explosions in-game have body.
One of the things I was particularly impressed by is that they have good bass, and a lot of open-backed headsets are a bit lacking in the low end, but not these.
@Barry-Watson on YouTube
Tested across YouTube, Spotify, and a stretch of cinematic single-player games, fatigue was a non-issue. Two-hour sessions ended with no ringing ears or that “I need a break” feeling that mid-range closed-backs often produce.
One honest caveat: if you’re stepping over from an audiophile pair like the Sennheiser HD 600 series or Beyerdynamic DT 770, you’ll hear less micro-detail. That’s expected at this price. For 90% of gamers and casual music listeners, the H19 punches well above its weight.
#2: Microphone Performance
Category Score: 8.5 / 10
The detachable boom microphone attaches via a 3.5mm plug on the left cup, so you can pop it off when you don’t need it. Voice reproduction is clean and warm, with enough fullness for Discord, Zoom, Teams, or Twitch chat.
The standout feature is the noise cancellation toggle on the inline controller. Flip it on and steady background noise — fans, AC hum, mechanical keyboards a few feet away — drops noticeably without turning your voice into a robotic, gated mess.
We tested the mute toggle repeatedly during voice recording. No popping, no clicks, and the small red LED at the tip of the mic boom is genuinely useful. Danny Lighting praised it,
You don’t want to be sitting there trying to talk to somebody and find out you are muted. But if that thing’s bright red, which you can see in your peripheral vision, you’ll know the microphone is muted.
Danny Lighnting on YouTube
For plosives and sibilance, results were solid as long as you angle the boom slightly off-axis from your mouth. Hard “P” and “S” sounds were controlled.
The Limitation: The boom mic in H19 is not a studio microphone. If you’re recording YouTube voiceovers or podcasts, you’ll want something like a FIFINE AmpliGame AM8 or a dedicated XLR setup.
#3: Build Quality & Comfort
Category Score: 8.5 / 10
The FIFINE H19 feels lighter than expected without feeling cheap. The brackets that hold the earcups are metal. The size adjustments are metal. The braided cable is around 10 feet long and ends in USB-A with a sturdy inline controller.
The headband padding is generous, and the earcups have thick foam cushioning that distributes weight evenly. After multi-hour sessions, hot spots weren’t an issue. The clamp force sits in the goldilocks zone — secure enough to stay put, light enough to forget you’re wearing them.
Two quirks you should be aware of: The earcups offer a small amount of vertical tilt but no side-to-side swivel. The fit relies on the headband geometry working for your head shape. Second, the cups can feel a touch loose if you turn your head quickly. They don’t grip the way a tighter closed-back would.
#4: Features & Software
Category Score: 9 / 10
The inline controller is the H19’s command center. From top to bottom, you get:
- A large surround sound button (lights up when active)
- EQ preset cycling (game, music, movie)
- Microphone noise cancellation toggle
- RGB lighting mode cycling
- A spring-loaded volume rocker
- Microphone mute
The 7.1 virtual surround is the headline feature, and unlike many software-driven surround modes, this one is useful. In competitive shooters, directional audio becomes easier to place. It widens the stage and lifts the bass a touch when active. For music, you’ll probably want it off; for gaming and movies, leave it on.
If you’re playing Call of Duty or some sort of game where there’s footsteps going around, you can easily hear where your opponent’s at, which is really nice.
Danny Lightning on YouTube
The FIFINE Genie software is where the H19 gets interesting. You can:
- Build custom EQ curves with a 10-band equalizer
- Pick from preset output curves (Apex, Cyberpunk, and others) tuned for specific games
- Adjust your microphone input EQ (deep voice, broadcast, clarity)
- Mix game audio vs. chat audio independently
- Cycle through 10+ RGB lighting effects and pick custom colors
- Toggle real-time mic monitoring
Tip: The voice-changer modes — robot, monster, baby, megaphone — are pure fun rather than serious tools. Most are too distorted for actual communication. Treat them as bonus toys.
#5: Connectivity & Compatibility
Category Score: 7.5 / 10
The H19 is USB-A, plug-and-play. It carries its own DAC, so you don’t need a separate sound card or audio interface to make it work. You can use FIFINE H19 on PC, Mac, PS4, and other gaming consoles. But the H19 is NOT available with Xbox.
The other connectivity ceiling: there’s no 3.5mm jack. If you wanted to plug this into a mixer, headphone amp, or audio interface, you can’t. FIFINE has confirmed an open-back headset with a 3.5mm jack is on the way, but for now, the H19 is USB or nothing.
#6: Value for Money
Category Score: 9.5 / 10
The H19 sits in the $60-$80 range, depending on sale pricing. At that point, you’re competing with HyperX Cloud, Logitech G Pro X, and Razer Kraken — all closed-back, none of which give you this kind of soundstage.
Comparable open-back gaming headsets from Sennheiser, Astro, or Beyerdynamic typically start around $130 and climb past $200. The H19 brings the open-back experience down to a price where buying one as a “let’s try this style” purchase actually makes sense.
You’re getting a built-in sound card, a detachable boom mic, noise cancellation, 7.1 surround, RGB, a full software suite, and metal-reinforced construction.
You can find these on Amazon anywhere from $60 to $70, which for a gaming headset with this quality microphone is a fantastic deal.
@BacktotheRetroReview
Open-Back vs. Closed-Back: Which One Are You?
The biggest decision with the H19 isn’t whether it’s good — it’s whether open-back is right for your setup.
| Feature | Open-Back | Closed-Back |
|---|---|---|
| Soundstage | Wider, more natural | Narrower, more direct |
| Bass impact | Lighter (H19 is an exception) | Heavier, more thump |
| Isolation | Lets room sound in | Blocks out the room |
| Sound leakage | Others hear what you’re playing | Sound stays private |
| Ear fatigue | Generally less | Generally more |
| Best for | Quiet rooms, immersive single-player, music | Noisy spaces, streaming, public spots |
If you live with roommates, work in a shared space, or stream with your mic close to your headphones, closed-back is the safer call. If you have a quiet room and want a headset that disappears on your head while gaming, an open-back headset is a revelation.
For more on this, check our full guide: Open-Back vs. Closed-Back Headsets →
Who Is the FIFINE H19 For?
| Use Case | Recommend? |
|---|---|
| Competitive PC FPS player who wants positional audio | ✅ Strong yes |
| Single-player gamer who values immersion | ✅ Strong yes |
| Streamer in a quiet studio | ✅ Yes |
| Discord / Zoom user who wants a clean mic | ✅ Yes |
| Console gamer on PS4 / PS5 | ✅ Yes |
| Console gamer on Xbox | ❌ Not compatible |
| Audio engineer mixing professionally | ❌ Look at studio open-backs |
| User who needs 3.5mm for mixers or amps | ❌ Wait for the upcoming 3.5mm model |
| Listener in a noisy shared space | ❌ Get a closed-back |
FIFINE H19 Alternatives
FIFINE H13 Closed-Back Gaming Headset
Overall Score: 7.8 / 10
Pros
- Closed-back design blocks out room noise
- Still cheaper than the H19
- Same plug-and-play USB simplicity
- Solid for streaming in less-than-quiet spaces
Cons
- Narrower soundstage
- Less refined tuning than the H19
- No metal in the build
The FIFINE H13 gaming headset is a closed-back USB gaming headset for users who need isolation over immersion. If you have background noise to deal with or you don’t want sound leaking out, the H13 is a more practical choice.
Final Verdict on FIFINE H19 Review
The FIFINE H19 is the most interesting headset FIFINE has put out, and one of the most interesting open-back options at this price across the board. It combines the open-back design and the features gamers want.
The 7.1 surround sound, a boom mic, RGB, and FIFINE Genie software make the H19 stand out. That said, shortbacks include only USB input, the Xbox limitations, and the volume rocker still need improvement.
Overall, if you’re curious what wider, more natural game audio sounds like, the H19 is the cheapest way to find out — and you won’t feel like you compromised to get there.
FAQ
Is the FIFINE H19 compatible with Xbox?
No. The H19 works with PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, and Switch in dock mode, but not Xbox consoles.
Does the open-back design leak sound?
Yes. People near you may hear what you’re listening to, especially at higher volumes. Likewise, you’ll hear some room noise. This is normal for open-back designs.
Will the microphone pick up game audio from the headphones?
Not at normal listening volumes. You’d have to crank the volume to uncomfortable levels before bleed becomes an issue.
Is the boom microphone removable?
Yes. It connects via a 3.5mm plug on the left earcup, so you can detach it when you don’t need it.
Does the H19 work without the software?
Yes. It’s plug-and-play out of the box. If you want the upgraded adjustment, like custom EQ, lighting effects, mic input adjustments, and game-specific audio profiles, FIFINE Genie software can do it well.
How long is the cable?
About 10 feet of braided USB-A cable with an inline controller positioned for easy reach.
