These are my pc37x's, they have amazing sound stage 360 degree coverage as well as vertical coverage. They feature a volume nob on the side for the sound. the mic mutes by raising the mic all the way till you hear a little click sound. Speaking of the mic, the vocal clarity is top notch, sound is crisp and clear. One of the best on the market in terms of wired gamming headsets. The ear cups feature a semi open back blade like design. id say its quite the same as a normal grill and foam in terms of the way they feel as open back headphones. They can be used without a dac, but you may want one for just a little more volume. Its really is a great little headset. Ive owned it for a little while so there may be some dust in the earcups i did my best to keep em as clean as i could. And the plastic for these were notorious for showing scratches quite easily, so there are a few surface scratches nothing too crazy.