Keep in mind that analog gaming headphones with 3.5mm jacks can work on almost any device — PS5, Xbox Series X or S, Nintendo Switch and so on — in addition to Windows PCs. These include the ability to use it wired or while it charges over USB, a Discord-certified noise-canceling retractable microphone, swivel ear cups to let it sit on your shoulders, and support for DTS Headphone:X v2.0 and Windows Spatial audio. Its big brother, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, garners rave reviews as well, but it’s significantly more expensive as well as relatively old; it’s due for an upgrade and I think it’s a bit overkill for many gamers, anyway.
I prefer the V2 over the V2 X for its extra PC features, like support for THX Spatial Audio, microphone settings in Razer’s Synapse utility and a USB dongle. But you do get a an activation card for a Dolby Atmos subscription (mine was for a year but it’s possible that period’s been cut back in the interim) for Windows 10 and Xbox One or later. Lori Grunin/CNET It’s priced on the high side for a virtual 7.1 surround headset lacking in many features, but what the lightweight HyperX Cloud II Wireless is missing in capabilities it makes up for in comfort and performance, such as a 60-foot signal range and good battery life. Lori Grunin/CNET This may be a somewhat controversial choice overall, but even a lot of people who don’t like the Epos gaming headsets in general tend to agree that they have great stereo audiophile-quality sound. That, plus only passable signal retention via the dongle — it occasionally gives me problems starting at about 16 feet away, roughly a half (or more) the distance of other headsets, but doesn’t seem to have any lag while gaming — are the only two issues I have with it.
Those include the same connect-to-everything flexiblity of the Arctis 9X: You can’t use two Bluetooth connections simultaneously, but any other wired and/or wireless pairing works. They’re really comfortable for extended wear and on the lighter side given everything inside them (10-11 ounces/288-309g depending on whether the boom’s attached) at least for my head and with glasses on, plus the battery lasts a relatively long time and doesn’t run down quickly when they’re not used for a while. You can use it with any 3.5mm-jack-bearing console or system, but you don’t get the customizable surround setup unless you’re connected via USB on Windows, since it requires a proprietary app. The G733’s generally an above average lightweight wireless gaming headset, but it’s got one advantage over much of the competition: an excellent mic backed by an insane level of customizability via Blue Yeti-powered software.
Simultaneous wireless and Bluetooth and chat-mix balance are usually only found in more expensive models, so here the performance and sound quality are worth the money.
Best PS4 gaming headset for 2021
A good set of headphones not only let you hear your game better, they also help you communicate with your party and catch up with your buds. Just be aware that these PS4 headsets all include — and require — a low-latency wireless dongle that plugs into the USB port on your PS4 (there should be no audio delay).
Some midrange and high-end PS4 gaming headset models — both wired and wireless — feature 7.1 virtual surround sound. When looking for the best PS4 headsets, we also took mic quality into consideration, because that’s especially important if your gaming session requires group coordination.
These are the results of our own home-based testing — we thought about everything from noise cancellation to the comfiness of the ear cushions. It’s just very solidly built, has good sound with strong microphone performance and most importantly, it’s comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions.
For about $30 more you can get the HyperX Cloud Alpha 7.1, which has a nearly identical design but supports virtual surround sound audio — only for PCs, though. Our friends at our sister site GameSpot noted that this wireless gaming headset is a relatively low-frills model for its midrange price, with few physical buttons (no chat volume control, no sound mode toggles) except for a power switch and a large volume wheel that operates very smoothly.
The Arctis Pro came out in early 2018, so it’s probably due for a refresh, but it remains a top PS4 (and PC) headset if you can afford it.
Battery life is rated at up to 14 hours with the lights turned off, but expect to get a little less than that if you keep the volume fairly high. It’s a great value and is compatible (in wireless mode) with PS4 and PC, as well as the Nintendo Switch, thanks to an included USB-C dongle. There’s nothing fancy about this model, but it’s pretty lightweight and comfortable with nicely padded ear cups, plus it has a detachable boom microphone.
While some of JBL’s higher-end models feature wireless connectivity and even noise canceling, the Quantum 100 is just a basic gaming headphone that will appeal to more casual gamers on a tight budget.
The Best Gaming Headsets for 2021
Your choices range from basic wired earpieces and boom mics you can pick up for $20 at a drug store (or are included with your game console), to expensive, simulated surround sound, e-sports-oriented, wireless, over-ear headphones available at enthusiast sites. Bluetooth has made great strides in the last few years, but proprietary wireless connections generally offer better audio quality, faster response, and a stronger signal. Most high-end gaming headsets claim to offer some form of surround sound, but this isn’t technically accurate. The gaming surround aspect comes from Dolby, DTS, and/or THX processing technologies that tweak how the headsets mix sound between your ears to give an impression of 360-degree audio.
Some pricey gaming headsets like the JBL Quantum One offer more immersive audio by incorporating head tracking into the mix. Still, you generally won’t find a “best” headset unique to a console; the top models usually have multiple, system-specific versions. It’s a boom mic that easily attaches to your favorite pair of headphones, and can be removed when not in use thanks to a two-piece magnetic mount. ModMic lacks the gaming-specific features associated with dedicated gaming headsets, but it lets you use your beloved old cans for voice chat.
You can use speakers and enjoy the room-filling atmosphere, and shout into the inexpensive and mediocre monoaural headsets many consoles come with. The next time you’re in a deathmatch, raid, or capture mission, make sure you’re shouting into the boom mic of a good headset.
Best PC Gaming Headsets 2021: Wireless, Budget and More
But choosing the best gaming headset for your ears and head shape isn’t easy, due in part to the sheer amount of options that are available. With the ever-rising popularity of esports and the relative simplicity of combining off-the-shelf audio hardware with cushy earcups, a sprinkle of software wizardry and a mic, PC gamers are now offered more choices than ever. A quick search of popular online retailers yields hundreds of choices across dozens of companies, ranging from less than $10 (£8) to over $600 (£460). Comfort is more subjective than measuring audio output and input, but generally speaking you should avoid plush gaming headsets with thick bulges, cheap foam and cloth covers.
If you’ve heard Bluetooth audio in years past and hated it (it definitely was bad for a long time), give an aptX-enabled headset a listen. The HyperX Cloud Alpha is the best gaming headset for most players, offering nearly perfect sound quality and an awesome value, especially if you can find it for under $100.
Noise reproduction with these cans sounds natural and the drivers avoid pesky flaws, like overly aggressive bass or highs. This isn’t a revolutionary headset, but it delivers the necessary sound quality and top-of-the-line comfort with the rare reasonable price tag. In terms of long-term wearability, the headset earns its Cloud branding with a light, comfy fit built comprised of quality materials. This includes thick memory foam padding on the headband and earcups and HyperX’s decision to opt for aluminum over plastic in some important areas.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE Best Wireless Gaming Headset Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz Mic: Omnidirectional Connectivity: USB Type-A 2.4 GHz dongle Weight: 0.8 pounds(360g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Best Buy View at CORSAIR View at Walmart 4 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Powerful Hi-res audio + Immaculate presentation + Great battery life Reasons to avoid – Wireless range depends on house construction – Headband digs in a bit over time – Slightly heavy reverb The best wireless gaming headset for most, it offers premium quality audio that enters audiophile territory and looks pretty and shiny instead of clunky and heavy.
Creative SXFI Air Gamer Best Bluetooth Gaming Headset Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: > 2.2 kohms Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz Mic: 2x bidirectional, 1x omnidirectional Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C cable, 3.5mm cable Weight: 0.8 pounds (335g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Excellent audio quality for gaming, music, movies + Simultaneous USB and Bluetooth connections lets you hear both your PC and phone Reasons to avoid – Setup requires a smartphone and is much easier with a second person – External sound isolation could be better The Creative SXFI Air Gamer offers a lot of functionality of the pricier Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT on this page but at a much cheaper price. The best part is audio quality is on a premium level, including superious bass reproduction, and is fit for your favorite games, as well as watching movies or listening to music. Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Best Bluetooth Gaming Headset Splurge Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz Mic: Omnidirectional Connectivity: 3.5mm, USB Type-A cable, USB Type-A dongle, Bluetooth Weight: 0.8 pounds (362.9g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Best Buy Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Comfortable and classy + Simultaneous dongle/Bluetooth connectivity lets you hear your phone and PC Reasons to avoid – Expensive – Battery life isn’t great when connected to two devices
That proved a boon for productivity, letting us game with a dongle and hear music or notifications from our phone, for example, so we never missed a thing. Asus TUF Gaming H3 Best Budget Gaming Headset Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz Mic: Unidirectional condenser Connectivity: 3.5mm Weight: 0.6 pounds (272.2g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Adorama Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Impressive out-of-box sound quality + Incredibly comfortable Reasons to avoid – Questionable build quality – Advertised virtual 7.1 surround sound is Windows Sonic, usable by any 3.5mm headset But when it comes to gaming and hearing sound cues like weapon switches, this headset gets the job done without effort on your part or heavy damage to your bank account. HyperX Cloud Orbit S Best Gaming Headset for Virtual Surround Sound Specifications Driver: 100mm neodymium Impedance: Not disclosed Frequency response: 10-50,000 Hz Mic: Unidirectional condenser Connectivity: 3.5mm, USB Type-A, USB Type-C Weight: 0.8 pounds(362.9g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Adorama 877 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Immersive and loud 3D audio + Soft, squishy headband and ear cups + Good battery life + Accurate head tracking Reasons to avoid – A little heavy – Head tracking’s audio impact varies depending on game
The HyperX Cloud Orbit S is, indeed, expensive, but its premium sound quality and featureset make it the best gaming headset for splurging. But the Orbit S, which bears the same cozy memory foam headband and earpads as other headsets in HyperX’s Cloud line, offers a gaming edge you’ll actually notice. Asus ROG Delta S Best Gaming Headset for Hi-Res Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz Mic: Noise-cancelling condenser Connectivity: USB Type-C or USB-C to USB-A adapter Weight: 0.7 pounds (320g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Amazing audio clarity + Solid build quality Reasons to avoid – Short cable – Slight sound leakage Not every gamers also demands the joys of hi-res music, but those who do can graduate to more powerful, immersive jam sessions, especially with the Asus ROG Delta S. These cans sniped the title of Best Hi-res Gaming Headset from the SteelSeries Arctis Pro+ GameDAC , partially by including a more powerful DAC.
In terms of gaming, the ROG Delta S is also premium, offering more oomph in the overall soundscape than rivals, from the twang of a bow and arrow to the cracks of an assault rifle. It’s easy to prefer the popular DTS Headphone:X v2.0 surround scheme that the Arctis Pro+ GameDac employs than the one Asus concocted.
Corsair Void RGB Elite USB Best Gaming Headset Mic Specifications Driver: 50mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-30,000 Hz Mic: Omnidirectional condenser Connectivity: USB Type-A Weight: 0.9 pounds(390g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Best Buy 38 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + You could land planes with this mic + Exceptionally soft foam padding + Very breathable Reasons to avoid – Some fitting issues on smaller heads – Sound leakage affects bass tightness – Awkward mic mute button
If you do a lot of chatting on your headset, be with your Overwatch teammates, work colleagues or Mom, the Corsair Void RGB Elite USB will make sure you sound just like you to whoever’s listening.
It’s also Discord-certified and showed better low-end response than rivals.It’s not quite as warm as what you can get with the best gaming microphones or any USB mic, but it’s close. SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Best Gaming Headset Splurge Specifications Driver: 40mm neodymium Impedance: 32 Ohms Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz Mic: Bidirectional condenser Connectivity: USB Type-A wireless dongle or Bluetooth 4.1 Weight: 0.8 pounds(357g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime Low Stock View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Best Buy 18 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Comfortable headband design + Peerless swappable battery system + Crisp hi-res audio + Feature-laden base station Reasons to avoid – Needs base station to charge – Headband durability concerns
Lossless titles, like Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, sounded noticeably crisper with a lot of depth on the Arctis Pro. You also get DTS Headphones:X virtual surround sound via a transmitter base station boasting other helpful features, like ChatMix and general volume control. But the Arctis Pro Wireless has the advantage in its smart design, Bluetooth capability and swappable batteries to keep the party going while traveling.
Epos H3 Hybrid Best Headset for Multiple Use Cases Specifications Driver: 40mm neodymium magnet Impedance: (Unlisted) Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz Mic: Bidirectional boom mic, omnidirectional on-cup mic Connectivity: 2.4 GHz USB-C Dongle, USB-A via adapter, 3.5mm cable Weight: 0.65 pounds (298g) TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon View at Best Buy Reasons to buy + Extremely comfortable during extensive use + Attractive design + Wired, wireless, mixed modes + Superb battery life Reasons to avoid – Music needs EQ tweaking for best sound – Mic picks up background noise – Must be powered on in 3.5mm mode
Best Gaming Headset 2021: The Top Wired and Wireless Gaming Headsets
We often think about a quality gaming experience in terms of resolution, frame rates, and how high we’re able to dial our graphics settings. Matters are only worse in games, where a bad audio experience can hurt your ears with sounds that take a sudden turn toward explosive or enemies that you can’t hear until it’s too late. A quality gaming headset can help ensure these audio issues won’t be a concern of yours. Some feature custom equalizers and surround sound so you can really tune your audio experience for an edge in gaming.
Compatibility: PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ● Interface: wired ● Connections: USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm audio cable ● Drivers: 100mm Planar ● Frequency response: 10Hz – 50,000Hz ● Surround sound modes: 7.1 ● Battery Life: 10 hours ● Weight: 368g The Cloud Orbit S was built in partnership with Audeze, a company with a knack for stunning audio using planar magnetic drivers.
You’ll get impeccably precise audio and a wide frequency response range — good luck going back to your ordinary headphones for anything but listening to podcasts or the news. HyperX gives these headphones a boost with support not just for standard 7.1-channel virtual surround sound but also for Waves NX technology. This builds positional tracking into the headset for use on PC, letting the audio shift depending on the orientation of your head. The Razer Barracuda X has a lightweight build at just 250g and keeps things discreet with an all-black design, a low-profile headband, and even a removable boom mic. You’d think there might be a few cut corners or missing features at this price point, but Razer didn’t even settle for a lackluster battery life, as these headphones can run for 20 hours. Compatibility: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4/PS5, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS ● Interface: wireless, wired ● Connections: 2.4GHz wireless USB-C dongle, USB-C wired, 3.5mm audio cable ● Drivers: 40mm Neodymium ● Frequency response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz ● Surround sound modes: 7.1 ● Battery Life: 24 hours
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X headset still offers a comfortable design with breathable ear cushions and a “ski google” headband the distributes its pressure well. There are plenty of extras as well, such as surround sound support on Xbox and Windows, an improved 24-hour battery life, multiple connectivity options, and a special dial dedicated ChatMix. This headset has a bigger profile on account of its use of a suspension headband to evenly spread its weight for long-term comfort and its larger earcups to accommodate 50mm speaker drivers. The headset also has a built-in dial to adjust your mic monitoring levels, so you can fine-tune how well you hear yourself in case you want to avoid shouting at your teammates.
Compatibility: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ● Interface: wired ● Connections: 3.5mm audio cable ● Drivers: 106mm planar magnetic ● Frequency response: 10Hz – 50,000Hz ● Surround sound modes: 2.0 ● Weight: 454g The Audeze LCD GX uses sizable planar magnetic drivers for incredibly precise audio that’ll also benefit from the wide open soundstage provided by the open-back design of the headphones.
Compatibility: PS5/PS4, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Mobile ● Interface: wired ● Connections: USB-C ● Drivers: 50mm Neodymium ● Frequency response: 20Hz – 40,000Hz ● Surround sound modes: Virtual 7.1 ● Weight: 300g The Asus ROG Delta S (read our review) manages to be a truly standout headset, and a lot of its excellence is actually achieved thanks to its wired connection. It’s a precise enough headset for those looking to enter a premium level of music streaming with Master Quality Authenticated files.
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime headset (read our review) is built to give you clear audio both going in and coming out. Your teammates in esports will hear you loud and clear thanks to the ClearCast microphone, which has consistently delivered on SteelSeries headsets. These drivers deliver an extended frequency response range and hi-fi clarity to ensure you don’t miss anything in game.
For a great pair of headphones that are ready for the next generation of Xbox, you’ll want the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 (read our review). These headphones don’t require any awkward solutions to set up, since they support Xbox Wireless for direct pairing with your console. On-ear controls will let you easily manage the audio coming in from different sources, so you can crank up your teammates in case they get hard to hear over the intense firefights in your games. And, thanks to a 20-hour battery life, you’ll be able to enjoy the clean game audio these can deliver without having to recharge every day.
If you’re lucky enough to have picked up a PS5, you’ll want to ensure you can make the most out of the capabilities of the Tempest 3D audio engine, and the Sony Pulse 3D (read our review) is the headset to do it. The Logitech G Pro X incorporates some of Blue legendary microphone technology to capture clear, natural and isolated recorded voice.
Additionally, you can use the Blue VO!CE software to auto-tune your voice with presets making it a great option as a microphone for streaming and podcasting. Drivers are the internal mechanism inside headsets and headphones (or really any speaker) that ultimately create the soundwaves you hear by vibrating back and forth in response to an electrical current.
The larger the driver, the more air they can move to not only to make louder sounds, but it also allows them to produce a wider, more nuanced range of frequencies—which happens to take us to our next specification.
As you go from the bottom of the range to the top, sounds go from a low thud to a warm, steady hum and finally a piercing screech.
While on the hunt for a gaming headset, you’ll likely find more than a few promising 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound, which are both designed to give users a more immersive audio experience. They both essentially do the same thing of adding positional audio for effects for objects like say a plane flying over or a bomb falling from the sky above you.
There are very few gaming headsets like the Razer Tiamat that actually come with the individual drivers necessary to create a real surround sound environment.
Be First to Comment