Despite being far more popular than the PC market, the console space is actually kind of a funny spot for gaming headsets. By and large, these problems won’t be fixed any time soon, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to settle for fewer features on a console. Editor’s note: This review was updated on April 15, 2021 to include a microphone score based on the results of our reader feedback poll. Even slight pressures can become pretty acute after a couple hours of gaming, and this seems designed for too narrow a range of ears. The PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset connects to devices using a 2.4GHz RF USB adapter, so you won’t have to worry about the audio lag Bluetooth sometimes brings. Sony doesn’t make any claims about how long the battery for this headset is supposed to last, but in our testing we found it managed just over 8 hours and 8 minutes of continuous playback. Playing games with the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset is a pretty easy experience, with a couple of drawbacks. The headset brings 7.1 virtual surround sound to PlayStation 4, without the need for added software—it’s just (yet another) a button on the left headphone (to be clear there is an optional app, but you’re not missing anything by ignoring it). Playing games like Fortnite and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it became immediately apparent how well the surround sound function works.
When you plug the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset into a PC, the computer side volume control fully doesn’t work. When playing games, this means you shouldn’t have any issues making out the sounds of footsteps or speech, even when confronted with a hail of gunfire. In music, the significant de-emphasis in the very low bass range means some sounds, many of which are most common in EDM, might be a little bit harder to hear than they otherwise should.
The Stan Rogers classic Watching the Apples Grow features myriad guitar and fiddle parts all layered on top, but the PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset never struggled with clarity at any point. The average open and close of a door or the whirr of the fridge aren’t exactly the big distractions and noises something like ANC is built for. There’s a pretty significant issue with clarity here, and it seems to largely stem from the fact that the mic is embedded in the left headphone, rather than attached to a wire.
The inclusion of surround sound, and without the need for additional software no less, makes this is a very solid pair of wireless gaming headphones.
If you want something geared more towards extended voice chat sessions, even a wired headset like the HyperX Cloud Alpha or the Fnatic React would probably be better. If you’re in the market for something with slightly more battery life, headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis 7, HyperX Cloud Flight S, and Razer Thresher Ultimate are all great wireless options, albeit at increasingly higher prices.
The best PS4 headsets for 2021
First off, one of the top PS4 headsets is quite likely to play nice – and maybe even be one of the best – with the PS5 so if you are still using the PS4 or PS4 Pro (and maybe chasing PS5 stock still) then upgrading your audio is a perfectly reasonable – and downright sensible – thing to do. And if you’re happy to just keep using your PS4 or Pro as your got-to console while you wait for stock madness to level out, then the best PS4 headset is also, literally the best way to experience the enormous PS4 library we now find ourselves at the top end of.
In terms of sound quality, Sennheiser’s reputation shines through in abundance: there’s clarity, detail, and depth here in bucketloads; the build and design are solid, sturdy and the perfect weight while the ear cups fit so they block out external noise through design alone; and the battery life is genuinely incredible, clocking in at nearly 100 hours. Razer Thresher for PS4 A still-excellent wireless PS4 headset with excellent audio Specifications Acoustic design: Closed Back Battery life: up to 16 hours Drivers: 50mm Weight: 402g Compatibility: PS4, PS4 Pro, PC TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 2 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Awesome sound quality + Great design and build + Neat PS4 audio/port connection + Comfortable + Decent battery life Reasons to avoid – Hard to get hold of now as it is likely end of life Personally, I chose to stick with the Thresher over the Platinum as it has a better low-end and its microphone doesn’t carry anywhere near as much background noise through to my teammates – the retractable, boom mic on this generation of Razer headsets are still some of the best, in my opinion. And the word available is key at the moment as it is probably coming toward the end of its true life span – you can often see it out of stock with Razer – as focus will surely shift toward a range of PS5 headsets.
But, if you’re on the lookout for a seriously good wireless PS4 that will last you a long while, support you on PC, give you audio excellence, and quality chat and game sound then the Razer Thresher is it. It’s a fantastic all-rounder, with audio capabilities that punch well above its price tag, and excellent bass that makes it perfect for gaming. Even with the standard 5.1 audio you get from a 3.5mm connection on PS4 (the 7.1 is on PC only), the Kraken TE is fine-tuned for online games like Apex Legends, helping you to pinpoint enemy movements and gunfire accurately. Sony PlayStation 4 Platinum headset The best wireless PS4 headset, and also the official model Specifications Acoustic design: Closed Back Battery life: 6 hours Drivers: 50mm Weight: 318g Compatibility: PS4 TODAY’S BEST DEALS Low Stock View at Walmart Check Amazon 731 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Designed exclusively for the PlayStation 4 + Super comfortable + Stylish look Reasons to avoid – Companion app is fairly redundant In stereo mode they provide a low-end punch that really brings out the more bombastic elements of shooters and destruction-heavy action titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 . And in shooter and battle royale games like Apex Legends, PUBG and CSGO the pre-sets withjin Corsair’s iCUe software really come to the fore with the the ‘FPS Competition’ preset clearly and brilliantly enhancing noise such as footsteps, door opening sounds and reloading.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 has gotten a design upgrade from the original headset, with a slightly toned-down look (no more bright green on the Xbox version) and a flip-to-mute mic that folds neatly into the earcup. Turn on Superhuman Hearing mode to get the upperhand in online shooters, or enable the bass boost for some serious rumble during a heart-pumping campaign mission. Turtle Beach Recon 500 A terrific wired Turtle Beach PS4 headset Specifications Acoustic design: Closed Back, over ear Drivers: 60mm Eclipse Weight: c.600g Compatibility: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at Walmart Reasons to buy + THAT excellent sound + No ‘gamer aesthetic’ flare or design quirks + Zero distortion Reasons to avoid – Nothing special about its construction materials But if you fancy Turtle Beach’s quality and don’t mind going the wired route – this will give you some more flexibility and save you a few currencies on the budget – then the new Recon 500 is a great option.
You won’t find lavish gamer-y design flairs or the most premium construction materials on the Recon 500, then, since Turtle Beach’s latest in the long-running line costs less than $100/£100. What you do find, crucially, is sound so good it takes you aback, and offers a PS5 headset experience that is terrific in quality, and not too hard on the wallet.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 A great headset and worthy successor to the original Specifications Acoustic design: Closed Back, over ear Drivers: 50mm Weight: 580g Compatibility: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Best Buy 100 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Solid battery life + Comfortable for glasses wearers + Excellent audio and microphone accuracy + Next-gen compatible Reasons to avoid – Plastic across headband feels cheap – Ear cups started to hurt after long-term wear Mic monitoring is not a feature we’re a fan of, as it echoes back any noise to us, but luckily it can be turned off via the Turtle Beach audio hub.
Yes, this PS4 headset will actually vibrate when you hear bigger sounds (although, you can disable this function), and it does actually make a difference to how immersed you feel in the game.
It’s what Razer called Hypersense technology, and while it won’t necessarily revolutionize all gaming headsets, it’s one of the few gimmicks we’d actually recommend you try. The connection is incredibly solid too, with almost zero artefacting or loss of sound, and the headset is surprisingly light and comfortable, meaning you won’t really feel it on your head unless you’re playing for extended sessions. Audeze Penrose A PS4 headset that delivers unbelievable audio – for a price Specifications Acoustic design: Over-ear, closed-circumaural Cable length: Wireless (c.50″ / 127cm aux cable) Drivers: 100mm Planar Magnetic Weight: 11.3oz / 320g Compatibility: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Excellent sound quality and detail + Comfortable + Good battery life + Solid design and build Reasons to avoid – More expensive than most top PS5 headsets – Buzzing when using while charging
The headset is well built and has an agreeable design aesthetic draped over a sturdy and robust build, all of which factor into what is a comfortable bit of kit to wear for hours at a time. The surround sound is spot on and beautifully poised, the detail is exquisite with wind, footsteps, and chatter clearly audible – and at a distant, and the balance is great, with highs that don’t squeal, and bass that is not muddy at all, but boomy and robust.
The best PS4 headset
If you’re looking for a gaming headset for PlayStation 4 that delivers the best balance of performance, comfort, and bang for your buck, we think the Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha is the one to get. It’s beautifully built, based on a proven design, and features a punchy, bass-forward sound that works great with the low-powered output of the DualShock 4 controller.
Of all the wired headsets we tested, the Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the few that delivered a truly satisfying sound experience when plugged into the PS4’s controller—neither too quiet nor too thin-sounding.
In this respect it even outshines the original HyperX Cloud, our current top-pick headset for PC gamers, when connected to a PS4. In nearly every way, everything we love about the original Cloud holds true with the Alpha: Its construction is top-notch, its sound isolation is great, and in terms of durability it has few peers. Most wired gaming headsets for the PC terminate in two connections: one 3.5 mm jack for audio output, and another for mic input.
We gave preference to headsets that instead terminate in a single four-pole plug (and that require an additional Y-splitter when used with PC). Most wired gaming headsets for the PC terminate in two connections: one 3.5 mm jack for audio output, and another for mic input. We gave preference to headsets that instead terminate in a single four-pole plug (and that require an additional Y-splitter when used with PC). As long as our fellow players on the other end of the connection could understand us without interference from background noise, we gave a mic passing marks. The Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha sounds good when connected to a PS4 controller and has a conveniently short cable and a mic that carries your voice clearly to other players. We appreciated the enhanced bass of the newer model, but preferred the more neutral sound and better long-term comfort of its older sibling.
This follow-up to one of the most popular headsets for PlayStation gamers improves on its forebear with better construction, superior styling, and a headband that isn’t prone to snapping in half. This headset isn’t quite as comfortable as our current wireless pick for PC gamers, the Kingston HyperX Cloud Flight. We loaded the preset for Uncharted 4, and it transformed the sound experience from pretty solid to downright riveting, impactful, and immersive. Simply put, the functionality of the Headset Companion app more than makes up for this model’s barely acceptable mic and lackluster battery life (roughly seven hours).
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 PlayStation 4 Gaming Headphones of 2021
Sure, you can spend hundreds of dollars on a premium headset, but who has that kind of spare cash? The audio and microphone will work, but oftentimes the features you paid extra for won’t.
Primarily billed as a headset for PC gaming , the HyperX Cloud will net you the best performance without spending as much as you did for the console itself. It’s extremely comfortable and come packaged with leatherette or velour ear cups, an audio control box, and a detachable mic. As long as you take care to dial into a comfortable volume, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful detail and clarity that’s unmatched. That audio clarity extends to the detachable mic, which delivers great sound for team communication.
Once you’ve decided that regular headphones are no longer adequate for an hours-long session of Red Dead Redemption 2, here are a few features that can help you make your decision. The best microphones should cut out any electric humming or ambient noise, and have voice clarity that is comparable to talking to someone on a cell phone when you both have great reception.
Ideally, the microphone is also adjustable so that you can get it at just the right distance from your mouth so that it doesn’t transmit your breathing more than your voice.
Granted, in an emergency, it’s best to be able to hear some of the outside world, but gaming headphones should ideally be able to block out humming from air conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances.
The fully retractable unidirectional mic delivers your chat without the electric buzz of cheaper headsets. Well, honestly it comes down to the HyperX Clouds being packaged with a couple of extra accessories and having a slightly fuller sound.
The differences are extremely minor, and if you can find the Kraken Pro V2s on sale you can buy them with absolute confidence. It’s an impressive setup for any headset and marks a definite improvement over the basic Revolver. The removable mic is fairly generic but provides clear comms that guarantee your team can hear and understand every word.
If you don’t mind paying a little extra for Dolby, the Cloud Revolver S is a great headset for playing games or just listening to your playlist.
Self adjusting headband and wide ear cups Cons Generic detachable mic $91.99 from Walmart The audio on the Arctis 3’s isn’t anything revolutionary, but if you’re a casual gamer who just wants a bit more of an intimate experience, these get the job done and then some.
I was also a big fan of the easy-to-use ear cup controls and retractable mic that allowed me to chat and goof off with my friends online and then easily mute myself when my roommate asked me a question. The sound is decent, but not mind-blowing, and the mic is nestled internally, which in my experience limits the quality of your comms.
At the end of the day, the Gold headset is a cheap way to get true wireless on your console. Turtle Beach Recon 500 It doesn’t get as loud as the HyperX Cloud Stinger but Turtle Beach’s Recon 500 is a solid, affordable headphone that provides impressive audio quality without a triple-digit price tag. The build quality is sturdy and its cushions make the headset comfortable to wear even during long gaming sessions. You won’t get the full surround sound experience of something like HyperX Cloud Revolver S, and you’ll have to be fine with using a cable as this headset has no wireless option, but the Recon 500 makes for a great entry-level gaming headphone without many compromises.
The Best Gaming Headsets
The Cloud Alpha sounds great, with a spacious soundstage and clear distinction across bass, mids, and highs so you can hear light footsteps, dialogue, and rumbling explosions. It’s light and comfortable for a wide range of head sizes, it has an airier soundstage than the HyperX Cloud Alpha, and it sounds more accurate (if less bassy, which some people who play games tend to prefer) than our other picks. The microphone muffles voices slightly, but they remain clear enough for you to converse with other players, and the ATH-PDG1 is compatible with PC, consoles, and any tablet or smartphone with a headphone jack.
The Cloud Flight S also offers mic monitoring, has chat balance (on PC only), and supports Qi charging and surround sound, features our other picks don’t have.
PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset review
That said, while we love the pack-in PS4 mono headset that serves as a gateway into the world to voice chat and audio playback, for most gamers it just doesn’t cut it. Audio from games, movies and music comes through crystal clear – which was almost a given considering the Platinum’s $159/£129/AU$259 price tag – but we were shocked just how well it worked compared to the third-party peripherals we were used to using.
Finally, the earpads themselves are made from a comfortable pleather material that gets a bit warm after some use, but doesn’t have a terrible amount of clamping force either.
The oversized earcups and double band bridge give it a sort of monstrous quality, like they were designed for a giant’s head rather than regular people.
Footsteps and gunfire imparted a general sense of directionality, but they didn’t have the same precision on Sony’s PlayStation Platinum as we’ve heard on other headsets. Playing through Drake’s latest adventure with the Platinum headphones on gave the cinematic video experience a matching aural one similar what you’d find at a movie theater.
Obviously it wasn’t as immersive as using a traditional 7.1 speaker setup, but the Platinum Headset did help us realize the level of detail the development team at Naughty Dog put into the game. Should you need to mute the headset at any time, or raise or lower the volume, you can find a row of skinny buttons along the outside rim of the left cup. Obviously one of the the headset’s major selling points is its ability to go wireless but, should you decide to run it into a mobile device or your PlayStation VR, Sony includes a standard 3.5mm-to-3.5mm audio cable inside every box. There’s plenty nice to say about Sony’s Platinum Wireless Headphones: They have exceptional – and balanced – audio performance and the mic sounds “above average” according to the people we spoke to. There’s also 3D Audio support that creates 100 virtual speakers, though honestly the headset doesn’t have the same panache in this area that you’d find on the competition’s pair of cans.
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