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. Likewise, the de-emphasis in the high’s might make the sounds of some strings and cymbals a little bit harder to hear, but nothing too major.
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 6 Best PS4 Gaming Headsets – Fall 2021 Reviews
If you like to customize your audio experience, some headphones come with companion software so that you can tweak their sound, access virtual surround features, and even control mic performance.
Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset review
Sony’s so-called Tempest Engine does all of the hard work so that any standard pair of wired headphones can deliver immersive 3D sound when plugged into the DualSense controller. Sony has decided to visually tie the Pulse 3D headset to the controversial design of the PS5, opting for the same white finish for the headband as on the faceplates of the console.
They include a rocker to adjust the balance between game audio and chat, a switch for turning monitor mode on or off (useful for ensuring you don’t speak too loudly), volume, mute and power on/off.
There’s no button to enable or disable the 3D audio feature as there was with the Platinum Wireless Headset, but that’s because the tech is built in more at a system level.
Battery life is 12 hours, which isn’t huge by Bluetooth headphone standards but should cover even the longest of gaming sessions. Surprisingly, despite all of the additional tech on board, the Pulse 3D headset more than stands its ground against sub-£100 wired headphones in most areas.
Dynamics are decent, too, with the headset able to convey subtle shifts as well as epic crescendos, and there’s more than enough detail for a pair of headphones costing this much. When music tracks become particularly busy, the Pulse 3D headset struggles to maintain a complete grip on each strand, and that can make these sections a little hard to follow.
Luckily, though, this timing issue isn’t apparent when gaming and the generally strong core sound quality translates well when you use the Pulse 3D headset for its intended purpose. Switch to Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and the 3D audio gives a real sense of the cavernous nature of the CIA safehouse, the distance of each character as they speak and the echo as their voices hit the interior walls of the warehouse. The Pulse headset is surprisingly accomplished at creating a 3D soundfield, but the placement of effects is even better with a properly calibrated home cinema system. If you don’t have the money, space or circumstances for a home cinema system, this is pretty much the next best thing as far as PS5 gaming is concerned, and that makes it a great buy.
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 Prime View at Amazon 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. 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 Prime Low Stock View at Amazon View at Walmart 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
With a 15-hour battery life, a comfortable fit for glasses wearers, and finely tuned 50mm speakers, you’ll be getting plenty of bang for your buck with these. 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.
Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset review
Designed to tap into Sony’s proprotory 3D Audio Tempest engine that targets more immersive sound when gaming, the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset makes for a compelling first-party accessory for your PS5. It’s not as sleek as higher-end wireless headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 , but equally for the price, the Pulse 3D headset is surprisingly refined.
This already makes the Pulse 3D a strong choice for PS5 owners who are put off by the traditional overly elaborate and brightly-lit ‘gamer’ aesthetic. This feels like a consequence of Sony prioritizing the headset’s looks, since having the cramped controls means the outside of both ear cups are left plain.
It took me a long time to learn to do this consistently, since the limited gaps between the identical-feeling buttons make it hard to figure out where your fingers are. You can technically do this without wearing the headset as the LED flashes in different patterns to also show you a rough percentage.
Comparing this to the Audeze Penrose, a much more expensive headset, it was clear that the Pulse 3D isn’t quite as powerful in general, particularly when it comes to the low end of the mix. As you’d hope from 3D audio headphones, there was a well-designed surround effect, even though the Pulse 3D isn’t primarily designed for music or for use with a PC. After recording myself speaking through the Pulse 3D on a voice note app, I too would agree I sounded perfectly audible, with little to no popping. When sound behaves like it does in real life, coming at you from multiple directions instead of just in stereo, the game world makes more sense, and you can accept the soundscape as normal and get on with playing. Some inferior surround-sound headsets I’ve tried just make everything sound distant, but this wasn’t an issue for the Pulse 3D on the PS5. While the name of the headset sounds like it’s a unique feature, keep in mind you can access the PS5’s 3D Audio system with any pair of wired or compatible wireless headphones.
Sony promises 12 hours of battery life from the Pulse 3D, and that seems pretty accurate from my experience having to charge it twice a week after spending my evenings replaying WipEout Omega Collection. It’s a common connection and filling up the headset’s battery only takes a short amount of time, even when plugged into a low wattage power source such as one of the USB ports on the PS5 itself. The wireless adapter means you’re able to easily switch the Pulse 3D between PS5 and PS4 consoles, or to Windows or Mac devices.
I was plagued with constant disconnects during both video calls and gameplay on two separate days, but I’ve been unable to replicate the issue since.
If you are afflicted with disconnects, or have simply forgotten to charge up the battery, then you have the option of connecting a 3.5mm jack cable for audio-only use. It makes for a good back-up option if you’ve forgotten to charge the headset, even while gaming since the DualSense controller features a 3.5mm port that you can route the audio through. If you aren’t looking for a gaming headset with all the possible bells and whistles, the Pulse 3D delivers the basics, on the whole, at their most finely tuned. Sony’s making a great case for buying extra PlayStation-branded gear with this handsome, great-sounding pair of wireless headphones, even if it’s not too hard to get much more impressive performance if you spend a little more for something like the Steelseries 7P .
PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset review
It offers decent stereo sound, an easy setup and a quality mic, plus it gives you a taste of Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. The plastic build quality is a bit off-putting and the 12-hour battery life runs out fast, but otherwise this is a solid accessory that offers a lot for its $99 / £89.99 / AU$159 price point. It offers decent stereo sound, an easy setup and a quality mic, plus it gives you a taste of Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech. The plastic build quality is a bit off-putting and the 12-hour battery life runs out fast, but otherwise this is a solid accessory that offers a lot for its $99 / £89.99 / AU$159 price point.
While it’s not without problems – its 12-hour battery runs out fast, its build quality isn’t the best and the 3D effect does take some tuning to get right – the Pulse 3D is a rock-solid PS5 headset and one that we’d recommend you pick up when you finally get your hands on the console. That said, if you’re looking for some alternatives, you could check out the Turtle Beach Recon 200 that’s compatible with the PS5 and priced at only $49.99 / £29.99 / AU$77.99, however you’ll be making a sacrifice in the sound performance department and overall feature set.
The cans themselves house medium-sized 40mm drivers and the clamping force of the headphones – i.e. how much pressure the cups put on your head – is just enough to keep them on without them falling off. Sure, going for silk and metal might’ve made them a bit cosier on the ears and sturdier, but the pleather stays relatively cool and comfortable after extended use and the plastic, while definitely not ideal, does keep the cost of the headset down.
If you’re planning on buying a pair of headphones you can take with you on the go, the PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset isn’t going to be it. You can also plug the dongle into a PC’s USB port if you want to use it there, but you won’t get surround sound that way. Of course, what you’ll really want to buy the Pulse 3D Wireless for is its compatibility with Sony’s new Tempest 3D AudioTech that it’s implementing in all its first-party games that give them a more realistic and immersive sound quality. The list of games that support 3D Tempest AudioTech is fairly limited at the moment – in fact, it’s just Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Astro’s Playroom, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Demon’s Souls – but you can also expect support for Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, Destruction AllStars, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil Village and more later down the road.
As the de facto PS5 headset, the Pulse 3D Wireless should be one of the first accessories you buy for the new console as it enhances the experience and allows you to talk with friends. While the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset does provide you the best bridge to Sony’s new Tempest 3D AudioTech, the results aren’t going to blow you away.
If that sounds like you, too, you might want to wait for a longer-lasting headset to come out – or at the very least, keep the USB-C charging cable by your console at all times as a reminder.
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.
PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset Review
Be it because console manufacturers want you to buy within their ecosystem or just a lack of interested people (we doubt it!) The headset comes equipped with a full plastic body, but still feel sturdy.
If your ears are of the average size, you will find that the headset is quite comfortable and very light.
On the front side, you will find a power switch and a volume rocker that controls chat volume/balance.
The headset provides great comfort for gaming for longer hours, just as long as it fits. However, if you don’t connect wirelessly to your PlayStation and opt for the 3.5 mm jack, you won’t get any surround sound.
The 7.1 surround itself is by far the best way to game on headsets and provides you with a fully immersive sound experience. Footsteps in Call of Duty run all around you, providing extra depth to the way you play the game.
The headset provides some decent separation between the instrumentation and vocals with clear mid- and high range frequencies. There is a large amount of low frequency that gets lost, which distorts any deeper voice.
Sound clarity is also significantly affected, which could be because of the embedded microphone inside the headset itself. Sony advertises eight hours of gameplay, but we found the headset falling short of that number by only a few minutes.
Any gamer who has a PS4 setup and wants to play games online or enjoys surround sound media by themselves. If you’re a competitive gamer playing FPS shooters, the 7.1 surround sound would be to your advantage as well.
For more options, check out our reviews of the Beyerdynamic Custom Game, the Logitech G432, and the superb Razor Kraken. The surround sound is the obvious selling point of these, and they make a great addition to anyone who already has a decent PS4 setup.
Official PlayStation Licensed Gaming Headset for PS4 and PS5 with In-Line Audio Control, Detachable Noise Cancelling Microphone, Comfortable Memory Foam
Overall, I’d say it didn’t fit my needs for the price I paid compared to other headsets I’ve tried in the past. I don’t really hear any bass or meaningful level differences in lows, mids, and highs – the sound feels fairly flat. I’d give this a 3/5 for the console gamers: it’s not a horrible headset, but it becomes uncomfortable and the sound quality was flat for me. By Zachary S on May 10, 2021 I’ve tested this product out both on an Xbox and a PC for the past four weeks. Overall, I’d say it didn’t fit my needs for the price I paid compared to other headsets I’ve tried in the past. I don’t really hear any bass or meaningful level differences in lows, mids, and highs – the sound feels fairly flat. I’d give this a 3/5 for the console gamers: it’s not a horrible headset, but it becomes uncomfortable and the sound quality was flat for me.
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