As the gaming industry continues to grow, so too does the demand for gaming headsets. This is especially true as the technology continues to improve. Some of the best gaming headsets on the market today are those that use virtual reality technology. These headsets allow you to experience games in a completely new way, and they are perfect for those who want to be able to play games at their best. Another great option is those that use augmented reality technology. This technology allows you to see game characters and objects in a completely new way, and it is perfect for those who want to feel like they are right there in the game. There are also some great options when it comes to audio quality. Some of these headsets have great sound quality, while others offer better sound quality than others. It really depends on what you are looking for when it comes to a gaming headset. So, if you are looking for one of the best gaming headsets on the market today, then look no further than some of these options!
Gaming headsets need excellent sound quality and the ability to give you accurate response and spatial clarity for sounds like footsteps in a competitive shooter. Audio is vital to the way we play games, so there’s no place for headsets that have a narrow soundstage. Other bells and whistles, such as RGB lighting or how it looks, are secondary to this.
On top of that, you need a microphone that isn’t fuzzy or quiet. Microphones in headsets can be extremely hit or miss because often it’s much easier for manufacturers to include a weak one to keep the price low. The best gaming headsets have crisp microphones and are just sensitive enough to pick up your voice but not everything else in the background.
As such, it can be difficult to find a sweet spot when it comes to the price of gaming headsets. A lot of headsets are either overpriced or deceivingly cheap for how good they are. It takes a careful eye to determine whether or not a headset is solid, especially since there are so many different options out there.
But that’s what we’re here for! Below are the best gaming headsets out there.
Best Gaming Headset Overall: HyperX Cloud Alpha S
For most people, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is the gaming headset to get. It’s the kind of headset to pick up if you need something to work on everything you have, as it works with PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles. It’s the bread and butter for what you need in a headset.
✓ Great sound✓ Clear microphone✓ Comfortable✓ Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series Consoles
✗ Mostly pointless mixer controls✗ Wired✗ Sound quality isn’t great for music
The Cloud Alpha S headset is solid throughout, offering great sound for basic listening activities and an accurate microphone. They’re also comfortable, which is a huge plus since gaming headsets are often worn for hours at a time.
You might not think it, but the way headsets sound can add to user comfort as well. This HyperX headset lacks a bit in the bass department (considering they have unique bass sliders on the cups), but is otherwise solid and even. An even sound is necessary to reduce strain on your ears while listening to very dynamic audio for long periods of time. This also is a boon for keeping sound cues like footsteps clean in the mix, elevating your gaming experience.
Because it connects via USB, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S lacks an in-line mute control for console players. If you need to mute your microphone frequently, that could be a deal-breaker for you. The headset also includes a mixer that you can mess with, but the results are not spectacular.
That said, these small gripes don’t affect how good the Cloud Alpha S actually is. It’s a strong pick if you need a gaming headset that connects to everything and sounds great without any fuss.
Best Budget Gaming Headset: HyperX Cloud Stinger
The HyperX Cloud Stinger headset is inexpensive for various reasons, but the price shouldn’t scare you away from it. For the price point, it’s incredible. The design of the headset is comfortable, and its microphone is surprisingly good. It’s not the kind of headset you’ll want to use for any reason other than gaming, but when you’re shopping for a gaming headset, that’s not really much of an issue.
✓ Comfortable design✓ Solid microphone✓ Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series Consoles
✗ Audio quality is sub-par✗ Wired✗ Chunky design
For a fraction of the cost of competitor headsets, you get a wired headset that is solid and performs well in its own right. The Cloud Stinger is not a wireless headset, nor does it have outstanding audio, but it will handle almost anything you throw at it—including platforms you play games on.
The reason it’s the best budget gaming headset is simply because of its capability and its comfort. Comfort is vital to gaming headsets, since you’ll typically be wearing them for hours on end, and that’s something you usually sacrifice as the price drops. However, the HyperX Cloud Stingers are true to the name and float over your ears for hours at a time. For gaming, that’s exactly what you want.
Best Wireless Gaming Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
It can be pretty hard to justify a price tag of three hundred and fifty bucks for a gaming headset, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset makes several good arguments for splashing out.
✓ Dual swappable batteries✓ Impressive audio control level✓ Retractable noise cancelling mic✓ Compatible with Xbox, PS5, PC, Mac, Switch, and mobile
✗ Expensive for casual users
Let’s start with the audio. The Nova Pro headset offers 360-degree spatial audio and is compatible with Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox and Tempest 3D Audio for PS5. Spatial audio is perfect for gaming because it allows different types of sound to exist in their own space in the soundscape. This results in a more realistic and immersive audio experience.
This is further enhanced by a Parametric Equalizer, which gives you granular control over sounds through the Sonar Audio Software Suite. You could, for example, increase the volume of footsteps while reducing the volume of explosions and gunfire. Combined with ANC, this gives you impressive control over the sounds reaching your ears.
Another important factor to look for in a wireless headset is battery life. SteelSeries’s solution to the problem of running out of charge mid-game is a hot-swappable battery system. You get two batteries, each providing 18-22 hours of use. You can charge one in the base station while using the other, so you don’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a gaming session.
The base station, which also has two USB ports, has a detailed LED panel that displays information on volume level, frequency, and, of course, battery level. The beauty of those two USB ports is that they let you connect two devices and switch between them at the touch of a button. And as the headset works with Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Mac, Switch, and mobile devices, dual device support can come in very handy.
Wireless headsets are almost always heavier than their wired counterparts, but the combination of metal and light-yet-strong plastic in the Nova Pro keeps the weight at a comfortable level. The adjustable floating headband and soft leather-effect ear pads further help to make these headphones great for extended use.
Best Gaming Headset for PC: Razer BlackShark V2
If you’ve dabbled in gaming peripherals, you’ve surely heard of Razer. Razer makes some of the best gaming accessories out there, and its headsets are no different. The Razer BlackShark V2 is perfect for PC gamers, with strong audio, a detachable microphone, and solid noise isolation.
✓ Fantastic sound quality✓ Powerful microphone✓ Good sound isolation
✗ Not compatible with consoles✗ Sound leakage✗ Limited audio controls
Unfortunately, the Razer BlackShark V2 uses a USB sound card, so it isn’t compatible with any consoles. But for PC gaming, this headset is unmatched. The sound card creates stunning audio while also cutting out extraneous noise. This is ideal for when you need to put all your focus into the game. You can even keep the BlackShark V2s on for long periods because the padding on the cups is durable and soft.
The Razer BlackShark V2 headset also excels at producing neutral audio which is ideal for gaming. When you combine that with noise isolation, you get a headset that’s built for the ultimate gaming audio experience.
The knocks to this headset include some sound leakage that can happen based on their design. So if you play with high volume, other people might hear it. There’s also the downside that the physical controls on the headset are limited to muting the microphone and controlling the volume. There’s no way to split different audio sources or have full-on EQ control.
But all things considered, those are features that you don’t need to take full advantage of what the Razer BlackShark V2 offers.
Best Gaming Headset for PS5: Sony Pulse 3D
Sony’s Pulse 3D headset offers incredible value for money. It’s a large over-ear headset with integrated noise-canceling microphones, long battery life, and fantastic 3D audio. Of course, Sony has made it so that any headset connected to a DualSense controller benefits from their 3D audio processing, but the Pulse 3D is specifically designed and tuned for it, so the technology really shines here.
✓ Great price✓ Excellent sound for gaming, especially 3D audio✓ Comfortable over-ear design✓ No mic boom✓ PS4 compatible
✗ Slightly cheap feeling✗ Requires an (included) USB dongle to work with PS5
The Pulse 3D doesn’t have a mic boom that sticks out from the headset and chat quality doesn’t seem to suffer for it. The overall design of the headset, especially the white and black model, is also suitable modern, and attractive. It’s more towards the Apple end of the design spectrum than the stereotypical “gamer” peripheral design. Whether that’s a pro or a con depends on your tastes.
Overall sound quality is quite good—certainly better than most integrated TV speakers and better than any $100 headset we’ve heard for gaming audio. Of course, you can attach a more expensive set of cans to your DualSense and blow the Pulse 3D away, but that’s hardly a fair fight.
While it’s easy to recommend the Pulse 3D for PS5 owners, some things aren’t so good. While it looks nice, the actual build quality is a little on the flimsy side, though that has the benefit of making for a lighter headset.
The biggest negative in our opinion is the need for a USB dongle, that you have to plug into the PS5 to use the headset. Why Sony couldn’t simply make the headset use the same protocol the DualSense does to transmit and receive audio, we don’t know, but it’s a jarringly inelegant aspect of an otherwise seamless experience.
Best Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X: Xbox Wireless Headset
The official Xbox Wireless Headset is an understated product that you won’t automatically tell apart from non-gaming headsets. With just a slight green accent and a black-on-black Xbox logo on the earcup, it doesn’t have the gamer aesthetic many accessories have.
✓ Comfortable✓ Compatible with current and previous generation Xbox✓ Simple operation and pairing
✗ Mic boom✗ Middling audio
The headset looks premium to the eye and is significantly more expensive than Sony’s equivalent for the PS5, which makes it a little disappointing that it still relies on a mic boom rather than integrated mics. Nonetheless, you do get voice isolation technology and a fantastic 15-hour battery life rating.
The headset is also comfortable and great for extended multiplayer sessions. We’re also happy to see that there is no base station or dongle needed to pair this headset with an Xbox Series console, something we wish Sony would copy on the PS5 side of the fence.
Sadly, while you do get access to a number of 3D audio technologies, the overall sound quality is middling based on user feedback. That’s not a big deal for a gaming headset that otherwise fits into the Xbox ecosystem perfectly, and you’d have to spend a lot more money to get worthwhile audio quality improvements. We’re still happy to recommend this as the best overall choice for Xbox gamers.
