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Maybe your current gaming speakers are fine. But until you’ve used a high-quality headset to listen to the screech of your tires as you drift around the final lap, the horrifying growls of the beast hiding in the next room, or the intensity of an explosion-packed firefight,, you’re sadly missing out. The unmatched feeling of immersion makes it worth buying a premium headset on its own, but once you’ve played with memory foam earcups, on-ear audio controls, and a battery that only needs to be charged once a week, it’s hard to go back to a lesser headset.
We’ve researched, compared, and tested a collection of headsets to find the most comfortable, nicest sounding, and all-around best headsets available. Whether you’re looking for a solid, yet inexpensive model, or a top-of-the line edition for serious gaming fans, these are the 13 best gaming headsets to make your racers, horror adventures, and action games sound their absolute best.
The Arctis Nova Pro’s engrossing spatial audio provides a rich and impactful experience, which makes it easy to pick out footsteps of incoming enemies from the chaos of frantic multiplayer games, and to get absorbed into the music and ambient sounds of your favorite game worlds. In addition to its brilliant sound quality, this gaming headset includes a high-end noise canceling microphone for remarkably crisp voice chatting, a plush headband and ear cups, as well as compatibility with an array of other modern gaming platforms.
Razer knows gamers very well—their products made our lists for the best laptop backpacks and the best gaming/office chairs. I was not surprised when their headset made the cut for best gaming headsets. Fairly priced, lightweight, and sporting an impressive 50-hour battery life, the Razer Barracuda X is the perfect headset for PlayStation 5 owners looking to get the most out of their games. This headset’s clear and crisp microphone, convenient on-headset controls, and plush ear cups makes it a top contender for comfortably gaming online for hours at a time, especially for those who take full advantage of its crystal-clear, 7.1 surround sound to listen in and get the drop on their rivals.
Whether you prefer to play story-based single player titles or frantic multiplayer games, this admittedly expensive model’s gripping Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound will immerse you into your current game worlds more than any other Xbox headset. The Beoplay Portal sounded incredible right out of the box, but with its companion app, it’s easy to fine-tune your audio profile to make your games sound pitch perfect. If you liked this headset and are in the market for headphones, Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX made our list of the best headphones of the year.
Some players need their games to sound their best, and The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 delivers immersive special sound, deep bass, and a range of presets and fine-tuned controls to ensure that audiophiles are thrilled. Outside of its spectacular sound technologies, this headset features an excellent battery life, crisp and clear microphone, and a highly customizable design to comfortably fit anyone’s head.
If you’re the type who detests distractions while you’re playing, the 80+ hours of uninterrupted play time per charge that the HyperX Cloud Alpha brings to your gaming experience is a (literal) game changer. (If only your go-to wireless earbuds could do that.) Its mammoth battery is great, but its ability to fully charge in under four hours, crisp microphone, and gentle memory foam ear cups should make this the go-to headset for marathon gaming sessions.
Between consoles, controllers, subscriptions, and new games, gaming is an expensive hobby, but the Fusion Pro shows that quality affordable components exist. This budget-friendly headset sports a highly adjustable frame for a comfortable fit, deep and clear bass, and a lightweight design that Xbox fans will appreciate.
Your new cyber-bunny ears will surely be the envy of all your friends, but the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro also supports a surprisingly comfortable design, premium-quality surround sound, and a crystal-clear microphone for effective communication mid-game. Video game streamers will appreciate the light and airy feel of this headset’s plush ear cups and headband, as well as its unobtrusive wired design and flash RGB lighting (and of course, its charmingly cute, swappable animal ears).
Some players prefer the freedom of wireless gameplay, and the Stealth 700’s excellent sound quality, impressive 40+ hours of battery life, and array of connectivity options makes this headset a top pick for any gaming setup. Although 40-ish hours isn’t the biggest battery to make our list, this headset’s ability to recharge 8 additional hours of playtime after just 15 minutes is both incredible for marathon players, and a good reason to take a stretch break.
The variety of connectivity options and powerful stereo sound of the Stealth Pro makes it a top pick for gamers who regularly play across multiple platforms, but its high-end detachable microphone is its stand out feature. Between its impressive noise canceling technology and dual microphones, your teammates will hear your voice as clearly as if they were playing in the same room. Premium microphone aside, we liked the ability to hot-swap its pair of included batteries to get back into the game more quickly, its comfortable glasses-friendly earcups, and the overall durability of the Stealth Pro.
This gaming headset caught our attention since it’s specifically made for the Oculus Quest 2, and its plush earpads, immersive audio, and crisp microphone make for a superior VR experience. Between its sturdy frame, all-over cozy feel, relatively low price, and richly detailed sound quality, it’s a must-have accessory for getting the most out of your VR games and experiences.
If money is no object and you’re ready to get the gaming headset you’ve always deserved, the Audeze Maxwell is worth every penny. Its unique design produces lifelike sound that must be experienced to be believed, and you’ll be amazed to hear your favorite game worlds in unparalleled clarity. Sound quality aside, its 80+ hours of battery life, compatibility with an array of platforms, and genuinely cozy fit is worth the entry price if you can afford it.
When you’re playing fast paced, team-based games, the ability to effectively and clearly communicate with your teammates can mean the difference between a win and a loss, and you won’t find a nicer microphone than the BlackShark V2 Pro’s. This detachable microphone features the sharpest audio we’ve tested, allowing for accurate and precise dictation–your in-game pals will surely appreciate your crystal-clear diction as you climb the leaderboards together.
Surprisingly good considering its low price, the Asus TUF Gaming H3 is hands-down the best option for anyone who needs a simple, yet dependable headset to plug and play between every modern gaming machine they own. Its featherweight design, durable frame, and cooling memory foam ear cushions feel nicer than a sub-$50 headset, and their sharp audio quality is more than suitable for playing competitive online games across every platform it can connect to.
Our in-depth research of popular and lesser-known gaming brands and their many audio offerings, alongside comprehensive testing and many years of experience playing with gaming headsets, led us to pick the best options on the market. We considered each product’s sound quality, features, comfort level, and durability to identify exceptional headsets that gaming enthusiasts will appreciate for a long time to come.
This is easily the top consideration when picking a gaming headset, so take the time to research models noted for their crisp, balanced, and rich sound. Other aspects of a high-end headset include deep bass, immersive 3D spatial audio, and high-fidelity speakers that pipe consistently clear voices, music, and sound effects into your ears.
Since you’re going to wear them for hours at a time, it’s a good idea to consider gaming headsets designed with your comfort in mind. No one likes the feel of a tight or bulky headset, so look for models designed with lightweight materials, plush ear cushions (especially those that utilize memory foam or cooling gel,) and the ability to adjust their fit for maximum comfort.
Keep in mind, too, that not all gaming headsets will accommodate glasses. If you need eyewear to play, look for headsets made to be comfortably worn alongside your glasses.
If you’re going to invest in a quality headset, it’s absolutely worth buying one that was made to last for many gaming sessions to come. Keep an eye out for headsets made with premium materials, a durable frame, and before you buy, check if you’re able to buy replacement batteries, earpads, and other components if you ever need to in the future.
One of the most important reasons to shop around for a gaming headset is to find a model that suits your needs. It’s easy to find a barebones headset for basic communication, but dedicated gaming fans may need a quality microphone with active noise cancellation, a wireless mode with a long battery life, compatibility between multiple platforms, and integrated mute and volume buttons for instant access.
Once you’ve found the best gaming headset for your needs, take a minute to check for designs that speak to your sense of style. Whether you’d prefer a sleek and minimalist design, or a bold and flashy model, there are plenty of aesthetically pleasing headsets to choose from.
Whether you need a top-of-the-line audio experience, or a simple, yet solid model, some of the best gaming brands to consider when shopping for a new headset include SteelSeries, Turtle Beach, Razer, HyperX, Audeze, Logitech, Asus, Corsair, and JBL.
Best two reasons to buy a great gaming headset are for enjoying clear and balanced audio, and communicating with your gaming friends while playing together.
Video game developers put a massive amount of time and effort into crafting mesmerizing music, engaging sound effects, and unforgettable voices into their games, and an impressive gaming headset will ensure that you hear every orchestral note of a grand sweeping musical score, swift footstep of your enemies as they close in on your location, and the terrifying sounds of the nasty creature lurking in the darkness just offscreen, at their absolute clearest.
In addition to the unparalleled immersion of listening in on your games via a well-made headset, a good headset can make all the difference when playing online with teammates. Not only will the spatial sound inform you of incoming dangers so you can react accordingly, efficient communication between you and your team can mean the difference between winning and losing in titles like Dead by Daylight, Halo Infinite, and Gears 5. A simple headset may get the job done, but your teammates will sincerely appreciate you bringing a nicer model with a noise canceling microphone and a dedicated mute button to your next game of Overwatch 2.
That depends on your gaming preferences. If videogames are your passion, you tend to play for many hours at a time, and deeply appreciate the crisp audio, cozy feel, and crystal-clear microphone of a premium gaming headset, it is absolutely worth the investment to make your hobby that much more enjoyable.
On the other hand, if you play infrequently, prefer single player games, or just need a simple microphone and earpiece to communicate with online friends occasionally, an affordable, yet reliable gaming headset is probably your best option.
The bottom line is that the amount you should spend on a gaming headset depends on how you intend to use them.If you play minimally, or need a basic headset for simply hearing and speaking with other players, you should spend between $20 and $50 for a solid model that will certainly get the job done, but is light on additional features.
Those who regularly play online and are looking for an immersive audio experience should expect to spend between $51 and $199 for a rock-solid midrange gaming headset. Some features commonly found in this price range include a dependably cozy fit, basic noise cancellation, the ability to fine-tune sound quality via a companion app, wireless play, and surround sound.
Dedicated gamers and esports players should consider investing upwards of $200 on a premium gaming headset. These top-of-the-line headsets include impressive features such as enhanced comfort, a professional-grade microphone, premium audio, and an extremely sturdy design. Some other perks of these high-quality headsets include a long battery life, exceptional technologies such as haptic feedback, active noise cancellation, and Dolby Audio or THX-powered spatial audio.
Although many gamers appreciate the unobtrusive design and ability to move freely with wireless headphones, there are a few worthwhile reasons to consider a wired set.
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