Any gamer worth their salt will tell you that if you want to immerse yourself in your games, you better have great audio. And nothing beats headsets in that regard. However, you can’t just get your typical run-of-the-mill headsets. You have to get something that’s made specifically for gaming—a gaming headset.
Thus, in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at gaming headsets, what they are, the things you have to take account when buying one, and a few examples of the best gaming headsets that you can buy online.
What Are Gaming Headsets?
Gaming headsets are exactly what it says on the tin. They’re a pair of headphones that are specifically made for gaming. They allow players to completely immerse themselves in the games they play, communicate with teammates, and trash talk opponents. From FPS games like Doom Eternal and CS: GO, to MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends, headphones are an essential part of your gaming needs.
What Are the Differences Between Regular and Gaming Headsets?
There are several notable differences between the two types of headsets.
There are a lot of headphone companies that give users uniquely tuned drivers that have a big emphasis on saying that their audio is the best. Then again, they offer you comfort and something about the frame. They also include amazing builds and accessories.
When talking about gaming headphones, the main marketing point that companies will have is comfort. This has a good reason for it since players are likely to be playing games in a single session. Then, there’s their headphone’s surround sound gaming with a tertiary emphasis on design, the headphone’s platform compatibility, and lastly, a serviceable microphone.
If you’re looking to test out your gaming headphones, here are 43 multiplayer games that you must play and the best PS4 games that you have to try with a good headset in 2020.
Best Gaming Headsets
Now, we’re going to talk about the best gaming headsets that you can find out there in the market. We will count both wired and wireless headsets combined into this list. This is because there are advantages and disadvantages to both types of headsets that you can get. It’s up to the buyer which one of the two types they prefer.
Here are the best gaming headsets that are available in the market today.
Old ways meet innovations in the Arctis Pro Wireless, in the best way. Arctis Pro’s wireless transmitter station is similar to a few of its predecessors. It serves as the controls menu, a wireless Bluetooth receiver, and a battery charging station in one package. Also, the newly created Arctis headset design gives players a surplus on both comfort and sound.
Having the ability to take out a battery that’s low on charge and replace it for a full one from the complementary transmitter box isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s an absolute game-changer for the wireless headset market. And with the headset’s battery life of over nine hours, it’s a viable option to use the headset’s Bluetooth functionality through the pairing of the headset to the user’s smartphone. The sound quality may be similar to the 7-series, but there are great new features that make this a great purchase.
Check out the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless on Amazon today to get an excellent wireless gaming headset.
Quite possibly the cheapest of the bunch on the list and a decent alternative to most headphones, the Razer Kraken X is a choice that won’t burn a hole into your bank account. The Kraken X is great on the PC for one reason: virtual 7.1 Surround Sound. This option is available through an app and elevates the great audio the headset already has into the stuff of legends. However, it’s a wee bit hard to go back to the standard version after you’ve felt that kind of thing.
When you also add in great comfort, as well as an underrated yet stylish design, the Kraken X proves that it can still hang with the best of them.
Check out the Razer Kraken X on Amazon and get a solid gaming headset.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha bears the fruits of a long legacy of great headsets. It has great sound and build quality, and the essential features are made well and have no feature flaws that impact the price negatively. The headset’s stereo soundscape might have a bit more punch due to the closed-back design for some people, but overall, the extra bass doesn’t get in between the overall clarity of the sound. And the extra bass sounds great in a lot of games. The 50mm driver’s dual chamber design is so that it can give users low, medium, and high frequencies with the space to resonate without crashing into each other. This ensures a great listening experience for users.
Other than the great build quality, nice padding, the clear and concise mic, and great comfort on longer playtimes, the inline controls are the outliers. They feel a bit fragile in comparison to the other robust parts of the headset. Other than that, though, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is a great choice for users to grab.
Check out the HyperX Cloud Alpha on Amazon to get one of the best gaming headset available.
The HyperX Cloud Orbit S manages to give users one of the best and most comfortable gaming headset experiences that they can have while still giving them great and crystal clear audio. The headset uses audiophile-level planar magnetic drivers—yes, it’s exactly as it sounds and it’s as cool as it seems. In practice, the Cloud Orbit S is a rebranded Audeze Mobius headset, while still looking super-sleek. And its giant memory foam ear cushions are very comfortable to wear for long periods without weighing down your head.
The great sound quality alone is worth the buy for this one. And you can easily make use of this as your go-to headset for not only PC but also mobile, and console as well. And through the use of Audeze’s Waves NX 3D sound tech, the headset tracks the user’s head movement to simulate 7.1 surround sound. The results of which are very awe-inspiring. Although, the software of the headset can be a bit overwhelming, it doesn’t change the fact that this is a great headset that comes with a great-sounding detachable microphone.
Check out the HyperX Cloud Orbit S on Amazon to get one of the most comfortable gaming headsets today.
Some people would give the Razer Nari Ultimate a mere cursory glance due to the other, more accomplished wireless gaming headsets out there. But trust me, don’t do that. Due to the HyperSense technology that’s with the Nari Ultimate, it allows users to feel a short burst of static rumble that’s reminiscent of a controller when something important happens. This makes the Nari Ultimate a pretty unique gaming headset, and it’s one of the things that makes it cool, while still making it feel natural and unobtrusive at the same time.
The headset sidesteps a whole lot of the traditionally software-bound personalization features that some headsets have today in favor of buttons and scroll wheels that are found on the headset itself. On the left ear cup, you’ll see a button that you can use to mute your mic and balance the sound. Behind the right ear cup, is the volume adjustment and a garage for placing a wireless USB dongle. This headphone’s wireless support is a little lacking in terms of compatibility since it is only supported by PC and PS4. However, those that have an Xbox or Switch aren’t left out, due to the 4.3-foot 3.5mm cable that’s also in the package.
Check out the Razer Nari Ultimate on Amazon and experience what this underrated headset has to offer.
If you’re looking to preserve your budget then the ASUS TUF Gaming H3 is a good option. And even with the lower price tag, you’ll still have a headset that fits well and comfortably on your head as well as sounding good the moment you take it out of the box. This means that you can get right into playing your favorite games without needing to fiddle around in all sorts of software.
There are just a few downsides to this. The headphones aren’t particularly aesthetic. And if you’re excited about the headset’s virtual 7.1 surround sound, do note that the H3 in the name is a 3.5mm headset that uses only Windows’ Sonic spatial audio. This is something that any 3.5mm headset can have and use. But when we’re talking about gaming and listening to sound cues like weapon switches, reloads, and more, this headset can and will get the job done without any sort of effort on your part due to software or terrible damage to your ATM Card.
Check out the ASUS TUF Gaming H3 today to get an excellent gaming headset that won’t destroy your budget.
We already have a few Razer headsets on this list. The Nari Ultimate comes to mind, and it might grab the attention of a lot of people due to its divisive haptic feedback and a few other features. Still, the Razer Thresher Ultimate is one of the most notable headsets that you can obtain in the market.
This is because some people would rather have the robust and detailed audio that the Thresher’s more acute drivers can give you, rather than something more akin to being prodded on your ears every single time gunshots, explosions, or other stuff go off in-game.
The wireless connection that the headset has is solid, its fit to your head is comfortable, the battery life is actually decent at around ten hours of usage, and you can also outfit it with accessories. An example of this is if you manage to get a pair of the optional pink cat ears on the Razer store.
Check out the Razer Thresher Ultimate on Amazon to get a great gaming headset from a trusted brand.
Quite honestly one of the best Corsair headsets that you can get and is one of their pinnacles, the HS70 managed to have all of Corsair’s expertise from their higher-end models while keeping costs down without any compromise; that is, without compromising anything detectable. So much so that you can think that the headset is more expensive than what it is. The build quality is great, and the stereo spread and sound articulation are in line with the newest trends for flatter EQs. This means that the HS70 has better versatility when it comes to the sounds that you can hear when wearing it.
Check out the Corsair HS70 available on Amazon today to get a solid gaming headset.
The Beyerdynamic Custom Game Headset is all about function. Even if it’s a bit on the expensive side, the functionality that this headset has is second to none. It gets plus points in terms of comfort and sound quality. And while it doesn’t have that fancy surround sound, it’s still a great pick if you want to get quality sounding audio.
For a long time now, the Astro A50’s been one of the best gaming headsets that you can buy out there due to being known for its premium comfort and exceptional audio quality. The 2019 model improved on it at nearly every level that you can think of. Not only is the sound quality preserved in full, but it’s better aesthetics-wise, now sporting a full-black design, compared to the clashing colors of the previous models. The headset’s docking station was also made to be smaller and less of a disturbance to your space. In short, the Astro A50 Wireless is a great wireless headset to get.
Check out the Astro A50 Wireless on Amazon to get a solid and affordable gaming headset.
Another Corsair headset makes its way to the list. This time, the HS50. A cheaper alternative to the HS70, the HS50 is not the only king in the budget, but it’s also king when it comes to how much you get for the budget. The sound and mic quality is great, its durability is up there with the other options on this list, and you can expect it to be extremely robust. If you’re willing to forgo the other bells and whistles that the other headsets have, then the HS50 is for you.
Check out the Corsair HS50 Pro on Amazon to get a great gaming headset.
Creative made quite a name for themselves by making a few audio headsets that are great in terms of quality. And they’re not pulling any punches with the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition. Giving the new headset a complete overhaul, the Sound BlasterX H7 came out of it as a PC gaming headset that doesn’t only look as great as it sounds but also feels as great as it sounds. This makes it one of the best gaming headsets that you can find anywhere else.
Check out the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition on Amazon for a solid gaming headset.
Let’s admit, there are some gaming headsets out there that look silly. From bulky designs to excessive RGB lighting, to bold and quite ridiculous coloring, some headsets are made to look like they were made by aliens. Meanwhile, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE bucks that trend by not only being stylish but also being very functional.
With a reasonable 20 hours of battery life, the Virtuoso is a decent wireless headset for gaming. And even if it’s not the best for music, gaming-wise, it rocks. The 7.1 surround sound that it has is great for FPS games like Apex Legends and Valorant, and you can detach the microphone if you just want to frag. All in all, the Virtuoso is a great headset if you want style and function together as one.
Check out the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE on Amazon for a modern and stylish gaming headset.
The Sennheiser brand is pretty known for its emphasis on and the creation of premium audio hardware. And due to the GSP 600 wired headset, Sennheiser begins to build a name for itself in the gaming headset market as well. Following the success of the GSP 600 is the GSP 670, which is a wireless take on the previous model. It offers the user two choices: a Bluetooth or a wireless adapter. This is in addition to having around 18 hours of usage in a single charge.
Add in the cool looking design and the great audio, and you have a winner for your ears. Though the bulky design might not be for everyone and the price is a tad on the high spot.
Check out the Sennheiser GSP 670 on Amazon to get a gaming headset with good sound quality.
What to Look for When Purchasing Gaming Headphones?
Looking for the best gaming headset available today? With different brands offering their gaming headsets, choosing the right one may be tough. However, you might want to consider these factors:
- Comfort
- Super sound quality
- Portability
Gaming headphones enhance a user’s experience and allow them to communicate clearly with teammates. However, they are a bit different when compared to your normal headphones.
So, aside from the three factors stated above, you will also have to consider a lot more factors. Here are other important factors you should consider when purchasing a gaming headset.
Gaming Platform
First things first—you need to consider the platform you’re using the headset on. Headsets tend to come with different or specific platform compatibility. Is this particular headset for PS4, Xbox 1, or PC? This is a question that you should be asking. Some headsets are available that have support for all platforms. Others come with an audio jack while others use a USB port. Some choices come with both outputs.
Durability and Material
The durability and material are uite honestly some of the top things you need to look for when buying anything. A headset’s durability is usually determined by what materials they were made out of. Take a close look at the earcups that the headsets have and on the headband. You should also consider the weight of the device. If you’re getting a wired headset, check what the wires look like as well, as these can have an impact on the longevity of the headset in question.
Wired or Wireless
Here’s the kicker. There are now wireless headsets that are available in the market, not just wired headsets. As for the advantages of both? Well, it’s pretty obvious.
In the wireless camp, you won’t have tangles and only need Bluetooth or a 2.5 GHz band, et cetera to connect. The design of the headsets is usually pretty lit. However, the thing is, you’re pretty much dependent on the headset’s battery. And when it runs out, it’s off to the charging rack for you.
Meanwhile, the wired camp has the exact opposite problem. You have limitless operation time, due to being directly connected to the console or PC you’re using it on, but you’re susceptible to tangles. And the wires are also very vulnerable to wear and tear, making it important to always untangle the wires after usage and properly store them when not in use.
Comfort
And finally, the top thing that you should look out for when choosing your headset is comfort. Does it conform to your head properly? Is it comfortable to wear during long periods of gaming? Are you not being inconvenienced by various things while you’re wearing it? All these questions are something that you should ask when you’re buying gaming headsets online or in an electronics store.
