A gaming headset can make a significant difference when playing games. Whether you enjoy being immersed in a game with music or sound effects, or you need to hear every enemy footstep, selecting the right headphones for you can be challenging. You should consider the overall build quality, how comfortable they are, how they sound, and whether the microphone works well. If you do not require a microphone, the majority of wired audiophile headphones will suffice.
We’ve tested a lot of gaming headsets, and here are our recommendations.
Best Gaming Headsets
- Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (best overall)
- HyperX Cloud Alpha (best budget)
- Razer BlackShark V2 (best value)
- Audeze Maxwell Wireless (wireless alternative)
- Logitech G432 (best cheap)
Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless impresses you with its flexibility across gaming systems and connection types. This headset demonstrates its versatility with excellent, well-balanced sound and a comfortable design. This is why it is the best gaming headset overall.
This gaming headset stands out for its attractive and functional design, despite the fact that it lacks the bright colors and RGB highlights of some of its competitors. It has a retractable microphone that perfectly blends into the headset’s left ear cup, allowing you to hide it when not in use and pull it out when needed. The left ear cup features an easy-to-reach volume wheel and a power button, all of which were easily distinguishable by touch. The right ear cup contains a Bluetooth button.
This gaming headset is lightweight and has an elastic headband that fits comfortably on any head size or shape. It also features plush over-ear ear cups and a soft-touch faux-leather cover. After long gaming sessions, I noticed that the ear cups became slightly warm, but not to the point of discomfort. Furthermore, it is common for headsets to become slightly warm after several hours of gaming.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is the best budget gaming headset, providing excellent audio and plenty of bass response at a low price. It’s comfortable, and the microphone holds up to scrutiny. You cannot go wrong.
The Cloud Alpha is a simple beast. It provides excellent audio that is difficult to beat for the same price. It’s 50mm neodymium drivers provide a powerful bass response. Which is important for gaming. It means you can feel the explosions or the hum of a sports car, and you will get the most out of a game’s soundtrack. But it isn’t just the powerful bass that stands out here. This headset provides excellent clarity and definition.
If you are looking for gaming headset at an affordable price, then HyperX Cloud Alpha is the best option for you. Plus these headsets are comfortable. You can wear the them throughout a work day and still find it comfortable enough to game in after the work day is done.
Razer BlackShark V2
If you’re looking for a great gaming headset that’s less expensive than the Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro wireless, the Razer BlackShark V2 is the best value.
The BlackShark V2 doesn’t have as many wireless connectivity options as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but it looks and sounds great. It also has a simple wired connection that is compatible with any gaming console with a headphone jack.
The Razer BlackShark V2 gaming headset is sleek and stylish, with green accents for a gamer-inspired look. I found the volume knob on the left ear cup easy to reach, allowing me to make quick adjustments while gaming. The same ear cup contains a convenient microphone mute button.
Because the headset is lightweight, it applies less pressure to the top of your head. When you consider the headset’s plush padding and soft-touch faux-leather coverings, you have a winner. The Razer BlackShark V2 is one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used, and it remained so even after hours of gaming. The only issue was that the headset became slightly warm due to the good seal provided by the ear cups.
Audeze Maxwell Wireless
These headphones stand out from the crowd because they use planar magnetic drivers, which allow for a more extended bass response and a wider passive soundstage than dynamic driver headphones like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
Their default sound profile is neutral, which allows for accurate reproduction of elements such as footsteps, explosions, and voices in cutscenes. You can also use the app’s EQ presets to customize the sound. These headphones support Dolby Atmos, which is a virtual surround sound feature that enhances the listening experience.
Their wireless USB dongle also ensures low latency, keeping your audio and video in sync while gaming, and there are numerous ways to connect it to your console. If you play online games, the detachable boom mic provides excellent performance, ensuring that you sound clear and understandable even in noisy environments.
Logitech G432
The Logitech G432 are the best cheap gaming headphones. If you value quality and durability, a reputable brand like Logitech is a good bet, as lower-cost models on the market can have obvious flaws such as driver mismatches and faulty frames.
Unlike the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, the G432 is wired-only but delivers solid performance that rivals more expensive wireless options. These headphones also have good mic performance, so your voice can be easily heard when gaming with friends. Their lightweight, comfortable fit is ideal for extended gaming sessions.
Their sound profile is low in bass, which isn’t ideal for action-packed games, but you can tweak it with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. Their wired USB dongle offers a low latency connection and is compatible with PlayStation consoles, but not with Xbox. You can still use the headphones with these consoles if you plug them into a controller, but you won’t be able to use any EQ changes made via the companion app.