Best gaming headset 2019 (February)

The greatest gaming headset can genuinely make a giant distinction to your gaming life. Whether that’s by supplying you with the most effective in-game soundscape or letting you pick footsteps across the nook like some audio-based wall-hack.

Making certain you’ve obtained the proper audio setup on your gaming rig is totally important to getting the final word expertise, and a high quality gaming headset has a large half to play within the total immersion of PC gaming. We’ve examined the newest and biggest from the highest producers within the land, from Turtle Beach headsets, Razer, HyperX, SteelSeries, Sennheiser, and extra, all that can assist you work out what the proper set of cans is for you and the games you play.

But the most effective gaming headset can imply various things to totally different folks. Do you need a versatile headset which can make your music and films sound simply nearly as good as your games? Are you an isolationist who wants a pair of cans to dam the surface world or a set which can ship probably the most pure soundscape doable, no matter leakage?

And are you able to deal with being wired for sound or do you completely, positively have to go for a wi-fi gaming headset? Do you even want a devoted gaming headset in any respect?

Read extra: These are the best gaming keyboards going

If audio high quality is the be-all-and-end-all for you it could be attention-grabbing to notice there’s a rising development of utilizing audiophile headphones, coupled with discrete desk-based microphones, so you’ll be able to nonetheless yell abuse at your gaming buddies whereas having fun with the very best aural experiences cash should buy.

The greatest gaming headsets are:

Check out the most effective gaming headset costs at Amazon US or Amazon UK.

Winner: Best gaming headset

HyperX Cloud Alpha

Approx. $90 | £70

Pros
 Stunning audio high quality
 Great worth
 Robust design
 Almost open-back soundscape

Improving on all the pieces the Cloud II obtained proper, the Cloud Alpha provides an much more immersive expertise on the similar worth. The drivers are past spectacular, and for the sub-$100 worth level, they provide frequency ranges rivaling the $250 Razer Threshers.

The noise-cancelling on the microphone has been improved, particularly tuned to dam out the sound of HyperX’s very personal Alloy keyboard and the famously piercing sound of Cherry MX blue switches. The Cloud Alpha headphones additionally function very noticeably improved noise isolation, stopping any chatter round you from ruining the listening expertise.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha provides excellency in design, sturdiness and high quality, whereas sustaining a improbable worth. Kingston took their time redesigning the Cloud headset, and with good purpose. The HyperX Cloud II wanted one thing totally spectacular to justify a redesign, they usually’ve delivered simply that with the Cloud Alpha.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha review.

Runner-up

Roccat Khan Pro

Approx. $80 | £60

Pros
 Broad frequency response
 Excellent worth
 Lightweight

Cons
 AIMO model doesn’t add a lot

The light-weight construct encases 50mm drivers able to an impressively broad 10 – 40,000Hz frequency response – far and away past what any non-audiophile headset on our roundup can produce. They reside as much as the expectation, too. The headset provides wealthy and crisp sound which is lots able to producing stable bass with out sacrificing an entire soundscape of greater than acceptable mids and highs alongside the way in which.

So, you’re asking, what’s the catch? Well, it’s not the value, that’s for certain. Its MSRP is $100 / £90, however you will discover simply discover it for significantly much less regularly. Roccat has aimed this straight on the HyperX Cloud Alpha’s worth level, and it hits the nail proper on the pinnacle for worth and efficiency in that bracket, and simply breezes previous the competitors if you happen to discover it for a great deal much less.

Winner: Best high-end gaming headset

Audio Technica ATH-AG1x

Approx. $299 | £130

Pros
 Incredible audio high quality
 Broad soundscape for a closed again set
 Decent worth

Cons
 Slightly bizarre, winged design

Take a observe of the ‘x’ on the finish of the title of this Audio-Technica ATH-AG1x headset – that single character is necessary as a result of there’s additionally an ATH-AG1 headset. It was the forerunner to this up to date model and was a set of cans which didn’t construct on Audio-Technica’s high-end aural heritage. Don’t combine up the 2 since you’ll be significantly dissatisfied and be lacking out on top-of-the-line gaming headsets round.

That broad soundscape actually brings games to life. Whether it’s the richly detailed world of The Witcher three or the terrifying war-zones of the Battlefield games, the elevated degree of immersion could have the hairs in your arms standing tall. Its unusual design notes apart, the Audio-Technica ATH-AG1x is among the most impressive-sounding gaming headsets I’ve used.

Runner-up

Sennheiser GSP 500

Approx. $230 | £158

Pros
 Great construct high quality
 Excellent, open soundscape
 Impressive bass

Cons
 Maybe a contact too chunky

Sennheiser hasn’t forgotten its roots in high-end audio, and that’s evidently clear with the GSP 500. Its open-back design creates a spacious sound profile that makes for straightforward listening and clear definition whether or not gaming or listening to music. While it’s not the most affordable gaming headset on the market, the Sennheiser pedigree – evident within the GSP 500’s total high quality – simply would possibly persuade you.

The construct high quality is nice, the options first rate, and the sound high quality nearly unmatched within the gaming area. Its worth could also be too massive a hurdle for some, however, in return, you obtain a improbable gaming headset from one of the respected audio firms going.

Read our full Sennheiser GSP 500 review.

Winner: Best low cost gaming headset

Corsair HS50

Approx. $48 | £50

Pros
 Great worth
 Surprisingly good sound
 Comfortable

Cons
 Mic isn’t the most effective on the earth

Corsair has been a world chief in high-quality gamer peripherals, and its HS50 headset isn’t any exception to the rule. The 50mm drivers provide shockingly crisp and detailed sound, regardless of the restricted 20 – 20,000Hz frequency vary, and the bass isn’t too overpowering as is the case with many gaming audio peripherals.

All in all, Corsair actually knocked it out of the park with this headset – easy, good high quality, comes with a rubber grommet to cowl the mic enter when it isn’t in use (it’s all within the particulars), and an absolute steal at that $50 / £55 price ticket.

Read our full Corsair HS50 review.

Runner-up

Cougar Phontum

Approx. $57 | £48

Pros
 Comfortable ear cups
 Good worth
 Seriously good audio

Cons
 Not massively adjustable

It’s exhausting to argue with the worth proposition of Cougar’s Phontum gaming headset. The total high quality – each sound and construct – simply outweigh this headsets price ticket. Cougar would’ve taken the highest spot solely months in the past with the Phontum, however Corsair’s HS50 headset nearly edges the competitors.

The headset is marginally adjustable utilising the rubber grommet sliders on the facet of every ear cup, which is probably going superb for many customers – simply be cautious of this if you happen to typically want a bigger match. But the sound is near excellent at this worth vary. Audio is well-balanced, and the bass doesn’t are inclined to obfuscate the remainder of the audio – a standard symptom of gamer cans. For probably the most half audio stays constant and clear from the 53mm drivers even at larger quantity ranges, too.

Runner-up

HyperX Cloud Stinger

Approx. $49 | £40

Pros
 HyperX Cloud heritage
 Balanced audio
 Good worth

Cons
 Lightweight, plasticky body

The HyperX Cloud Stinger is attempting to construct on the audio heritage that the excellent Cloud Pro started all these years in the past, however this time from a extra budget-oriented standpoint. And that a lot is apparent from the skinny cushion on the headscarf and the light-weight, reasonably plasticky body.

Pulling them from the packaging I used to be slightly involved about how they could sound. My prejudices have been shortly dismissed as quickly as I began utilizing them. The 50mm directional drivers ship a formidable, balanced sound, with an honest quantity of separation within the audio. The Stinger, then, is a well-priced headset with a surprisingly detailed sound.

Winner: Best wi-fi headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

Approx. $328 | £270

Pros
 Flawless wi-fi
 Breakout field
 Hot-swappable batteries

Cons
 Soooo costly

The Arctis Pro Wireless is all about premium. It contains a light-weight aluminium and metal design – which solely weighs 371g – and utilises the famed Arctis adjustable headband design. SteelSeries have additionally chucked of their Airweave ear cushions that make for some significantly snug cans.

That’s good an’ all, however how does it sound? Simply put: the Arctis Pro Wireless sounds spectacular. It contains a naturally flat and well-balanced sound, correct replica, and provides a vivid soundscape that makes for an unbelievable listening expertise – ok to make even a die-hard audiophile crack a smile. It’s succesful, related, comfortable, and crystal clear. All the C’s you can ever need in a gaming headset… besides for affordable, I suppose. But, whereas it might not be probably the most inexpensive headset in the marketplace, so far as wi-fi gaming cans go, you’ll discover few higher that examine all of the bins just like the Arctis Pro Wireless.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless review.

Runner-up

Razer Thresher Ultimate

Approx: $203 | £240

Pros
 Excellent sound high quality
 Surprisingly refined for Razer
 Robust audio connection

Cons
 Hard to inform battery degree

In sheer aural phrases there is just one different wi-fi headset able to matching the standard of the Thresher Ultimate. They perhaps don’t have the tonal separation of the gorgeous HyperX Cloud Alpha, or the identical tremendous broad soundscape, however they nonetheless ship unbelievable crisp, detailed sound. And despite the fact that it’s a Razer gaming headset the bass response isn’t overblown and doesn’t crush the highs or mid-tones. Where they do stand out is within the addition of Dolby Surround, accessible through a discrete button on the bottom station, and the straightforward on-ear controls.

The battery life is first rate, rated at round 16 hours, which bore up throughout our testing. But certainly one of my actual bug bears is there appears to be no straightforward option to inform how a lot capability is left in your battery – having a degree indicator can be good. The wi-fi connection, nonetheless, is powerful and steady and the audio glorious, so that they positively get the win for us.

Read our full Razer Thresher Ultimate review.

Runner-up

Corsair HS70

Approx: $80 | £90

Pros
 Solid wi-fi connection
 Fantastic worth
 Decent audio

Cons
 The body is slightly stiff

Corsair’s HS70 is a wi-fi gaming headset that not solely competes with wired headsets in high quality and sound, but in addition in worth. This low-cost wi-fi set options the identical snug design, easy styling, and clear audio replica because the wired HS50 headset from Corsair – which is our present favorite low cost gaming headset. The worth for reducing the twine from its tethered sibling isn’t too pricey, both.

This headset provides a stable microphone to go with the clear audio from these two 50mm drivers, and the battery life is a hefty 16 hours to maintain you gaming with out distraction.

Read our full Corsair HS70 review here.

Winner: Best audiophile headphones

Focal Utopia

Approx. $3,999 | £3,830

Pros
 Expansive soundscape
 Impeccably detailed audio in games…

Cons
 …however a bit too harsh for music
 Hugely costly

The headsets we’ve picked up to now are all gaming-focused fashions. Sometimes that may imply an uneven strategy to audio which places an excessive amount of emphasis on the bass response to the detriment of all the pieces else. The Focal Utopia headphones, nonetheless, are all about probably the most good, probably the most detailed, and most correct illustration of audio.

But that comes at a value, and I’m not simply speaking monetary both – they’re not probably the most snug to make use of when listening to music. Because of their element they could be a little harsh on the excessive finish, however that additionally makes them unbelievable with in-game audio. The open-backed nature of the Utopias implies that any open-world game’s soundscape turns into massively expansive. So typically I’d must take them off, so certain was I that somebody was speaking to me from the true world when it was simply one other NPC simply out of sight.

Runner-up

1More Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones

Approx. $200 | £178

Pros
 Decent frequency vary
 Triple driver delivers nice separation
 Good worth

Cons
 Super brief cable

The mixture of 40mm graphene driver, the ceramic tweeter, and the bass reflector, means you get a significantly heat, wealthy, and detailed aural expertise. They might not have the identical broad frequency vary of the opposite two choices right here, however the 1More headphones are fairly priced for such audiophile-esque cans.

There’s no distortion, even when issues are getting very ‘splodey in Battlefield V, thanks to the separated drivers. And that leads to an impressive level of tonal separation too, where they’re tuned to keep away from any sound muddying the others.

Read our full 1More Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones review.

Runner-up

Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro

Approx. $583 | £381

Pros
 Seriously broad frequency vary
 Great audio element
 Unprecedented bass readability

Cons
 You’ll want a great sound card

Beyerdynamic’s studio grade DT 1770 Pros are one other beautiful-sounding set of headphones. Again, they sport a broad frequency vary of 5Hz – 40KHz, and complement that with a number of the crispest bass tones you’ll hear. That sturdy bass is so properly managed that it doesn’t contact the mid-range one jot. And they’re additionally significantly cheaper than the mighty Focal pair.

If solely Oppo’s unbelievable PM3 headphones have been nonetheless accessible they’d nonetheless have high spot…

HyperX has been topping the gaming headset charts for years now. Before the mighty Cloud Alpha got here the unique Cloud Pro cans, each headsets providing higher high quality gaming audio than the competitors for occasionally much less money. They’re worthy winners and it’s going to must be one thing particular for an additional producer to knock them off the highest.

But it’s a unique matter within the wi-fi headset area. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro could be reasonably expensive, but it surely provides nice sound in addition to an unsurpassed function set. The Razer Thresher Ultimate comes shut, however can’t fairly high the SteelSeries set.

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Thanks to Corsair, nonetheless, you don’t must spend an enormous quantity to get great-sounding gaming audio. The HS50 headset is a improbable choice if you happen to can’t stretch to the value of the HyperX Cloud Alpha. Though if you happen to do have the cash, and a penchant for high-resolution audio, then you definately’d do properly to discover a set of headphones with the element of the Focal Utopias.