When you’re in search of the perfect gaming headset cash should purchase, there are three issues to remember. It goes with out saying that it must have top-notch audio high quality, however it additionally must be comfy and have a very good built-in microphone. After all, there’s no level getting a great-sounding headset that pinches your cranium after 30 minutes, or one you’ll be able to’t use to play on-line as a result of your mates can’t hear you over the sound of its hissing crackle. To that finish, I’ve created this checklist of all my prime, bestest finest gaming headset suggestions that will help you discover the proper one for you and your funds.
Best gaming headset information
Of course, any checklist of finest gaming headsets is at all times going to be extremely private based mostly on the individual compiling stated checklist. After all, my music tastes aren’t essentially going to be the identical as yours (mine have a tendency to sit down extra on the balanced facet of the audio spectrum, for instance, slightly than the pumping bass finish of issues) and it’s extremely doubtless I’ve obtained a unique formed head to you as effectively, which might have an effect on consolation ranges and the way lengthy I can put on a headset earlier than it begins feeling some form of medieval torture machine. That’s why I’ve obtained a spread of finest gaming headsets right here, which can hopefully cowl all bases, in addition to all kinds of value classes.
I also needs to notice that this text solely covers gaming headsets (i.e: these that include a microphone), not gaming headphones basically, so when you’re after one thing for extra normal listening, then you definately’ll be higher off trying elsewhere. Likewise, as with every form of ‘Best’ checklist, none of that is set in stone – it would proceed to vary and evolve as I get new headsets in for testing. For now, although, I hereby decree these to be the perfect gaming headsets accessible proper now.
Best gaming headset: Steelseries Arctis 7
Price: £130 in the UK / $137 in the US
If you’ve ever had as a lot bother discovering a cushty headset as I’ve, then the Steelseries Arctis 7 is a revelation. Its ski-goggle headband won’t look as comfortable as different headsets with fistfuls of padding to their title, however its intelligent suspension design means the metal body by no means truly touches your head, permitting me to put on it for hours and hours with out challenge. Whereas different headsets usually at all times go away me with a vice-like headache after 30 minutes, the Arctis 7 simply lets me get on with enjoying games.
It sounds nice, too, and is totally wi-fi, permitting you to maintain your gaming desk good and clear with out one other tangle of cables within the combine. What’s extra, its wi-fi transmitter isn’t just a bit USB stick – it’s obtained its personal cable, so you’ll be able to place it wherever you want for the perfect sign. You additionally get an everyday 3.5mm audio cable so you should use it as a wired headset as effectively when you choose.
The Arctis 7 is dearer than different wi-fi gaming headsets on this checklist, however it does include a few additional helpful options, reminiscent of its ChatMix slider. This helps you to filter out all game music to focus solely in your multiplayer chat, and it really works vice-versa as effectively, serving to you drown out these screaming 11-year-olds who can’t consider you didn’t make that headshot from half means throughout the map.
If your funds doesn’t fairly stretch that far, then concern not, as the remainder of Steelseries’ Arctis vary makes use of the identical precisely the identical audio drivers because the top-end Arctis 7 in addition to the identical comfortable headband design.
Read extra in our Steelseries Arctis 7 review.
Best gaming headset runner-up: Corsair Void Pro RGB (USB)
Price: £80 in the UK / $70 in the US
The Corsair Void Pro RGB is available in quite a few flavours, together with wi-fi, wired and a non-RGB, wired ‘Surround’ model. I examined the center, wired RGB mannequin, and that is one other headset that charges extremely on the consolation scale.
Corsair’s headsets have a a lot looser design than most, so that they’re much less vulnerable to the dreaded head pinch consequently. They’re maybe not the perfect decide for these with smaller heads, however these with bigger skulls or numerous hair to take care of will little doubt recognize the additional wiggle room.
The Void Pro RGB additionally has a wonderful microphone, and is normally my headset of alternative when I put within the occasional look on The RPS Electronic Wireless Show. It’s an excellent sounding headset as effectively, however its digital 7.1 encompass sound results aren’t the perfect, therefore its place as ‘runner-up’ slightly than our total winner. You additionally want to fireplace up Corsair’s Cue software program to make use of it, as there isn’t a devoted button to allow it on the headset itself.
Still, when you’re after a tasteful RGB headset that doesn’t value the earth, the Corsair Void Pro RGB is a superb place to begin.
Read extra in our Corsair Void Pro RGB review.
Best gaming headset runner-up: Turtle Beach Atlas Three
Price: £65 in the UK / $80 in the US
An honest-to-goodness wired gaming headset, the Turtle Beach Atlas Three is the slightly glorious middle-child in Turtle Beach’s new vary of PC gaming headsets. Not solely is it tremendous comfy to put on for lengthy intervals of time, however its audio high quality can be completely good, making this sub £70/$80 a proper previous steal in comparison with a few of the dearer headsets on this checklist.
It’s slightly odd, in that it’s obtained a built-in bass amplifier that must be charged every now and then by way of the bundled USB cable regardless of it already having a wired 3.5mm audio connection, however enabling this dramatically improves your in-game audio and makes for a slightly good normal listening companion as effectively.
The solely niggle I’ve with the Atlas Three is the format of its on-ear controls, which I consistently get blended up once I use it myself. Still, it’s one thing I’m greater than keen to place up with at this value, and it doesn’t detract from what’s in any other case an excellent mid-range headset.
Read extra in our Turtle Beach Atlas Three review.
Best gaming headset runner-up: HyperX Cloud Flight
Price: £125 in the UK / $160 in the US
Sound-wise, the HyperX Cloud Flight is well the equal of each the Corsair Void Pro RGB and the Steelseries Arctis 7, and I’d be hard-pressed to inform which one was higher total. It is, nevertheless, dearer, and (for me, at the very least) not fairly as comfy, placing it in third place on this checklist behind its featherweight competitors
The Cloud Flight nonetheless has loads of deserves of its personal, although, together with a whopping 30 hours of battery life if you flip off its ear-cup LEDs. That’s miles forward of the Arctis 7’s 15 hours of wi-fi battery life, and makes a robust case for it being the perfect wi-fi headset at present accessible – particularly when it solely prices slightly bit greater than its Steelseries rival. Even with the LEDs set to respiratory mode, the Cloud Flight’s rated for a formidable 18 hours of play time, and also you’ll nonetheless get 13 hours out of it with them going full gentle present.
That’s fairly spectacular as wi-fi gaming headsets go, and positively much more handy than most of its wi-fi competitors. Its removable microphone additionally places in a very good efficiency, and also you additionally get a wired 3.5mm audio cable within the field to be used as a wired headset, too. The solely draw back to utilizing it wired is which you can’t then make the most of its onboard quantity controls, which is a little bit of a ache. Still, as wi-fi headsets go, there’s a lot to love right here.
Read extra in our HyperX Cloud Flight review.
Best funds gaming headset (wired): Cougar Phontum
Price: £38 in the UK / $50 in the US
The Cougar Phontum is in no way good (its microphone might as effectively go within the bin), however at this type of value, it’s nonetheless an excellent purchase for these on a funds. With its metallic body and enormous, plush ear cups, the Phontum’s construct high quality is excellent for a headset that prices lower than £50 / $50, and it’s infinitely preferable to the overly plastic building of its nearest rival, the Turtle Beach Recon 150.
As talked about above, the microphone is fairly ineffective (let’s blame that on Cougar’s Metal Gear-esque naming conventions), and its excessive/treble copy isn’t nearly as good as dearer headsets, however its total audio high quality is completely ok for the cash. If you’re in search of one thing cheap to present to your children or youthful siblings, the Cougar Phontum is effectively price contemplating.
Read extra in our Cougar Phontum review.
Best funds gaming headset (wi-fi): Corsair HS70
Price: £100 in the UK / $100 in the US
Let’s face it, wi-fi gaming headsets are fairly costly. As you’ve little doubt seen on this checklist, the perfect ones demand effectively over £120 / $150 normally, which might usually be a step too far for these trying to hold prices down. Thankfully, Corsair has give you an answer – the good HS70.
It’s nonetheless a good chunk of change, I’ll admit – particularly for these within the UK – however the HS70 is a completely excellent headset in its personal proper. It doesn’t have as many fancy options because the Arctis 7 or the battery lifetime of the Cloud Flight (though its 16 hours of uninterrupted air time continues to be nothing to be sniffed at), however when you’re after one thing easy that will get the job achieved, feels nice and doesn’t contain attempting to unravel one million cables, the HS70 is the headset for you.
Read extra in our Corsair HS70 review.
Best ‘money is no object’ Hi-Res gaming headset: Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC
Price: £250 in the UK / $250 in the US
If you’ve obtained cash to burn and wish the very best of the perfect, look no additional than the Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC. Not to be confused with its dearer wi-fi and cheaper GameDAC-less Pro siblings, this center providing in Steelseries’ Arctis Pro line-up is arguably the perfect of the lot – if solely as a result of it’s the one one to have correct Hi-Res audio help.
Hi-Res audio isn’t the be all and finish all for games in the intervening time (see our purchasing information under for more information), however when you’ve obtained numerous Hi-Res audio tracks that you just hearken to at house or subscribe to providers like Tidal, this might be a helpful answer that meets each your own home and game listening wants with out having to purchase a second pair of headphones.
Combined with that helpful titular GameDAC management that offers you each settings possibility you possibly can presumably need proper at your fingertips (all on a beautiful huge tactile dial, besides), that is the perfect and comfiest approach to get 96kHz, 24-bit audio out of your game library and past.
Read extra in our Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC review.
Best gaming headset information: how we take a look at
I’ll be upfront. Testing a gaming headset could be a particularly subjective expertise. Personally, I choose a balanced headset whose bass doesn’t drown out the highs, and I take advantage of a variety of audio tracks to assist take a look at this – each out and in of games.
To get a really feel for the headset, I fireplace up my Final Fantasy XV soundtrack in iTunes, paying particular consideration to the way it handles the battle theme of Hunt or Be Hunted. This specific monitor has quite a bit happening with a variety of totally different devices in play, from its busy bass part to its quick and frantic piano and strings melodies. If a headset can deal with this with out one part overwhelming one other, we’re onto a winner. If I would like additional reassurance, I throw in a little bit of Omnis Lacrima for good measure.
To be sure that a headset can deal with lighter instrumental tracks, I take advantage of a mix of Final Fantasy XV’s Piano Collection soundtrack, Austin Wintory’s Transfiguration EP from Journey, Ace Attorney’s Gyakuten Meets Orchestra live performance, and a lightweight sprinkling of my Breath of the Wild: Sound Selection CD and the Bravely Default soundtrack. I additionally hearken to common bands and songs, together with the likes of Turin Brakes, Queen, Maximo Park, a little bit of David Bowie and the opening themes to house anime Knights of Sidonia and grim bare big anime Attack on Titan, once more testing for total steadiness, readability and normal toe-tapping grooviness.
In-game, I give attention to three most important titles. Normally, I begin with Doom and run by means of its first UAC degree, listening out for total punchiness, whether or not its head-squelching sound results are drowned out by the thumping bass, and extra importantly, how good the Super Shotgun sounds if you unleash its double-barreled fury on an unsuspecting imp.
Next up is Hellblade, the place I sit again and hearken to the interior voices whirling round inside Senua’s head throughout the game’s opening boat sequence. Since Hellblade makes use of binaural audio strategies (which makes use of two microphones to precisely measure the gap between your head and the place the sound’s coming from to create a correct 3D, 360-degree soundscape – strive these examples with a pair of headphones on to see what I imply), this can be a nice take a look at of how a headset could be immersive and create a fully-believable sense of place. I hearken to see how up shut and private the primary narrator could be, in addition to how the opposite voices come and go and titter across the periphery. If a headset could make my backbone tingle (as a few of them have), this can be a good signal.
Lastly, I boot up Final Fantasy XV correct to examine my earlier findings within the game itself. Previously, I additionally gave The Evil Within a fast blitz to verify these basic zombie groans got here by means of loud and clear towards the remainder of its ominous soundtrack.
Next, I report myself speaking for a bit in Audacity to see how its microphone performs, and I additionally attempt to put on the headset for so long as attainable to see how comfy it’s over lengthy intervals of time. Admittedly, numerous headsets are inclined to wrestle on this space for me, as I’ve both obtained a head that’s secretly formed like a Minecraft block beneath all my hair, or each headset producer on the planet has a mysterious grudge towards me and they’ve collectively designed every of their headsets to solely final for about 30 minutes earlier than they begin to press down and pinch the highest of my head. Obviously, the longer I can put on one with out this occurring, the higher.
Wired or wi-fi?
Gaming headsets broadly fall into two classes: wired and wi-fi. Wired headsets are arguably the most typical, with most plugging right into a USB port or a 3.5mm audio connection, whereas wi-fi ones are, effectively, wi-fi.
Wireless headsets are typically extra suited to these there console bins that sit beneath your TV so you’ll be able to lounge round in your couch with out falling over a string of cables each time you rise up to make a cuppa, however they’re additionally a good selection if you wish to lower down on the warren of PC cables you’ve obtained build up behind the again of your case. Just keep in mind that you just’ll nonetheless want a free USB port for his or her wi-fi transmitter or dongle, in addition to someplace to cost them after they run out of juice.
What’s all this 7.1 encompass sound stuff?
You’ll additionally see numerous gaming headsets claiming they will do 7.1 encompass sound. In a conventional audio setup, a 7.1 system would require seven particular person audio system and a subwoofer (the .1 bit). The form of headsets we’re coping with, nevertheless, will solely ever have two audio system (one for every ear), so any headset that claims it might do 7.1 encompass is normally going to be doing it just about by way of onboard software program and its personal inside algorithms.
Virtual encompass sound is in no way a nasty factor. Yes, it’s inferior to correct 7.1 encompass sound, however in some instances it might assist make music really feel extra immersive and all-encompassing than common stereo. However, poor implementations of it might usually destroy any sense of intimacy or breathing-down-the-back-of-your-neck-style dialogue, and it might typically make your game audio really feel prefer it’s been become one nice huge echo chamber, so don’t be fooled by what it says on the field.
Do I would like a Hi-Res audio gaming headset?
We’re additionally beginning to see extra Hi-Res audio licensed headsets beginning to seem, however don’t get too slowed down in ensuring you get one. Hi-Res (or High Resolution) audio is supposed to supply absolutely the pinnacle of music high quality, with audiophiles saying it’s akin to ‘being right there in the recording studio’ if you hearken to it.
Put merely, Hi-Res audio has a a lot greater sampling price (also referred to as bit-depth, or the variety of samples taken per sign per second within the analogue-to-digital conversion course of) than CD high quality audio, which is supposed to make it extra correct and extra detailed than the rest at present accessible.
To throw some numbers into the combination, CD is specified at 16-bit or 44.1kHz, whereas Hi-Res audio is normally outlined as both 96kHz or 192kHz at 24-bit.
This is nice when you already personal numerous Hi-Res audio tracks or subscribe to one thing like Tidal, however as for gaming… it’s at present unknown what number of, if any, truly help Hi-Res audio or whether or not you get any additional profit over non-Hi-Res audio headsets. Personally, I’ve by no means been in a position to inform the distinction between Hi-Res and CD, and that’s after a number of demos and tech PRs doing their darnedest to persuade me in any other case. As a outcome, it’s most likely price it when you’re into Hi-Res audio stuff exterior of gaming, however don’t go paying additional when you’re solely going to be utilizing it for games.
