If you often play games on-line, then one of many best methods to talk together with your mates and get an awesome audio expertise is to get your self a gaming headset. There are loads to select from, too, so that will help you discover the very best gaming headset for you and your cash, I’ve rounded up the perfect headsets for gaming you should purchase at the moment, serving to you type the symphonic wheat from the aural chaff.
You’ll discover a vary of gaming headsets on this checklist, together with our decide for the very best funds gaming headset all the way in which as much as what we predict is the very best wi-fi gaming headset. To earn a spot on our checklist, a headset not solely must sound implausible, nevertheless it additionally needs to be tremendous snug and have a wonderful microphone. After all, what’s the purpose of getting a microphone in any respect in case your mates can’t hear you communicate very nicely if you’re taking part in on-line? If your PC is in want of an audio enhance, listed here are the very best headsets you should purchase at the moment.
Best gaming headset 2020
- Logitech G Pro X – the very best gaming headset
- Logitech G432 – the very best funds gaming headset
- Steelseries Arctis 7 – the very best wi-fi gaming headset
- Corsair HS70 – the very best funds wi-fi gaming headset
- Sennheiser GSP 370 – the very best wi-fi gaming headset with the very best battery life
- Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC – the very best “money’s no object” Hi-Res gaming headset
To assist make issues a bit simpler, you may both click on on the headset you need to examine, or you may simply proceed scrolling to learn the entire thing. You’ll additionally discover extra details about how I take a look at gaming headsets on the backside of the article, in addition to whether or not you really want a headset with 7.1 encompass sound or Hi-Res assist. For now, although, listed here are our greatest gaming headset picks for 2020.
Logitech G Pro X – the very best gaming headset
The Logitech G Pro X headset is a really unbelievable little bit of package. Not solely is it one of the vital snug gaming headsets I’ve ever worn, nevertheless it’s additionally bought the very best darn microphone this facet of a Blue Yeti. That’s largely as a result of its mic has Blue’s Voice expertise constructed into it, which is the closest you’ll get to having a broadcast high quality mic on a gaming headset. Logitech’s GHub software program additionally provides you loads of choices to get your microphone sounding excellent, and it actually does put all different gaming headset mics to disgrace.
The Logitech G Pro X additionally sounds completely elegant. Thanks to its wealthy, detailed soundscape, I used to be in a position to hear sounds in my take a look at games I’d by no means even observed earlier than, making every little thing really feel extra immersive in consequence. I used to be additionally in a position to pinpoint precisely the place sure sounds had been coming from in fast-paced motion games akin to Doom – and that was with out switching on its digital 7.1 encompass sound characteristic, too.
It additionally comes with a substitute set of ear pads, a great deal of completely different cables and connections so you should use it with different units, plus a really beautiful carry case to verify nothing will get misplaced. If you’ve bought the money, you positively gained’t be disillusioned. Alternatively, it’s additionally out there in an everyday G Pro mannequin for £81 / $92, which has precisely the identical design however doesn’t include the Blue Voice tech contained in the mic.
Logitech G432 – the very best funds gaming headset
Available for round half the value of its Pro X cousins, the Logitech G432 is a implausible headset for these on a funds. Compared to different £50 / $50 headsets such because the Razer Kraken X and the Steelseries Arctis 1, the Logitech G432 beats all of them by a rustic mile.
Its sound high quality is completely implausible for this sort of worth, producing sparklingly detailed audio in each game going. It’s so clear, in truth, that I needed to remind myself that I hadn’t by accident put the Pro X on once more accidentally. It’s additionally bought an excellent microphone, and comes with each a USB DAC and a mixed and twin 3.5mm splitter to make use of together with your PC, laptop computer and consoles. I did, admittedly, have a couple of points with the headset’s general consolation – particularly in comparison with the featherweight Arctis 1 – however when the G432 sounds this good, I’m keen to miss it on this case.
Yes, there are cheaper headsets on the market, such because the £40 / $40-odd Turtle Beach Recon 150, however the Logitech G432 is completely price the additional expense on this case, and I’ve but to discover a better-sounding headset for much less.
Alternatively, in the event you’ve bought a bit extra to spend and fancy some RGB lighting in your headset, then the following neatest thing is the Corsair Void Elite RGB, which is an up to date model of the superb Corsair Void Pro RGB. This can at present be had for £70 / $58, making it barely cheaper than the non-X mannequin of the Logitech G Pro.
Steelseries Arctis 7 – the very best wi-fi gaming headset
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 cozy as different headsets with fistfuls of padding to their identify, 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 subject. Whereas different headsets typically all the time depart me with a vice-like headache after 30 minutes, the Arctis 7 simply lets me get on with taking part in 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 bought its personal cable, so you may place it wherever you want for the very best sign. You additionally get an everyday 3.5mm audio cable so you should use it as a wired headset as nicely in the event you choose.
The Arctis 7 is costlier than different wi-fi gaming headsets on this checklist, nevertheless it does include a few further helpful options, akin to its ChatMix slider. This permits you to filter out all game music to focus solely in your multiplayer chat, and it really works vice-versa as nicely, serving to you drown out these screaming 11-year-olds who can’t consider you didn’t make that headshot from half method throughout the map.
Corsair HS70 – the very best funds wi-fi gaming headset
I like a superb wi-fi gaming headset, however as you’ve little question simply seen, the very best ones demand nicely over £100 / $100, which might typically be a step too far for these trying to maintain prices down. Thankfully, the sensible Corsair HS70 is right here for these after the very best wi-fi gaming headset that doesn’t break the financial institution.
It’s nonetheless a good chunk of change, I’ll admit, 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 HyperX Cloud Flight (though its 16 hours of uninterrupted air time remains to be nothing to be sniffed at), however in the event you’re after one thing easy that will get the job executed, feels nice and doesn’t contain attempting to unravel 1,000,000 cables, the HS70 is the headset for you.
Sennheiser GSP 370 – the very best wi-fi gaming headset with the very best battery life
If you’re after a headset that may go for months and months with out charging, the Sennheiser GSP 370 is the wi-fi gaming headset for you. Its 100-hour battery life places all different gaming headsets to disgrace, together with the Steelseries Arctis 7. It does, nonetheless, come at a value.
For some, the Sennheiser GSP 370 will nearly definitely be price the additional money over the Arctis 7. It’s a bit on the chunky facet design-wise, however that is nonetheless a supremely snug headset whose audio high quality and fold-down microphone are high of their class. However, the principle purpose why that is sitting in our greatest wi-fi gaming headset spot is as a result of it nonetheless lacks a few key options that units the Arctis 7 aside. This consists of the Arctis’ ChatMix characteristic and sidetone controls for its microphone. The Arctis 7 additionally comes with a 3.5mm audio cable so you should use it with different units, too, whereas the GSP 370 is USB-only.
Still, in the event you’re not fussed about any of that, then the Sennheiser GSP 370 greater than justifies its excessive worth. With its glorious audio high quality and that stonkingly massive battery life, the GSP 370 is a implausible wi-fi gaming headset that ought to be on the high of your consideration checklist.
Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC – the very best ‘money is no object’ Hi-Res gaming headset
If you’ve bought cash to burn and wish the best possible of the very best, look no additional than the Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC. Not to be confused with its costlier wi-fi and cheaper GameDAC-less Pro siblings, this center providing in Steelseries’ Arctis Pro line-up is arguably the very best of the lot – if solely as a result of it’s the one one to have correct Hi-Res audio assist.
Hi-Res audio isn’t the be all and finish all for games in the meanwhile (see our purchasing information under for more information), however in the event you’ve bought numerous Hi-Res audio tracks that you just take heed to at house or subscribe to companies like Tidal, this may very well be a helpful resolution that meets each your property and game listening wants with out having to purchase a second pair of headphones.
Combined with that helpful titular GameDAC management that provides you each settings possibility you possibly can probably need proper at your fingertips (all on a beautiful large tactile dial, in addition), that is the very best and comfiest option to get 96kHz, 24-bit audio out of your game library and past.
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 lot of audio tracks to assist take a look at this – each out and in of games.
Games-wise, I give attention to three major titles. Normally, I begin with Doom and run by means of its first UAC degree, listening out for general 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-barrelled fury on an unsuspecting imp.
Next up is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, the place I sit again and take heed to the inner 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 – attempt these examples with a pair of headphones on to see what I imply), it is a nice take a look at of how a headset could be immersive and create a fully-believable sense of place. I take heed to see how up shut and private the principle 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), it is a good signal.
Lastly, I boot up Final Fantasy XV, paying particular consideration to the way it handles the game’s sweeping orchestral rating, and the steadiness between its busy battle themes and accompanying sound results.
Then I head over to my laptop computer and take heed to a wide range of different, common songs and varied game soundtracks I’ve purchased. Firstly, I fireplace up my Final Fantasy XV soundtrack in iTunes to examine the way it compares to its in-game efficiency. I additionally all the time take heed to the battle theme of Hunt or Be Hunted. This specific monitor has lots happening with a lot of completely 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.
I additionally use a mix of tracks from Heaven’s Vault, Octopath Traveller, and a light-weight sprinkling of my Breath of the Wild: Sound Selection CD. I additionally take heed 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 anime collection Knights of Sidonia and Attack on Titan, once more testing for general steadiness, readability and normal toe-tapping grooviness.
Next, I document 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 potential to see how snug it’s over lengthy intervals of time. Admittedly, a number of headsets are inclined to wrestle on this space for me, as I’ve both bought 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, nicely, wi-fi.
Wireless headsets are typically extra suited to these there console containers that sit beneath your TV so you may lounge round in your couch with out falling over a string of cables each time you stand 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 bought increase 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 once they run out of juice.
What’s all this 7.1 encompass sound stuff?
You’ll additionally see a number of 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, nonetheless, will solely ever have two audio system (one for every ear), so any headset that claims it could actually do 7.1 encompass is normally going to be doing it nearly by way of onboard software program and its personal inside algorithms.
Virtual encompass sound is on no account a foul factor. Yes, it’s inferior to correct 7.1 encompass sound, however in some instances it could actually assist make music really feel extra immersive and all-encompassing than common stereo. However, poor implementations of it could actually typically destroy any sense of intimacy or breathing-down-the-back-of-your-neck-style dialogue, and it could actually typically make your game audio really feel prefer it’s been changed into one nice large 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 offer absolutely the pinnacle of music high quality, with audiophiles saying it’s akin to ‘being right there in the recording studio’ if you take heed to it.
Put merely, Hi-Res audio has a a lot increased sampling fee (often known 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 out there.
To throw some numbers into the combo, 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 in the event 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 assist Hi-Res audio or whether or not you get any further 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 consequence, it’s most likely price it in the event you’re into Hi-Res audio stuff exterior of gaming, however don’t go paying further in the event you’re solely going to be utilizing it for games.
