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Best PC gaming headsets: the top wired and wireless headsetsOur top gaming headset recommenations
Our top gaming headset recommenations
Picking out the best gaming headsets is easy because a lot of microphone-and-headphone combos are, frankly, duff. Why, I don’t know – with thebest gaming miceandkeyboards, there’s sometimes the impression that PC peripherals are so relentlessly refined and factory-tested it becomes more difficult to make abadone, but I’ve worn way too many headsets with tinny audio or cranium-crushingly tight earcups. This might conjure up a metaphor involving the separation of wheat from its natural protective casing, but really, the amount of grim hardware here actually serves to make the good headsets stand out more.
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Here’s a guide all of mine and Katharine’s favourites, ranging from the canniest budget cans to the very finest headsets with active noise cancellation or wireless connectivity. All tested in full, including for microphone quality, so you can know which are the most suited to Discord chats and/or arguments. For comfort, too: some headsets might sound fabulous, but they’re no good if they feel like they’re cutting off blood flow after half an hour.
I do hope you find it useful, as although gaming headsets have alternatives in the form of earbuds or speakers, I do genuinely believe that a dependable pair is hard to beat for playing games specifically. They’re far more cost-effective for building a 3D soundstage than speakers, which in turn makes them ideal for getting the most out of a game’s sound design: approaching footsteps will be clearer inFPSmultiplayer battles, while the tension and unease ofhorror gameswill be greatly enhanced. Especially since headsets naturally provide a more intimate, close-up sound than even a top-quality set of speakers can.
Best gaming headsets
Logitech G432
The best gaming headset overall
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Alternatively, if you’ve got a bit more to spend and fancy some RGB lighting in your headset, then the next best thing is the Corsair VoidEliteRGB, which is an updated version of the excellentCorsair Void Pro RGB.
Read more in ourLogitech G432 review
Roccat Elo X Stereo
The best cheap gaming headset
It’s not as sonically impressive as the Logitech G432, but theRoccat Elo X Stereois just too good not to mention alongside it. It’s thes entry-level headset in Roccat’s Elo range, but it’s much better value than its more expensive USB sibling, and a brilliant pick for those on a budget.
Not only is its audio quality top notch, but it’s also supremely comfortable - actually more so than the Logitech G432. This is largely down to its brilliant headband design, which is actually very similar to the Steelseries Arctis 7 (which, as you’ll see below, is our best wireless headset pick). It’s a great headset to wear for long gaming sessions, and the chassis is so light you can forget you’re wearing it.
It’s also got one of the best microphones on a budget gaming headset. Often these are what tend to suffer the most on lower-end headsets, but the Elo X Stereo’s mic is easily as good as the one on the G432. Overall, it’s a great headset for those who want something cheap and cheerful, and it’s a very worthy alternative to the G432.
Read more in ourRoccat Elo X Stereo review
AOC GH300
The best cheap 7.1 headset
For reasons explained further down, neither I nor the RPS hivemind recommend 7.1 virtual surround sound for all-purpose, all-genre headsets. However, if you do want to try out this drama-boosting format, theAOC GH300is one of the most affordable gaming headsets to support it – and for the money, is a good-sounding set of cans in general.
Logitech G Pro X
The best premium gaming headset
TheLogitech G Pro Xheadset is a seriously impressive bit of kit; one of the most comfortable headset Katharine has ever worn, so says our RPS chief, and it’s also got the a lovely-sounding mic too.
Logitech’s G HUB softwarealso gives you plenty of options to get your microphone sounding just right, and it really does put all other mics to shame.
The Logitech G Pro X also sounds sublime. Thanks to its rich, detailed soundscape, it’s possible to hear sounds you may never even have noticed before, making everything feel more immersive as a result. It also comes with a replacement set of ear pads, loads of different cables and connections so you can use it with other devices, plus a very lovely carry case to make sure nothing gets lost. If you’ve got the cash, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
It’s also available in a regular G Pro model, which has exactly the same design but doesn’t come with the Blue VO!CE gubbins inside the mic, but if you’re looking for something on the cheaper side then the next best thing is theCorsair’s Void Pro RGB: the£70/$55Corsair Void Elite RGB.
Read more in ourLogitech G Pro X review
Steelseries Arctis 7
The best wireless gaming headset
If you’ve ever had particular trouble in finding a comfortable headset, then theSteelseries Arctis 7is a revelation. Its ski-goggle headband might not look as comfy as other headsets with fistfuls of padding to their name, but its clever suspension design means the steel frame never actually touches your head, allowing for hours of use without issue.
What’s more, its wireless transmitter isn’t just a little USB stick - it’s got its own cable, so you can position it wherever you like for the best signal. You also get a regular 3.5mm audio cable so you can use it as a wired headset as well if you prefer.
The Arctis 7 is more expensive than a lot of other wireless headsets, including the ones on this list, but it does come with handy extras like its ChatMix slider. This lets you filter out all game music to focus solely on your multiplayer chat, and it works vice-versa as well, helping you drown out those screaming 11-year-olds who can’t believe you didn’t make that headshot from halfway across the map.
Read more in ourSteelseries Arctis 7 review
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
The best gaming headset for battery life
For an idea of how ridiculous the 300-hour battery life of theHyperX Cloud Alpha Wirelessis, the headset that previously held this spot – theSennheiser GSP 370– promised 100 hours. And those are just the official estimates, so if you go easy on the volume, the Cloud Alpha Wireless might be able to last even longer. Me? I lost track after about 120 hours, but was able to use this as my main headset for several months before it finally called it quits. There does appear to be an issue with battery reporting, at least on my unit, as it never stopped claiming to be at 100% charge even as it took its last breaths, but accurate reporting is far less important when you can go entireseasonswithout needing the charging cable.
Best of all, the Cloud Alpha Wireless’ stamina is just one quality among many. As per usual with HyperX’s Cloud headsets, it’s lovely and comfortable, with memory foam earcups and a well-padded headband. It sounds rich and balanced, without any EQ rejigging required. And, while the microphone isn’t the most crystal-clear boom model I’ve used, it’s plenty good enough for casual play.
It is expensive, though, so while the elongated battery life isn’t the only enticing thing about the Cloud Alpha Wireless, it is a luxury in every sense of the word.
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro
The best noise-cancelling gaming headset
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
TheTurtle Beach Stealth Prois an excellent example of ANC in action, and wireless to boot. Enabling the noise-cancelling effect (you can switch it off to save battery) only enhances the detailed, prudently balanced sound of its massive 50mm drivers, and it succeeds at significantly reducing the volume of louder noises while making quieter ones (like traffic on the street outside) more or less silent.
Microphone quality is pretty good as well, and despite a tight fit, there’s enough padding to keep the Stealth Pro reasonably comfortable. The 12-hour battery life isn’t as impressive, but there’s a solution right there in the box: a spare battery that can sit charging in the USB wireless receiver unit. When the Stealth Pro runs dry, you can simply pull out the depleted battery, replace it with the charged one, then pop the empty battery in the charger while you continue listening. In theory this alternating system could keep the Stealth Pro going forever, or at least until the Earth runs out of energy and we go back to playing games with sticks and rocks.
Razer Kraken V3 Pro
The best gaming headset with haptic feedback
Razer and Corsair both make gaming headsets with haptic feedback, sending vibrations into your skull to give loud sounds (like gunfire and grenade blasts) a more kinetic kick. TheRazer Kraken V3 Proshows this is more than a mere gimmick, giving those dramatic moments so much more impact that on some occasions I actually recoiled with surprise. Razer’s particular haptic tech, HyperSense, is pretty smart too, dynamically adjusting the intensity and position of the vibrations to match the loudness and location of the sounds that trigger it.
It’s a very pricey headset, even considering the haptics, but it still provides overall quality to match. With or without HyperSense switched on, it sounds marvellous, and the cushy padding around the earcups and headband keep it comfortable to wear for hours. Build quality is high throughout, and there’s a full set of controls on the headset itself, including a volume wheel.
The right earcup houses a HyperSense toggle button, which switches the effect between Low, Medium and High levels (or turns it off entirely). Low and Medium are the ones to go for, I reckon - on High, the sound of the motors ends up competing with the sound from the drivers, and there’s enough kick on the lower settings anyway.
Astro Gaming A30
The best gaming headset for multiple devices
Personally, I like my non-gaming headphones to have more of an understated look, but hey, it all works. The A30’s neutral yet detail-rich sound profile, combined with the app’s EQ customisation, means you can tinker with the headset’s musical performance without being beholden to that same sound for your games. The boom mic also delivers that extra clarity you’d want on Discord, and the while it does want to show off, the overall design is good on practicalities. The memory foam ear cushions and tiny joystick control are particular highlights.
My only other initial concern was the price, but when you consider this is both a good gaming headset and a pair of headphones you can take on the commute, the expense is a lot easier to stomach.
Corsair HS65 Surround
The best gaming headset for mic quality
TheCorsair HS65 Surroundhas plenty to recommend it: it’s comfy, looks smart, and despite an attainable price, it can produce quite convincing digital surround sound when connected using the included USB adapter. And yet, what surprised me most was the clarity of its microphone. It’s genuinely outstanding, and I can’t believe Corsair isn’t making a bigger deal about it. A couple of longtime friends, whom I regularly rope into helping me test these things, agreed it’s the best headset mic they’ve heard me blather into.
Sony Inzone H3
The best lightweight gaming headset
I should note that there are lighter headsets available, if that’s why you’re here: the Logitech G535, previously of this list, weighs just 235g. However, the Inzone H3 is cheaper, more comfortable, more cleanly styled, and better-sounding. That’s probably worth a few extra grams.
Choosing the right gaming headset
Choosing a gaming headset can be an incredibly personal thing. Finding a gaming headset with good quality audio is obviously key, but it also needs to be comfortable. After all, you’re probably going to be wearing this for several hours at a time, and it’s no good if it sounds great but ends up giving you a headache after 30 minutes.
How we test:
Whenever we get a gaming headset in for testing, we look out for three keys things: comfort, good quality audio and a good quality microphone. The former can be very subjective. Everyone has a different shaped and sized head, and what’s comfortable for one person may be a head-pinching nightmare vice for someone else. To test comfort levels, we simply try to wear a headset for as long as possible. The longer it lasts without pressing down on skulls and pinching jaw bones, the better.
In addition to playing a variety of games to judge sound quality, we also try out every headset as a pair of music headphones, listening to different genres and soundtracks to hear how they perform outside of games. Finally, we’ll test microphones in a couple of ways: recording ourselves speaking into the microphone, to see how clear the audio is and how it handles plosive words and phrases, and hopping onto Discord to ask some trusted friends how the mic sounds on their end.
Gaming headset FAQ
Should I get wireless or wired headphones?
Gaming headsets fall into two broad categories: wired and wireless. Wired headsets are the most common, with most plugging into a USB port or a 3.5mm audio connection on your PC, and they’re great if you want clean, uninterrupted audio.
Wireless headsets, on the other hand, tend to be more expensive than wired headset, but they’re great for cutting down on the warren of PC cables you’ve got building up behind the back of your desk. They’re also super convenient you’re playing games on the TV in your living room, as it means you can kick back on the sofa without falling over a tangle of wires every time you get up to make a cuppa. They will need charging when they run out of battery, though, and their 2.4GHz wireless signal can get interrupted if you’ve got a lot of wireless devices in the same room or around your house. Neither I nor previous hardware ed Katharine have had this problem personally, but it can be an issue with certain headsets.
Can I use a PC gaming headset with a console?
Many, though not all, gaming headsets are multi-platform; as such you could potentially use them with a PS5, Xbox Series X or Nintendo Switch as well as on your PC or laptop. Check the headset’s packaging or manufacturer website to find out if it’s compatible with consoles.
Connection type is important here. Some gaming headsets only have a USB connection, for example; that’s great for PC users, but not all consoles support USB headsets, so it’s important to check the headset’s specs beforehand. Even if a headset has a traditional 3.5mm audio connection, you should still check it’s compatible with PC. Headsets with a single, combined 3.5mm headphone jack will work fine with consoles, laptops and phones, for example, but you’ll need an dual 3.5mm adapter (shown below) if you want to use the headset’s microphone on PC.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas has single and dual 3.5mm audio connections via an adapter that comes in the box, so you can use it with laptops, consoles and phones as well as PC.
What are Hi-Res Audio headphones?
We’re starting to see more Hi-Res Audio stickers appear on gaming headsets, but you don’t need to worry too much about making sure you get one. Hi-Res (or High Resolution) audio is meant to provide the absolute pinnacle of music quality, with audiophiles saying it’s akin to ‘being right there in the recording studio’ when you listen to it. This is because Hi-Res Audio has a much higher sampling rate (also known as bit-depth, or the number of samples taken per signal per second in the analogue-to-digital conversion process) than CD quality audio, which is meant to make it more accurate and more detailed than anything else currently available.
To throw some numbers into the mix, CD is specified at 16-bit or 44.1kHz, while Hi-Res audio is usually defined as either 96kHz or 192kHz at 24-bit. This is great if you already own lots of Hi-Res audio tracks or subscribe to a streaming service like Tidal, but it has limited use for gaming right now. It’s currently unknown how many, if any, games support Hi-Res audio or whether you get any extra benefit over non-Hi-Res audio headsets. What’s more, many people can’t actually tell the difference between Hi-Res and CD, so you shouldn’t feel like you need to pay extra to get one if you’re only going to be using it for games.
What headsets do the pros use?
Pro gamers and streamers all use vastly different gaming headsets. Ninja uses the studio-grade Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones, for example, while Shroud has switched from a HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless to a Logitech G Pro X.
Myth and DrLupo also use a Logitech G Pro X headset, but Tfue uses the super expensive Sennheiser HD 800 S High Resolution headphones. Pokimane, on the other hand, often alternates between different HyperX headsets, most notably the Cloud Alpha and the Cloud Revolver, and Dakotaz uses an Astro A40.
What are headphone drivers?
A headphone driver is the technical term for the little speaker inside each earcup. They’re the bits that convert the electrical signals coming from your PC into sound, so they’re pretty important! They often vary between 20mm and 50mm in size, and most gaming headsets will have drivers with a 40mm or 50mm diameter.
Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, though. Bigger drivers are louder than smaller ones, but their quality depends on a number of factors, including the way they’ve been designed and the materials used to construct them. There are multiple different types of drivers used in gaming headsets, and they all have their own advantages and disadvantages.
What is frequency response?
What is 7.1 surround sound?
In a traditional audio setup, a 7.1 surround sound system comprises of seven individual speakers and a subwoofer (the .1 bit). They’re positioned around where your seating area, hence the ‘surround sound’ bit in the name, and create a more immersive aural experience. Lots of gaming headsets say they support 7.1 surround sound as well, but given that headsets often only have two drivers or speakers, it’s never going to be true 7.1 surround. Instead, what they really mean is that they can do virtual 7.1 surround sound, which is done via software such as Logitech’s G Hub, Steelseries' Engine, Corsair’s iCue and HyperX’s NGenuity software.
What is Logitech’s Blue VO!CE?
Logitech’s G Pro X headset is one of the few gaming headsets that supports Blue Voice, which is a type of voice filter technology used in Blue’s Yeti microphones. It helps to make your voice sound clearer, richer and cleaner for a more professional level of voice chat, and it’s really quite impressive in practice. It can’t compare to a proper, dedicated microphone filter, but as an easy, all-in-one solution for those who don’t have hundreds and thousands to spend on their gaming audio setup, it does an exceedingly good job.
