Nowadays, a quality headset is pretty much a necessity for a proper gaming experience, especially if you’re playing multiplayer games. If you’ve ever used a good headset, you know what a difference it can make. Everything feels more immersive, especially with virtual surround sound and noise cancellation.
Choosing the best gaming headset isn’t easy though, and many of the factors you need to largely consider come down to personal preference. Are you an audiophile and mostly care about audio quality? Are you often playing with friends and worry more about microphone clarity? Do you do long gaming sessions and comfort is your top priority? Or maybe you travel frequently and need a headset that is durable and compact. As you can tell, there are several variables to consider, which makes it difficult to name an overall best headset, because the things I care about may not matter to you.
So below, you’ll find my recommendations on the best gaming headsets, based on a variety of different factors. This way, you can get the one that appeals most to you, based on what you want out of your gaming headset.
1. Editor’s Pick: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset
Photo credit: Halvin Custodio | FullCleared.com
Nearly nine years ago, SteelSeries sent me its (at the time) new H Wireless Headset for a review. Back then, I had mostly used Logitech and Corsair accessories for my PC gaming setup and the SteelSeries brand was new to me. But after a couple weeks of using the H Wireless Headset, there was one feature that stood out from all the other wireless headsets on the market: a replaceable battery. It might sound like a minor convenience, but not having to plug in my headset for charging quickly became my favorite feature of the H Wireless Headset. The swappable battery means you never have any downtime using this headset, allowing you to freely game for extended hours without ever having to plug it in.
Since then, I have followed the new iterations of the H Wireless Headset, using the Arctis Pro Wireless for years before recently replacing it with the most recent version, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. SteelSeries continues to improve on its range-topping wireless headset offering, and overall it’s my favorite to use because of the swappable battery. If you want a wireless headset and hate having to remember to charge your headset, this is the one to get.
Audio quality with this SteelSeries headset is above average — it’s not the best you’d find, but it’s pretty good. I do find the headset to be pretty comfortable, but I still prefer the previous Arctis Pro Wireless for longer gaming sessions. My biggest complaint with the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the audio quality from the mic. While it doesn’t directly impact you, audio quality from the microphone is average, but clear. I do like that the microphone is completely retractable, which is great when you don’t need it. But if audio quality from your microphone is your main priority, there are better headsets out there for that and I’ll have a recommendation below.
The headset does have a robust feature set, including the ability to customize the audio experience with the Sonar Software. It does support 360-degree spatial audio and is fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio and Microsoft Spatial Sound. Active Noise Cancellation is the latest tech in this version of the headset, allowing you to tune out ambient noise. If you play on more than one platform, twin USB ports allow you to switch between them with a push of a button.
Wireless range for this headset is advertised at 40 feet and based on my personal experience, it’s accurate. I am able to freely move around my room and even go downstairs without the headset cutting off.
Please note there are two different versions of the headset and if you’re gaming on Xbox, you’ll have to buy the Xbox-specific headset. PC owners should purchase the PlayStation (PS) version. We also recommend getting a pair of Wicked Cushions.
2. Best Microphone: Corsair HS80 RGB Headset (Wired/Wireless)
If you’re a streamer or a guild/raid leader and your microphone’s audio quality is your top concern, consider Corsair’s HS80 RGB Headset. It’s a competitively priced headset, even for the wireless option, with above average audio quality and comfort. But the microphone is the star of this headset, delivering crystal clear output and it can easily be muted by flipping the mic upwards. The clarity was particularly evident in the recent MogTalk broadcast for Final Fantasy XIV’s Race for World’s First in The Omega Protocol Ultimate raid. Although the event was sponsored by Corsair, the casters who used the Corsair HS80 sounded noticeably better than those who were on other mics. The HS80 does live up to Corsair’s claim of having a broadcast-grade microphone.
This headset does feature Dolby Atmos to make your gaming experience even more immersive, through its pair of custom-tuned, 50mm neodymium audio drivers. The speakers have a range of 20Hz to 40,000Hz. Comfort is pretty good for a headset in this price range, with memory foam earpads and a floating headband design, very similar to what was used on the older SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless.
Corsair claims a 60-foot wireless range, which is impressive compared to other wireless headsets. But that range is likely in ideal conditions, so thick walls and other wireless nearby devices will probably affect that range. Battery life is rated at 20 hours. This headset is compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on the PlayStation 5, but Dolby Atmos is not available on macOS and PlayStation consoles.
Although my keyboard and mouse is both from Corsair, along with my PC’s power supply and AIO cooler, the swappable battery with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless still makes it my preferred headset. It would be an interesting debate on which headset I’d use if the HS80 had a similar feature. This headset does also make for a great mid-range choice for both price and performance. Also note that the Corsair HS80 RGB Headset is not compatible with Xbox consoles.
3. Best Audio: Sennheiser HD 560S Headphones
You’ll find plenty of people who will debate all day long on whether dedicated gaming headsets are worth the price premium. If you’re a solo gamer who enjoys single player experiences, you have no reason to care about having a microphone. More importantly, this means you can purchase yourself proper audio headphones, one that comes from a manufacturer with a history of creating some of the best-sounding headphones. My choice is the Sennheiser HD 560S, an over-the-ear headphones with open-back earcups so you can get a more complete audio experience.
Sennheiser is widely considered one of the best brands out there, even with audiophiles. I have tested the Sennheiser GSP 670 headset in the past and while I came away impressed with its audio quality, the microphone was very average and I felt that its price tag didn’t justify what you got. But with the HD 560S, you’re getting an excellent audio experience and it’s the headphones I have close by for when I’m playing single player games on my PlayStation 5. It’s also a great companion for the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.
This wired headphones include a detachable cable with a 6.3mm plug and an adapter for 3.5mm sources. If you do want to use it for online gaming, you can pair it with a separate microphone, although the quality won’t be as good as some dedicated headsets with built-in mics.
If you care about specifications, the HD 560S has a frequency response of 6Hz to 38,000Hz, impedance of 120 ohms, and a sensitivity rating of 110dB at 1kHz.
4. Best on a Budget: Logitech G432 Wired Headset
Not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a gaming headset, especially if you’re more of a casual gamer. Prior to using Corsair and SteelSeries peripherals, my entire accessories collection came from Logitech. I have since moved on mostly due to weird issues I experienced using Logitech products, but they’re still a reputable brand with quality offerings at a competitive price. The Logitech G432 is one such example, a wired headset that delivers good value, especially since it’s often on sale now.
Given its price tag, you may not expect much from this headset, but you’ll be surprised. I have personally found Logitech headsets to be extremely comfortable — even more so than my SteelSeries — and the G432 is no exception. It follows a similar design you’ll find across most of Logitech’s headsets, but it’s worth mentioning its comfort level may not be the same case for everybody. The headset is equipped with 50mm drivers that deliver above average audio quality and it does support DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround sound. That does mean you get 3D positional audio.
The microphone is pretty average, which is expected from a headset in this price range. It is a 6mm boom mic, but it has a tendency to pick up a lot of background noises. You can easily mute it however by flipping it up, like many other Logitech headsets. This particular recommendation can connect via USB DAC or 3.5mm cable so you can use it with all your devices, including PC.
If you can find it on sale, it’s hard to beat the value this headset has to offer.
5. Best Battery Life: HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Headset
If you don’t want to spend the money for the swappable battery setup found on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset, take a look at the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Headset. Boasting up to an impressive 300 hours of wireless gameplay, this is the headset to get if you’re forgetful when it comes to charging. While the main selling point of this headset is its superb battery life, it does deliver solid audio quality and has a decent microphone, but it does pick up background noise.
One of the biggest complaints with this headset is that it doesn’t do a great job blocking out ambient sounds, so if you’re gaming in a noisy environment, it won’t give you the best experience. On the flip side, if you don’t want your headset to completely block out background noise — if you have kids, for example — this is a good choice.
This headset supports DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio that adds to immersion and does give you a virtual 3D sound stage. Comfort gets a boost from this headset’s lightweight design, along with memory foam cushions that are pretty standard on quality gaming headsets.
If battery life is your primary concern, this is the headset to get. You’ll get solid performance for the price. It is designed for use on PC, and while you can use it with your PlayStation, you won’t get access to some of the customization features. This headset is not compatible with any Xbox console.
FAQ
Generally, wireless headsets will cost more than their wired counterpart. Wireless headsets have a lot of obvious benefits but keep in mind that battery life could be an issue depending on how lengthy your gaming sessions are, and whether you remember to charge your headset. Wired headsets will generally deliver better audio quality, but wireless headset audio has significantly improved in recent years. The best headset for you largely comes down to personal preference. If you’re not worried about being tethered to a wire, there’s little reason to spend the money for a wireless headset.
ANC is a noise cancelling system that helps reduce background noise. In the simplest sense, ANC “neutralizes” unwanted incoming sound waves from your surroundings by using tiny microphones to create an inverted sound wave that cancels out the incoming sound wave. You can learn more about ANC here.
The main difference between a headset and a headphone is that a headset has a built-in microphone for communication. Since many gamers do engage in voice communication, headsets are more popular than headphones for gaming. If you’re only playing single player games however, we recommend headphones over headsets for better audio quality and a more affordable price tag.
Recent Updates
August 21, 2023: Updated our shopping links from Amazon to Best Buy.
April 1, 2023: Added original photography of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset.
March 8, 2023: Fixed some formatting issues caused by a few sitewide changes.
