Updated April 11, 2022

Best Gaming Headsets

Your gaming experience will be completely transformed if you use the best gaming headset. Games become considerably more immersive when you use a good gaming headset. The music, speech, and background noises become increasingly realistic. The sounds of footfall and other tells will offer you a considerable advantage if you play competitively.

Instead of firing in the broad direction of that worthless display damage indication, the finest gaming headset will assist you pinpoint directional auditory cues, allowing you to react quickly in life-or-death circumstances.

We understand that adding one of the top gaming headsets of 2021 to your collection shouldn't be prohibitively expensive. For $100, you can get our top selection, the Razer Blackshark V2, a durable headset with superb sound quality. If you want to go wireless but don't want to spend a lot of money, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless is a good option.

Regardless of budget, this list of the best gaming headsets we've tested includes something for everyone. If you're looking to eliminate cord clutter, our list of the best wireless gaming headphones might be more to your liking.

 

Futre (Image credit: Future)

 

Future (Image credit: Future)

 

FUTURE (Image credit: Future)

 

Future (Image credit: Future)

 

Future

1. Razer Blackshark V2

The best wired gaming headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: No

Drivers: 50mm, Razer TriForce, Titanium

Connectivity: 3.5mm, USB soundcard

Frequency response: 12Hz – 28,000Hz

Features: Detachable noise-cancelling mic, in-line cable controls

Weight: 262g

REASONS TO BUY

+Restrained styling+Comfortable+Great audio+Only $100

REASONS TO AVOID

-Cable hardwired into headset

Dethroning the HyperX Cloud Alpha from last year's the top spot was no easy feat. Razer's Blackshark V2 gaming headset manages to do just that by offering killer audio quality, great price, and easy-to-use software. 

The 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers are designed with discrete ports to separate bass, mid, tremble tones from interfering with each other. The result is a richer sound and keeps it on par with HyperX's 50mm dual-chamber neodymium driver headset. 

The $100 price point is not a big financial ask for anyone who wants a quality gaming headset. The Blackshark V2 Pro's recent release gives players a wireless option though, $180 seems a bit steep.

Read our full Razer Blackshark V2 review.

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HyperX (Image credit: HyperX)

 

HyperX (Image credit: HyperX)

 

HyperX (Image credit: HyperX)

 

HyperX (Image credit: HyperX)

2. HyperX Cloud II Wireless

Best wireless gaming headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: Yes

Drivers: 53mm, Dynamic, neodymium magnets

Connectivity: USB Dongle

Frequency response: 15Hz – 20,000Hz

Features: Detachable mic

Weight : 300g

Battery Life: 30 hours

REASONS TO BUY

+Powerful but clear sound+Exceptional build quality+Great mic

REASONS TO AVOID

-Mediocre bass

Bearing the fruits of HyperX Cloud's long legacy of excellence, the Cloud IIs presents excellent sound and build quality with the essential features done well and no feature-flab inflating the price. This closed-back design's stereo soundscape is punchier in the low end than we'd usually go for. 

Still, the extra bass doesn't interfere with overall clarity—and frankly, in games and music environments, it sounds great. The 53mm with neodymium magnets is intended to give low, medium, and high frequencies space to resonate without interfering with each other, and you do get a sense of that while listening to them. 

Elsewhere it's the usual impressive build quality, generous padding, clear mic, and high comfort levels over longer play sessions that the Cloud II design has always offered.

Read our HyperX Cloud Alpha review for a more modern, wired alternative.

Best gaming keyboard | Best gaming mouse | Best gaming chair
Best VR headset | Best wireless gaming mouse | Best graphics cards 

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EPOS (Image credit: EPOS)

 

EPOS (Image credit: EPOS)

 

EPOS (Image credit: EPOS)

 

EPOS (Image credit: EPOS)

3. Epos H3

The best sounding gaming headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: No

Drivers: 40mm, Dynamic

Frequency response: 10Hz – 30,000Hz

Features: Bidrectional mic, 7.1 Dolby Surround

Weight: 270g

REASONS TO BUY

+Excellent sound quality+Great microphone+Much improved design and feel

REASONS TO AVOID

-Earcup coverage might be small for some-Wire tangles easily

Replacing the hilariously bulky Sennheiser GSP 300 series, the Epos H3 design shifts away NFL head coach headset into something a bit leaner and stylish. What didn't change is the stellar audio quality we've come to know and love. 

Despite the name, the Sennheiser DNA is all over this headset. In our review, we were blown away by the powerful bass that never spoils the mids and highs, which isn't surprising with a frequency response of 10Hz – 30,000Hz, making it a killer headset for gaming and listening to music. 

Read our full Epos H3 review.

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SteelSeries (Image credit: SteelSeries)

 

SteelSeries (Image credit: SteelSeries)

 

SteelSeries (Image credit: SteelSeries)

 

SteelSeries (Image credit: SteelSeries)

4. Steelseries Arctis 9X

The best multi platform gaming headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: Yes

Drivers: 40mm, Neodymium drivers

Connectivity: Wireless USB dongle, 3.5mm wired, Bluetooth

Frequency response: 20Hz – 22,000Hz

Features: Retractable noise cancelling mic, DTS Headphone:X, 7.1 surround

Battery life: 20 hours

REASONS TO BUY

+Solid gaming sound+Comfortable 'ski goggle' headband+Great Mic +Bluetooth 

REASONS TO AVOID

-Just under $200 is a lot-Weak Bass

We like best about the Arctis 9X because you can easily forget it’s a wireless model while you’re using it. There’s none of the muddiness or audio artifacts that have historically ruined the party for wireless headsets. The added Bluetooth compatibility means that you can use this headset on your mobile devices, too, perfect is you plan on gaming on your phone or tablet. 

The great battery life clocks in at over 20 hours out of the box; you can keep playing while you charge, too, simply by connecting the headset to your PC with a USB cable.

The distinctive ski goggle headband is really effective at keeping the weight of the headset away from your head, and even after playing for hours, we’ve never felt it digging in.

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(Image credit: Razer)

 

(Image credit: Razer)

 

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(Image credit: Razer)

5. Razer Kraken X

The best cheap gaming headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: No

Drivers: 40mm, Neodymium magnets

Connectivity: 3.5mm

Frequency response: 12Hz – 8,000Hz

Features: 7.1 surround sound, ultra lightweight

REASONS TO BUY

+Can find under $40+Excellent 7.1 virtual surround sound+Comfortable leatherette head cushion

REASONS TO AVOID

-Non-detachable mic-Base audio is a little clunky

As a cheap alternative to the tricked-out Razer Kraken, the Kraken X is a budget-friendly option that excels on PC for one simple reason—virtual 7.1 surround sound. Available via an app, this elevates the headset's already good audio thanks to superior depth, clarity, and definition. It also makes going back to the X's standard audio mode difficult.

When you throw in enviable comfort and a stylish, understated design, this version of the Kraken offers tremendous value for money. There are niggles to dampen the party, of course (a non-detachable mic being chief among them), but you can't complain when you're getting excellent 7.1 sound for such a low cost.

Read our full Razer Kraken X review.

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Creative (Image credit: CREATIVE)

 

creative (Image credit: CREATive)

 

creative (Image credit: Future)

 

future (Image credit: Future)

6. Creative SXFI Gamer

Best headset with surround sound

SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless: No

Drivers: 50 mm Neodymium magnet

Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5 mm Stereo Input

Frequency response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz

Features: Positional Audio

Weight: 336g

REASONS TO BUY

+Great price+Pretty good virtual surround sound+Low-key and comfy design design

REASONS TO AVOID

-Cumbersome software-Lack of wireless support-That red microphone light

CUT THE CORD...

 

(Image credit: Steelseries)

Best wireless gaming mouse: ideal cable-free rodents
Best wireless gaming keyboard: no wires, no worries
Best wireless gaming headset: top untethered audio

The Creative SFXI Gamer headset is a good headset with a hilariously bad name. That being said, it shouldn't deter anyone looking for a great overall listening experience. The positional audio, aka Battle Mode, is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves into their favorite Battle Royales like Call of Duty: Warzone for less than $150. 

The 50mm neodymium drivers provide some good bass between both stereo and with surround sound modes. The microphone works well for competitive gaming (though that red light at the tip is infuriating) if you want to be heard loud and clear. 

Read our full Creative SXFI Gamer review.

Best gaming headset FAQ

What does a gaming headset need?

 

There are a few things to consider when choosing a gaming headset. A good price and sound quality are foremost, but comfort is up there, too. Also, noise-cancelling mics are crucial for coms, so most of the headsets we've listed here include this feature. You want decent voice quality and a microphone that won't pick up every single keypress on your mechanical keyboard.

Are wired or wireless headsets better for gaming?

 

This really comes to down to preference, but if you're going the wireless route what you want to look for is for decent battery life (20 hours or higher). The last thing you want to have a headset that's constantly needing to be plugged in because the battery life is bad. It kind of defeats the purpose of being wireless. For wired headsets you want to make sure you the cable is long enough to reach your PC without feeling like it's tugging on your head.

 


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Last Updated: Apr 11, 2022

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