by Stormtrooper on Apr 11, 2022
Updated April 11, 2022
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.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
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
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
VIEW AT WALMART View at Amazon View at Razer+Restrained styling+Comfortable+Great audio+Only $100
-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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(Image credit: HyperX)
(Image credit: HyperX)
(Image credit: HyperX)
(Image credit: HyperX)
Wireless: Yes
Drivers: 53mm, Dynamic, neodymium magnets
Connectivity: USB Dongle
Frequency response: 15Hz – 20,000Hz
Features: Detachable mic
Weight : 300g
Battery Life: 30 hours
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Prime
VIEW AT AMAZON View at Walmart View at Tomtop WW 345 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
+Powerful but clear sound+Exceptional build quality+Great mic
-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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(Image credit: EPOS)
(Image credit: EPOS)
(Image credit: EPOS)
(Image credit: EPOS)
Wireless: No
Drivers: 40mm, Dynamic
Frequency response: 10Hz – 30,000Hz
Features: Bidrectional mic, 7.1 Dolby Surround
Weight: 270g
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Prime
VIEW AT AMAZON View at Walmart View at Best Buy+Excellent sound quality+Great microphone+Much improved design and feel
-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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(Image credit: SteelSeries)
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
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
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
VIEW AT BEST BUY View at Adorama View at Dell 11 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
+Solid gaming sound+Comfortable 'ski goggle' headband+Great Mic +Bluetooth
-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)
(Image credit: Razer)
(Image credit: Razer)
Wireless: No
Drivers: 40mm, Neodymium magnets
Connectivity: 3.5mm
Frequency response: 12Hz – 8,000Hz
Features: 7.1 surround sound, ultra lightweight
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
VIEW AT BEST BUY View at WalmartPrime
View at Amazon 15 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
+Can find under $40+Excellent 7.1 virtual surround sound+Comfortable leatherette head cushion
-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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(Image credit: CREATIVE)
(Image credit: CREATive)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
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
TODAY'S BEST DEALS
Prime
VIEW AT AMAZON View at QVC - US+Great price+Pretty good virtual surround sound+Low-key and comfy design design
-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.
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.
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.