The best gaming headsets for 2024

Enclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 5 – 40,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 345g (with out cable)

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Professional X ought to please most individuals prepared to pay for a capital-N good pair of headphones for gaming functions. It localizes sounds precisely and delivers the type of spacious soundstage anticipated from an excellent open-back mannequin. Bass is a bit more current right here than on many open-back headphones as effectively. There nonetheless isn’t a lot in the way in which of deep sub-bass, unsurprisingly, however there’s sufficient heat to present stuff like explosions a bit extra juice with out muddying up the mids. Particulars within the midrange get probably the most emphasis general, however they’re clear, and their forwardness isn’t a foul factor if you’re making an attempt to hear for enemy gamers in a aggressive FPS like Counter-Strike 2 or Apex Legends. The treble isn’t pushed fairly as arduous, but it surely’s neither overly recessed nor harsh.

All of this helps the DT 900 Professional X sound detailed however not boring. It is the type of sound that performs good whether or not you’re making an attempt to win a multiplayer recreation or soak up a extra cinematic single-player story. And if you’re not gaming, you get an satisfying profile for music.

The entire thing is constructed effectively, too. The DT 900 Professional X will clamp down barely tougher than common you probably have a big head, but it surely balances its weight effectively, and its splendidly gentle velour earpads go a great distance towards maintaining the pair snug over hours-long gaming classes. It comes with two removable cables, together with a three-meter choice that’s handy should you sit far out of your PC. It will probably’t fold up, although.

Like all open-back headphones, the DT 900 Professional X leak recreation audio and let in a lot of noise, so it’s not nice on the go. Clearly, should you can afford to improve to an ultra-premium pair like Sennheiser’s HD 800 S, you’ll get more room and true-to-life element. However for a comparatively attainable $250 to $300, the DT 900 Professional X ought to fulfill.

Enclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 6 – 38,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 280g

In case you’d fairly not spend as a lot, the Sennheiser HD 560S is one other glorious open-back headphone that’s usually accessible for lower than $200. Just like the DT 900 Professional X, it has a large soundstage that makes it simpler to really feel immersed in a given recreation. Its signature is barely extra impartial on the entire, so that you gained’t really feel such as you’re lacking any a part of what’s occurring, and it retrieves a beautiful quantity of treble and midrange element. There’s much less bass energy for explosions, although. And the treble, whereas extra current right here than on Beyerdynamic’s pair, can sound piercing at occasions. Imaging isn’t fairly as nuanced both, although it’s removed from poor.

The HD560S’ design is loads snug to put on for prolonged intervals. It doesn’t clamp down too arduous on these with large heads (like yours really), and its velour earpads hug the ears softly. The included cable is detachable, too. The plastic body doesn’t really feel as sturdy or premium because the DT 900 Professional X, nevertheless, so that you gained’t need to chuck it round haphazardly. It will not isolate a lot noise both, nor will it forestall others from listening to what you are enjoying. Nonetheless, the HD 560S is a pleasure, and an awesome worth.

Enclosure: Open-back (on-ear) | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 15 – 25,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 43g

In case you can’t spend greater than $50, it’s nonetheless arduous to high the Koss KSC75. It prices $20, however judging purely on audio high quality, it’s higher than some headphones priced nearer to $100. This pair may be very clearly devoid of deep bass, so that you gained’t get that full-bodied oomph from in-game results. You additionally will not hear all of the intricate particulars you’d choose up with the pricier headphones above. But it surely locates sounds precisely, and its open design delivers an actual sense of width. It’s an excellent worth for aggressive play.

The catch is that it’s constructed like a set of free airline headphones. The KSC75 has an odd clip-on design that’s light-weight however gained’t be a cushty match for everybody. It actually seems prefer it prices $20, although Koss backs it with a lifetime guarantee that primarily enables you to get limitless replacements for $9 every. Even when the KSC75 are pushing 20 years outdated, its comparatively balanced sound stays significantly well-suited for gaming.

Enclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 20 – 40,000Hz | Mic: Sure, removable | Connectivity: 2.4GHz (PS5, PC, Swap), Bluetooth 5.2 (AAC, SBC), 3.5mm | Weight: 301g

In case you do need a devoted gaming headset with a built-in mic, we love the Turtle Seashore Atlas Air. It’s a little bit of a rarity: a wi-fi mannequin with an open-back design. It sounds a lot wider, airier and extra pure than the overwhelming majority of its friends in consequence, creating the feeling that your recreation is occurring round you rather than feeling confined in your head. It’s additionally higher than most at positioning in-game results in the precise locations.

The Atlas Air has a principally flat audio profile by default, with a soar within the treble that lends additional crispness to issues like cymbals. Like most open-back pairs, it’s pretty weak within the low-bass area, so gunfire and EDM lack the type of muscle you’d get with good closed-backs. The DT 900 Professional X nonetheless sounds extra dynamic, with extra element within the mids and stronger bass that makes footsteps and explosions extra intimate. That stated, the Atlas Air holds its personal surprisingly effectively. It’s about as spacious, and what bass is right here doesn’t come off as blobby. It’s an easygoing hear, and the better sense of spatial consciousness supplied by its design makes an actual distinction whether or not you’re listening for enemies in Counter-Strike 2 or basking in a large boss battle in Last Fantasy XVI. Going from a pair like this to a conventional headset usually makes it sound like a piece of the world has been lopped off.

The Atlas Air can be exceptionally snug. Its ear cups are generously padded with gentle reminiscence foam and lined in a gentle fabric materials; they offer loads of room for bigger ears to breathe, with out trapping an excessive amount of warmth. The suspension-style headband doesn’t permit a lot in the way in which of guide changes, but it surely’s extraordinarily versatile, so these with particularly giant heads can nonetheless pop the headphones on with little wrestle. The design as a complete is light-weight at 0.66 kilos, and it’s light about clamping down on the edges of your head. Put all of it collectively and also you get a headset that’s a breeze to put on for hours at a time.

All of its controls — together with an enormous quantity dial that circles the left ear cup — are simply accessible past that. Our chief criticism is that the design is sort of totally plastic, so it doesn’t fairly really feel like a $180 system to the contact. It’s additionally type of… ugly, to be sincere. None of that could be a large deal upon getting it on, nevertheless, and we haven’t seen any creaking or looseness to the body after a number of months of testing.

The Atlas Air’s removable increase mic is completely wonderful. You wouldn’t need to use it for podcasting, because it robs an excellent chunk of bass out of your voice, however you’ll nonetheless come by way of clearly in a loud room, with no harsh sibilance to “ess” sounds. The mic itself is sufficiently versatile, and also you merely flip it as much as mute it, which is at all times handy.

The headset works with PC, PS5 or a docked Nintendo Swap by way of its USB dongle, plus it helps Bluetooth for cell units and the Swap’s handheld mode. You may’t pipe by way of audio from two connections on the identical time, however you possibly can at the least swap between the 2 pretty shortly utilizing a button on the left ear cup. Whereas there’s no help for Xbox’s wi-fi protocol, you may as well use the headset passively (i.e., with out counting on battery energy) with an included 3.5mm cable with its personal inline quantity dial. In case you’re an Xbox participant and don’t thoughts utilizing a cable, we’d nonetheless take into account the Atlas Air our high advice. With out the wire, Turtle Seashore says the system can last as long as 50 hours, although we’ve been in a position to squeeze one other 5 to 10 hours out at average volumes. It’s removed from the longest-lasting pair we’ve examined, however this implies it could actually possible go for every week or two earlier than it wants a cost.

The principle trade-offs with the Atlas Air are the identical ones famous above: As a result of they’re open-back, they let in and leak tons of noise. In case you don’t play in a fairly quiet surroundings, take into account our subsequent choose. We additionally had a driver difficulty that prevented us from connecting to PC upon first receiving the headset, however a software program replace shortly mounted that and we haven’t had any hiccups or stutters since. Basically, Turtle Seashore’s Swarm II app is pretty easy, providing a customized EQ device, recreation/chat combine, mic settings and the like.

Enclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Planar magnetic | Frequency response: 10 – 50,000Hz | Mic: Sure, removable | Connectivity: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC, LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, AAC, SBC), 3.5mm, USB-C digital audio (elective), Xbox Wi-fi (elective) | Weight: 490g

In case you’re prepared to pay additional for a premium gaming headset with a extra isolating closed-back design, get the . At $299 for a PS5 mannequin or $329 for an Xbox mannequin, it’s not low cost, but it surely’s one of many few devoted gaming headsets we have used whose audio high quality holds up subsequent to the higher “regular” wi-fi headphones in the marketplace.

The Maxwell’s default signature is sort of a extra refined model of the frequent “gaming headset” sound. Bass is impactful however well-controlled, whereas highs are crisp however not sharp. There is a bit of additional power within the upper-mids, but it surely’s not overwhelming, and the headset’s planar-magnetic drivers do effectively to breed smaller intricacies all through. It nonetheless cannot present the immersive width and exact imaging of our open-back picks, the Atlas Air included, however the Maxwell sounds unusually textured, balanced and intimate in comparison with different wi-fi gaming headsets. Whereas it lacks the airiness of the Turtle Seashore headset, the punchier low-end makes issues like footsteps extra simply identifiable in video games. In case you don’t just like the out-of-the-box profile, Audeze’s app additionally consists of numerous tasteful EQ presets.

Alongside these strains, the Maxwell’s removable increase mic is a standout. It does an outstanding job of muting background noise, and whereas your voice will lose some air, it will sound clearer and fuller right here than on most wi-fi headsets we’ve examined.

The Maxwell may be very a lot on the cumbersome facet, it leaks sound at greater volumes, and its metal headband makes use of an odd suspension mechanism that is successfully inconceivable to regulate with out taking the headset off. Basically, although, its design feels substantial. The squishy, closely padded ear cups could make your ears really feel heat, however they hold the headset snug and isolate a good quantity of outdoor noise. The important controls are constructed into the left earcup, and the system can join over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable along with a USB-C wi-fi dongle. You may even join to 2 units directly, one over the dongle and one other over Bluetooth, although you possibly can’t stream audio from each sources concurrently. The headset additionally must be powered on with a purpose to play music over a cable.

Audeze charges the Maxwell’s battery life at roughly 80 hours, which is nice and has usually held true in our testing. You may get a bit much less should you play at excessive volumes or use options like Bluetooth or sidetone closely, although.

Enclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 20 – 20,000Hz | Mic: Sure, not removable | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 369g (with out cable)

In case you’d favor to avoid wasting money and purchase a good wired gaming headset, take into account the . It’s one other open-back pair that sounds extra spacious than most conventional gaming headsets and customarily locates in-game results precisely. Its sound signature emphasizes the bass, which supplies explosions a easy and satisfying thump, but it surely doesn’t overdo the low-end the way in which a lot of its friends do.

The A40’s audio high quality continues to be a step behind the DT 900 Professional X, HD 560S and Atlas Air, particularly for on-line shooters. Subsequent to these headphones, its veiled treble and pushed upper-bass/low-mids can blunt footsteps and different wonderful particulars. Its soundstage is narrower by comparability as effectively. But it surely’s higher balanced than most gaming headsets, particularly these in its value vary. It does effectively to envelop you in no matter’s occurring onscreen.

Consolation shouldn’t be a problem, both. The A40 is on the bulkier facet, however its weight is evenly distributed, and it doesn’t clamp down overly arduous. The fuzzy earpads are gentle and breathable, whereas the ear cups are roomy sufficient to suit bigger ears. The headset has the standard open-back shortcomings, although, because it leaks a bunch of sound and blocks virtually zero outdoors noise. The mostly-plastic design seems “gamer-y” and lacks built-in quantity controls, too. No person would name it “premium.” Nonetheless, it isn’t flimsy.

The A40’s mic, in the meantime, is simply OK. It picks up background noises when you chat and makes voices sound considerably muffled. It’s serviceable, however you’d purchase the A40 for its sound high quality (and relative worth) first. The mic isn’t removable both, however you possibly can simply flip it up and out of the way in which.

The A40 has been round for a number of years now, however its value has come down from $150 to a extra affordable $130 in that point. Astro sells an elective with additional controls for $130, however at that value we’d strongly advise shopping for one in all our different picks as a substitute.

Enclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 10 – 28,000Hz | Mic: Sure, not removable | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 275g

You gained’t discover a good open-back gaming headset for lower than $50, so should you’re on a decent finances and wish a built-in mic, you’ll should compromise on sound high quality. With that in thoughts, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a good purchase for $40 or so. It will get the consolation half proper, as its pleather ear cups don’t clamp down arduous and have sufficient gentle padding the place it counts. Its mic makes voices sound comparatively clear and correct as effectively. Actually, the mic is a transparent step up over the Astro A40’s, although it isn’t removable.

The Cloud Stinger 2 has a V-shaped sound signature, which is to say it exaggerates the bass and treble whereas recessing the mids. It’s not unhealthy for what it’s, and it’ll undoubtedly give motion scenes a heavy dose of increase. However the upper-bass is bumped to the purpose the place it might get tiring over time, and also you lose a few of the wonderful particulars you’d hear on our different picks. Since this can be a low cost closed-back headset, the Cloud Stinger 2 doesn’t sound almost as vast because the pairs above, neither is it as nuanced about positioning sounds precisely. All of that makes it lower than supreme for aggressive video games, although it could actually nonetheless sound “enjoyable” with many different titles.

Past that, the plastic design feels cheapish. Its cable isn’t detachable, and it doesn’t block a lot outdoors noise regardless of having a closed-back design. Nonetheless, you must choose your battles on this value vary. The Cloud Stinger 2 is flawed, but it surely does sufficient effectively to be an excellent headset for sure budget-conscious consumers.

The Astro A50 X prices an eye-watering $380, so we will’t moderately advocate it to most individuals. Nonetheless, should you can abdomen the value, this can be a uniquely handy wi-fi headset for hardcore players who personal a PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S and gaming PC. That’s primarily because of its included charging dock, which serves as a unified A/V station for these three platforms. By chaining HDMI and USB cables from a PS5, Xbox and/or PC to the A50 X’s base station, you possibly can join the headset to all three units concurrently. From there, you possibly can swap to your energetic machine simply by urgent a button on the precise earcup.

It is a ache to arrange: As proven in Logitech’s 12-minute (!) video tutorial, connecting each consoles and a PC requires seven totally different cables, a couple of of which aren’t within the field, plus some futzing round in every system’s menus. It’s not completely seamless as soon as all the things’s up and operating, both: We needed to manually change video alerts when switching from a PC to a console (although not when doing the inverse) and manually change our PC’s audio output after we wished to hear by way of desktop audio system. All of this requires you to maintain your gaming {hardware} in the identical space, too.

However for probably the most half, the A50 X is probably the most sensible wi-fi headset we’ve examined for multi-console setups. As a substitute of needing two headsets for Xbox and PS5/PC, or having to reconnect one headset every time you modify consoles, all you must do is take the A50 X off its dock, flip it on and choose the platform you need to use. A small LED show on the dock will present the energetic connection, and the headset will routinely play the right audio supply. With a PS5 and Xbox, it’ll routinely swap video. As long as you utilize HDMI 2.1 cables, the bottom station can pass-through 4K 120Hz HDR video to the 2 consoles, with help for VRR and ALLM. You can even join the A50 X to a Swap or cell system through Bluetooth — although you have to be inside vary of the bottom station for that to work, and also you don’t get the identical fast-switching performance.

All these connectivity methods wouldn’t imply a lot if the A50 X was a shoddy headset, however fortunately, it’s not. It’s among the many better-sounding wi-fi headsets we’ve used; it’s not “$380 good,” but it surely’s dynamic, with wealthy, comparatively nuanced bass and a clear midrange. Explosions and gunshots have an excellent crunch with out sounding overly thick, and it’s usually correct at finding footsteps and close by results. The Audeze Maxwell continues to be a degree above, nevertheless; the A50 X has a darker tilt by comparability, so it captures much less element within the treble vary and feels extra boxed-in. It can also’t match the broader, extra enveloping soundstage of our open-back picks. Nonetheless, most individuals shall be pleased with it, and you may customise its EQ curve to an extent by way of Logitech’s G Hub software program.

The A50 X’s design is sort of a nicer model of the A40. It’s largely plastic, but it surely feels sturdy. The fuzzy, fabric-covered foam on its earpads and headband is gentle and breathable, and whereas the headset isn’t tremendous gentle at 0.8 kilos, it distributes its weight in a method that feels snug but safe. You can even regulate your game-to-chat audio combine proper from an earcup. It doesn’t isolate outdoors noise very effectively, although, and its increase mic is completely hooked up. Its battery life is mediocre as effectively — Astro charges it at as much as 24 hours at average volumes — however for the reason that headset is designed to take a seat on its dock when it’s not in use, that is not a critical difficulty. The mic, in the meantime, is without doubt one of the best possible we’ve used any gaming headset, wired or wi-fi. Voices sound cleaner and extra pure than they do with the Maxwell, and background noise is essentially stored in test.

Enclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 60 – 20,000Hz | Mic: Sure, not removable | Connectivity: HDMI audio, USB audio, Bluetooth | Weight: 363g