The 10 Best Gaming Headsets for 2022 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Everyone loves gaming, right?

And, with the launch of the immensely popular battle royale games like Fortnite and Pubg, we all have somehow got deeper into gaming.

Most people play games just for fun, while some of them go a step ahead and make gaming their full-time profession.

Doesn’t matter what type of player you are, if you want to have the best gaming experience, you need to have the best gaming accessories.

And a gaming headset is one of those important accessories to have.

Yes, we know there are other important accessories as well, but today our complete focus is on how to help you in choosing the best gaming headset.

Who needs a gaming headset?

If you are a professional gamer, you must get a gaming headset.

And if you are just a casual player who is looking to enhance the overall gaming experience, a gaming headset could be a good addition for you.

A gaming headset makes the sound much more detailed and gives you an edge over players using normal headphones.

Another good thing gaming headsets offer is the attached microphone. This comes in really handy when you are playing games where you have to communicate with your team members. If you are playing modern-day battle royale games then a microphone is a must.

Now you must be wondering that if I already have a top of line wireless or wired headphones, why should I invest in a dedicated gaming headset?

Well, that’s because most wireless headphones are designed for short-term listening, and even if they are the most comfortable headphones, they won’t have the surround sound that gaming headphones have.

Surround sound on the gaming headsets makes it easy for you to locate the right direction of the enemies or a gunshot or footsteps. Gaming headsets also have a much more sensitive microphone as compared to normal headphones.

Not all, but some of the gaming headsets also come with noise-canceling technology on their microphone which makes sure that only your voice is delivered to your teammates and none of the noises in your background.

How we picked and tested?

Since we are not hardcore gamers, we didn’t come across a lot of gaming headphones in past.

So we had to start from scratch.

We first did a whole lot of research on how gaming headsets are different from normal headphones and what should we look for while choosing one.

After a little research, we came to know that the Artic series from Steelseries and Cloud series from HyperX are two of the most popular gaming headsets series in the market.

After some more research, we found a few great headphones from Sennheiser and some other brands too.

Once we had a complete set of gaming headsets that we were going to mention, we got to the testing part.

We tested all the gaming headphones on these points extensively:

Quality of the microphone: A lot of gaming headphones in the market come with poor microphones.

And with the poor, we don’t mean that they don’t deliver clear sound. They do deliver clear sound, but there are usually a lot of issues like voice echo or picking up a lot of surrounding noises and even picking up in-game sounds in some cases.

Some of the headphones on this list do come with similar issues, but we won’t put them in the category of poor microphones, they are still doable.

Sound: Sound quality on gaming headphones should be as detailed as possible, and should also have a surround in them.

Detailed sound reproduction would make it easy for you to spot your enemies.

Basically surround sound is the only thing that gives gaming headsets an edge over normal headphones when it comes to gaming. With some of the gaming headphones, you also get 7.1 channel surround sound, which is an excellent experience in itself.

But 7.1 channel surround sound would only be available when you are using the headphone with the PC.

Comfort: For any type of headphones that you are buying, comfort should be on the top of your checklist, period!

Comfort not only means that the headphones should be lightweight and have soft cushion padding on the earcups and headband but they should also be built in a way that they can be used continuously for a long period of time.

Even if the headphones are lightweight and come with cushion soft padding, but are punchy or start heating just after a couple of hours, they wouldn’t come under comfortable gaming headsets.

Headsets that start to heat after some continuous usage fail the whole purpose of buying them since gamers usually play for long hours in a go.

Best Gaming Headsets for 2022 – Quick Look

(Click on the name of any gaming headset to read its in-depth review)

1. HyperX Cloud II – Best Overall Gaming Headset

If you have been in the gaming space for a while, you would have definitely heard of the HyperX brand.

It produces multiple gaming accessories including keyboards, mice, headsets, etc.

And, their cloud series is a very popular lineup in the headset industry.

Cloud II  is an extremely popular gaming headset that comes with 53mm large drivers and is capable of producing 7.1 surround sound when used with a PC.

Our In-Depth Review:

This headset from HyperX is surely one of the greatest and most popular headsets in the market. What makes them great is not just the sound quality, but also the noise isolation that they provide.

The manufacturer has an integrated Inline sound card that cancels the echoes produced within the sounds. The headset is also able to reduce ambient noises, making sure you get to hear the best of gaming sounds, and you don’t get distracted by the surrounding noises.

Remember, this headset doesn’t come with active noise cancelation or any other noise-canceling technology, it just comes with the technology to reduce ambient noises.

Talking about the build quality and design, it’s nice and sturdy. The headband is built of steel with leather padding on top, and the rest of the body is made up of high-quality plastic. With leather padding on the headband and soft memory foam padding on the earcups, you get a really comfortable experience. The earcups being 53mm in size are pretty large and cover the ears really well, providing good noise isolation.

The sound quality is great, and with the added noise isolation, it gets even better. On the  Ps4 and Xbox one, you will get stereo sound quality. The sound flats really well across the ear, giving a great virtual experience. Things get even better if you use them with a PC. With Pc, you get the option to set up 7.1 surround sound, instructions for which could be found in the manual.

7.1 channel surround sound basically offers the best audio experience. The audio experience on it is a lot better than the virtual surround sound and if you are a professional, this will surely give you some advantage.

Conclusion:

The HyperX Cloud II is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable and great-sounding gaming headsets on the market. The sound quality along with the noise isolation is excellent, and you would be able to feel the details in the sounds. If you are looking to get a gaming headset from a trusted brand then you are surely looking at the right product.

2. Sennheiser Game One – Open Back Gaming Headset

So this might not be one of the best-looking gaming headsets in the market but is surely one of the best-sounding headsets.

The major difference between this headset and other headsets is that this one comes in open back design, while the majority of the other headsets are closed-back.

In terms of sound, the headset uses Sennheiser’s original transducer technology to deliver crystal-clear audio.

Our In-Depth Review:

It would not be wrong to say that Game one from Sennheiser is a quite popular gaming headset, and there are so many reasons for that.

First of all, Game one is an open-back headset, which means the sound performance on it would be different from other closed-back headsets. The open-back design allows the sound to pass freely through the vent which makes the audio sound more natural.

Now since it’s open back, you will not get any noise isolation here. But one thing which we are sure about is that you can use this headset for a longer period of time as compared to any closed-back headset. And that’s because the open-back design prevents sweating on the ears, and keeps the overall temperature cool.

The compatibility would not be an issue with Sennheiser Gaming One headset as it comes with exchangeable cables that can be used with any gaming console, PC, mobile phone, or any other device for that matter. So if you are a gamer who likes to own a single headset for both console and mobile phones then you would be able to do that with this headset.

The microphone added to Game one is a high-quality noise-canceling microphone that could be muted simply by raising it vertically upwards. It is not removable, but it could be kept out of the way by raising it up. The noise cancelation feature blocks out the ambient noises really well and prevents the transmission of any unwanted noises to your teammates.

If you have ever used any Sennheiser headset in the past and liked it, then you wouldn’t be disappointed with the sound quality of this headset. Game one comes with Sennheiser’s transducer technology that helps in delivering accurate and clear sound. The sound is loud enough and could be controlled with the intuitive controller on the earcup.

Comparing it with HyperX Cloud II, there is hardly any difference there. Both headsets have good microphones, solid build quality, and exceptional sound quality.

Conclusion:

We think the best part of the headset is how comfortable they are. Also, the microphone transmits crystal clear sound to the game and the transducer technology delivers crystal clear sound to your ears. Overall we think it is a great headset from one of the best brands in the industry.

3. HC Gamerlife Headset – With 3D HD Sound

HC Gamerlife is a slightly less popular brand in the market, but it creates great gaming accessories.

HCG1 from them is an amazing-sounding headset that comes with a durable metal frame and soft memory foam for lost lasting comfort.

Apart from gaming consoles and PC, this headset is also compatible with mobile phones.

Our In-Depth Review:

The things about this headset that we absolutely love are the build quality and comfort. The headset is built with a combination of plastic and metal. The headband is made up of all metal, while the earcups are made up of sturdy plastic.

Not just the body, but the cord is sturdy too. You get a braided cord with the headset that would not take any damage due to accidental stretches.

The earcups come with memory foam, while the headband comes with leather padding. The earcups are large enough to cover the ears completely, and the headband is adjustable to fit any head size. All of this provides a very comfortable experience and allows you to use the headset for longer gaming sessions.

Not to mention, the headset is compatible with all gaming consoles, pc, laptops, and mobiles, and that’s why we call it a universal headset. It’s actually great to have a headset that’s compatible with everything so that you don’t have to get a new headset once you switch to a different gaming device.

The best thing about the recently launched multiplayer battle royale games is the voice chat feature that allows you to do real-time voice chat with your team members. But, to do that, you need a good-quality microphone. While some professional players prefer installing a separate microphone in front of them, some prefer to use the microphone present in the headset.

The HCG1 headset features an excellent-quality microphone that allows you to deliver a clear voice to your teammates and opponents. And in case you are playing solo, or for any reason don’t want to use the microphone, you can remove it from the headset since it is a detachable one. The microphone is not a noise-canceling microphone, but it still does the job of canceling the outside noises quite well.

Conclusion:

The HC Gamerlife might not be a brand you have yet heard of, but trust us, this headset from them comes with so much power. It is built of high-quality metal and plastic and comes with an excellent microphone and great 3D sound that would make the gaming sounds come to life.

4. Razor Kraken Pro V2 – With Colorful Design

Razor is another brand that is popularly known for creating high-quality gaming accessories.

Kraken is a series of headsets from Razor that is really good.

Kraken Pro V2 over here comes with 50mm custom-tuned drivers that provide a great audio experience.

The headset comes in two colors: Black and a really exciting Green color.

Our In-Depth Review:

Firstly, let’s talk about the design of the headset and also how comfortable they are.

The body of the headset is made up of bauxite aluminum which not only makes the headset durable but also keeps it lightweight at the same time. The lightly padded headband is very flexible that would allow the headset to fit comfortably to any size of the head.

The sound quality of the Kraken v2 is exceptional and one of the best you can ever get at this price point. Yes, it lacks bass and is not too good in mids, but that’s because they are built for gaming and not for general uses. The 50mm drivers deliver rich audio with clear highs and deep lows. The sound is immersive and not echoing, you can easily hear the multiple layers of audio.

We usually don’t talk about the color of the headset, because that’s not something important, but with the Kraken Pro V2, we feel like we should do it. The green color on the headset looks really cool and gives it the look of a typical gaming headset. On top of that Black colored Razor, the logo makes it even better. We think it would be fair to say that that razor has one of the coolest logos in the gaming accessories industry.

The headphones are compatible with most of the gaming devices in the market if not all. According to the manufacturer, this gaming headset is compatible with PC, Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile devices.

Conclusion:

Razor Kraken Pro is undoubtedly a great-sounding headset, that would not cause any kind of discomfort to your head and ears. The microphone is surely not good, but rest everything else is good. The price point of this headset is decent, not too cheap, and not too expensive.

5. Steelseries Arctis 3 – With Airweave cushions

If you search for gaming accessories on the internet, you will see the Steelseries brand everywhere.

The Arctis 3 over here is a minimalistic designed headset that is also compatible with Nintendo Switch, Mobile phones, and VR.

There is also a wireless variant of the Arctis 3 that runs on Bluetooth. The one we are going to have a look at is the wired one.

Our In-Depth Review:

Starting off with the design of the headset, we absolutely love it. The design is not fancy but still looks great. The headset is available in two different colors black and white with small branding on the top of the earcup. If you like a minimalistic design as most people do, then you will also love the design of this headset.

On the inner side of the headband, you get to see a gray strap, with black lining. This surely doesn’t contribute a lot to the comfort part but it surely adds a lot to the styling. The cushion padding on the earcups also has a different pattern as compared to other headsets.

The overall weight of the headset is very light, and that allows them to be used for multiple hours without any strain.

Another thing that you would absolutely love about this headset is the placement of the in-line control buttons on the earcup. You basically get two controls, a button to turn off the microphone, and a volume adjuster. Volume control is very common to be present in any headset, but a switch to turn on/off the mic is exciting.

The sound and bass quality on the headset is actually great. The bass is punchy and you can feel it in-game sound, the audio is clear and allows you to hear everything just fine. Also, they do a decent job of blocking out the outside noises, but please, don’t expect them to block noises as a noise-canceling headset does.

Conclusion:

Steelseries Arctis 3 is one of the best-looking gaming headsets that also creates a really comfortable gaming environment. The bass and the audio is the plus point, while the quality of the microphone is slightly on the downside. The price point is fine and would not be an issue for most of the users.

6. HyperX Cloud Alpha – With Dual Chamber Drivers

Cloud Alpha headset comes with a durable aluminum frame and award-winning HyperX comfort.

The headset is compatible with PC, PS4, Xbox One, and other devices.

Note: If your Xbox one does not have a 3.55mm port, you would have to use a connector to do the job.

The headset also works with VR boxes with 3.5mm ports.

Our In-Depth Review:

This headset is very much similar to HyperX Cloud II. The few things where the Cloud II excels are the driver size, which is 53mm as compared to 50mm in cloud alpha, and also 7.1 channel surround sound, which you do not get to see with the Cloud Alpha headset.

The headset is built of aluminum which makes them very durable and long-lasting. The earcups are covered with soft memory foam, and the headband is covered with leather.

The braided cord that comes along is very durable and is also detachable. On the cord itself, you get an in-line remote control that can be used to control the in-game volume and you also get a button to turn on/off the microphone as per your needs.

Talking about the microphone that comes along, it’s a detachable noise-canceling microphone. This means that all of the surrounding noises would be canceled, and only a crystal clear voice would be delivered to your teammates. And since the microphone is detachable, you can just remove it when not needed.

Conclusion:

The HyperX Alpha is another decent headset from the Cloud Series. In terms of build quality and sound quality, the headset really does a good job. We would have liked them even more if the sound would have been a little louder.

7. Sennheiser GSP 300 – Excellent Bass

Sennheiser is one of the leading manufacturers of headphones and our second favorite brand after Bose.

The GSP 300 from them is a good-looking, large-sized gaming headset that creates excellent noise isolation and delivers a bass-enriched audio experience.

We really think the bass quality on this headset is extraordinary compared to other gaming headsets.

Our In-Depth Review:

The design of the Sennheiser GSP300 is quite different compared to the other gaming headset.

The headset is available in 3 different colors: All black, a combination of blue and black, and a combination of black and white. The body of the headset is made up of high-grade plastic, which is also very flexible. On top, you get the split headband that has an ample amount of padding, which allows you to use the headset for a longer period of time.

The padding on the earcups is quite large and very soft. It is large enough to cover any ear size, creating a good seal around, it and adding a touch of noise isolation.

Unlike a few of the other headsets, the GSP 300 does not have a dedicated button to mute the microphones, instead, it comes with a different muting mechanism. You can simply lift the microphone up to mute the microphone, which would also keep it away from your face. Sadly you can not remove the microphone since its not detachable.

The sound quality of this headset is great. It surely is not as general headphones from Sennheiser, but for gaming purposes, it’s really great. With great noise isolation in place, you get to hear great sounds with clear highs, deep lows, and impressive bass.

Conclusion:

GSP300 is a great headset from a renowned brand. The sound quality is good, the noise-canceling microphone works great and the overall build quality and comfort are good too. The best part obviously is the bass experience you get with it.

8. Ecoopro Gaming Headset – Affordable Headset

If you looking to get a gaming headset at a cheap price point, then the Ecooporo headset could be the one for you.

The headset comes with highly precise drivers, a noise-canceling microphone,s and everything else that you get in mid-budget or high-end headsets.

Also, the look of the headset is very different and unique. Thanks to the awesome camouflage print on it.

Our In-Depth Review:

This headset is great for users who are low on budget and still want to get a great gaming headset.

If you go on the internet and search for “gaming headset”, you would probably get to see the headsets only from the big brands like HyperX, Corsair, etc, and none of them are mentioning the small, less popular brands. We took this opportunity and bought in the Ecoopro gaming headset.

First of all, we are going to talk about the unique design of the headset. The headset is built up of aluminum, which makes them durable and also lightweight at the same time. On top of that, you get a really cool camouflage print. Now, this might sound a little weird, but the print looks really good.

Even though the price point of the headset is too low, you still get a noise-canceling microphone that works really well. It has the ability to block out the surrounding noises and deliver an absolute clear voice to your teammates. The microphone is also detachable and could also be muted from the button present on the headset.

But, is this headset good in terms of sound quality too?

Well, the headset comes with 50mm highly precise magnetic neodymium drivers that emit 3D stereo surround sound with amazing clarity. The sound is omnidirectional that can would give you clear indications of footsteps and gun sounds. The highs and mids are produced nicely, and the in-game sounds are separated quite well.

Conclusion:

If you want a buy a low-priced gaming headset, that comes with a noise-canceling microphone then do not think twice before getting the Ecoopro Headset. PS: The best part of the headset is the overall look.

9. Steel Series Arctis 5 – With RGB Light

The Arctis 5 is an upgraded version of the Arctis 3 which is compatible with PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The most highlighting part of the headset is the RGB light that surrounds the earcups, which looks really nice in the dark.

But remember, the RGB light would only work on gaming devices that use USB for connectivity, like PS4 and PC. Since the Xbox one uses a 3.5mm jack for connectivity, the RBG light won’t work with it.

Our In-Depth Review:

From what we saw, the Arctis 5 is very much similar to Arctis 3. The only major differences that we found were the presence of X V2.0 surround sound and the RBG surrounding the earcups on Arctis 5.

Well, the review would be mostly the same as the Arctis 3, but still, if you have jumped right off to this review, skipping Arctis 3, then keep reading it below.

Talking about the design first, if you go above, and read our review for the Arctis 3 then you will see all the great things we said about its design, and we honestly think the Arctis 3 is one of the best minimalistic designed headsets. Now, Arctis 5 has the exact same design, but it got the RGB too, which makes them even better in terms of looks.

Along with the design, the steel series has also made sure that a user gets the most comfort while wearing them. Instead of an ordinary headband, the manufacturer has added a Ski google suspension band that distributes the weight of the headset evenly eliminating all the pressure points. The earcups are covered by AirWeave ear cushions, making sure they don’t cause any discomfort to the ears.

For voice transmission to your teammates, you get a discord-certified clearcast microphone which is known to deliver studio-grade voice quality to your teammates/opponents in the game, while canceling out the ambient noises in the surrounding.

The microphone can be muted on-demand easily with the help of the in-line button on the earcup. Along with the mute button on the headset, you also get a rotatory button to control the volume.

Enough with everything, now let’s discuss how good this headset sounds.

Conclusion:

This is easily the best-looking headset we have ever seen. Also, it sounds well. The price we would say is perfect and close to other competing brands. The only downside is that the RGB won’t work with Xbox one, but that’s a fair thing since it is powered by USB, and Xbox uses a jack for connectivity instead of USB.

10. CORSAIR Void Pro – 7.1 Channel Surround

Void pro is a budget-friendly gaming headset that has an excellent design.

Corsair is an established brand in the market of gaming accessories, and it is being used by some of the most popular streamers.

The best thing about this headset is the microfiber mesh fabric covering the earcup and headband, which feels good as well looks nice too.

Our In-Depth Review:

We are going to break this review into four parts: the looks, the build, the quality of the microphone, and the sound quality.

As mentioned in the specifications, the design of the headset is absolutely gorgeous. It is available in two color variants: All black, and a combination of red and black. Our personal favorite is the red variant. On the front of the earcups, you get to see a Corsair logo that glows in dark, which looks really cool.

On the left earcup, you get an attached microphone, which is not detachable but could be moved vertically to keep it out of the way when needed. You can also mute the microphone just by a push of the button present on the same earcup. The microphone is capable of reducing ambient noises, transmitting crystal clear voice to your teammates.

In terms of sound quality, the headset uses custom-tuned 50mm neodymium drivers that deliver immersive accurate sound, bringing the gaming action to life. If you are going to use the headset on the PC, then the audio experience would be even better since that unlocks Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound.

Conclusion:

The Corsair Void Pro is one of the most affordable gaming headsets on the market. It sounds really good for the price. The size could be loose for users with small heads, and build quality could have been better, other than that in terms of functionality there is hardly any issue.

Gaming Headsets – Buyer’s Guide

So these were the reviews for the top 10 gaming headsets in our opinion.

If you are unsure of which headset would be right for you, or if you just want to learn how to choose a great gaming headset, then this buyer’s guide could be very helpful for you.

Below, we have touched down on all the important things you need to consider while choosing a gaming headset.

Let’s have a look at them.

Headphones V/S Headset

Headsets and Headphones are two different accessories. They might sound similar, but there is still some difference there. The difference is not very big or significant, but still, we would like to address it.

The first and probably the only big difference is the attached microphone.

When we say headset. we mean a pair of headphones that have an attached microphone to them. In some headsets, this microphone could be removed, while in some it can’t. In some of the headsets, the microphone could be just kept out of the way by sliding it up.

On the other hand, in the case of headphones, the microphone is built inside the earcup, its not visible at all.

Both microphones perform really well and transmit clear audio to the recipients.

In a nutshell,

No attached microphone = Headphones.

Attached are the microphone = Headset.

Headsets apart from gaming, are widely used in Call centers too.

Double Check Compatibility

Not all headphones are compatible with all gaming consoles.

Some are just compatible with PS4, some are just compatible with Xbox, some are just compatible with PC, and some of the headphones are compatible with all three.

Some of the headphones are even compatible with Nintendo Switch, VR, and mobile phones.

It is really wise to check if the headset is compatible with the device that you own.

Some of the headphones offer 3.5mm connectivity by default while for some of them you have to get an adapter to use them with your mobile phone or other devices that use 3.5mm connectivity.

What Gaming Device do you have?

Look, even if the headset is compatible with all gaming devices, it might still give different audio experiences on each of them.

The difference in audio experience would be mainly seen when two devices offer different types of connectivity options. Xbox uses a 3.55 jack for connectivity, while the PC has the USB connectivity option.

Like the 7.1 channel surround sound can only be experienced on a PC and not on another gaming device, while RGB lighting can only be used on devices with USB connectivity.

So it is recommended to check beforehand whether the features for which you are buying a headset would work with your specific gaming device or not.

Wireless or Wired Headset

For studio or gaming purposes we always recommend wired headsets, but that doesn’t mean the wireless headsets aren’t good.

A good example of a wireless gaming headset would be the Steelseries Arctis 7. But we didn’t mention it here because it does not work wirelessly on Xbox One since the console does not have standard USB audio support.

One of the issues with the wireless headset in terms of gaming is the battery. The battery needs to be recharged, and in case you sometimes forget to do that, the headset would stop working mid-game, which we are sure you wouldn’t like.

But, if you can get a pair of wireless gaming headsets that can offer a battery range of 10 hours or more then feel free to go with that headset.

Wired headsets, on the other hand, have an edge. Since they don’t run on the battery, you just plug them and they are good to go. The disadvantage however with the wired headsets is the range. Since the cord is not too long, you need to stick it close to the gaming device.

Also not to forget, the cost of wireless headsets is higher as compared to wired ones.

Open Back or Closed Back?

If we would have been talking about the studio headphones, then there could have been a really long debate over this topic.

But, we are talking about gaming headsets, so the question is not that big.

Putting it in simple words, if you want to hear the surrounding sounds along with the in-game sounds, and also keep your ears cool & sweat-free, then you must go for an open-back headset.

However, if you don’t want to be disturbed by the surrounding voices and just want to hear the game sounds then the Closed back headset would be perfect for you.

With the closed-back headset, you get to hear more detailed sounds as compared to the open-back headset. But with an open-back headset, the sound quality comes out as more natural.

Also, the sound leakage on the open-back headsets would be much higher as compared to closed headsets because of the way the earcups the built. So you need to keep that in perspective too.

We would have not even talked about the open-back headset if we haven’t come across the Sennheiser game one headset.

Sennheiser game one is an open-back gaming headset that is actually the second-best gaming headset on our list.

Microphone

With the launch of multiplayer battle royale games, the presence of the microphone on the headset has become a must. So even if you are going to get a low-budget headset, make sure it has a good microphone.

If you plan to use the headset without the microphone sometimes, then go for a headset that has a detachable mic, or an adjustable microphone that can be kept out of the way. Also, check if the headset has the functionality to mute the microphone.

All the microphones shouldn’t be necessarily noise-canceling one, but if it is, then that would be better.

The way a noise-canceling microphone works is that it absorbs the ambient noises and cancels them out, preventing any surrounding noises to reach your teammates.

Should I get a separate microphone?

Getting a separate microphone is kind of a personal thing.

Most professional streamers usually prefer having a separate microphone. But that doesn’t mean that the inbuilt microphones aren’t good.

If you are a casual gamer, an inbuilt microphone would always do the job. If you are a professional gamer, you might want to test both types.

If you are planning to participate in tournaments, then you should get used to headphones with an attached microphone.

Of all the gaming tournaments or events that we have seen to date, gamers use headsets with a microphone attached to them and not an external microphone.

Omnidirectional or Unidirectional microphone?

As the name suggests, the omnidirectional microphone picks up sound from all directions.

A unidirectional microphone, on the other hand, picks up the voice from only one direction.

Its pretty clear what type of microphone you should choose.

You would not want your microphone to pick up the surrounding noises, so you should always go for a unidirectional microphone.

Active Noise Cancelation Headsets

If you got a lot of noise in your surroundings, you must get a headset with an active noise cancelation feature.

For those who don’t know how a noise cancelation headset works, we are going to explain that:

On the earcups there is a microphone that absorbs all the surrounding noises and creates a counter white noise to cancel it, preventing them to reach your ears.

ANC is surely one of the best technology you can have in any headset, but the thing is that it is not cheap.

A great sound headset with ANC would cost you more than $150.

Active noise-canceling headphones are usually preferred for general listening when you basically want to enjoy your music everywhere including crowded offices, trains, airplanes, etc. Gaming is something you would usually do in a closed room, so ANC is not really needed.

Also its very hard to find a dedicated gaming headset that comes with Active Noise cancelation.

Connection Type

Depending on what gaming device/console you have, you need to choose the connection type of the headset.

Usually, most headsets offer connectivity to various types of connectors, which makes them compatible with all gaming devices.

But, it is still wise to double-check beforehand.

There are several types of connections: wired USB, Wireless USB, Dual 3.5mm, 3.5mm, and also Bluetooth connectivity.

Things get a little tricky in the case of Xbox One. Old Xbox consoles do not have a 3.55 jack, which means you would have to buy a 3.55mm Microsoft jack to connect the 3.55mm headphones to it.

Comfort

We think comfort should be the primary concern when buying any type of headphones. And in the case of gaming headsets, when you are going to use them for multiple hours straight, the comfort part becomes even more important.

And that means a lightweight body, soft padding, and a flexible headband.

The best headphones are made up of durable lightweight materials, come with extremely soft memory cushion pads, and cause no major issues like neck pain or headache.

In the case of buying a headset for gaming, you just can’t take the comfort quality for granted.

You are going to use the headset for multiple hours straight, it definitely needs to be comfortable.

Gaming Headphones Prolonged Use

Most gaming headphones could be used continuously for a long period of time without experiencing any discomfort.

The main usual issue with headphones is overheating near the ears and then sweating. Most headphones usually don’t have this issue.

Apart from not heating, headphones should also be comfortable in general. This means they should have soft padding on headbands and earcups, and the overall weight should also not be much.

Sound Quality

An average-sounding gaming headset could work, but, if you are not just a gamer, but a professional gamer, which means you stream on twitch, youtube, etc, then you can simply not compromise in terms of sound quality.

The main purpose of a gaming headset is to allow you to hear gunfire, enemy footsteps, and explosions as clearly as possible.

And, if the headset delivers surround sound, then the overall gaming experience is even better.

A gaming headset must deliver good surround sound so that a gamer can hear sounds from all angles.

The surround sound is a must if you are into FPS games like Call of Duty, PUBG, Fort Nite, etc because in these games it is essential to identify the direction of gun sounds and explosions.

Along with the great sound, the headset must also have some kind of bass, because good bass can bring explosions and gunfire to life.

7.1 Surround sound

If you can get 7.1 surround sound headphones then definitely go for them. Nothing beats the 7.1 channels when it comes to sound.

Even though the normal surround sound works great, 7.1 surely gives you a better edge over your competitors.

You will be able to accurately pinpoint your enemies with 7.1 channel surround. The in-game music will sound better, and the in-game sounds would come out detailed and accurately positioned.

What about Durability?

Doesn’t matter if you are a careless user or a careful user, it is very important for your headphones to be durable.

This means that the body of the headphones and the chord should not be prone to wear and tear.

The best way to find out the durability of any headset is by looking at real customer reviews.

Most of the headphones are built of all plastic, and that plastic should be sturdy. The main durability issue with the gaming headset comes from the microphone part.

The point where the microphone and the headset connect is usually weak on most of the headsets so you need to be extra careful there.

Lighting

Gaming setup with lights has its own flavor, we hope everyone agrees with that.

The gaming keyboard most of the time comes with RGB lighting or just one color backlighting, and for the rest of the setup, you can always use the LED strips to make it more colorful.

Not much, but a few of the headsets come with lighting inbuilt on the earcups that look really cool.

Steel series is one of the brands that has integrated lighting and RGB lighting in many of its headphones.

How much should I spend?

A decent pair of headsets would cost you around $50-$100, while a more advanced and branded headset would cost you around $100-$150.

In this post, we have mentioned headsets in all price brackets, and we truly believe that all the headsets here offer complete value for money.

In our opinion, you should try not to spend more than $150 on a gaming headset, and trust us! most of the greatest gaming headsets are available under that price point.

General FAQs Related to Gaming Headsets:

Conclusion:

Before settling down on a headset you should first decide on what type of headset you want.

Do you want an open-back or a closed-back headset?

Do you want a wireless or a wired headset?

Do you want virtual surround sound or 7.1-channel surround sound?

Here are our top recommend headphones.

The best headset overall on this list is the HyperX Cloud II.

The best open-back gaming headset on this list is Sennheiser One.

The best wireless headset on this list is Steel Arc series 3. (Select the Bluetooth version on Amazon’s product page)

If you need more info, have a look at these other great gaming headsets buying guides by PC Gamer, Games Radar, and IGN.