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 Pro 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 a very good open-back mannequin. Bass is a bit more current right here than on many open-back headphones as properly. There nonetheless isn’t a lot in the best way of deep sub-bass, unsurprisingly, however there’s sufficient heat to offer stuff like explosions a bit extra juice with out muddying up the mids. Particulars within the midrange get essentially the most emphasis total, however they’re clear, and their forwardness isn’t a nasty factor whenever 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 laborious, 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 sport or soak up a extra cinematic single-player story. And whenever you’re not gaming, you get an satisfying profile for music.

The entire thing is constructed properly, too. The DT 900 Professional X will clamp down barely more durable than common when you’ve got a big head, but it surely balances its weight properly, and its splendidly mushy velour earpads go a great distance towards conserving the pair snug over hours-long gaming classes. It comes with two removable cables, together with a three-meter possibility that’s handy in the event you sit far out of your PC. It will possibly’t fold up, although.

Like all open-back headphones, the DT 900 Professional X leak sport audio and let in a lot of noise, so it’s not nice on the go. Clearly, in the event you can afford to improve to an ultra-premium pair like Sennheiser’s HD 800 S, you’ll get extra space 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

For those who’d relatively 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 sport. 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 stunning 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 laborious 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, nonetheless, so that you gained’t need to chuck it round haphazardly. It will not isolate a lot noise both, nor will it stop others from listening to what you are taking part in. However, the HD 560S is a pleasure, and an excellent worth.

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

For those who can’t spend greater than $50, it’s still hard to prime 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 decide up with the pricier headphones above. Nevertheless it locates sounds precisely, and its open design delivers an actual sense of width. It’s an outstanding 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 definitely appears prefer it prices $20, although Koss backs it with a lifetime warranty that primarily helps you to get infinite replacements for $9 every. Even when the KSC75 are pushing 20 years previous, its comparatively balanced sound stays notably 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

For those who do desire a devoted gaming headset with a built-in mic, we love the Turtle Beach 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 sport is occurring round you rather than feeling confined in your head. It’s additionally higher than most at positioning in-game results in the suitable locations.

The Atlas Air has a largely flat audio profile by default, with a bounce 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 mentioned, the Atlas Air holds its personal surprisingly properly. 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 Closing Fantasy XVI. Going from a pair like this to a standard headset usually makes it sound like a piece of the world has been lopped off.

The Atlas Air can also be exceptionally snug. Its ear cups are generously padded with mild reminiscence foam and coated in a mushy material materials; they provide 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 best way 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 an entire 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 a giant quantity dial that circles the left ear cup — are simply accessible past that. Our chief grievance is that the design is sort of totally plastic, so it doesn’t fairly really feel like a $180 machine to the contact. It’s additionally type of… ugly, to be trustworthy. None of that could be a large deal after getting it on, nonetheless, 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 high-quality. You wouldn’t need to use it for podcasting, because it robs a very good 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 possibly can’t pipe by way of audio from two connections on the identical time, however you’ll be able to a minimum of 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 too can use the headset passively (i.e., with out counting on battery energy) with an included 3.5mm cable with its personal inline quantity dial. For those who’re an Xbox participant and don’t thoughts utilizing a cable, we’d nonetheless take into account the Atlas Air our prime suggestion. With out the wire, Turtle Seaside says the machine 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 might probably doubtless go for per week or two earlier than it wants a cost.

The primary 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. For those who don’t play in a fairly quiet atmosphere, take into account our subsequent decide. We additionally had a driver problem that prevented us from connecting to PC upon first receiving the headset, however a software program replace shortly fastened that and we haven’t had any hiccups or stutters since. Basically, Turtle Seaside’s Swarm II app is pretty easy, providing a customized EQ software, sport/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

For those who’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 available on the market.

The Maxwell’s default signature is sort of a extra refined model of the widespread “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 properly 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 Seaside headset, the punchier low-end makes issues like footsteps extra simply identifiable in video games. For those who don’t just like the out-of-the-box profile, Audeze’s app additionally contains quite a few tasteful EQ presets.

Alongside these traces, the Maxwell’s removable increase mic is a standout. It does an exceptional 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 not possible 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 maintain the headset snug and isolate a good quantity of outdoor noise. The important controls are constructed into the left earcup, and the machine can join over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable along with a USB-C wi-fi dongle. You possibly can even join to 2 units directly, one over the dongle and one other over Bluetooth, although you’ll be able to’t stream audio from each sources concurrently. The headset additionally must be powered on as a way 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 will get a bit much less in the event 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)

For those who’d desire to avoid wasting money and purchase an honest 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 provides explosions a clean and satisfying thump, but it surely doesn’t overdo the low-end the best way lots 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 high-quality particulars. Its soundstage is narrower by comparability as properly. Nevertheless it’s higher balanced than most gaming headsets, particularly these in its worth vary. It does properly to envelop you in no matter’s occurring onscreen.

Consolation shouldn’t be a difficulty, both. The A40 is on the bulkier facet, however its weight is evenly distributed, and it doesn’t clamp down overly laborious. The fuzzy earpads are mushy 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 nearly zero outdoors noise. The mostly-plastic design appears “gamer-y” and lacks built-in quantity controls, too. No one 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’ll be able to simply flip it up and out of the best way.

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

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 in the event you’re on a decent funds and want a built-in mic, you’ll should compromise on sound high quality. With that in thoughts, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is an honest purchase for $40 or so. It will get the consolation half proper, as its pleather ear cups don’t clamp down laborious and have sufficient mushy padding the place it counts. Its mic makes voices sound comparatively clear and correct as properly. In reality, 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 positively give motion scenes a heavy dose of increase. However the upper-bass is bumped to the purpose the place it could get tiring over time, and also you lose a number of the high-quality 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 broad because the pairs above, neither is it as nuanced about positioning sounds precisely. All of that makes it lower than ideally suited for aggressive video games, although it might probably 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. However, it’s important to decide your battles on this worth vary. The Cloud Stinger 2 is flawed, but it surely does sufficient properly to be a very good headset for sure budget-conscious patrons.

The Astro A50 X prices an eye-watering $380, so we are able to’t fairly suggest it to most individuals. Nevertheless, in the event 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 as a result 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’ll be able to join the headset to all three units concurrently. From there, you’ll be able to swap to your energetic machine simply by urgent a button on the suitable earcup.

It is a ache to arrange: As proven in Logitech’s 12-minute (!) video tutorial, connecting each consoles and a PC requires seven completely different cables, a number 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 the whole lot’s up and operating, both: We needed to manually change video indicators when switching from a PC to a console (although not when doing the inverse) and manually change our PC’s audio output once we needed 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 essentially the most half, the A50 X is essentially 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 alter consoles, all it’s important to 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 robotically play the proper audio supply. With a PS5 and Xbox, it’ll robotically 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 too can join the A50 X to a Swap or cell machine by way of Bluetooth — although it’s worthwhile 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 a very good 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, nonetheless; 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 might 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 mushy and breathable, and whereas the headset isn’t tremendous mild at 0.8 kilos, it distributes its weight in a manner that feels snug but safe. You too can modify your game-to-chat audio combine proper from an earcup. It doesn’t isolate outdoors noise very properly, although, and its increase mic is completely hooked up. Its battery life is mediocre as properly — Astro charges it at as much as 24 hours at average volumes — however because the headset is designed to sit down on its dock when it’s not in use, that is not a severe problem. The mic, in the meantime, is among the easiest 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