Best Gaming Headset in 2024: Wired, wireless, console & PC

A closer look at some of the best gaming headsets for PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch gamers.

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Today’s peripheral market is much more impressive than it once was, now playing host to an abundance of headsets that showcase excellent sound quality, great value for money, and stellar aesthetics too. But what is the best gaming headset right now? Thanks to the recent influx in quality offerings, choosing the best gaming headset can be an extremely strenuous and time-consuming process – usually requiring a huge amount of product research to make sure your next headset purchase is right for you.

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Luckily, here at WePC, we’ve decided to create this comprehensive guide. We’ve taken the time to test, compare, and review some of the best headsets the market has to offer in our quest to find the best of the bunch. So, whether you’re looking for a high-end wireless gaming headset, a mid-range all-rounder, something for streamers, or just a budget headset to keep you going, this guide will be sure to recommend a headset that suits your exact needs.

Best gaming headset: ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless

The best of the best

ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless Gaming Headset

Type

Over-ear

Frequency range

20-20,000 Hz

Wireless?

Yes

Battery Life

15 hours

Noise-cancelling

No

Enclosure

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How We Review

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Pros

• Great audio balance
• Durable design
• Superb surround sound
• Very comfortable

Cons

• Not true 7.1
• Design screams “gamer”

First up, we have the hugely impressive Astro A50 Wireless gaming headset. It is the most expensive on this list and offers all the features and benefits you’d expect from a high-end, luxury-level headset. Be sure to check out our full Astro Gaming A50 wireless headset review if you’re interested.

It provides superb sound quality, excellent microphone clarity, true comfort, and a fancy docking station for charging and storage. The design is very futuristic and offers excellent comfort thanks to the faux leather which is used on both earcups and headband. The Astros offer an extremely comfortable design meaning you can game for hours without irritation and strain being applied to your neck or head.

The left earcup houses a flip-down mic which is made from a rubberized, flexible arm. The mic is easy to adjust and picks up speech with excellent clarity. The sound quality is excellent and provides high levels of bass and trebles alike. The balance of the sound is extremely good, and when playing FPS, we found listening for footsteps to be very easy and accurate.

The A50’s come with their own docking and storage station which are connected via a micro USB port. It’s a pretty sleek design and looks impressive when stowed at the end of your gaming setup and the cradle has an incredibly premium feeling to it. Ultimately, you’re looking at a very high-performing headset that, as you’d expect, has a price tag to match. They currently retail for just under $300, so they aren’t going to be for everyone. If you are looking for a high-end pair of headphones, however, I would seriously consider these as a contender.

Best mid-range gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis 7

Runner up

SteelSeries Arctis 7

Type

Over-ear

Frequency range

20 – 20,000 Hz

Wireless?

Yes

Battery life

25 Hours

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How We Review

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Pros

• Wireless headset allows for immersive experience
• One of the best microphones in the headset market
• Good value for money

Cons

• Large heads may struggle to find a comfortable position

We’ve chosen the Steelseries Arctis 7 gaming headset as our best mid-range gaming headset for a few reasons. The thing we like most, however, is the levels of immersion you can experience when using this headset – which we discovered when we reviewed it. The sound quality is superb, especially for a wireless headset, and thanks to this, you (as a gamer) become immersed in whatever game you’re playing. We’ve tested at least 12 headsets, and the audio output of this particular headset was up there with the best we tested.

The battery life lasts for an impressive 20 hours right out of the box, which is pretty high from a usage point of view. Even when the battery does eventually die, don’t worry, just plug the charger in and keep gaming. Some of the build materials do become worn after time, but most are replaceable at a fairly reasonable price.

Overall, considering sound quality, microphone quality, comfort, and price, the Steelseries Arctis 7’s were our number mid-range option. Choose these headphones, and you will not be disappointed.

Best gaming headset for streamers: Corsair Virtuoso Pro

Corsair Virtuoso Pro

Type

Over-ear

Frequency Range

20-40,000 Hz

Wireless?

No

Noise-cancelling

No

Enclosure

Open-back

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• Pairs perfectly with a DAC or amp
• Excellent build, strong materials and comfortable
• Wide soundstage for accurate sound quality
• Easy compatibility with or without mic attachment

Cons

• No on-board volume controls

Now for all the streamers out there, we’d definitely have to recommend the Corsair Virtuoso Pro, which we reviewed; a fantastic open-back alternative which is great for streaming. Even if you aren’t a streamer, you can appreciate the high-quality acoustics you get from this kind of design, with an open soundstage which is perfect for music lovers as well as gamers. Especially when paired up with a DAC for sound-accurate playback. While this isn’t the best at blocking out external sound, it doesn’t have to be in a PC gaming setup, especially great for streamers that want to monitor their own voice while they broadcast.

It has flexible connectivity options as there are cables with and without microphones provided. You are missing out on a wireless option with this headset, but the 3.5mm analog connectivity ensures high quality in broadcasting scenarios. The build quality is fantastic with aluminum-reinforced frame and the design is nice and clean, with both Carbon and White color options available. Nothing feels cheap about this headset – and while that is somewhat reflected in the price, the value for money is still fantastic. It reaches closer towards some of the premium hi-fi options out there while still being a fantastic option for your average gamer.

We found them comfortable for using all day long. Combine that with the top-notch sound quality & rugged build quality, and you can see why this is our top pick for streamers right now that work through long gaming sessions regularly.

Best wired gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Wired Headset

Type

Over-ear

Frequency range

10-40,000 Hz

Wireless?

No

Noise-cancelling

No

Enclosure

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Pros

• Great audio quality
• Solid build
• RGB
• DTS Headphone: X v2.0
• Dedicated USB DAC

Cons

• Expensive

The Arctis Pro +GameDAC wired headset is the second entry from SteelSeries in this best gaming headset run down. The Arctis Pros, as we’ll call them, take the best wired gaming headset top spot, and quite comfortably. See more in our SteelSeries Artcis Pro + GameDAC review while you’re here.

The first thing that struck us with this particular headset was the design. Even though they’re basically the same as the 7s (above), the fancy RGB just takes the whole aesthetic appearance to another level. From a comfort standpoint, I always felt this headset was a little hit and miss. For me, I found the headset to feel a little tight and restricting, whereas other people in the office found them to be a joy to use. Having said that, they were by no means uncomfortable, just a little claustrophobic at times.

The hi-res audio which you get in this headset provides crystal clear sound when used with the relevant streaming service. Bass and treble work in harmony to create a brilliant listening experience, especially when playing intense FPS single-player games such as COD and Farcry. You get immersed in the environment you’re playing in thanks to quality sound and accurate spatial awareness.

This headset comes with a GameDAC which is a combination of a digital-to-analog converter (which gives your CPU one less job to do), a preamp, and a control center. You can fine-tune your entire headset via the GameDAC which is extremely handy for on the fly changes. You can easily connect to your console, phone, PC, or tablet with these headphones, making them not just a gaming headset, but an all-round headphone option too.

Best haptic gaming headset: Razer Kraken V3 Pro

Haptic pick

Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless haptic gaming headset

Frequency Response

20 Hz – 20 kHz

Driver diameter

50 mm

Connectivity

3.5mm, 2.4Ghz

Weight

372 g / 0.82 lbs

Battery life

Up to 44 hours (haptics and lighting off), Up to 11 hours (haptics and lighting on)

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• Comfortable
• Haptic drivers are great fun
• Broad compatibility
• dual-mode connectivity

Cons

• Very expensive
• Buggy integration with Synapse 3
• Expected more from the build quality given the price

When we first heard that there was a haptic gaming headset on the horizon, we were pretty skeptical. We were convinced that the haptic drivers would be irritating and would make the mic unusable due to the vibrations. So, when it finally came through the door, we quickly connected it to a PC setup and tried it out.

Honestly, we couldn’t have been more surprised at just how much the haptic drivers added to the audio experience. The vibrations give the user a feeling akin to standing close to the subwoofer at a concert, and they replicate this distinctive feeling very realistically.

The best part about the Razer Hypersense haptic drivers is that they a totally natively supported. They require no development of support or drivers to function. In short, they use sub-bass frequencies to define the strength and timings of the vibrations. This is particularly impressive as the headset does all of this in real-time, and the sub-bass is still reproduced so you don’t lose any audio, you only gain haptic enjoyment.

We tested these on a selection of games and the haptic feedback managed to increase the enjoyment of each and every one of them. If you’ve got the money to spend, these are a pretty fantastic new development in the world of gaming headsets. For more detail, read our full Razer Kraken V3 Pro Hypersense gaming headset review as we get into far more detail about this great headset.

Best budget gaming headset: HyperX Cloud Stinger

Budget pick

HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset

Type

Over-ear

Frequency range

18-23,000 Hz

Wireless?

No

Noise-cancelling

No

Enclosure

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Pros

• Very good build quality
• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Affordable

Cons

• Low on features
• Mic is not detachable

Good old HyperX gives us our best budget option, and it comes in the shape of their popular Cloud Stinger headset. If you’re looking for a decent experience but haven’t got the budget to afford one of those expensive models, then look no further, HyperX have you covered.

The Cloud Stingers retail for under $50 making them, by far, the cheapest headphones on this list. Don’t let the price fool you though, the headset from Hyperx still has decent sound quality and a reasonable microphone none the less. Comfort levels of this headset are of the highest quality thanks to the super-soft ear cups that are designed and made using memory foam.

This headset, like so many others, makes use of 50mm neodymium drivers and has an extremely handy swivel-to-mute microphone – always a plus. If what you’re looking for is a headset that is packed with features at an affordable price tag, then the Cloud Stinger from HyperX might be the headset for you. Again, be sure to check out our full review of the HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset for more info.

How we choose

Whether we’re reviewing new monitors or the best GPU on the market, choosing the right hardware can always be a tricky task. It requires hours of product research, performance benchmarking, and reviewing user feedback to get anywhere close to a definitive conclusion on what to recommend.

If you aren’t tech-savvy and struggle to put the time aside to go through the above requirements, you may end up purchasing a GPU that simply isn’t right for you. Fear not though, friends! Here at WePC, we like to take the stress of research away, and transform the whole process into an easy-to-follow, complete buyers guide. That’s right, our team of PC enthusiasts has done all the hard work for you!

How we test

Whenever we decide to do a best-of guide, we always get asked the same questions: Why are these the best gaming headsets? How do you know these are the best gaming headsets? People want to know that our recommendations are well-informed and legitimate. You can’t blame the people for that.

Anyway, before writing an article, whether it be best gaming monitors or best gaming chair, our team usually spends a couple of days doing online research looking for the best products in their respective fields. After the research is complete, the team will usually chalk up a list of 10-12 products that we feel merit further onsite testing. At this stage, we will go out and buy (if the manufacturers don’t send them first) every item on the list.

Once we have the shortlist on-site, we put the products through their paces to see which 5-6 come out on top. This article has been written off the back of that research.

Things to consider

There are a number of different factors that need to be considered before any hardware purchase. Whether you’re looking at a new mouse or the best gaming headset, features play a massive role in how suited that headset is going to be to your specific needs.

For that reason, we’ve outlined some of the main areas you should consider before purchasing a new gaming headset.

Audio quality

Surprising absolutely no one, sound quality is important. Unfortunately, gaming headsets can be very hit and miss when it comes to sound, true audiophiles will be lefts wanting more from any gaming headset but for the majority of you, it’ll be fine. Despite this, we’ve tested the audio of the headsets we’ve recommended in terms of gaming, music, and general content consumption to see first-hand if they pass muster. Additionally, we’ll test virtual surround sound, THX spatial audio (if applicable), and noise isolation to make sure we’re covering all the bases.

Mic quality

As we know, the defining feature of a headset is the included mice. These take many forms but are most commonly found as a detachable boom mic. As with any microphone, it needs to have decent noise isolation, good clarity, and, preferably, a build-in pop filter to remove errant noises. If you’re into competitive FPS games like CS:GO, Valorant, or Apex Legends, you’ll be aware of how vital clear game chat is.

Build quality

Much like other gaming peripherals, there is a lot of cheap tat masquerading as quality gear that you will do well to avoid. Rest assured, dear reader, we won’t be recommending anything that we consider substandard on this page. But there are still some considerations to be made. The headband is the big thing here. you want a headband with steel reinforcement internally, as this will help it resist bending too far or permanently deforming.

Comfort

The best audio and mic don’t mean jack if you can’t stand wearing the headsets for long periods of time. So it needs to be comfortable. This means a reasonable weight, soft padding on the earcups, and a supportive headband that spreads the weight evenly. Additionally, fabric earpad options are good because they increase breathability which is particularly important if you live in a hot or humid environment.

Wired/wireless connectivity

Given the advancement of both the Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz communication protocols, we are rapidly approaching the point at which the best wireless gaming headsets will be equally as capable as their wired counterparts, regardless of platform. Broadly speaking, there are three main ways that headsets connect to your PC or console: a 3.5mm jack, a USB dongle, or Bluetooth. Of course, there are benefits and drawbacks to each one but when it comes to audio fidelity, there really isn’t much in it.

Newer wireless headsets tend to come with a USB-C dongle, which takes advantage of the higher speeds and greater bandwidth of the USB Type-C connection, so if you’re looking for the lowest latency possible for a wireless headset, this should be the top priority. It’s worth noting here that many headsets that use this connection come with a USB adapter, so if your PC doesn’t have USB C built-in, you can still utilize the wireless dongle.

Cross-compatibility

This is an important aspect to consider if you don’t stick to just one platform. Many of these headsets are compatible not only with PC, but with the current-gen consoles like PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series S/X. This makes life easier if you tend to flip between Playstation and PC for example. We feel compelled to note here that if you’re on Nintendo Switch, you can’t currently use a headset mic wireless, as their Bluetooth implementation doesn’t allow for it. So you’ll be stuck with a good old-fashioned 3.5mm audio cable for the time being. In short, cross-compatibility is a big plus as it saves you from having to buy multiple headsets for each different device.

Additional features

So, we’ve covered the basics, now let’s move on to the fun stuff. In order to further differentiate their headsets from the competition, brands frequently integrate extras. Sometimes these are purely visual, like RGB lighting, and sometimes they can improve the exp[erience significantly, like haptic feedback or active noise cancellation. Regardless, gamers like to get the most out of their purchase, so we’ll consider these in addition to the criteria defined above.

Gaming headsets we’ve tested

Some headsets may not make it into our best-ofs but you can still check out our full reviews right here.

• ASUS ROG Fusion II 500
• ASUS ROG Delta S Wireless
• ASUS TUF H3 Wireless
• Steelseries Arctis Pro +GameDAC
• SteelSeries Arctis 1
• Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless
• Corsair Void RGB Elite USB
• Corsair Virtuoso Pro
• Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE
• HyperX Cloud II
• Razer Blackshark V2
• Razer Kraken Tournament Edition
• Fnatic React
• Sennheiser GSP600
• Sennheiser GSP300

Related pages

Still after audio excellence? check out some of our other pages.

• Best Gaming Earbuds
• Best Wireless Gaming Headset
• Best Gaming Headset under $100
• Best Gaming Headset under $50
• Best Corsair gaming headset

Best gaming headsets FAQs

What is the best gaming headset brand?

There are plenty of trustworthy and reliable brands developing gaming headsets, so there is plenty of choice available to you. In our guide, we feature names such as ASRO, SteelSeries, HyperX, and Razer among the best. Other great picks however include Logitech, Corsair, and more.

Should I use a wired or wireless gaming headset?

Wireless gaming headsets have come a long way from being let down by latency issues and now offer excellent performance without having to deal with cables, with reliable connectivity too. However, you may still want to opt for wired if you don’t want to worry about battery life – and wired alternatives are often cheaper.

Final word

So, we’ve crowned the king and supplied a few other choice headsets depending on your specific preferences. Hopefully, you’ve found the info useful and are well on the way to making your next headset purchase. Remember, do the research and avoid the snake oil.