The most effective PC gaming headsets ship unparalleled audio high quality with lovely construct high quality and a set of options all at a aggressive worth. Whether or not you are available in the market for one thing you plug in, or seeking to reduce the wire fully and go fully wi-fi, you may discover the right pair of cans in your subsequent gaming session beneath.
For as a lot as we love the finest PC audio system, they are not at all times a really perfect match while you’re attempting to get some late-night gaming completed. Not solely do they take up house, however it means you are broadcasting to everybody in your room, and even all through your own home. The most effective PC gaming headsets not solely resolve this subject however add a real encompass sound expertise (and even noise-canceling) into the combo, too, in addition to options like high quality mics, software program to tinker with EQs, and extra. Listed here are our high picks for PC gaming headsets.
The short record
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional
Greatest total
Expertise the thrill of hi-res audio whether or not you are gaming or listening to music with this wired headset that boasts wonderful encompass sound.
Greatest finances
For a headset with Dolby Audio 7.1 encompass sound, this elegant, light-weight, and feature-rich wired gaming headset could be very reasonably priced.
3. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi
Greatest premium
Versatility, thy identify is Arctis Nova Professional. This premium providing is wealthy in options, from multi-connectivity to swappable batteries to noise cancellation.
Greatest mic
This new model of the beloved wired gaming headset boasts improved audio, extra strong construct high quality, higher consolation, and one of the best mic in its class.
5. Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional
Greatest gaming headset for esports
A feature-rich headset that thrives on versatility, this Turtle Seashore flagship is one of the best implementation of the model’s Superhuman listening to function but.
6. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Greatest earbuds
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds set a brand new normal for gaming earbuds on PC in 2024 and supply an distinctive bundle that goes additional than glorious sound high quality; you additionally get nice battery life, cross-platform compatibility, and glorious flexibility and flexibility through the companion app.
Load the subsequent 3 merchandise…
Greatest worth wi-fi PC gaming headset
With on-the-fly EQ preset management, a light-weight design, and a 50ft wi-fi vary, the Corsair HS55 Wi-fi boasts improved audio.
8. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi
Greatest for battery life
It is great-sounding with numerous readability and a mic with background noise rejection, this reasonably priced gaming headset’s finest function is its 300-hour battery.
9. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wi-fi
Greatest for PC and console
SteelSeries’ mid-range wi-fi providing punches above its weight with a protracted battery life, nice sound high quality, and loads of customizations.
Rob Dwiar
I’ve had my arms throughout all types of gaming gear over the previous six years each day, however it’s headsets that I have been testing essentially the most frequently and persistently in that point. I’ve reviewed so many headsets for nearly each platform, and of all types and shapes and kinds, that I’ve an excellent grasp of what separates the nice ones from the great ones. Briefly, I’ve completed lots of listening and taking part in so you do not have to, and my expertise and experience has knowledgeable this PC gaming headset record.
The most effective PC gaming headsets 2024
Why you possibly can belief TechRadar We spend hours testing each services or products we assessment, so that you may be positive you’re shopping for one of the best. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
The most effective PC gaming headset total
We’re presently nonetheless within the technique of testing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional, the wired (and due to this fact cheaper) model of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi, however it’s already evident that it is the finest gaming headset in the marketplace proper now. That is for each PC and console gaming.
This gaming headset delivers hi-res audio, which signifies that you are getting crisp and extremely detailed sound, whether or not you are gaming or consuming music and flicks. Add within the Spatial Audio function, which you do should allow through the supporting software program, and it is a complete new immersive expertise that we’ve not actually skilled with different headsets with encompass sound. And, it is also extremely snug and splendid feeling, so we truthfully don’t thoughts carrying this for hours on finish.
The one distinction right here is that since it’s wired, the worth of entry is not as steep as on the wi-fi model, making it extra accessible to those that haven’t got deep pockets. Make no mistake; it is nonetheless fairly dear. However, for those who’re prepared to pay the worth for audio that even audiophiles cannot resist, that is the PC gaming headset to get.
The most effective finances PC gaming headset
It’s laborious to consider how a lot the Corsair HS65 prices contemplating the various benefit you’re getting from it. This absolute stunner of a gaming headset punches properly above its weight not simply in options however in sound high quality, making it a should for just about each, together with those that can afford the pricier choices on this record.
This is among the finest wired gaming headsets proper now, sporting Corsair’s new elegant design, a flip-to-mute mic that’s intuitive to make use of, luxurious reminiscence foam leatherette ear pads, a light-weight kind issue, and a 3.5mm connectivity that you could flip right into a USB connection through the included 7.1 encompass sound USB adapter.
It phrases of sound and encompass sound efficiency, it completely slays. Throughout our assessment, we discovered that even with stereo {hardware}, it manages to maximise that Dolby Audio 7.1 functionality for an immersive expertise. All the frequencies are represented properly, with a bass that’s extremely current, highs which can be clear and detailed, and mids that sound full.
Learn our full Corsair HS65 assessment
The most effective premium PC gaming headset
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi is an impressively feature-filled affair. It comes with lively noise cancellation, the power to hook up with two completely different sources and blend them in collectively without delay, and a noise-cancelling mic that may block out the clicky-clack of your keyboard.
It even exams the boundaries of how lengthy you possibly can put on a headset earlier than charging. It won’t have 300 hours of battery life however its 20 hours of use per battery may be prolonged for so long as you need since you possibly can sizzling swap batteries whereas nonetheless in the midst of the motion.
And, like most SteelSeries headsets, we discovered the audio high quality right here to be top-notch irrespective of for those who’re gaming or listening to music. It is clear, detailed, clear, and comes with nice bass response. The principle concern is the truth that you will get the Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi with help for Ps or Xbox however not each.
Learn our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi assessment
The PC gaming headset with one of the best mic
A beloved traditional is again and higher than ever with this successor of the HyperX Cloud gaming headset line. Although the earlier mannequin was fairly nice in its personal proper, that is even higher, with HyperX guaranteeing that it upgraded each facet, from its design to its efficiency. And, as we mentioned in our assessment, it lastly turned one of the best gaming headset worthy of all that loyal fandom behind it.
The HyperX Cloud III is, we discovered throughout our time with it, even far more spectacular than its predecessor in some ways. It has extra strong construct high quality, improved audio, higher consolation, extra connectivity choices, and a extra trendy look. We discovered it to ship a crisp and detailed excessive finish and plenty of oomph within the low finish – precisely what individuals want of their gaming headset.
It’s the removable mic, nonetheless, that takes centerstage right here. It delivered unimaginable readability, nice audio, and implausible background noise rejection, making it the most effective mics on a gaming headset we’ve ever seen. And, contemplating its price ticket, that truth is much more spectacular.
Learn our full HyperX Cloud III assessment
The most effective PC gaming headset for aggressive gaming
Turtle Seashore gaming headsets have traditionally been nice, however with the Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional, it’s created its masterpiece. A feature-rich headset that thrives on being versatile, it’s acquired a strong EQ with loads of presets for the much less skilled audio-discerning avid gamers in addition to a 10-band EQ for the consummate audiophile. It additionally has cleverly applied on-unit controls, having the outer proper ear cup to perform as a quantity wheel, for instance, provides swappable battery, and comes with lively noise cancellation and transparency that work very properly for gaming headsets.
These are just the start. The Superhuman listening to on this, out there with three presets and a power slider, is one of the best we’ve seen applied. It manages to spice up the frequencies of weapons and footsteps that will help you win whereas sustaining good sound high quality – a feat that we really feel is difficult to tug off.
Its audio high quality is implausible to start with. We’ve acquired crisp, pretty detailed excessive, full but clear mids, and low finish with loads of oomph and sub-bass throughout testing, making it the most effective sounding gaming headsets we’ve ever used. Like its rivals, it isn’t essentially the most reasonably priced possibility on the market, and a few could be disenchanted that the mic is simply common. However these can’t take away from the truth that it is a very good launch from Turtle Seashore. Plus, it appears like and might perform as a pair of headphones so it’s a two-for-one deal.
Learn our full Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional assessment
Greatest earbuds for PC
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are one of the best PC gaming earbuds now you can get and supply an audio expertise that might give lots of the high headsets a run for his or her cash. They have our advice for one of the best earbuds for PC gaming for a lot of causes, however crucial factor is that they do every thing brilliantly, they usually sound completely implausible – they’re essentially the most full earbuds bundle we have examined.
Initially, they sound very good, channeling all that SteelSeries audio greatness irrespective of the kind of recreation – or media – you want them to carry out for; they even have nice bass for tiny buds. The buds are extraordinarily properly designed primarily based on tens of hundreds of ear scans to try to attain an ergonomic fashion that works for everybody, whereas there’s additionally very good battery life and charging options, and the buds can be utilized together with the top-notch Arctis Companion App. Additionally professional tip: whereas every variant of the GameBuds works on PC, for those who purchase the Xbox ones they’ll work throughout all the key gaming platforms.
They’re priced within the top-end of the gaming earbud spectrum at $159.99 / £159.99 however, truthfully, we’re fairly pleased with that and what they provide compared to the others in that worth vary, just like the Sony Inzone Buds. All in all, these buds supply the fullest gaming earbud bundle we have examined and are one of the best buds for gaming on PC if hat’s what you are after.
The most effective worth wi-fi PC gaming headset
The Corsair HS55 Wi-fi is improves on its predecessor, the Corsair HS55 Wi-fi Core, in an enormous means. This reasonably priced wi-fi PC gaming headset comes with many further frills you’ll be glad to have, together with its on-the-fly EQ preset management, light-weight design, wi-fi connectivity with a 50ft vary, and an honest 24-hour battery life. It additionally sports activities Corsair new elevated and chic design improve that may make you wish to put on it as a pair of headphones.
However, extra importantly, It is higher sounding, extra user-friendly, and ever so barely plushier than its predecessor, which makes it a greater worth contemplating it is simply as reasonably priced. The excessive finish, we discovered, is extra detailed and current, supplying you with brighter and crisper audio – although for some purpose Corsair additionally tones down the bass, which could flip off bass-worshipping avid gamers.
We additionally respect Corsair’s efforts to ship improved encompass sound, which makes you are feeling such as you’re proper in the midst of the motion. That is due to the inclusion of Dolby Audio 7.1 that widens the soundstage and extra makes the audio much more three-dimensional.
Discover nice offers on Corsair merchandise with our Corsair coupon codes.
Learn our full Corsair HS55 Wi-fi assessment
The most effective PC gaming headset for battery life
Not solely does the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi sound implausible, however it has a completely unimaginable battery life. When examined, we barely made a dent in its reported 300 hours of use. What’s extra spectacular is that it achieves that lengthy battery life with out slicing many corners. It’s a comfortable match and retains a comparatively gentle weight whereas housing some surprisingly giant 50mm drivers.
After all, it does compromise in a number of locations. We sorely missed the power for Bluetooth and even analog connectivity. And, a few of its options equivalent to Spatial Audio are solely accessible by way of its Home windows-only app. However, these are principally small quibbles.
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi comes with a strong mic that gives glorious background rejection and an excellent quantity of customizability through its Ngenuity app. Mix that with clear audio that works with all media and a battery life that’s ten instances longer than most headsets and you’ve got an virtually good headset.
Learn our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi
The most effective gaming headset for PC and console
The brand new SteelSeries Arctis Nova line is even higher than its predecessor, ushering within the subsequent era of Arctis headsets which can be better-sounding and extra function wealthy than the headsets earlier than them. That features the mid-range SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wi-fi whose nice sound high quality, good battery life, new elegant but nonetheless snug design, and nice function set makes it a greater funding than the Arctis 7.
As a result of SteelSeries has rolled out its Sonar Audio app, which permits audio customizations utilizing the parametric EQ, the Arctis Nova begins you off with a impartial sound profile. However, at its default, we discovered it to be already spectacular with mids which can be excellent and lows which can be well-represented so that you will really feel that rumble with out overwhelming you.
As a pleasant bonus, you’re getting a USB-C dongle for wi-fi connectivity, which implies you should use it together with your Swap and cellphone in addition to your consoles.
Learn our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wi-fi assessment
How to decide on one of the best PC gaming headsets for you
Whether or not you’ve got lately invested in a gaming laptop computer otherwise you’re working with the finest finances gaming PC you could possibly piece collectively, your PC gaming expertise isn’t going to be totally realized till you’ve gotten invested in high quality, immersive audio. That’s the place PC gaming headsets are available.
PC video games aren’t simply concerning the visuals, in any case. Actually, a lot of them require you to have correct sound imaging and a very good soundstage to get to the highest of the leaderboards. Fortunately, top-notch gaming headsets from finances to premium are already outfitted with these.
Nevertheless, today, you may be extra discerning about issues like sound high quality and mic efficiency as properly. Because of the enhancements producers have made to their merchandise, PC gaming headsets – or not less than, one of the best of them – at the moment are simply as nice for music listening and film watching as they’re for gaming. That’s with out costing a complete lot greater than these with subpar sound high quality.
Check out how snug the scarf and ear cups sit in your head as properly. Many headsets today delight themselves on having plush reminiscence foam and comfortable, sweat-wicking foam cowl; nonetheless, not all of them truly supply that stage of consolation. And, for those who plan on gaming for hours, you want to select one which gained’t damage your head while you put on it for lengthy durations.
Lastly, there are issues like the kind of interface (wi-fi or wired), connectivity and vary, and RGB lighting to contemplate as properly.
How we examined these PC gaming headsets
Testing gaming headsets are amongst our favourite issues to do right here at TechRadar. They may not be as thrilling as the most recent graphics playing cards or the most recent gaming PCs, however they are often simply as enjoyable to check out and appraise.
Throughout such a take a look at, we check out the design points first, checking to see if the gaming headset is as strong and as snug accurately. We additionally verify how responsive and accessible its controls are. If wi-fi, we take a look at the connectivity, vary, and battery life as properly, ensuring that it delivers as promised or higher. If wired, we take a look at the size, sturdiness, and suppleness of the cable.
Lastly, we take a look at the sound high quality – simply how balanced it’s and the way current all of the frequencies are, in addition to the soundstage and sound imaging to see simply how immersive and correct they’re. We take a look at these out on video games in addition to music and flicks.
We then take every thing we’ve discovered concerning the gaming headset and evaluate it to its worth – whether or not or not its efficiency and options are value that price ticket, and whether or not or not it provides one of the best worth to clients.
The most effective PC gaming headsets – FAQs
What are one of the best gaming headset manufacturers?
There are such a lot of choices on the market, it may be laborious to determine which corporations actually ship with regards to a high quality pair of cans. Nearly each laptop peripheral firm appears to make gaming headsets. However, they aren’t all equal.
Whereas SteelSeries has among the costlier choices on the market, the corporate persistently provides top-notch sound high quality. Even in additional stripped down fashions, the audio by no means suffers. Likewise, Logitech could not at all times attain the identical heights in audio high quality as SteelSeries however it at all times places out an excellent sounding, snug product at an inexpensive worth.
Nevertheless, the heaviest hitters in gaming audio are Razer and Corsair. Not solely do they provide pairs for many each finances, however they arrive with all types of options like THX or Dolby Atmos, haptic suggestions, and nice battery life for the wi-fi choices.
However don’t restrict your self to only these manufacturers. As confirmed by our picks right here, Astro, Turtle Seashore, and the sometimes non-gaming targeted Beyerdynamic all make some glorious headsets.
What headset do professional avid gamers use?
If you need a gaming headset like professional avid gamers, look no additional than our record. One of the well-known and wanted gaming accent manufacturers is Razer and fairly a number of of their merchandise made our record. Razer isn’t solely extremely regarded for its model recognition – their merchandise are what most professional avid gamers swear by. Razer headsets are light-weight and have stellar audio efficiency, so for those who can afford to make the soar there’s no purpose to delay.
A extra reasonably priced professional gamer headset is the Corsair HS50 Professional – one other considered one of our high picks. Corsair is understood for making nice gamer expertise that doesn’t disappoint and might usually be extra reasonably priced than different top-of-the-line equipment. When you’re searching for a headset professional avid gamers use with out breaking the financial institution, Corsair could be an awesome selection for you.
What’s finest, wired or wi-fi PC gaming headsets?
A perennial query amongst gamers when getting a brand new headset, the distinction between wired and wi-fi headsets might help you discover the suitable match for you, for those who contemplate all of the ins and outs.
Many audiophiles will nonetheless err on the facet of a wired connection as it’s nonetheless seen to offer each one of the best connection for supplying you with the highest audio out there and it is essentially the most dependable connection too. Nevertheless, wi-fi units, in our opinion, have closed the hole on each fronts in recent times. A few of the gaming audio we have skilled has, arms down, been among the finest we have been handled to within the final couple of years, whereas manufacturers have additionally doubled down on their very own speedy and dependable wi-fi connections which have all however erased the moments of audio drop out and interference.
Wired headsets, on the entire, generally is a cheaper possibility nonetheless so for those who’re on a finances, we might suggest testing that connection sort. The additional bonus with wired units is that they are going to supply glorious versatility and cross-platform compatibility. Be a headset wired by USB or 3.5m audio jack, you’ll take it throughout and between all platforms that help these connections.
Wi-fi headsets are quick changing into cheaper and extra widespread, nonetheless. We’re additionally even seeing them grow to be totally versatile throughout all platforms, like their wired brethren. The straightforward comfort of not being tethered to a controller, PC port, or DAC unit can also be one thing that is nonetheless a pleasure for a lot of and generally is a guideline when seeking to decide between the 2.
Are gaming earbuds good for PC gaming?
Sure, completely! The most effective CP gaming headsets can positively come within the type of gaming earbuds, and in recent times we have seen them come on leaps and bounds with the likes of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds, and Razer Hammerhead True Wi-fi earbuds, and more moderen glorious earbuds just like the Sony Inzone Buds and the significantly glorious SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
Given such trendy choices because the latter, gaming earbuds can run with one of the best PC gaming headsets for those who recreation on a desktop and supply a nicely-fitting, small-scale various for those who’re uninterested in overhead suits.