The perfect PC gaming headsets ship unparalleled audio high quality with lovely construct high quality and a collection of options all at a aggressive worth. Whether or not you are available in the market for one thing you plug in, or trying to reduce the twine fully and go fully wi-fi, you will discover the proper pair of cans on your subsequent gaming session beneath.
For as a lot as we love the finest PC audio system, they are not at all times an excellent match if you’re making an attempt to get some late-night gaming carried out. Not solely do they take up area, nevertheless it means you are broadcasting to everybody in your room, and even all through your own home. The perfect PC gaming headsets not solely remedy this difficulty 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 prime picks for PC gaming headsets.
The short checklist
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional
Greatest total
Expertise the fun of hi-res audio whether or not you are gaming or listening to music with this wired headset that boasts superb encompass sound.
Greatest price range
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 title 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 the most effective 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 the most effective implementation of the model’s Superhuman listening to characteristic but.
6. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Greatest earbuds
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds set a brand new normal for gaming earbuds on PC in 2024 and provide an distinctive bundle that goes additional than wonderful sound high quality; you additionally get nice battery life, cross-platform compatibility, and wonderful flexibility and flexibility by way of the companion app.
Load the following 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 characteristic 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 palms throughout every kind of gaming gear over the previous six years every 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 every kind and shapes and types, that I’ve grasp of what separates the nice ones from the great ones. In brief, I’ve carried out a number of listening and enjoying so you do not have to, and my expertise and experience has knowledgeable this PC gaming headset checklist.
The perfect PC gaming headsets 2024
Why you may belief TechRadar We spend hours testing each services or products we evaluation, so that you may be certain you’re shopping for the most effective. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
The perfect PC gaming headset total
We’re at the moment nonetheless within the strategy of testing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional, the wired (and subsequently inexpensive) model of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi, nevertheless 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 characteristic, which you do should allow by way of the supporting software program, and it is an entire new immersive expertise that we’ve not actually skilled with different headsets with encompass sound. And, it is also extremely comfy 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, in the event you’re prepared to pay the worth for audio that even audiophiles cannot resist, that is the PC gaming headset to get.
The perfect price range PC gaming headset
It’s onerous to consider how a lot the Corsair HS65 prices contemplating the numerous 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 checklist.
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 you could flip right into a USB connection by way of the included 7.1 encompass sound USB adapter.
It phrases of sound and encompass sound efficiency, it completely slays. Throughout our evaluation, 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 might be clear and detailed, and mids that sound full.
Learn our full Corsair HS65 evaluation
The perfect premium PC gaming headset
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi is an impressively feature-filled affair. It comes with energetic noise cancellation, the flexibility to connect with two totally 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 checks the bounds of how lengthy you may 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 may scorching 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 regardless of in the event you’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 evaluation
The PC gaming headset with the most effective 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 making certain that it upgraded each facet, from its design to its efficiency. And, as we mentioned in our evaluation, it lastly turned the most effective 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 many 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 improbable background noise rejection, making it among the best 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 evaluation
The perfect 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 bought a robust EQ with loads of presets for the much less skilled audio-discerning players in addition to a 10-band EQ for the consummate audiophile. It additionally has cleverly carried out on-unit controls, having the outer proper ear cup to perform as a quantity wheel, for instance, affords swappable battery, and comes with energetic noise cancellation and transparency that work very properly for gaming headsets.
These are only the start. The Superhuman listening to on this, accessible with three presets and a power slider, is the most effective we’ve seen carried out. It manages to spice up the frequencies of weapons and footsteps that can assist you win whereas sustaining good sound high quality – a feat that we really feel is difficult to drag off.
Its audio high quality is improbable to start with. We’ve bought crisp, pretty detailed excessive, full but clear mids, and low finish with loads of oomph and sub-bass throughout testing, making it among the best 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 may be dissatisfied that the mic is simply common. However these can not take away from the truth that this can be a very good launch from Turtle Seashore. Plus, it appears like and may perform as a pair of headphones so it’s a two-for-one deal.
Learn our full Turtle Seashore Stealth Professional evaluation
Greatest earbuds for PC
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the most effective PC gaming earbuds now you can get and provide an audio expertise that might give most of the prime headsets a run for his or her cash. They have our advice for the most effective earbuds for PC gaming for a lot of causes, however an important factor is that they do every thing brilliantly, they usually sound completely improbable – they’re essentially the most full earbuds bundle we have examined.
Initially, they sound very good, channeling all that SteelSeries audio greatness regardless of the kind of sport – or media – you want them to carry out for; they even have nice bass for tiny buds. The buds are extraordinarily properly designed based mostly on tens of 1000’s 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 along with the top-notch Arctis Companion App. Additionally professional tip: whereas every variant of the GameBuds works on PC, in the event you purchase the Xbox ones they will 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 provide the fullest gaming earbud bundle we have examined and are the most effective buds for gaming on PC if hat’s what you are after.
The perfect 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 approach. This reasonably priced wi-fi PC gaming headset comes with many additional 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 can 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 motive Corsair additionally tones down the bass, which could flip off bass-worshipping players.
We additionally respect Corsair’s efforts to ship improved encompass sound, which makes you’re feeling such as you’re proper in the midst of the motion. That is because of 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 evaluation
The perfect PC gaming headset for battery life
Not solely does the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi sound improbable, nevertheless 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 chopping many corners. It’s a snug match and retains a comparatively mild weight whereas housing some surprisingly massive 50mm drivers.
After all, it does compromise in a couple of locations. We sorely missed the flexibility for Bluetooth and even analog connectivity. And, a few of its options similar to Spatial Audio are solely accessible via its Home windows-only app. However, these are principally small quibbles.
The Cloud Alpha Wi-fi comes with a stable mic that provides wonderful background rejection and quantity of customizability by way of its Ngenuity app. Mix that with clear audio that works with all media and a battery life that’s ten occasions longer than most headsets and you’ve got an virtually excellent headset.
Learn our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wi-fi
The perfect gaming headset for PC and console
The brand new SteelSeries Arctis Nova line is even higher than its predecessor, ushering within the subsequent technology of Arctis headsets which might be better-sounding and extra characteristic 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 comfy design, and nice characteristic 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 might be good and lows which might be well-represented so that you’re going to 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 utilize it along with your Swap and cellphone in addition to your consoles.
Learn our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wi-fi evaluation
How to decide on the most effective PC gaming headsets for you
Whether or not you have lately invested in a gaming laptop computer otherwise you’re working with the finest price range gaming PC you might piece collectively, your PC gaming expertise isn’t going to be totally realized till you might have invested in high quality, immersive audio. That’s the place PC gaming headsets are available in.
PC video games aren’t simply in regards to the visuals, in spite of everything. In truth, 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 price range to premium are already geared up with these.
Nonetheless, nowadays, 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 no less than, the most effective 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 an entire lot greater than these with subpar sound high quality.
Check out how comfy the scarf and ear cups sit in your head as properly. Many headsets nowadays pleasure themselves on having plush reminiscence foam and mushy, sweat-wicking foam cowl; nonetheless, not all of them truly provide that degree of consolation. And, in the event you plan on gaming for hours, it’s essential to select one which received’t damage your head if you put on it for lengthy intervals.
Lastly, there are issues like the kind of interface (wi-fi or wired), connectivity and vary, and RGB lighting to think about as properly.
How we examined these PC gaming headsets
Testing gaming headsets are amongst our favourite issues to do right here at TechRadar. They won’t 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 facets first, checking to see if the gaming headset is as strong and as comfy correctly. 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 adaptability 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 in regards to 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 affords the most effective worth to clients.
The perfect PC gaming headsets – FAQs
What are the most effective gaming headset manufacturers?
There are such a lot of choices on the market, it may be onerous to determine which corporations actually ship with regards to a top quality pair of cans. Nearly each laptop peripheral firm appears to make gaming headsets. However, they aren’t all equal.
Whereas SteelSeries has a few of the dearer choices on the market, the corporate persistently affords 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 nevertheless it at all times places out sounding, comfy product at an affordable worth.
Nonetheless, the heaviest hitters in gaming audio are Razer and Corsair. Not solely do they provide pairs for many each price range, however they arrive with all kinds 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 centered Beyerdynamic all make some wonderful headsets.
What headset do professional players use?
If you would like a gaming headset like professional players, look no additional than our checklist. Probably the most well-known and wanted gaming accent manufacturers is Razer and fairly a couple of of their merchandise made our checklist. Razer isn’t solely extremely regarded for its model recognition – their merchandise are what most professional players swear by. Razer headsets are light-weight and have stellar audio efficiency, so in the event you can afford to make the bounce there’s no motive to delay.
A extra reasonably priced professional gamer headset is the Corsair HS50 Professional – one other one among our prime picks. Corsair is understood for making nice gamer know-how that doesn’t disappoint and may typically be extra reasonably priced than different top-of-the-line equipment. In the event you’re on the lookout for a headset professional players use with out breaking the financial institution, Corsair may be an amazing 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 can assist you discover the precise match for you, in the event you contemplate all of the ins and outs.
Many audiophiles will nonetheless err on the aspect of a wired connection as it’s nonetheless seen to supply each the most effective connection for supplying you with the highest audio accessible and it is essentially the most dependable connection too. Nonetheless, wi-fi units, in our opinion, have closed the hole on each fronts lately. A number of the gaming audio we have skilled has, palms down, been a few of 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, is usually a cheaper possibility nonetheless so in the event you’re on a price range, we would suggest testing that connection kind. The additional bonus with wired units is that they may provide wonderful 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 turning into cheaper and extra well-liked, nonetheless. We’re additionally even seeing them grow to be totally versatile throughout all platforms, like their wired brethren. The easy 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 is usually a guideline when trying to decide between the 2.
Are gaming earbuds good for PC gaming?
Sure, completely! The perfect CP gaming headsets can positively come within the type of gaming earbuds, and lately 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 wonderful earbuds just like the Sony Inzone Buds and the significantly wonderful SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
Given such trendy choices because the latter, gaming earbuds can run with the most effective PC gaming headsets in the event you sport on a desktop and supply a nicely-fitting, small-scale different in the event you’re uninterested in overhead suits.