One of 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 form 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 nicely. 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 probably the most emphasis general, however they’re clear, and their forwardness isn’t a nasty factor if 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 onerous, nevertheless it’s neither overly recessed nor harsh.

All of this helps the DT 900 Professional X sound detailed however not boring. It is the form 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 if you’re not gaming, you get an pleasing profile for music.

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

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

If you happen to’d fairly not spend as a lot, the Sennheiser HD 560S is one other glorious open-back headphone that’s typically out there 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 taking place, and it retrieves a beautiful 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 instances. Imaging isn’t fairly as nuanced both, although it’s removed from poor.

The HD560S’ design is lots snug to put on for prolonged intervals. It doesn’t clamp down too onerous on these with huge heads (like yours actually), 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. Nonetheless, 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

If you happen to 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 choose up with the pricier headphones above. However it locates sounds precisely, and its open design delivers an actual sense of width. It’s an excellent 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 snug match for everybody. It definitely seems prefer it prices $20, although Koss backs it with a lifetime warranty that basically permits you to get limitless replacements for $9 every. Even when the KSC75 are pushing 20 years previous, its comparatively balanced sound stays significantly 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

If you happen to do need 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 going on round you rather than feeling confined in your head. It’s additionally higher than most at positioning in-game results in the appropriate locations.

The Atlas Air has a principally flat audio profile by default, with a soar within the treble that lends further 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 form 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 stated, the Atlas Air holds its personal surprisingly nicely. 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 conventional headset typically 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 fabric materials; they offer 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, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily versatile, so these with particularly massive heads can nonetheless pop the headphones on with little battle. The design as an entire is light-weight at 0.66 kilos, and it’s mild about clamping down on the perimeters 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 an enormous quantity dial that circles the left ear cup — are simply accessible past that. Our chief criticism is that the design is nearly completely plastic, so it doesn’t fairly really feel like a $180 system to the contact. It’s additionally form of… ugly, to be trustworthy. None of that could be a huge 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 advantageous. 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 via 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 via its USB dongle, plus it helps Bluetooth for cellular gadgets and the Swap’s handheld mode. You may’t pipe via audio from two connections on the similar time, however you may a minimum of swap between the 2 pretty rapidly utilizing a button on the left ear cup. Whereas there’s no assist for Xbox’s wi-fi protocol, you can too use the headset passively (i.e., with out counting on battery energy) with an included 3.5mm cable with its personal inline quantity dial. If you happen to’re an Xbox participant and don’t thoughts utilizing a cable, we’d nonetheless take into account the Atlas Air our prime advice. With out the wire, Turtle Seashore says the system can last as long as 50 hours, although we’ve been capable of squeeze one other 5 to 10 hours out at reasonable volumes. It’s removed from the longest-lasting pair we’ve examined, however this implies it will probably doubtless go for every 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. If you happen to don’t play in a fairly quiet atmosphere, take into account our subsequent choose. We additionally had a driver problem that prevented us from connecting to PC upon first receiving the headset, however a software program replace rapidly fastened that and we haven’t had any hiccups or stutters since. Usually, Turtle Seashore’s Swarm II app is pretty simple, providing a customized EQ device, 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 (non-obligatory), Xbox Wi-fi (non-obligatory) | Weight: 490g

If you happen to’re prepared to pay further 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, nevertheless it’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, nevertheless it’s not overwhelming, and the headset’s planar-magnetic drivers do nicely 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 Seashore headset, the punchier low-end makes issues like footsteps extra simply identifiable in video games. If you happen to don’t just like the out-of-the-box profile, Audeze’s app additionally consists of quite a few tasteful EQ presets.

Alongside these traces, the Maxwell’s removable increase mic is a standout. It does an outstanding 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 aspect, it leaks sound at larger volumes, and its metal headband makes use of an odd suspension mechanism that is successfully unimaginable to regulate with out taking the headset off. Usually, 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 out of doors noise. The important controls are constructed into the left earcup, and the system can join over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable along with a USB-C wi-fi dongle. You may even join to 2 gadgets without delay, one over the dongle and one other over Bluetooth, although you may’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 typically held true in our testing. You will get a bit much less in case 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)

If you happen to’d choose 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 supplies explosions a clean and satisfying thump, nevertheless it doesn’t overdo the low-end the best way lots of its friends do.

The A40’s audio high quality remains 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 advantageous particulars. Its soundstage is narrower by comparability as nicely. However it’s higher balanced than most gaming headsets, particularly these in its worth vary. It does nicely to envelop you in no matter’s taking place onscreen.

Consolation shouldn’t be a problem, both. The A40 is on the bulkier aspect, however its weight is evenly distributed, and it doesn’t clamp down overly onerous. The fuzzy earpads are mushy and breathable, whereas the ear cups are roomy sufficient to suit bigger ears. The headset has the same old open-back shortcomings, although, because it leaks a bunch of sound and blocks nearly zero exterior noise. The mostly-plastic design seems “gamer-y” and lacks built-in quantity controls, too. No person would name it “premium.” Nonetheless, it is not flimsy.

The A40’s mic, in the meantime, is simply OK. It picks up background noises whilst 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 may 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 non-obligatory with further controls for $130, however at that worth we’d strongly advise shopping for considered one of 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 case you’re on a decent finances 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 onerous and have sufficient mushy padding the place it counts. Its mic makes voices sound comparatively clear and correct as nicely. Actually, the mic is a transparent step up over the Astro A40’s, although it is not 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 dangerous 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 advantageous 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 practically as huge because the pairs above, neither is it as nuanced about positioning sounds precisely. All of that makes it lower than ultimate for aggressive video games, although it will 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 exterior noise regardless of having a closed-back design. Nonetheless, it’s a must to choose your battles on this worth vary. The Cloud Stinger 2 is flawed, nevertheless it does sufficient nicely to be a very good headset for sure budget-conscious consumers.

The Astro A50 X prices an eye-watering $380, so we are able to’t moderately advocate it to most individuals. Nevertheless, in case 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 resulting from 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 may join the headset to all three gadgets concurrently. From there, you may swap to your lively machine simply by urgent a button on the appropriate earcup.

This can be a ache to arrange: As proven in Logitech’s 12-minute (!) video tutorial, connecting each consoles and a PC requires seven totally different cables, a couple 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 every part’s up and working, 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 after we wished to hear via desktop audio system. All of this requires you to maintain your gaming {hardware} in the identical space, too.

However for probably the most half, the A50 X is probably 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 modify consoles, all it’s a must 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 lively connection, and the headset will routinely play the proper audio supply. With a PS5 and Xbox, it’ll routinely swap video. As long as you employ HDMI 2.1 cables, the bottom station can pass-through 4K 120Hz HDR video to the 2 consoles, with assist for VRR and ALLM. You may also join the A50 X to a Swap or cellular system by way of Bluetooth — although it is advisable 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 tips 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,” nevertheless it’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 typically correct at finding footsteps and close by results. The Audeze Maxwell remains 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 proud of it, and you may customise its EQ curve to an extent via Logitech’s G Hub software program.

The A50 X’s design is sort of a nicer model of the A40. It’s largely plastic, nevertheless it 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 method that feels snug but safe. You may also regulate your game-to-chat audio combine proper from an earcup. It doesn’t isolate exterior noise very nicely, although, and its increase mic is completely hooked up. Its battery life is mediocre as nicely — Astro charges it at as much as 24 hours at reasonable volumes — however because the headset is designed to take a seat on its dock when it’s not in use, that is not a severe problem. The mic, in the meantime, is likely one of the best possible 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 saved in test.

Enclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 60 – 20,000Hz | Mic: Sure, not removable | Connectivity: HDMI audio, USB audio, Bluetooth | Weight: 363g