BEST GAMING HEADSETS

If you are looking for a gaming headset (= headphones + microphone) you need to consider a few things, most importantly: wired vs wireless, weight, comfort (shape and materials), and sound quality.

Wired or wireless?

When it comes to choosing between wired or wireless headsets, the former are generally lighter, but also limiting if you need to get up from your PC to grab a drink or a snack. On the other hand, with a wired headset you won’t have to worry about the battery life. If you find heavy headsets uncomfortable, then perhaps a wired model is best for you, however, weight can also depend on the materials (e.g. bulky plastic vs aluminium frame).

Shape and materials

When it comes to comfort there are also a few other things to consider, such as the headband, which needs to be padded and adjustable, and the ear cups, which come in round on-ear (for smaller ears) and oval over-ear (for larger ears) designs.

Ear cups can also have an open design, which is most breathable and ideal in warmer weather, or a closed design, which is better at noise cancelling and improving immersion, but can heat up quickly.

Furthermore, the ear cups can be covered in fabric or leather-like material (leatherette). The former is more breathable, but the latter is best at sound isolation (they are also more durable). The most expensive models have ear cups made of memory foam, which will adapt to the shape of your ears for maximum comfort.

Sound reproduction

There are three main types of sound reproduction to choose from: stereo, virtual (or spatial) surround, and dimensional sound:

Stereo headsets only have two audio channel (for left and right ear) to give sound a rough sense of direction.

Virtual surround sound uses algorithms and processing to simulate the behavior of multiple audio channels, such as those found in traditional 5.1 or 7.1 speaker setups. They can create the illusion of sound coming from various directions, but the emphasis is typically on front, rear, and side audio cues.

Dimensional sound (3D sound) lets you distinguish also between sounds coming from above or below you. Examples are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (you can read more about how 3D sound works in headsets here).

Below is a list of what we consider some of the best gaming headsets, ordered by increasing price (prices are in US$ and may vary depending on current promotions and availability). Please make sure that you also check our regularly updated News & Deals section for limited-time offers.

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