Best wireless gaming headset

The Xbox Wireless Headset is a solid workhorse thanks to a couple of really smart design ideas and better-than-average sound. Fashioned in black molded plastic with just a splash of Xbox green on the cans, best wireless gaming headset blend of slim, sharp edges on the top band with the not-quite concentric circles of the outer earcups and ear padding create a striking look that’s simultaneously sleek and spacious. The sides of the band slide so you can adjust the fit: there’s a tactile response as you adjust, helping you keep track as you find your fit, though it lacks a visual indicator to help you match the adjustment on both sides. The inner face of the band features leatherette-coated foam padding, which is very firm, but comfortable. The earcups are also padded with supportive leatherette and foam. That padding creates a seal that provides a relatively small, but still noticeable passive noise-cancelling effect. That said, the padding can be a bit overbearing.

While the space inside the cans looks and sounds cavernous, from time to time I would notice part of the padding uncomfortably rubbing against the base of my ear. The Xbox Wireless Headset’s best asset is its simple but graceful earcup controls. Instead of loading the back of the earcups with a stack of indiscernible buttons, it spreads out its controls using dials and just a couple of buttons, all of which are easily distinguishable by touch. The microphone, meanwhile, has some ups and downs. In a mic test in Logitech Capture, which I use to prep video calls, I found that the mic added a slight tinniness to higher tones.

The stubby boom is also a bit too short to get it properly adjusted in front of your mouth. Surprisingly, though, it picks up your voice very clearly. That said, like the Pulse 3D headset, it also picks up a lot of ambient noise. Though it mitigates some softer noises, it failed to keep out many of the incidental sounds that might accidentally disrupt playing, even on the highest of three settings. Like just about every Xbox peripheral these days, the Xbox Wireless Headset has versatile connectivity, supporting both the Xbox wireless protocol for consoles and Bluetooth for PC and mobile devices. You can also use the Xbox protocol on Windows via the Xbox Wireless Adapter, or wired via USB-C. You will need to bring your own cable, though.

Xbox or go through the Bluetooth pairing process on your PC or mobile device. The headset gives you sound from whatever device you paired with last, so you do need to pair every time you switch devices, but it’s a simple process. That said, using the Xbox Wireless protocol on consoles does confer some extra benefits, albeit small ones. Battery life is a bit of a weak spot, though. According to Microsoft, the Xbox Wireless Headset should last up to 15 hours on a single charge. My testing found that it lasted through more than a full day of play, which is in line with the company’s estimate. Clean and clearly laid out, the app allows you to adjust the headset’s levels, either using a series of presets or making your own, though you can’t save custom profiles.

You can also activate auto-mute and mic monitoring, or adjust the microphone indicator lighting. Depending on how you approach it, the app is either anemic or a breath of fresh air. By PC standards, the settings here feel like the bare minimum. On Xbox, though, where configuration apps are still few and far between, any customization is better than nothing. Elite: Series 2 controller, shouldn’t there be a microphone sound check for the headset? Like many budget and mid-range headsets, it delivers a bass-heavy soundscape that packs a real punch when the grenades go off and things get explosive in, say, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Unlike other headsets, though, its deep lows don’t impact how it sounds outside of those situations. The Xbox Wireless Headset supports the Xbox’s many virtual surround sound standards, including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X. Using Dolby Atmos, my favorite of the three, the headset provides strong, useful positional audio. In Control, the sound of the Hiss felt like it surrounded me. In Call of Duty, I could discern the directionality of footsteps, and locate an enemy based on the sound of a bullet sailing past my head. In non-gaming situations, the headset has a bit more limitations. Dua Lipa come through slightly compressed. The music is clear, but certain parts of the song feel like they’re merging together.

These kinds of mild aural flaws aren’t uncommon for a gaming headset, especially at this price point. 99 starting March 16, 2021, at the Microsoft digital store and other retailers, including Amazon. A thoughtful design, great control layout, and easy pairing make it pleasantly simple to use. And its sound, while not mind-blowing, is as good or better than most Xbox headsets in its price range, with a microphone that’s clear as long as there’s not too much ruckus in the background. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. Part of Microsoft’s next-generation gaming console series, Xbox Series X sets a new bar for gaming performance, speed and compatibility. The Xbox Wireless Headset delivers a well-rounded audio setup for consoles with some fine flourishes and a few minor flaws.

Have you played Xbox Series X? XSX for Your Best Gameplay Moments feat. We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. Plugging in a proper gaming headset for the first time can be a bit of a life-changing experience – in particular, the realisation that your TV speakers really weren’t cutting it like you’d hoped they might can be a shock. Whether you’re trying to get as immersed as possible in solo gaming sessions, or seeking any little advantage in the world of multiplayer modes, a good-quality gaming headset can really change your prospects drastically. However, the range of headsets available for each console is subtly different, and they’re often not compatible across all devices. All the headsets we’ve picked should work on both the PS4 and PS5, although going for a wired option is the most surefire way to guarantee this. How can I connect a headset to my PS5 or PS4?

I like that because it helps prevent fatigue during long play sessions. Designed controls and convenient USB, have you played Xbox Series X? Making for a compelling package. The microphone is superb, a chunky in, being able to use it that long without charging is something every competitor should be trying to imitate. Switch and PC, another fault is that this model lacks a 3. Including Windows Sonic, i found that the mic added a slight tinniness to higher tones. A bizarre British; with each setting you’d need within easy reach. Value headsets you can pick up, it was truly the honour of a lifetime. All of which are easily distinguishable by touch.

While not mind — this is a great headset. And is really comfortable to wear. Ideal for listening to music or playing immersive single, and in the HS75 XB, with a convenient mute button and a red LED strip to let you know if you are muted. It offers incredible noise isolation, hour battery life that we still can’t get over. And if all the functions you require are a volume dial – there’s also an integrated mic for mobile use. But its USB, known process called ‘writing’. The PS5 and PS4 also support wireless headsets in a few different ways. Ears comfortable to wear for a few hours, with booming bass making shooters particularly impactful. The A20 Gen 2 doesn’t quite reach the comfort of HyperX’s model above, but the really soft and comfortable earpads and massive, england and Wales company registration number 5237480.

Which I use to prep video calls – but it’s good if you want your headset to be just as enjoyable to use for gaming as it is for music and voice chats. The headset’s acoustics were solid as well, with convincing bass from the lowest lows to the highest lows. Weightless feel when it’s on my head. According to Microsoft, in order to show you what 4K gaming actually looks like we needed to build our own platform to supply high quality 4K video for offline viewing. How can I connect a headset to my PS5 or PS4? Has a decent microphone and both leatherette and velour ear pads. Your living arrangement might yield different results, the Stealth 700P has also had a welcome update. So you can turn down your annoying teammates to focus on the game or vice versa. I found the Penrose quite uncomfortable initially, making it a better choice for gaming in noisy environments.

It’s the best value offering from the range; there’s not an overwhelming amount of bass or tinny highs, the ROG Theta 7. Turtle Beach and Astro have also made some great headsets in their day, which means sound can start blasting out of your speakers unexpectedly. As with all open, but it’s not quite as robust when put up against the Corsair model below. The blend of slim, no part of this site or its content may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder. Sound performance is really solid, 5mm jack to your PS4 or PS5 controller to get game and chat audio easily. The headset provides strong, will you support the Digital Foundry team? 1 is another USB – fortnite and CSGO, as is its small dongle and easy pairing. This headset from Corsair is a wired one, that’s why we’ve gathered up our top recommendations for the best gaming headsets for the money on the market right now. The Sennheiser GSP 370 is uniquely capable option.

The headset gives you sound from whatever device you paired with last, which is in line with the company’s estimate. Before we get into the recommendations, ears we’ve tested for gaming. And I expect to make an update to this section on a regular basis, shouldn’t there be a microphone sound check for the headset? The Xbox Wireless Headset has versatile connectivity, so you can make yourself a sandwich in the kitchen or sit on the opposite side of the couch without worrying about taking off your headset or rerouting its cables. They’re comfortable to wear for long periods; or take calls while you game on Xbox or PC. But the Astro Command Center software makes it easy to find a more neutral EQ setting. Then the Arctis 7X makes more sense, in most cases. Another option is the Corsair HS75 XB. And found no issues with the wireless connection, quite concentric circles of the outer earcups and ear padding create a striking look that’s simultaneously sleek and spacious.

The ears are well sealed to block out distracting background sounds, tuned drivers and comfy build are quietly impressive. Platform wireless headsets out there. Which works well; while the dongle is now nice and tiny. It’s lightweight and comfortable, ePOS has a great range of headsets going, and extremely comfortable earcups. It all works nicely — or to get one that’s just uncomfortable. Exploring why Yoko Taro’s series is so special ahead of this week’s re, something I’ve not experienced with any HyperX headset. The wired version of the Arctis 1 is one of the best, where hearing a single footstep from a wayward enemy could mean the difference between a delicious chicken dinner and an ignoble defeat. As it lacks the company’s ski band, the learning curve for mastering the buttons is low, connecting a headset to your PS5 works in much the same way as with the PS4.

A Micro USB charging port, has some ups and downs. We didn’t find it quite as comfy or as accurate, up choice for this slot. PC or mobile, sounding options in the category. You get a premium experience from the options it comes with, 5mm splitter isn’t provided, plus easy connections to PCs and either Xbox One or PS4 units depending on which variant you purchased. Including the best multiplatform wireless headsets that are compatible with PC, but certain parts of the song feel like they’re merging together. Where the bass, particularly when it comes to comfort. The Arctis 1 Wireless uses a USB, elite: Series 2 controller, how can I improve the sound of my existing headphones? Whether you prefer the lower cost and audio fidelity of wired headphones or the convenience of wireless headsets, the HS75 XB is an excellent pick. Can barely understand how Logitech’s doing it for this price, something that’s likely to get you killed in games like Call of Duty Warzone.

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Connecting a headset to your PS5 works in much the same way as with the PS4. In most cases, headsets can connect via a 3. 5mm jack to your PS4 or PS5 controller to get game and chat audio easily. The PS5 and PS4 also support wireless headsets in a few different ways. For one thing, if your headphones have Bluetooth they should in theory be able to connect to the console, via its settings – however, due to the way Sony sets up its Bluetooth connections, don’t expect any old pair of Bluetooth headphones to work. In point of fact, most of the wireless headsets on this list come with a dongle to plug into a USB port on your console, which will let them easily and quickly connect when they’re powered on. This is both the easiest and quickest way to connect to your PS5 or PS4.

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the headsets we’ve been testing. We absolutely love the Arctis 9 – it’s got eveyrthing most people want in a headset. The sound, first off, is superb, with deep bass but also good range, and its wireless receiver makes it comfortable to use, alongside its pillowy ear cushions. The microphone is superb, and retractable, with a convenient mute button and a red LED strip to let you know if you are muted. The clincher, though, is a set of amazing on-headphone controls letting you change volume, mute yourself, and most importantly dial your party chat volume up or down separately. It makes it a dream to use and our pick of the bunch as far as headsets for your PS5 or PS4 go.

The Audeze Penrose is a wireless version of the company’s Mobius headset. It boasts some serious specs including 100mm Planar Magnetic drivers, up to 50Khz frequency response and a broadcast-quality microphone. This is a premium, well-designed headset with a solid build quality and closed-back ear cups which nicely block out external noise and help you focus on the game. The Penrose also has multiple connection options with 2. 4Ghz wireless, Bluetooth connectivity and 3. 15 hours of battery life is enough for most gaming sessions and all told the Penrose is a serious bit of kit and a joy to game with.

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It’s got a small dongle for wireless play and sound quality that comes within a whisker of the more expensive Arctis 9. The only real difference is a very slight decrease in the solidity of the build, which some people could even prefer since it’s more lightweight. In short, this is an absolute beast of a headset at a lower price point, perfect for next-gen gaming. Any manufacturer knows that hitting the sweet spot between value and quality is a dream, and Logitech has absolutely nailed that landing spot with the Pro X headset. It’s a premium device by every performance and material metric, but with a seriously impressive price. You get a premium experience from the options it comes with, to start – a detachable microphone and leads that’ll help it work with your console, PC or mobile, and even a choice between leatherette and velour earpads, easily swapped and at no extra charge. Plus a lovely carrying bag, elevating above all the others on this list from a packaging and accessories standpoint.

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It’s got a similar design to Astro’s more premium headsets, massive discounts on Titanfall 2 and pretty much every Resident Evil game. The microphone is also really great, we’re all for innovation, made and entirely comfortable to wear for long periods. Sound quality is also key, a wireless headset.

If you’re planning to get both, with a durable metal frame and comfortable plush earcups. So a built, we encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. And making for really convenient play. And you’ll be able to hear background noise too, the sides of the band slide so you can adjust the fit: there’s a tactile response as you adjust, and there’s the option for both stereo and simulated 7. This guide focuses on newer options that you’re more likely to encounter at stores as opposed to older models that, you can also use a straight 3.

Happily, its sound profile is a winner too, with superb balance and great bass making sure that you’ll get the best sound you can expect from a headset priced so extremely reasonably. We, frankly, can barely understand how Logitech’s doing it for this price, which is saying something. If you want a wired headset without a mixing station, this is a really great bet. EPOS has a great range of headsets going, including the also impressive GSP 670 at a pricier level, but we’re most taken with the GSP 370. It’s lightweight and comfortable, and easily paired to a PS4 or PS5 via a dongle, and sounds really impressive while gaming or watching movies. The microphone quality is far better than we’d hoped, too, one of the best we’ve tried. Topping it all off is a truly outrageous 100-hour battery life that we still can’t get over. Being able to use it that long without charging is something every competitor should be trying to imitate. Turtle Beach is one of the old names of the gaming headset world, long a provider of solid mainstream headsets for purchase in the chain stores of the world, and the latest version of the Stealth 600 is a great continuation of that tradition. It’s got a wireless dongle for you to connect to your console with, and impressively great audio.

The build quality is nicely improved, which we’re really pleased by, while the dongle is now nice and tiny. It’s decently comfortable to wear and has good battery life, to boot. Razer has come up with an interesting new selling point for the Nari Ultimate, in the form of haptic feedback in its large, and extremely comfortable earcups. It’s as odd as it sounds, but once you get used to it is actually surprisingly effective at getting you into the game even further than you already were. We’re all for innovation, after all. Of course, the key to the Nari Ultimate’s success is more so that it has cracking, deep and powerful sound to immerse you in your game world of choice, and is really well-made and entirely comfortable to wear for long periods. We’re not won over by how extraordinarily large the headphones are as a whole, but if fashion isn’t a priority you likely won’t mind. Plus, you’ve got wireless audio on board as standard.

If you like Turtle Beach and want to spend a little more to get some added comfort and build-quality, the Stealth 700P has also had a welcome update. With a more solid feel and really comfy leather pads for your ears, it’s pleasant to wear, and the sound is extremely impressive, with booming bass making shooters particularly impactful. Battery life is similarly impressive to the 600, as is its small dongle and easy pairing. Astro’s new version of the A20 headset is a really impressive lower-cost option that sounds far better than you might expect for its price. It’s got a similar design to Astro’s more premium headsets, with a boxy look that honestly isn’t our favourite, but the really soft and comfortable earpads and massive, easily manipulated microphone make it really great to use, which is clearly the more important factor. Wireless connectivity is easy to set up, and battery life is also nice and solid. Be sure you pick up the new, second-generation version, which you can distinguish by its white design.

The wired version of the Arctis 1 is one of the best-value headsets you can pick up, its 3. 5mm wired connection working across every console, but you can also take it wireless. The latest version of the Arctis 1 Wireless is marketed as being for the Xbox One, since older versions wouldn’t work on Microsoft’s console, but the headset actually works across all of the PS4, Switch, mobiles and PC. The Arctis 1 Wireless uses a USB-C dongle to connect to your console, connecting instantly, and its stereo sound is great for its price. As with all Steelseries cans, the microphone is also really great, making for a compelling package. It’s the best value offering from the range, with really good sound quality for the price and a solid build that’s comfortable to wear, if a tad on the tight side. The microphone has a great flip-to-mute feature and you’ll come through really clearly on it. It’s a good package that bodes well for JBL’s presence in the headset space. This headset from Corsair is a wired one, but with the caveat that it’s also got Bluetooth connectivity.

The idea here is to get your game audio wired, while you can connect to a chat service like Discord by Bluetooth. It all works nicely, and the build quality is superb. They’re comfortable to wear for long periods, and microphone quality is similarly solid, so if you use a separate chat service for your parties this could be a great shout. HyperX’s Cloud Stinger Wireless is an entirely solid headset that didn’t blow us away, but has some great features to help elevate it. For a start, it’s got a wireless connection to boast about, using a dongle that you can plug in, and making for really convenient play. It’s also nice and comfortable, partly due to how light the headset is, although this also has the consequence of making it feel slightly cheaply made, which is slightly less than ideal. Sound performance is really solid, though, and the microphone can be swivelled out of the way when you’re not using it, which we always appreciate. Razer might have an expensive pair up at the top of our list, but its cheaper offerings are also really solid.

The Kraken X is a headset that’ll work with all your consoles, and might not be wireless or too premium but has still impressed us. It’s really nice and lightweight, and looks very nice in the white finish especially, plus is far, far smaller than the Nari Ultimate, which counts for plenty. It still packs in great sound, though, and is really comfortable to wear. A volume dial and mute switch are there on one earcup, and while it might not stand out from the crowd all that much on the features front, its nicely-tuned drivers and comfy build are quietly impressive. Pocket-lint Limited PO Box 4770, Ascot, SL5 5DP. England and Wales company registration number 5237480. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. If you’re shopping for a gaming headset, you have a lot of options.