An All-Around Great Headset for Everyday Players
Razer BlackShark V2 Gaming Headset
An All-Around Great Headset for Everyday Players
Razer BlackShark V2 Gaming Headset
Now 30% Off
Pros
- Great price
- Comfortable ear chushions
- THX 7.1 surround sound
Cons
- The surround sound is great, the sound performance is just OK, though
Razer is a mainstay in the headset game, and with this $100 price point (or $144 for the wireless version), you really can’t beat the BlackShark V2.
It’s comfortable—the cushions are infused with cooling gel so they don’t burn up your ears when things get too intense. And they pack a punch, too. With THX 7.1 surround sound, these cans are more than capable of filling out that crazy 3D audio on the PS5 (more on that here). And if you stick with the wired version, you’ll be able to use it across the major consoles and PC.
An Adult Looking Headset
Logitech G PRO X
An Adult Looking Headset
Logitech G PRO X
Now 35% Off
Pros
- More sophisticated look
- Surround sound is amazing for directional sounds
- Super soft ear cushions
Cons
- EQ profile storage was a bit finicky
There’s plenty of great gaming headsets on the market, but there are very few you feel good wearing. Like if you had an audio emergency and needed to use your gaming headphones on a work call, could you log onto Zoom with a straight face?
This pair from Logitech G is one of the only ones where the answer is unequivocally, “yes.” Everything about this headset is more refined than others. The ear pads, headband, and microphone all offer a more understated luxury look and feel. That said, it’s still an incredible gaming headset. The surround sound is immersive and has great directional performance.
A Haptic Headset for Immersive Players
Corsair HS60 Haptic Stereo Gaming Headset
A Haptic Headset for Immersive Players
Corsair HS60 Haptic Stereo Gaming Headset
Now 35% Off
Pros
- Haptic feedback really immerses you in your gaming
- Still great for chat functions
Cons
- Haptic headset is a specialized want, not for everyone
Another reliable choice for the day-to-day player is this funky-looking set from Corsair. What sets these headphones apart is the addition of haptic audio. Yes, that’s like when your controller vibrates and gives you feedback to certain game experiences. Except it happens right on your head. Wild.
The onboard microphone is noise-cancelling, and, like a lot of the headsets listed here, you can fine-tune your audio experience with on-ear volume and haptic effect controls. They’re a little pricier than the Razer BlackShark, but with the haptic feedback, at least you’re getting something for the extra dough.
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An Under-$50 Headset for Thrifty Gamers
Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset
An Under-$50 Headset for Thrifty Gamers
Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset
Now 25% Off
Pros
- Lovely price
- Surprisingly durable, if you take care of it
- Nice and comfortable
Cons
- Audio just isn’t as good
A headset for 25 bucks! Can you believe it? Long has the world of serious gaming been defined by massively expensive peripherals, crazily over-priced PC technology, and consoles that cost about as much as a down payment on a car. Does it have to be that way?
Apparently not. This Turtle Beach headset is perfectly suited both for hearing and speaking… which is all you really need it for, in the end. It may not have the most pristine audio. But in a pinch, these cans get the job done just fine.
The Best Headset for Playstation Players
Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Gaming Headset
The Best Headset for Playstation Players
Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Gaming Headset
Pros
- Simple, reliable connection for PlayStation gamers
- Fine-tuned for the PS5’s 3D audio
Cons
- Compatibility is limited to the PlayStation
Sony’s got a pretty great track record with its in-house gaming headsets, so there’s really no reason to stray from the pack if you want some great dedicated audio for your PS5. The Pulse 3D wireless headset matches perfectly with the newest console, and without a big microphone sticking out, it looks sleek as hell.
Perhaps most importantly, though, is the fact that this headset was fine-tuned for the crazy 3D audio on the PS5. If you’ve snagged yourself a PS5—or are finally planning to do so now that they’re more available—you really oughta get a headset that makes the most out of the omni-directional audio experience. This one really unlocks the full potential there.
The Best Headset for Xbox Players
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset
The Best Headset for Xbox Players
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset
Pros
- As reliable of a connection as you will get from Microsoft
- Nice that it works with Windows devices
- Rechargeable, with good battery life
Where Sony gets it right, Microsoft typically gets it wrong. Xbox is notoriously finicky with its wireless headset support. Any Xbox user should just skip the hassle and just go straight with the Xbox Wireless Headset, which supports both the Xbox X|S and the Xbox One (as well as Windows 10 devices).
Unlike its controllers, these have rechargeable batteries (can you believe it?!) with up to 15 hours of life, which is not bad at all, unless you play for longer than that in one sitting (which you probably shouldn’t). The headset also pairs up with Dolby Atmos for headphones, which makes Minecraft sound like a fucking symphony.
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The Best Headset for Sound Geeks
Sennheiser GSP 600 Professional Gaming Headset
The Best Headset for Sound Geeks
Sennheiser GSP 600 Professional Gaming Headset
Now 50% Off
Pros
- Incredible high-definition sound
- Exceptionally clear noise-cancelling microphone
- Durable build
Sennheiser is a huge name in the audio world, leaning more on the side of gear for digital and sound producers. But the audio behemoth brought its skills to the gaming world with the GSP 600. This is an all-around utility headset, with fantastic high-def sound, noise-cancelling ear pads, and a broadcast-quality mic that will have your squad thanking you. In other words, this bad boy is the best headset for a more audio-oriented gamer.
What We Look for In a Gaming Headset
Shopping for and testing gaming headsets really isn’t too difficult. Most models from reputable brands are worth their costs, and very few companies have duds in their lineups. That said, we had some select testing criteria for these reviews:
Connection — We’re almost always going to recommend wired over wireless. The added hassle of wireless charging and connecting just doesn’t make up for the hassle of having a wire. Plus, with wired headphones you can connect to any device anywhere. The only time we opt for wireless is for Xbox or PlayStation-specific headsets. But even then, we recommend going for a third-party wireless model.
Directional performance — On the high-end headsets, you want good directional performance. When you hear an enemy’s footsteps, you want to know they’re behind you at four o’clock, not six. This is the biggest determining factor.
Sound performance — After directional sound, we worry about the quality of the sound. Like with the pair of headphones you use to listen to music, you want clear sound with plenty of range.
Microphone — And last of all, the microphone needs to cut out unwanted background noise. Some offer noise cancelling, some just have good unidirectional builds. All on this list are great in this department.
Dom Nero
Senior Creative Producer
Dom Nero is a Senior Creative Producer at Esquire, where he also writes about film, tv, tech, and video games. Elsewhere, Dom hosts Eye of the Duck, a podcast about essential movie scenes.
Associate Commerce Editor
Luke Guillory is the Associate Commerce Editor at Esquire.
