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 keen to pay for a capital-N good pair of headphones for gaming functions. It localizes sounds precisely and delivers the type of spacious soundstage anticipated from a superb open-back mannequin. Bass is a bit more current right here than on many open-back headphones as properly. There nonetheless isn’t a lot in the way in which of deep sub-bass, unsurprisingly, however there’s sufficient heat to provide stuff like explosions a bit extra juice with out muddying up the mids. Particulars within the midrange get probably the most emphasis total, however they’re clear, and their forwardness isn’t a nasty factor once you’re attempting to hear for enemy gamers in a aggressive FPS like Counter-Strike 2 or Apex Legends. The treble isn’t pushed fairly as onerous, but it surely’s neither overly recessed nor harsh.

All of this helps the DT 900 Professional X sound detailed however not boring. It is the type of sound that performs good whether or not you’re attempting to win a multiplayer sport or soak up a extra cinematic single-player story. And once you’re not gaming, you get an pleasant profile for music.

The entire thing is constructed properly, too. The DT 900 Professional X will clamp down barely tougher than common you probably have a big head, but it surely balances its weight properly, and its splendidly comfortable velour earpads go a great distance towards maintaining the pair comfy over hours-long gaming periods. It comes with two removable cables, together with a three-meter choice that’s handy if you happen to sit far out of your PC. It will probably’t fold up, although.

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

Should you’d fairly not spend as a lot, the Sennheiser HD 560S is one other wonderful open-back headphone that’s usually 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 stunning 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 loads comfy to put on for prolonged durations. It doesn’t clamp down too onerous on these with massive heads (like yours really), 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, nevertheless, 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 a fantastic worth.

Enclosure: Open-back (on-ear) | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 15 – 25,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 43g

Should you can’t spend greater than $50, it’s still hard to high 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 cushty match for everybody. It actually seems to be prefer it prices $20, although Koss backs it with a lifetime warranty that primarily allows you to get countless replacements for $9 every. Even when the KSC75 are pushing 20 years previous, its comparatively balanced sound stays notably 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

Should you do desire 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 because of this, creating the feeling that your sport is occurring round you rather than feeling confined in your head. It’s additionally higher than most at positioning in-game results in the proper locations.

The Atlas Air has a largely flat audio profile by default, with a bounce within the treble that lends additional 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 type 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 mentioned, the Atlas Air holds its personal surprisingly properly. It’s about as spacious, and what bass is right here doesn’t come off as blobby. It’s an easygoing hear, and the larger sense of spatial consciousness offered by its design makes an actual distinction whether or not you’re listening for enemies in Counter-Strike 2 or basking in an enormous boss battle in Last Fantasy XVI. Going from a pair like this to a conventional headset usually makes it sound like a bit of the world has been lopped off.

The Atlas Air can also be exceptionally comfy. Its ear cups are generously padded with gentle reminiscence foam and coated in a comfortable material materials; they provide loads of room for bigger ears to breathe, with out trapping an excessive amount of warmth. The suspension-style headband doesn’t enable a lot in the way in which of guide changes, but it surely’s extraordinarily versatile, so these with particularly giant heads can nonetheless pop the headphones on with little battle. The design as a complete 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 a giant quantity dial that circles the left ear cup — are simply accessible past that. Our chief grievance is that the design is sort of totally plastic, so it doesn’t fairly really feel like a $180 gadget to the contact. It’s additionally type of… ugly, to be trustworthy. None of that may be a massive deal upon getting it on, nevertheless, and we haven’t observed any creaking or looseness to the body after a number of months of testing.

The Atlas Air’s removable growth mic is completely advantageous. You wouldn’t need to use it for podcasting, because it robs a superb chunk of bass out of your voice, however you’ll nonetheless come by 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 all the time handy.

The headset works with PC, PS5 or a docked Nintendo Swap by its USB dongle, plus it helps Bluetooth for cell units and the Swap’s handheld mode. You possibly can’t pipe by audio from two connections on the identical time, however you possibly can not less than change between the 2 pretty rapidly utilizing a button on the left ear cup. Whereas there’s no help for Xbox’s wi-fi protocol, you too can use the headset passively (i.e., with out counting on battery energy) with an included 3.5mm cable with its personal inline quantity dial. Should you’re an Xbox participant and don’t thoughts utilizing a cable, we’d nonetheless take into account the Atlas Air our high suggestion. With out the wire, Turtle Seaside says the gadget can last as long as 50 hours, although we’ve been in a position to squeeze one other 5 to 10 hours out at average volumes. It’s removed from the longest-lasting pair we’ve examined, however this implies it could actually possible go for every week or two earlier than it wants a cost.

The principle 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. Should you don’t play in a fairly quiet setting, take into account our subsequent choose. We additionally had a driver difficulty 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. Basically, Turtle Seaside’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 (elective), Xbox Wi-fi (elective) | Weight: 490g

Should you’re keen to pay additional 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, but it surely’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 frequent “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, but it surely’s not overwhelming, and the headset’s planar-magnetic drivers do properly 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 Seaside headset, the punchier low-end makes issues like footsteps extra simply identifiable in video games. Should you don’t just like the out-of-the-box profile, Audeze’s app additionally consists of quite a few tasteful EQ presets.

Alongside these strains, the Maxwell’s removable growth mic is a standout. It does an exceptional job of muting background noise, and whereas your voice will lose some air, it’s going to 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 inconceivable to regulate with out taking the headset off. Basically, although, its design feels substantial. The squishy, closely padded ear cups could make your ears really feel heat, however they preserve the headset comfy and isolate a good quantity of out of doors noise. The important controls are constructed into the left earcup, and the gadget can join over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable along with a USB-C wi-fi dongle. You possibly can even join to 2 units directly, one over the dongle and one other over Bluetooth, although you possibly can’t stream audio from each sources concurrently. The headset additionally must be powered on so as 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 if you happen to 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)

Should you’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 easy and satisfying thump, but it surely doesn’t overdo the low-end the way in which a lot of its friends do.

The A40’s audio high quality continues 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 properly. However it’s higher balanced than most gaming headsets, particularly these in its value vary. It does properly to envelop you in no matter’s taking place onscreen.

Consolation shouldn’t be a difficulty, 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 comfortable 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 virtually zero exterior noise. The mostly-plastic design seems to be “gamer-y” and lacks built-in quantity controls, too. No one 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 possibly can simply flip it up and out of the way in which.

The A40 has been round for a number of years now, however its value has come down from $150 to a extra affordable $130 in that point. Astro sells an elective with additional controls for $130, however at that value we’d strongly advise shopping for one in all 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 if you happen to’re on a good funds and want a built-in mic, you’ll need to 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 comfortable padding the place it counts. Its mic makes voices sound comparatively clear and correct as properly. In reality, 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 growth. However the upper-bass is bumped to the purpose the place it could get tiring over time, and also you lose among the advantageous particulars you’d hear on our different picks. Since it is 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 could actually 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, you must choose your battles on this value vary. The Cloud Stinger 2 is flawed, but it surely does sufficient properly to be a superb headset for sure budget-conscious consumers.

The Astro A50 X prices an eye-watering $380, so we will’t moderately advocate it to most individuals. Nonetheless, if you happen to can abdomen the value, it is a uniquely handy wi-fi headset for hardcore players who personal a PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S and gaming PC. That’s primarily as a result of 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 possibly can join the headset to all three units concurrently. From there, you possibly can swap to your lively machine simply by urgent a button on the proper earcup.

It is 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 number 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 little thing’s up and working, both: We needed to manually change video alerts when switching from a PC to a console (although not when doing the inverse) and manually change our PC’s audio output once we wished to hear by 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 you must 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 robotically play the proper audio supply. With a PS5 and Xbox, it’ll robotically 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 help for VRR and ALLM. You may as well join the A50 X to a Swap or cell gadget by way of Bluetooth — although you should 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,” but it surely’s dynamic, with wealthy, comparatively nuanced bass and a clear midrange. Explosions and gunshots have a superb crunch with out sounding overly thick, and it’s typically correct at finding footsteps and close by results. The Audeze Maxwell continues to be a degree above, nevertheless; 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 can be pleased with it, and you’ll customise its EQ curve to an extent by Logitech’s G Hub software program.

The A50 X’s design is sort of a nicer model of the A40. It’s largely plastic, but it surely feels sturdy. The fuzzy, fabric-covered foam on its earpads and headband is comfortable and breathable, and whereas the headset isn’t tremendous gentle at 0.8 kilos, it distributes its weight in a method that feels comfy but safe. You may as well regulate your game-to-chat audio combine proper from an earcup. It doesn’t isolate exterior noise very properly, although, and its growth mic is completely connected. Its battery life is mediocre as properly — Astro charges it at as much as 24 hours at average volumes — however because the headset is designed to sit down on its dock when it’s not in use, that is not a severe difficulty. The mic, in the meantime, is likely one of the perfect 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 stored in test.

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