How we rate the Best Gaming Headsets
Headphones are an integral part of every serious gamer. It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional gamer or just doing it for fun, but with a good set of headphones, your gaming experience gets a major boost. You see, it’s in the fine details that things are usually interesting. Whether you are trying to coordinate an attack in a single multi-player game or if you simply want to get more from your single-player Call of Duty missions, a top-tier set of headphones will make sure that nothing is taken away from your experience. High-quality headphones are also very exciting to have in those adventurous, open world games such as Days Gone. Personally, I cannot imagine having waited all this long for The Last of Us Part II and do injustice to the game by playing it through mediocre headsets! Proper headphones totally transom your surrounding immersing you into the game which allows you to hear every single detail from a flying leaf, a breaking twig to the deafening sounds of assault rifles. This, my friends, is what gaming is all about.
So, what are some of the best gaming headsets in the market? The good news is that there are so many options to choose from. The better news is that there is virtually something for everyone, whether you have a fat or tight budget. The sad news is that everything comes down to how much money you have to spare. This means that to get the best headsets that tick every possible box, you’ll have to spend a good amount of money. This will also allow you to get versatile headsets that you can also use for other purposes. With a tight budget, your options are a bit limited, but you still have a good number of affordable headsets to choose from.
Everything considered, here are the top 3 gaming headsets that are designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience:
1. SteelSeries Arctis 7 Lossless Wireless Gaming Headsets (2019 Edition)
Why should you buy it? Well, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 2019 Edition is the best gaming headset in every possible way. It’s really as simple as that, and this is not just based on our tests but also on the vast user-reviews of all the gamers who use these headsets on a daily basis.
These wireless headphones are perfectly designed for both PS4 and PC gaming. The audio quality is excellent with zero interference and ultra-low latency. However, PC gamers are likely to get more from these headsets than their counterparts courtesy of the 360-degree DTS X v2.07.1 surround sound. The clarity here is unbeatable thanks to the S1 speaker drivers, and the best part is that it delivers even the finest of details which means that you are not just playing the game, but you are actually living it.
In case you are into trash talking your opponents on FIFA19 or any other game then the Discord-certified ClearCast Microphone will give you the perfect opportunity to do so. The microphone offers studio-quality clarity with optimal noise cancellation making sure that your conversations and surrounding is not inconveniencing your opponents.
In terms of designing and comfort, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 also performs very well. It features airweave ear cushions that are not just ideal for keeping your ears cool, but they also help to eliminate pressure points. The suspension band designing is also well thought-out to blend with a typical head’s contours. In summary, you can expect to wear these headphones for prolonged periods without experiencing any discomfort issues.
The headset comes with a rechargeable Li-ion battery that can last you through 24 hours.
Feature
- Easy-to-use audio controls
- On-headset ChatMix dial that you can use to adjust the chat and game volume
- You can wire the headsets and use them with other non-USB audio devices
- Vast personalization features
- Can be used with various apps including Spotify and Discord
2. HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset
Why should you buy it? The Hyper Cloud Alpha Gaming headsets present high-quality audio clarity with all the essential features at a very reasonable price, making it an affordable yet decent option for everyone on a tight budget.
We also found the HyperX Cloud Alpha quite loud, but the good news is that the bass is perfectly balanced to make sure that overall clarity remains top notch.
We must also mention how comfortable these headsets feel. It features award-winning memory foam that is designed to readjust according to the shape of your ears. This makes sure that your ears are covered properly with sufficient pressure to block you from external noises without causing any discomforts. You can even go a whole day of The Division 2 without getting any aches in or around your ears.
HyperX Cloud Alpha is designed with an aluminum frame which doesn’t really feel very premium, but it gets the job done nonetheless. The frame is also very sturdy, and hence, you can expect the headsets to remain stable and functional for a very long time.
Something else really brilliant about these headsets is vast compatibility. While some gaming headsets-including our top pick above is limited to two or less gaming platforms, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets can be used with PC, PS4 Pro, PS4, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox One, Mobile and all other platforms fitted with a 3.5mm port. It can even be used with Nintendo Switch.
With the headset also comes a detachable microphone with excellent noise cancellation. Since it is detachable, you can unplug it and use the headset for your regular music needs.
Features
- In-line audio controls
- 65 ohms impedance
- HyperX Dual Chamber Drivers
- Multi-platform compatibility
- Detachable braided cable
- Signature HyperX comfort
3. HyperX Cloud Revolver S Gaming Headset
Why should you buy it? The HyperX Cloud Revolver S is a superb choice for everyone who is looking for the best-wired gaming headset in the market. It offers a premium feel with vast features while remaining easy to use and very comfortable to wear.
The HyperX Cloud Revolver has to be the best-wired gaming headset in the market for very good reasons. It offers three types of connections that include dual 3.5mm, 3.5mm, and a wired USB. With these three options, the headset can be connected and work perfectly with virtually every gadget out there. The best part? You won’t need to download any drivers or software to get it working. All you have to do is plug it in, sit back and get into some serious gaming.
While all the connection types have the excellent audio quality courtesy of the stereo mix, users of the USB connection are likely to get more from the headphones thanks to the control dongle and inbuilt sound card which comes with features such as EQ settings and Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound.
The HyperX Cloud Revolver S has generous padding to eliminate pressure points. Combine this with the auto-fitting headband, and you will get to enjoy comfortable and prolonged gaming sessions. The overall designing is quite sturdy, and hence you can expect to use the headset for a long time before you’re forced back into the market for a replacement.
Features
- Detachable mic with background noise reduction (Discord certified)
- Comfortable memory foam
- Closed ear cups to reduce external noises
- Vocal equalizer modes allow you to switch from gaming audio setup to movies, music, and streaming
- Clippable audio control box with backlit buttons for easy controls
Buying a Gaming Headset
In coming up with the above picks, we subjected a good number of gaming headsets to several tests to see how well they perform in terms of audio quality, comfort, and overall performance.
In audio quality, we used the headset with various games to see how well they captured the different game’s atmospheres. We tested the headsets with some of the best adventure, action, and shooting games, and the above three headphones came out on top. We also used the headsets to watch movies and listen to the music of different genres. This helps in knowing how reliable the headsets can be for other purposes.
Gaming is a fun experience, and it is very easy to get carried away and even find yourself spending the entire night in front of a monitor. This means that you need to take care of yourself to avoid experiencing discomforts; after all, gaming is supposed to be a fun experience. Well, not unless you find yourself 3-nil down barely 20 minutes into a FIFA19 match. There is no fun in that, and the easiest way out is to close the connection :-). Anyway, taking care of yourself means getting the most comfortable headsets possible. This means extra padding with the best memory foam. We also look into what the frames are made of and how well they fit with various head shapes.
While checking ear padding, it’s crucial that a headset tries to block as much noise as possible from the outside world. This helps in immersing you into the game with less distraction.
Microphones are also very important. The gaming headsets must have excellent microphones with noise blocking capabilities. They must also produce quality audio for better communication with your colleagues and opponents.
Finally, we go a step further to check the additional features that come with the headsets. For wireless headsets, we always check on battery life and range to see how convenient and practical they are. We also investigate the compatibility of the headsets with various gaming platforms. Ideally, you should get a headset that you can use with all the various consoles you can get your hands on plus a PC.