Gaming headsets are an absolutely essential accessory to have for any person who is serious about his gaming. The speakers on a PC or TV are good enough for a lot of people but they probably haven’t experienced the amazing world of headset immersion.
Whether it is to experience the exceptionally curated binaural sounds of games like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice that send chills down your spine or to pinpoint the exact location of an approaching enemy in competitive multiplayer shooters like CS Go or Fortnite; Headsets improve the overall experience a lot and can give you that slight edge over an enemy in a competitive game.
However, it can be pretty hard to pick a headset that is the perfect fit for you. The market is saturated with thousands of different headsets. Each one of these has its own sets of pros and cons and you have to weigh between them to see which one you would prefer. Sound quality, microphone quality, frequency response range, build quality and just the general ease of use are the most important pillars of any good headset.
Apart from these, you also need to look at the actual value for money that these headsets offer. Anyone can sort by price and say that the most expensive headset will probably be the best, but there is almost no truth to this. So, we’ve tested some of the highest rated gaming headsets on the market so you can decide which one fits your needs the best!
1. Razer Kraken Pro V2
Pros:
- Simple yet elegant
- Exceptional build quality
- Amazing sound quality
- A lot of colour options
Cons:
- Lacking features
When you think about gaming accessories, one of the first names that comes to mind is Razer. The company has an extremely impressive portfolio of gaming equipment ranging from laptops to mouse pads. They are still, arguably, the kings of gaming peripherals and it shows. The Razor Kraken Pro V2, or just the new Razer Kraken is probably the best all-rounder gaming headset you can buy right now. The value for money that it offers along with exceptional sound quality while still maintaining the classic Razer feel and quality is unparalleled. The 50mm drivers along with the heavily padded and comfortable ear cups deliver a well-rounded experience for even those who game for longer periods of time. The headset has also been specifically calibrated for gaming use so you can expect that extra accuracy required for game sounds.
The Razer Kraken currently retails for around $80 on Amazon. The Kraken has a closed back design for immersion with a 1.3m long cable. It is currently available in 4 colours; black, blue, green and pink. So, there are plenty of options to satisfy whichever aesthetic feel you’re trying to go for. It also doesn’t look too over the top so you could take it out and use it as a daily driver headset too. The design is minimal and the only controls on it are the audio slider controls on the cable. It also features a retractable mic that delivers voice with extreme clarity whether it is on games like Apex Legends, or services like Xbox Live, PSN and Discord.
2. Sony PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset
Pros:
- Designed officially and exclusively for PS4
- Comfortable and Sturdy
- Portable
- Works with PlayStation VR
- Exceptional battery
Cons:
- Bad companion app
- Only works on a PS4
This headset is specifically designed for PlayStation 4 users and delivers possibly the best experience if you own a PS4. The platinum headset offers premium sound quality with plenty of clarity and bass as well. The headset also comes with 7.1 surround sound so you can really know exactly where your opponent is in a sound virtualization of a 3D space. This feature is especially useful in competitive multiplayer games like Call of Duty, Fortnite and Apex Legends. The PlayStation Wireless Platinum headphones, like the Razer Kraken, also use 50mm drivers for a balanced experience. The headset has been calibrated pretty accurately and works extremely well in tandem with modern games.
The Platinum edition of the PlayStation headset currently retails for around $130. However, if you want to save a few bucks, you could get the Gold edition as well that offers roughly the same experience with slightly downgraded sound and build quality. The Platinum headset is very easy to carry around as it can fold down like any good Bluetooth headset and also offers a battery life of over 6 hours. It has also been designed with PSVR in mind so if you’re a PSVR user, this is the one for you. The headset is extremely lightweight and you won’t feel any sort of fatigue even during longer gaming sessions.
3. SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Pros:
- Packed with customizable features
- Top of the line sound
- Extremely well-designed
- Exceptional build quality
Cons:
- Expensive
If budget is not a problem for you, then look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis Pro headset. SteelSeries is another household name in the world of premium gaming peripherals. The headset might seem a bit too expensive for a gaming headset but the sound quality and the feature set on display here cannot be rivalled by anyone else. The Arctis Pro has a high-resolution audio system that is arguably the best in the whole industry. You can also add a SteelSeries GameDAC to improve the experience even further. However, doing this will cost even more and will require some knowledge on what a DAC actually is. The headset has a closed back design for immersion and comes with 50mm drivers. However, these are much more superior than the ones in other headsets.
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro retails for around $180 which is higher than most headsets on this list but the value you get is worth the money. The headset is packed with features that can be fully customized using the OLED menu on it. It also has a sleek and elegant design so that you don’t feel any shame while taking them outside for a spin. The Arctis Pro boasts top of the line build quality and comfort resulting in a very pleasant gaming experience. If you really dive down into changing the setup and the settings of the Arctis pro, you can really get some mind-blowing results out of the SteelSeries headset. So, if you’re not short on cash and want the absolute best, this is definitely the premium product for you.
4. Turtle Beach Recon 50P
Pros:
- Amazing Price
- Comfortable
- Good build quality
- Great sound
Cons:
- Average Microphone
If you’re looking for something cheap but with a relatively good sound quality, look no further than the Turtle Beach Recon 50P. The headset manages to retail at an impressive $30 and delivers an experience that is worth way more than that. The headset is slightly heavier than the other offerings here and has 40mm drivers instead of 50mm. However, the sound quality here is still brilliant for the price. The Recon 50P has very comfortable cushions on the ear cups and the build quality is also above average.
The Recon 50P comes in 3 colours; blue, black and white to match your aesthetic needs. One of the downsides of having such a cheap headset, however, is that the microphone is bound to suffer in quality. It is a shame but if you’re not the type of person who uses voice chat, this wouldn’t be a problem for you. At the end of the day, for only a mere $30, you can’t get anything as good as the Recon 50P and it is an absolute bargain.
5. Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2
Pros:
- Exceptional for competitive shooters
- Very Comfortable
- Amazing Microphone
Cons:
- Bad for anything other than gaming
- A bit pricey
If you’re really into competitive shooters like Black Ops 4 or Fortnite, these headphones are definitely for you. The Elite Pro 2 has a special feature called Superhuman Hearing that amplifies the sounds of footsteps, gunfire and other elements to improve your environmental awareness. It is incredible how well this system actually works in games and definitely results in an advantage over the competition. The surround sound that Elite Pro 2 offers is also exceptional, pinpointing all the sounds around you accurately.
The Elite pro 2 retails at a whopping $250 when paired with the SuperAmp. This might seem quite expensive but the extra features you get with the headset are just too unique and mind-blowing. The headset is also compatible with Dolby Atmos for exceptional sound clarity and immersion. We have absolutely no complaints with the build quality or the comfort that the headset offers. If you plan on using the Elite Pro 2 for anything other than gaming, you might have to look elsewhere. The headset doesn’t offer very good performance for videos or music. However, if you’re all about competitive gaming and want that edge over your opponents, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 is definitely the choice for you.