Updated:
We've added a triple whammy of gaming headsets! Check out the
Sennheiser PC373D in at #2, Turtle Beach 350 Stealth VR in at #4 and
Sennheiser GSP 350 in at #8. If you're looking for a more affordable
surround sound option, Logitech's G430, in at number #14, might be just
what you're looking for.
No PC gamer worth their kill/death ratio would skimp on a decent headset. Arguably more important than a mechanical gaming keyboard or mouse,
a worthy pair of cans make the difference between guessing where
enemies are and hunting them down like a sonically-enhanced ninja.
Pick
the right pair and you'll hear the sound of bullets envelop your ears
while explosions rock your eardrums, and dialogue in games takes on a
new level of clarity.
Whether you need a USB or 3.5mm headset, a
surround sound or stereo pair, or simply one to communicate with friends
online, we've picked out the very best PC gaming headsets for your
needs.
Sometimes
you're prepared to pay a premium for a PC gaming accessory that does
the lot, and in the headset category that's the Siberia 840. Following
on from the already impressive Siberia 800 (and the H Wireless before
that from 2014), the upgraded Sibera 840 now works with Bluetooth and is
lag-free within games. It also supports SteelSeries Engine 3 - a
gorgeous and user-friendly app that lets you manage and tweak every
element of the Siberia 840 - from profiles to equalizer settings and
what to show on the OLED display on the side of the accompanying base
unit.
All of that is, of course, secondary to the Siberia 840's
sound qualities which are nothing less than sublime. Activating Dolby
7.1 surround sound is like dropping you into the game. Enemies'
footsteps can be picked out across a room including behind you, leading
to some heart-in-mouth moments in shooters like DOOM.
Expectations
around any Sennheiser gaming headset are already high considering the
brand's expertise in audio equipment. The company's flagship PC 373D
doesn't disappoint thanks to its high-end Dolby 7.1 Surround sound that
lets you pick out enemies from afar. We went for hours with minimal
discomfort wearing the headset, which keeps your head cool using
breathable plush velvet ear pads that offer surprisingly decent sound
isolation. Our in-game team-mates had no trouble hearing us speak thanks
to the noise cancelling microphone, which is decked in a red material
that matches the inside of the ear-cup. The PC 373D's design is
refreshingly demure, decked in matte black material and free of the
ostentatious "gamer" features often found on other headsets. While it
may not feature wireless connectivity, a combination of supreme comfort,
flawless sound quality and a stellar retractable microphone add up to
make one of the best premium gaming headsets on the market.
If
you're more interested in the sounds coming out of your gaming headset,
rather than glowing LEDs, macro keys and other nonessential extras,
then the V-MODA Crossfade Wireless is the headset for you. These stylish
cans are a treat for the ears, emitting booming sound that's bass-heavy
with fantastically crisp treble at the other end. Whether you're being
rocked by explosions in Battlefield or can hear the roar of the crowd in
Fifa, they bring games to life and are equally suited to listening to
music; You'll be able to pick out parts of your favorite tracks that you
never previously thought existed.
Stepping out of the soundscape
for a moment, the V-MODA Crossfade Wireless feature comfortable memory
foam ear cups that don't irritate the ears even after hours of use, and
you'll get around 12 hours out of its battery life when connected via
Bluetooth. This headset's rugged build quality, funky travel case and
optional USB connectivity add up to make it one of the best headsets on
the market.
With VR headsets like the HTC Vive
and Oculus Rift making their way into PC gamers' rooms,
specially-designed audio headsets for virtual reality were bound to
follow. The Turtle Beach 350 Stealth VR is one of the most flexible out
there, featuring a generous amount of adjustability thanks to its sturdy
headband which can fit over the top of VR headsets worn on even the
biggest heads. Sure enough, the 350 Stealth is designed for practicality
rather than sharp looks. Its black-and-white color scheme isn't the
most exciting design out there, but an abundance of features makes up
for that. There's mic monitoring, which allows you to hear your own
voice inside the headset, bass boost for booming lows, a detachable
noise-cancelling headphone mic, and a groove in the ear cups that lets
you tuck the audio cable out of the way. While it's perfectly suitable
for owners of PC-based VR headsets, it's quite literally a great fit for
PSVR gamers too.
Unlike
some of its competitors, SteelSeries stresses subtlety in its headset
designs. The Arctis continues this trend by flaunting sound quality and
comfort over gaudy appearances.
When you pop an Arctis on your
head, the goal is for your audience to see a professional environment
rather than, say, a Dorito stain on your chair. The customizable
lighting, however, gives you plenty of wiggle room, though, if the
monochrome look isn't your thing.
The SteelSeries Arctis comes in
three distinct flavors: Arctis 3, Arctis 5 and Arctis 7, each one more
expensive than the last. The Arctis 3 is pretty analog protocol while
the 5 ships with an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and the
Arctis 7 is wireless with 2.4GHz connectivity. Each model comes with
digital audio control built-in, with an app available for those looking
to take this one step further.
The only drawback, then, is a less-than-attractive suspension headband.
Quick
and easy to setup using an inconspicuous wireless USB receiver that
stores inside the headset for transportation, the Razer ManO'War is a
user-friendly unit that's primed for surround-sound gaming. Sure, it's a
little chunkier than most other headsets, but two soft leatherette ear
cups make it comfortable to wear for extended periods. They're easy on
the eye too thanks to customizable Chroma RGB backlighting configured
through Razer's Synapse software.
Though delivered through
software, the ManO'War's 7.1 channel virtual surround sound does a fine
job of ramping up immersion in-game. Doom's Imps are no longer somewhere
around you – they're breathing down your neck. The ManO'War's range can
reach up to 14 meters using the supplied USB extender, and its battery
life is capable of stretching to just as many hours.
Arguably
one of the most affordable gaming headsets available today, the HyperX
Cloud Stinger is designed to give players eSports quality audio at a
bargain. While there isn't much to write home about with the red on
black plastic design of the headset, the stereo sound is superb. It also
feels comfortable to wear for extended play sessions thanks to a set of
memory foam earcups. Although this isn't the ultimate gaming headset,
it's a great starting point if you're trying to game on a budget.
More
affordable than Sennheiser's flagship PC 373D while still packing an
audible punch, the GSP 350 carries over that headset's stellar 7.1 Dolby
Surround Sound and closed ear-cup design. It's equally a suitable for
marathon gaming sessions thanks to its huge comfortable ear cups, with
the right cup once again featuring a volume dial. The headset uses a
closed-back design with an adjustable split headband, rather than the PC
373D's more solid and thicker continuous band. The GSP 350's
noise-cancelling microphone is equally as good and once again mutes when
lifted up while blocking out breathing sounds, much to the relief of
your in-game team-mates. If you like the look of Sennheiser's flagship
gaming headset but can't quite stomach its price tag, this one is a
little lighter and slightly less solid, but still superior to many of
its rivals.
Logitech's
flagship gaming headset packs in plenty of bells and whistles, the most
useful being its cup-mounted G-keys that provide handy shortcuts to
performing actions in-game. In terms of design, The G933 is certainly
one of the snazziest headsets around and oozes gamer appeal, and if
you're fed up of round ear-cups on headsets then you'll appreciate its
large and comfortable ear-shaped ones. Logitech has ran a multi-colored
lighting strip all the way down the cup, rather than placing a flashing
logo on the side, which in our eyes is more appealing than the small
glowing areas on Corsair's and Razer's flagship headsets. On the
negative side, this cuts down battery life to around 10 hours. Turning
off the flashing goodness will help you eke out a few more,
If
you're looking for a pair of 7.1 surround sound cans with RGB lighting
that won't break the bank, Corsair's latest entry should be high up your
list. Its excellent 40-meter wireless range means you can go for a
wander without your team-mates' chatter cutting off, and the Void is
capable of emitting fist-pumping bass that's powerful without muddying
the mix. You can configure its lighting colors using Corsair's intuitive
software and even make it dance in tandem with the company's K65 or K70
mechanical keyboards. Unfortunately, there isn't any way for adjusting
the fold-down mic so its clarity often suffers, but it doesn't put us
off what is a solid and affordable option for surround sound gaming.
Here
we have a no-frills headset that offers build quality that comes close
to pairs that cost almost twice the price. You may have already come
across Kingston's HyperX Cloud Revolver headset. Used by a number of
eSports teams, its large interchangeable over-the-ear memory foam cups
help block out unwanted noise, and the retractable mic allows clear and
distortion-free communication with team-mates.
Despite its
affordable nature, the Cloud Revolver is ready to rock. Its 53mm drivers
have been tweaked to blast out punchy mid-range tones and pounding bass
that's best described as in-your-face. Subtle they ain't. There's no
surround sound support or RGB lighting to be found here, and you'll have
to reach for the Cloud Revolver's braided cable to get to its in-line
volume and mic controls. If those factors don't bother you then this
value-focused headset comes highly recommended.
Looking
like something straight out of Quake 2, Asus' Strix 7.1 wireless gaming
headset immediately caught our eye thanks to its large black-and-orange
ear cups that are decked in a circular pattern resembling an owl's eye.
Those oversized ear cups makes them comfortable to wear for extended
periods but there's no RGB lighting on them, which on the plus side
provides up to 10 hours of continuous gameplay using 2.4GHz wireless to
connect.
Asus claims that it provides lower latency than
Bluetooth, and while it's difficult to verify that, bullets whizzing
past our head in-game synched up pretty well thanks to virtual 7.1
surround sound being blasted into our ears from all directions. Asus'
Sonic Studio software provides an easy method of tweaking sound
settings, and we found cranking up the (already sufficient) bass in the
app's equalizer particularly satisfying for both gaming and listening to
music.
Aimed
at PC and console gamers, using Turtle Beach's Elite Pro feels like
sitting down at a command station and gearing up for war. This headset
oozes gaming appeal, right down to the subtle orange ruler-type markings
on the headset's automatically adjusting headband. It's a funky piece
of kit that's reassuringly chunky while remaining supremely comfortable
at all times thanks to its gel-infused Aerofit ear cushions. Most
importantly, they sound great in the heat of battle. That's down to
Turtle Beach's 50mm NanoClear drivers, which do an especially great job
of bringing you into the heart of the action in shooters.
If
you're particularly hardcore, you might want to shell out for the
Tactical Audio Controller. At $199 (around £149) it's not cheap, but it
grants an intuitive and fun of adjusting settings such as the game/chat
mix, your own microphone level, in-game sounds, and there's also a mute
button to cut game sound out completely. It also lets you chop and
change between four surround modes (Game, Music, Movie and off), which
is a lot easier than fiddling around with controls on the headset
itself.
Featuring
an eye-catching black-and-blue color scheme, Logitech's G430 is one of
the more affordable surround-sound headsets out there. Featuring both
Dolby 7.1 and FTS HeadphoneX surround sound, they allow you to detect
enemies before they clock you.
They can be worn for hours thanks
to their sports-like cloth on the ear cups, which pivot and rotate flat
to a 90-degree angle for easier transportation. There's also a
noise-cancelling mic that helps to cut out background noise, and you can
easily mute yourself using audio controls located on the 2.3-meter
cable.
