Sometimes, the best gaming headset doesn’t need to be a “gaming headset” at all. While many people view these devices as their own niche, they’re ultimately still headphones, just with a boom mic and some fancy branding attached. While the general quality of dedicated headsets has improved over time, they still tend to cost more compared to a good pair of wired headphones (which, yes, still exist). If you need to chat with friends, you can always buy a microphone separately and get superior sound quality there as well.That said, we understand that many people just want the convenience of a headset with a mic built right in. So after testing dozens of contenders over the past couple of years, we’ve rounded up a few commendable gaming headsets and headphones that work well for gaming. As you’ll see, the two aren’t quite the same thing. Whichever way you go, though, all of our picks should make your game time more enjoyable, no matter which platform you use, and whether you play competitively or just for fun.What to look for in good gaming headphonesThe HyperX Cloud Stinger 2. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)Evaluating headphones is a particularly subjective exercise, so calling one pair the absolute “best” is something of a fool’s errand. At a certain point, whether you’re an audiophile or not, everything becomes a matter of taste. For most, a headphone with a wide soundscape and strong imaging performance — i.e., the ability to position sounds correctly, so you can more precisely tell where footsteps and other game effects are coming from — will provide the most immersive gaming experience, the kind that makes you feel like your head is within a given scene.For that, you want a high-quality pair of open-back headphones. That is to say, an over-ear pair whose ear cups do not completely seal off the ear from air and outside noise. These are inherently terrible at isolating you from external sound and preventing others from hearing what you’re playing, so if you often play games in a noisy environment, their benefits will be blunted. But in a quiet room, the best open-back pairs sound significantly wider and more precise than more common closed-back models.More up for debate is how a good gaming headphone should sound. If you want something that’ll help you in competitive multiplayer games, you may prefer a headphone with a flatter sound signature, which’ll keep a game’s mix from being overly boosted in one direction and is less likely to mask the smaller details of what’s happening around you. A slightly brighter sound, one that pushes the upper frequencies a tad, may also work. Open-back headphones almost never have huge sub-bass, so you rarely have to worry about low-end sounds muddying up the rest of the signature. In this light, the fact that an overwhelming amount of gaming headsets are closed-back and bass-heavy seems counterintuitive.Lots of people love bass, though. And if you don’t really care about competitive play, some extra low-end can add a touch of excitement to action scenes or rousing soundtracks. You still don’t want a pair that boosts the low-end too hard — as many gaming headsets do — but the point is that what makes a pair “immersive” to one person may sound dull to another.Photo by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 5 – 40,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 345g (without cable) The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X should please most people willing to pay for a capital-N nice pair of headphones for gaming purposes. It localizes sounds accurately and delivers the kind of spacious soundstage expected from a good open-back model. Bass is a little more present here than on many open-back headphones as well. There still isn’t much in the way of deep sub-bass, unsurprisingly, but there’s enough warmth to give stuff like explosions a bit more juice without muddying up the mids. Details in the midrange get the most emphasis overall, but they’re clear, and their forwardness isn’t a bad thing when you’re trying to listen for enemy players in a competitive FPS like Counter-Strike 2 or Apex Legends. The treble isn’t pushed quite as hard, but it’s neither overly recessed nor harsh. All of this helps the DT 900 Pro X sound detailed but not boring. It’s the kind of sound that plays nice whether you’re trying to win a multiplayer game or take in a more cinematic single-player story. And when you’re not gaming, you get an enjoyable profile for music. The whole thing is built well, too. The DT 900 Pro X will clamp down slightly harder than average if you have a large head, but it balances its weight well, and its wonderfully soft velour earpads go a long way toward keeping the pair comfortable over hours-long gaming sessions. It comes with two detachable cables, including a three-meter option that’s convenient if you sit far from your PC. It can’t fold up, though. Like all open-back headphones, the DT 900 Pro X leak game audio and let in lots of noise, so it’s not great on the go. Clearly, if you can afford to upgrade to an ultra-premium pair like Sennheiser’s HD 800 S, you’ll get more space and true-to-life detail. But for a relatively attainable $250 to $300, the DT 900 Pro X should satisfy. ProsImmersive, detailed sound with pleasing bassWell-built with soft ear cushionsConsLeaks and lets in outside noise, by designLacking in deep sub-bass, like most open-back headphones$250 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 6 – 38,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 280g If you’d rather not spend as much, the Sennheiser HD 560S is another excellent open-back headphone that’s often available for less than $200. Like the DT 900 Pro X, it has a wide soundstage that makes it easier to feel immersed in a given game. Its signature is slightly more neutral on the whole, so you won’t feel like you’re missing any part of what’s happening, and it retrieves a lovely amount of treble and midrange detail. There’s less bass power for explosions, though. And the treble, while more present here than on Beyerdynamic’s pair, can sound piercing at times. Imaging isn’t quite as nuanced either, though it’s far from poor. The HD560S’ design is plenty comfortable to wear for extended periods. It doesn’t clamp down too hard on those with big heads (like yours truly), and its velour earpads hug the ears softly. The included cable is removable, too. The plastic frame doesn’t feel as sturdy or premium as the DT 900 Pro X, however, so you won’t want to chuck it around haphazardly. It won’t isolate much noise either, nor will it prevent others from hearing what you’re playing. Nevertheless, the HD 560S is a pleasure, and a great value. ProsImpressively balanced soundComfortableGreat value for those who prioritize audio qualityConsSlightly hot in treble rangeLeaks and lets in outside noise, by designDoesn’t have the sturdiest build quality$229 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Open-back (on-ear) | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 15 – 25,000Hz | Mic: No | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 43g If you can’t spend more than $50, it’s still hard to top the Koss KSC75. It costs $20, but judging purely on audio quality, it’s better than some headphones priced closer to $100. This pair is very obviously devoid of deep bass, so you won’t get that full-bodied oomph from in-game effects. You also won’t hear all the intricate details you’d pick up with the pricier headphones above. But it locates sounds accurately, and its open design delivers a real sense of width. It’s a superb value for competitive play. The catch is that it’s built like a set of free airline headphones. The KSC75 has an odd clip-on design that is lightweight but won’t be a comfortable fit for everyone. It certainly looks like it costs $20, though Koss backs it with a lifetime warranty that essentially lets you get endless replacements for $9 each. Even if the KSC75 are pushing 20 years old, its relatively balanced sound remains particularly well-suited for gaming. ProsThe best-sounding headphones $20 can buyLightweightConsClip-on design definitely not for everyoneFeels cheap, because it is$20 at AdoramaPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 20 – 40,000Hz | Mic: Yes, detachable | Connectivity: 2.4GHz (PS5, PC, Switch), Bluetooth 5.2 (AAC, SBC), 3.5mm | Weight: 301g If you do want a dedicated gaming headset with a built-in mic, we love the Turtle Beach Atlas Air. It’s a bit of a rarity: a wireless model with an open-back design. It sounds much wider, airier and more natural than the vast majority of its peers as a result, creating the sensation that your game is happening around you instead of feeling confined in your head. It’s also better than most at positioning in-game effects in the right places. The Atlas Air has a mostly flat audio profile by default, with a jump in the treble that lends extra crispness to things like cymbals. Like most open-back pairs, it’s fairly weak in the low-bass region, so gunfire and EDM lack the kind of muscle you’d get with good closed-backs. The DT 900 Pro X still sounds more dynamic, with more detail in the mids and stronger bass that makes footsteps and explosions more intimate. That said, the Atlas Air holds its own surprisingly well. It’s about as spacious, and what bass is here doesn’t come off as blobby. It’s an easygoing listen, and the greater sense of spatial awareness provided by its design makes a real difference whether you’re listening for enemies in Counter-Strike 2 or basking in a giant boss battle in Final Fantasy XVI. Going from a pair like this to a traditional headset often makes it sound like a chunk of the world has been lopped off. The Atlas Air is also exceptionally comfortable. Its ear cups are generously padded with light memory foam and covered in a soft cloth material; they give plenty of room for larger ears to breathe, without trapping too much heat. The suspension-style headband doesn’t allow much in the way of manual adjustments, but it’s extremely flexible, so those with especially large heads can still pop the headphones on with little struggle. The design as a whole is lightweight at 0.66 pounds, and it’s gentle about clamping down on the sides of your head. Put it all together and you get a headset that’s a breeze to wear for hours at a time. All of its controls — including a big volume dial that circles the left ear cup — are easily accessible beyond that. Our chief complaint is that the design is almost entirely plastic, so it doesn’t quite feel like a $180 device to the touch. It’s also kind of… ugly, to be honest. None of that is a big deal once you have it on, however, and we haven’t noticed any creaking or looseness to the frame after several months of testing. The Atlas Air’s detachable boom mic is perfectly fine. You wouldn’t want to use it for podcasting, as it robs a good chunk of bass from your voice, but you’ll still come through clearly in a noisy room, with no harsh sibilance to “ess” sounds. The mic itself is sufficiently flexible, and you simply flip it up to mute it, which is always convenient. The headset works with PC, PS5 or a docked Nintendo Switch through its USB dongle, plus it supports Bluetooth for mobile devices and the Switch’s handheld mode. You can’t pipe through audio from two connections at the same time, but you can at least switch between the two fairly quickly using a button on the left ear cup. While there’s no support for Xbox’s wireless protocol, you can also use the headset passively (i.e., without relying on battery power) with an included 3.5mm cable with its own inline volume dial. If you’re an Xbox player and don’t mind using a cable, we’d still consider the Atlas Air our top recommendation. Without the wire, Turtle Beach says the device can last up to 50 hours, though we’ve been able to squeeze another five to 10 hours out at moderate volumes. It’s far from the longest-lasting pair we’ve tested, but this means it can likely go for a week or two before it needs a charge. The main trade-offs with the Atlas Air are the same ones noted above: Because they’re open-back, they let in and leak tons of noise. If you don’t play in a reasonably quiet environment, consider our next pick. We also had a driver issue that prevented us from connecting to PC upon first receiving the headset, but a software update quickly fixed that and we haven’t had any hiccups or stutters since. In general, Turtle Beach’s Swarm II app is fairly straightforward, offering a custom EQ tool, game/chat mix, mic settings and the like. ProsMore open, natural and immersive sound than most gaming headsetsSupremely comfortableMultiple connection modesDecent flip-up micConsLeaks and lets in outside noise, by designLacks deep sub-bass, like most open-back headphonesNot the most premium or handsome design$139 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Planar magnetic | Frequency response: 10 – 50,000Hz | Mic: Yes, detachable | Connectivity: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 (LDAC, LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, AAC, SBC), 3.5mm, USB-C digital audio (optional), Xbox Wireless (optional) | Weight: 490g If you’re willing to pay extra for a premium gaming headset with a more isolating closed-back design, get the Audeze Maxwell. At $299 for a PS5 model or $329 for an Xbox model, it’s not cheap, but it’s one of the few dedicated gaming headsets we’ve used whose audio quality holds up next to the better “normal” wireless headphones on the market. The Maxwell’s default signature is like a more refined version of the common “gaming headset” sound. Bass is impactful but well-controlled, while highs are crisp but not sharp. There’s a bit of extra energy in the upper-mids, but it’s not overwhelming, and the headset’s planar-magnetic drivers do well to reproduce smaller intricacies throughout. It still can’t provide the immersive width and precise imaging of our open-back picks, the Atlas Air included, but the Maxwell sounds unusually textured, balanced and intimate compared to other wireless gaming headsets. While it lacks the airiness of the Turtle Beach headset, the punchier low-end makes things like footsteps more easily identifiable in games. If you don’t like the out-of-the-box profile, Audeze’s app also includes a number of tasteful EQ presets. Along those lines, the Maxwell’s detachable boom mic is a standout. It does a phenomenal job of muting background noise, and while your voice will lose some air, it’ll sound clearer and fuller here than on most wireless headsets we’ve tested. The Maxwell is very much on the bulky side, it leaks sound at higher volumes, and its steel headband uses an odd suspension mechanism that’s effectively impossible to adjust without taking the headset off. In general, though, its design feels substantial. The squishy, heavily padded ear cups can make your ears feel warm, but they keep the headset comfortable and isolate a fair amount of outside noise. The essential controls are built into the left earcup, and the device can connect over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable in addition to a USB-C wireless dongle. You can even connect to two devices at once, one over the dongle and another over Bluetooth, though you can’t stream audio from both sources simultaneously. The headset also needs to be powered on in order to play music over a cable. Audeze rates the Maxwell’s battery life at roughly 80 hours, which is great and has generally held true in our testing. You’ll get a bit less if you play at high volumes or use features like Bluetooth or sidetone heavily, though. ProsWonderfully textured audio qualityGood mic performance80-hour battery life$299 at B&H PhotoPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Open-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 20 – 20,000Hz | Mic: Yes, not detachable | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 369g (without cable) If you’d prefer to save some cash and buy a decent wired gaming headset, consider the Astro A40 TR. It’s another open-back pair that sounds more spacious than most traditional gaming headsets and generally locates in-game effects accurately. Its sound signature emphasizes the bass, which gives explosions a smooth and satisfying thump, but it doesn’t overdo the low-end the way many of its peers do. The A40’s audio quality is still a step behind the DT 900 Pro X, HD 560S and Atlas Air, especially for online shooters. Next to those headphones, its veiled treble and pushed upper-bass/low-mids can blunt footsteps and other fine details. Its soundstage is narrower by comparison as well. But it’s better balanced than most gaming headsets, especially those in its price range. It does well to envelop you in whatever’s happening onscreen. Comfort shouldn’t be an issue, either. The A40 is on the bulkier side, but its weight is evenly distributed, and it doesn’t clamp down overly hard. The fuzzy earpads are soft and breathable, while the ear cups are roomy enough to fit larger ears. The headset has the usual open-back shortcomings, though, as it leaks a bunch of sound and blocks almost zero outside noise. The mostly-plastic design looks “gamer-y” and lacks built-in volume controls, too. Nobody would call it “premium.” Still, it’s not flimsy. The A40’s mic, meanwhile, is just OK. It picks up background noises while you chat and makes voices sound somewhat muffled. It’s serviceable, but you’d buy the A40 for its sound quality (and relative value) first. The mic isn’t detachable either, but you can easily flip it up and out of the way. The A40 has been around for several years now, but its price has come down from $150 to a more reasonable $130 in that time. Astro sells an optional DAC with extra controls for $130, but at that price we’d strongly advise buying one of our other picks instead. ProsMore spacious sound than most dedicated gaming headsetsComfortableSolid valueConsMic performance is just OKDesign is far from premiumTreble is underemphasized$100 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetEnclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 10 – 28,000Hz | Mic: Yes, not detachable | Connectivity: Wired | Weight: 275g You won’t find a good open-back gaming headset for less than $50, so if you’re on a tight budget and need a built-in mic, you’ll have to compromise on sound quality. With that in mind, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a decent buy for $40 or so. It gets the comfort part right, as its pleather ear cups don’t clamp down hard and have enough soft padding where it counts. Its mic makes voices sound relatively clear and accurate as well. In fact, the mic is a clear step up over the Astro A40’s, though it’s not detachable. The Cloud Stinger 2 has a V-shaped sound signature, which is to say it exaggerates the bass and treble while recessing the mids. It’s not bad for what it is, and it’ll definitely give action scenes a heavy dose of boom. But the upper-bass is bumped to the point where it may get tiring over time, and you lose some of the fine details you’d hear on our other picks. Since this is a cheap closed-back headset, the Cloud Stinger 2 doesn’t sound nearly as wide as the pairs above, nor is it as nuanced about positioning sounds accurately. All of that makes it less than ideal for competitive games, though it can still sound “fun” with many other titles. Beyond that, the plastic design feels cheapish. Its cable isn’t removable, and it doesn’t block much outside noise despite having a closed-back design. Nevertheless, you have to pick your battles in this price range. The Cloud Stinger 2 is flawed, but it does enough well to be a good headset for certain budget-conscious buyers. ProsStrong valueComfortableSolid mic performanceConsBoomy sound isn’t idealFeels cheapishPoor noise isolation for a closed-back headset$40 at AmazonPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetThe Astro A50 X costs an eye-watering $380, so we can’t reasonably recommend it to most people. However, if you can stomach the price, this is a uniquely convenient wireless headset for hardcore gamers who own a PS5, Xbox Series X/S and gaming PC. That’s mainly due to its included charging dock, which serves as a unified A/V station for those three platforms. By chaining HDMI and USB cables from a PS5, Xbox and/or PC to the A50 X’s base station, you can connect the headset to all three devices simultaneously. From there, you can swap to your active machine just by pressing a button on the right earcup. This is a pain to set up: As shown in Logitech’s 12-minute (!) video tutorial, connecting both consoles and a PC requires seven different cables, a few of which aren’t in the box, plus some futzing around in each system’s menus. It’s not totally seamless once everything’s up and running, either: We had to manually change video signals when switching from a PC to a console (though not when doing the inverse) and manually change our PC’s audio output when we wanted to listen through desktop speakers. All of this requires you to keep your gaming hardware in the same area, too. But for the most part, the A50 X is the most practical wireless headset we’ve tested for multi-console setups. Instead of needing two headsets for Xbox and PS5/PC, or having to reconnect one headset each time you change consoles, all you have to do is take the A50 X off its dock, turn it on and select the platform you want to use. A small LED display on the dock will show the active connection, and the headset will automatically play the correct audio source. With a PS5 and Xbox, it’ll automatically swap video. So long as you use HDMI 2.1 cables, the base station can pass-through 4K 120Hz HDR video to the two consoles, with support for VRR and ALLM. You can also connect the A50 X to a Switch or mobile device via Bluetooth — though you need to be within range of the base station for that to work, and you don’t get the same fast-switching functionality. All these connectivity tricks wouldn’t mean much if the A50 X was a shoddy headset, but thankfully, it’s not. It’s among the better-sounding wireless headsets we’ve used; it’s not “$380 good,” but it’s dynamic, with rich, relatively nuanced bass and a clean midrange. Explosions and gunshots have a good crunch without sounding overly thick, and it’s generally accurate at locating footsteps and nearby effects. The Audeze Maxwell is still a level above, however; the A50 X has a darker tilt by comparison, so it captures less detail in the treble range and feels more boxed-in. It also can’t match the wider, more enveloping soundstage of our open-back picks. Still, most people will be happy with it, and you can customize its EQ curve to an extent through Logitech’s G Hub software. The A50 X’s design is like a nicer version of the A40. It’s largely plastic, but it feels sturdy. The fuzzy, fabric-covered foam on its earpads and headband is soft and breathable, and while the headset isn’t super light at 0.8 pounds, it distributes its weight in a way that feels comfortable yet secure. You can also adjust your game-to-chat audio mix right from an earcup. It doesn’t isolate outside noise very well, though, and its boom mic is permanently attached. Its battery life is mediocre as well — Astro rates it at up to 24 hours at moderate volumes — but since the headset is designed to sit on its dock when it’s not in use, that’s not a serious issue. The mic, meanwhile, is one of the very best we’ve used any gaming headset, wired or wireless. Voices sound cleaner and more natural than they do with the Maxwell, and background noise is largely kept in check. Enclosure: Closed-back | Driver: Dynamic | Frequency response: 60 – 20,000Hz | Mic: Yes, not detachable | Connectivity: HDMI audio, USB audio, Bluetooth | Weight: 363g ProsClosest thing to a truly universal wireless gaming headsetExcellent mic performanceGood audio qualityConsWildly expensiveRequires a ton of cables to fully set upNo analog audio support$380 at LogitechOther gaming headsets we testedThe PlayStation Pulse Elite. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)Note: This is a selection of noteworthy gaming headsets and headphones we’ve put through their paces, not a comprehensive list of everything we’ve ever tried.PlayStation Pulse Elite (and Pulse Explore)The PlayStation Pulse Elite is a reasonable alternative to the Turtle Beach Atlas Air for PS5 owners, as it allows you to change volume, swap between different EQ presets, adjust the game-to-chat mix and mute the mic right from the console’s native UI. It’s similar to the way AirPods integrate with iPhones. This pair also lets you connect to a second device over Bluetooth at the same time, and the planar magnetic drivers — a rarity for $150 headphones — do a decent job of reproducing smaller details. The sound profile as a whole is narrower and more uneven in the bass and treble than the Atlas Air, however, while the all-plastic design is comfortable but flimsy-feeling. It also doesn’t do much to block outside noise, despite being closed-back, and the control buttons are awkward to reach.We also tested the in-ear version of these headphones, the PlayStation Pulse Explore, but found it too uncomfortable to wear over extended sessions. That one is limited to roughly five hours of battery life, too.Astro A50 (Gen 5)The Astro A50 (Gen 5) is effectively the same headset as the A50X, just without any HDMI ports on its base station. It costs $80 less, so it’s a worthy alternative to the Audeze Maxwell if you mainly play on one platform and want a superior microphone. But the ability to automatically switch between consoles is the thing that makes the A50X worth buying in the first place, so that convenience is still worth paying for if you game on multiple devices.The Corsair Virtuoso Pro. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)Corsair Virtuoso ProThe $200 Corsair Virtuoso Pro is another one of the few dedicated gaming headsets with an open-back design. It has a relatively dark sound with mostly underemphasized treble and elevated upper-bass, though the highs are clearer here than they are on the Astro A40, and it still delivers a wider soundstage than most gaming headsets. We preferred this signature over Astro’s pair with some games, though in others it felt less balanced. The Virtuoso Pro’s mic is decidedly less muffled than the A40’s but still sounds fairly thin, so it’s merely decent compared to the wider headset market. Its headband adjustment mechanism feels cheap, too, and you can’t detach the mic without swapping cables out entirely. Its round, breathable ear cups and manageable weight do make it easy to wear, though, and it comes with a sturdy travel case for protection. Ultimately, it’s a decent buy, but it’s hard to justify over the more featured and easier-sounding Atlas Air.HyperX Cloud Alpha WirelessThe HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless can last well over 300 hours at moderate volumes, which is remarkable and by far the best of any wireless model we’ve tested. It’s light and not too snug on the head, and its powerful bass lends a real sense of excitement to in-game action. But it blunts more detail than the Atlas Air, Maxwell and A50 X, and its mic isn’t as good. Several users have also reported latency issues when using the headset with HyperX’s Ngenuity software, and there’s no Xbox, Bluetooth or wired audio support. Still, if battery life is paramount, you may be able to look past all of that.The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)Logitech G Pro X 2 LightspeedIf the Audeze Maxwell is out of stock, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is another quality wireless headset worth considering. It sounds better than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, with satisfying but more controlled bass and more accurate mids, and it’s lighter on the head than the Maxwell. Logitech rates its battery life at 50 hours, but we found it to last much longer at moderate volumes. However, similar to the Astro A50 X, a dip in the treble makes it sound darker and more veiled than the Maxwell, and it doesn’t have any HDMI-switching tricks to fall back on. Its mic also sounds less natural than those of the Maxwell, A50 X and Cloud Alpha Wireless. Plus, while it can connect over a USB dongle, Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable, it can’t pair to two devices at once like Audeze’s and Astro’s pairs. Our biggest issue is the price: Value-wise, it’s in something of a no man’s land at its MSRP of $250. It’s a fine choice if it dips below $200, though.Razer BlackShark V2 ProThe wireless Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is tremendously comfortable and has a good mic, but its boomy sound is less refined and detailed than the Audeze Maxwell. As a closed-back headset, it also lacks the width of the Atlas Air. There’s no support for wired audio either.Logitech G535 LightspeedThe Logitech G535 is an impressively light (0.52 pounds) and comfy wireless headset that’s often available for $100 or less. It has a relatively neutral sound signature: not flat, but not beholden to big, thumping bass. It can make details in the mids sound thin, and if anything it could use a little more sub-bass, but it’s an agreeable listen overall. However, its mic isn’t especially full, and its 35-or-so-hour battery life is a significant drop from our top recommendations. It doesn’t work with Xbox’s wireless protocol or Bluetooth either, and it forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level. But if you don’t want to spend a ton on a wireless headset, it’s a fine value.The Logitech G535 Lightspeed. (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7XXbox owners who want a more affordable wireless headset than the Audeze Maxwell could do worse than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X. It’s another bass-forward pair, and its mic is comparable to that of the Cloud Alpha Wireless. It offers multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth and a 3.5mm cable. While it’s marketed for Xbox, it can also connect to PCs and PS5s. Its 30-ish-hour battery life is well short of the Maxwell and Cloud Alpha Wireless, however, and its uneven treble can cause things like in-game dialogue to sound masked in certain titles.HyperX Cloud AlphaThe wired HyperX Cloud Alpha often goes for $80 or less, and at that price it’s a decent middle ground between the Cloud Stinger 2 and Astro A40 if you really want a closed-back gaming headset. It’s old, but its plush earpads and headband are comfy, and its detachable mic, while not superb, is still better than the one on the A40. Its treble is underemphasized, however, and again it sounds more “in your head” than Astro’s pair.SteelSeries Arctis Nova ProThe SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is comfortable and has a noticeably clearer mic than the Astro A40. It also comes with a useful DAC that makes it easy to adjust the headset’s EQ and game-to-chat mix on the fly. However, its closed-back design can’t provide the same enveloping sense of width, and its default sound can sound piercing in the treble. Like the Virtuoso Pro, it’s also a bit too pricey, typically hovering in the $200 to $220 range.SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessThe SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is largely similar to its wired counterpart but adds a passable level of active noise cancellation. Being able to hot-swap battery packs and connect to multiple devices at once is also nice. It’s not as convenient for multi-console play as the Astro A50 X, though, and it usually costs more than the Audeze Maxwell, which sounds better, has a superior mic and lasts longer on a charge.The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 (left) and HyperX Cloud III Wireless (right). (Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget)Beyerdynamic MMX 200The wireless Beyerdynamic MMX 200 locates in-game effects accurately, feels sturdy and has a great boom mic, but it sounds less articulate than the Audeze Maxwell, with heavily exaggerated bass and recessed lower-mids. There’s no game-to-chat mix or custom EQ tools, which is tough for a $250 headset, and its 35-hour battery life is unremarkable. We also found its sweat-inducing ear cushions and headband to clamp down too tight for comfort. However, the built-in transparency mode is nice and the tight fit does a good job of isolating outside noise.Beyerdynamic MMX 300 ProThere’s nothing particularly bad about the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: It uses the same drivers as the DT 900 Pro X, its velour earpads are comfy and its mic works well. It’s just hard to recommend spending $300 on a wired-only headset when the Audeze Maxwell offers wireless functionality and similarly excellent sound — with slightly less spiky treble and more even bass — for the same price. The MMX 300 Pro’s mic isn’t detachable either, and the closed-back design keeps it from sounding as wide as the DT 900 Pro X.HyperX Cloud III WirelessThe HyperX Cloud III Wireless is comfy and can last up to 120 hours per charge but sounds less dynamic than the older Cloud Alpha Wireless, with weaker bass response. Like that pair, it also lacks a 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth audio support and Xbox compatibility. The Cloud Alpha Wireless still gets nearly three times the battery life, too, so it remains a better buy if you want a wireless headset for PC or PS5 in the $150 range.Sennheiser HD 490 ProThe Sennheiser HD 490 Pro are studio-focused open-back headphones that also work well for gaming. They come with two sets of ear pads, one that slightly elevates the bass and another that bumps the midrange, though they deliver impressive width and detail either way without pushing too hard in one direction. They’re a pleasure to wear over long stretches, both lighter than the DT 900 Pro X and less stiff than the HD 560S. That said, they cost $400 and their sound profile is more of a nice alternative to our top picks than something clearly more natural or resolving. Most people don’t need to pay the premium.Recent updatesJanuary 2025: We’ve looked over this guide to ensure our picks are still accurate and added notes on a few more headsets we’ve recently tested, including the PlayStation Pulse Elite, Astro A50 (Gen 5) and Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro.November 2024: We’ve updated this guide with a new recommendation for the best dedicated gaming headset, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, and reorganized our picks accordingly. We’ve also added notes on other gaming-friendly headphones we’ve tested, including the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, and removed a couple of write-ups on headsets that are no longer available.
