A good gaming headset can make a big difference when playing games. Whether you like to get immersed in single-player titles or need to hear every enemy's footsteps in your favorite tactical shooter, choosing the best headphones for your gaming needs can be very different from simply choosing the best headphones. You should consider their overall build quality and comfort, whether their sound profile suits your tastes (or is customizable), and whether the microphone sounds good (if you use in-game voice chat or Discord).
We've tested over 865 headphones, and below are our recommendations for gaming headsets. If you'd prefer in-ears, check out our best earbuds for gaming article. For console-specific suggestions, head over to the best PC gaming headsets, the best PS5/PS5 Pro headsets, or the best Xbox Series X/S headsets. Finally, if you already have a standalone mic solution and/or are looking for an audio-fidelity-first pickup, consider a pair of wired audiophile headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The best gaming headset we've tested is the Audeze Maxwell 2. It's worth checking out if you want the best, thanks to its full suite of both audiophile and gaming features. The Audeze also stands out from most gaming headsets with its planar magnetic drivers and Hi-Res Bluetooth codec support (LDAC). The Audeze's default sound is well-balanced, so everything from voices to explosion sounds are reproduced accurately. You can also use their app's EQ presets (or customize your own). Their wireless USB dongle also ensures low latency, so your audio and video stay in sync.
The main upgrade this headset brings over the original Audeze Maxwell is its microphone. If you're an online gamer, the detachable boom mic offers amazing performance, ensuring you sound clear and understandable, even in noisy environments. The original Maxwell was no slouch, but the Maxwell 2 is just about the best you can get. That said, if you're primarily concerned about comfort, you'll want to check out the Astro A50 X. This headset is lighter than the admittedly heavy Audeze, so you're less likely to feel fatigued during long gaming sessions. Plus, it has a wider range of customization options through its companion app (including a parametric EQ). However, its battery lasts a mere 26.4 hours compared to the Audeze's 77 hours.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Looking to reduce your spend? Consider our upper mid-range pick, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro. These esports-oriented headphones deliver solid active noise cancellation and ultra-low 13 ms wireless latency in a sleek, aviation-inspired headset design, helping you maintain a competitive edge in a distraction-free environment. But unlike the Audeze Maxwell 2, the Razer can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time. Their V-shaped sound helps facilitate exciting cutscenes, emphasizing explosions without drowning out dialogue. If this isn't your cup of tea, you can always adjust the Razer's sound with their app's graphic EQ. The App's functionality extends beyond sound customization, featuring mic noise suppression, sound normalization, and ANC adjustment, to name a few.
Speaking of ANC, these headphones offer decent overall noise isolation with the feature enabled; while it's nice to have, it doesn't compete with the performances of Bose, Sony, and Apple. The Razer also have a great boom mic, which renders your voice naturally. In environments with loud, sustained background noise sources (such as a vacuum in the background), the mic system prioritizes preserving your voice by allowing some noise through. That said, these don't have an integrated microphone to fall back on. If that's important, consider the Fractal Scape. The Fractal's mic also does a better job separating your voice from noise around you, but they don't have ANC, and their 46-hour battery life can't match the Razer's 69.7 hours.
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Best Mid-Range Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
If you're happy to sacrifice battery life to keep costs down, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless are worth checking out. They have a wireless USB dongle that provides low latency, so your game audio and video stay in sync. Similar to the previous picks, they have a warm sound profile with prominent bass, so extra rumble doesn't overwhelm dialogue. Meanwhile, a boost in the treble adds sizzle to sound effects, such as clashing swords. If you prefer a mellower sound, their companion app features a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
While they don't last as long continuously as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, their roughly 30-hour battery life will still get you through long dungeon crawls, and you can use them wired in a pinch. They have a high noise floor while monitoring your voice, but the mic still makes your voice sound clear and natural. If you know you'll only be gaming wirelessly, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are a decent alternative to our pick due to their longer 50-hour battery life and slightly better microphone.
The Nova 7 Wireless also support Bluetooth, which allows you to mix chat audio or music from your phone and game audio from a different device. We tested the 7X variant, which is designed for Xbox but can also connect to PlayStation devices using the USB dongle. However, please note that any changes made in the app won't be preserved. The 7 and 7P variants don't support a wireless connection with Xbox, but might be the better choice if you only use a PC or PlayStation. SteelSeries has also released the 2nd Gen of the Nova 7 Wireless, which brings a mobile app and a larger battery capacity. We haven't tested them yet, though.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) don't have the best build quality, but these inexpensive headphones are pleasantly full-featured for the price. They feature helpful gamer-oriented niceties, such as a flip-up-to-mute microphone. In addition to its very good recording quality, the mic has great noise handling, easily separating your voice from any surrounding noise. The Turtle Beach comes in PC, PlayStation, and Xbox variants, so make sure you get the version that matches your setup. If you game on multiple platforms, consider picking up the Xbox version, which is compatible with both PC and PlayStation. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, you can't use the Turtle Beach wired, and they're not as well-built.
Regardless of platform, these headphones' wireless dongle provides a low-latency connection for gaming, and their amazing 85.7-hour battery life gives you the mileage to marathon titles without needing to charge. They support simultaneous connections via Bluetooth and their dongle, but not simultaneous audio from connected devices: you'll have to press a button to switch between audio sources. Their default sound has boosted mid and high bass, which can help bring out sound effects like footsteps in games, but it can also make dialogue and instruments sound muddy. And at the other end of the spectrum, clashing swords and cymbals can be a bit piercing. That said, they have a great companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, allowing you to tweak their sound to suit your preferences.
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Best Budget Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
If you want to spend the least money, the best gaming headphones we've tested are the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. Logitech manufactures a solid lineup of low-cost gaming headphones that perform very well. In the case of the G435, their plastic frame isn't the sturdiest, but they have decently low latency over both Bluetooth and their wireless USB dongle. They have a warm sound profile with slightly elevated high bass to make explosions and footsteps more prominent in the mix. Dialogue and instruments also sound present, but unlike the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3), the Logitech don't have an EQ for sound adjustments.
The Logitech also have poor passive noise isolation performance and will let in a lot of noise and leak a lot of game audio. Fortunately, their integrated mic makes your voice sound bright and clear, though it's still a noticeable step down from the Turtle Beach. The Logitech's nearly 20-hour battery doesn't come close to the Turtle Beach's 85.7 hours, but it will still last you through several play sessions. Unfortunately, this model isn't compatible with Xbox consoles.
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Best Open-Back Gaming Headset
Peaks/DipsRecording QualityNoise HandlingSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsole Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X are worth considering if you prefer an open-back design. These wired headphones are around the same price as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, but you might prefer them if you like your game audio to be as immersive as possible. They're well-built and comfortable to wear, with a choice of either microfiber or velour ear-cup padding. They also have a boom mic that makes your voice sound natural and full-bodied during multiplayer games. While they lack a bit of low bass due to their open design, they have a balanced sound profile suitable for action-packed games or dialogue-heavy cutscenes. However, they aren't ideal for use in an uncontrolled environment, as they don't block out ambient sound and leak a significant amount of audio.
Their open design helps them create a soundstage that seems wider and more spacious than that of closed-back options on this list. If you value a spacious soundstage but prefer to game wirelessly, consider the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, which allows you to game via either their wired TRRS cable or wireless dongle (note that the dongle isn't compatible with Xbox). These open-backs perform similarly to the Drop, with improved microphone noise handling. However, they're not as comfortable as our pick, and their default sound isn't as well-balanced, with brighter treble frequencies.
Notable Mentions
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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless [PC, PS, Xbox]:
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are high-end gaming headphones with a wireless dock that puts controls like volume and EQ settings at your fingertips. However, the Audeze Maxwell 2 have a flatter sound profile out of the box, support Dolby Atmos, and have a longer continuous battery life.
See our review -
Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless:
The Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless headphones are for gaming and casual use, like commuting. They have a great ANC system, which is unusual for gaming headsets. However, they don't feel as well-built as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, and you can only use them wirelessly.
See our review -
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite:
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is a premium gaming headset offering a wide range of connectivity options. It supports up to four device connections from its dock and two Bluetooth connections simultaneously. It also offers an ANC system that surpasses the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro's. That said, it costs well over twice the price of the Razer; most people will find the marginal gains aren't worth the outlay.
See our review -
Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO:
The Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO are wired open-back headphones similar to the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X. They're fairly balanced but have an extra high bass to compensate for their lack of low bass. Their mic is integrated into their removable cable rather than the headphones, which allows for unencumbered casual use with their mic-less extra cable. They're a bit less comfortable than the Drop, though.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 10, 2026:
The Audeze Maxwell 2 replace the Audeze Maxwell as our top pick for their superior microphone, but the original Maxwell are still a great purchase.
Jan 22, 2026:
We included the Fractal Scape as an alternative to the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro for anyone prioritizing microphone performance. We also removed the Sony INZONE Buds Truly Wireless and SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds from our Notable Mentions, and instead added a link to our Best Earbuds For Gaming article.
Nov 18, 2025:
We've updated the article to mention more recent releases. The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro replace the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHSPEED Wireless as our 'Best Upper Mid-Range' pick due to their inclusion of an ANC system and lower price point. We also mention the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite in the article, though neither is an official pick.
Jul 10, 2025:
All our picks are accurate and in stock, so we've just edited the text for clarity.
May 16, 2025:
We added the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds to our Notable Mentions for anyone looking for an earbud alternative to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best gaming headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our headphone reviews, sorted by their wireless gaming performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection, especially if you don't care about having a microphone or wireless features.