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 880 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best 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 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 adds excitement to 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 performance offered by the likes of Bose, Sony, and Apple. The Razer also have a great boom mic, which renders your voice naturally. When confronted with loud, sustained background noise, like a vacuum, 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, it's important to know 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 still among the best headphones for gaming we've tested. 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 come 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 Bluetooth and dongle connections at the same time, but they can't play audio from both sources simultaneously; you'll need to press a button to switch between 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. 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, which makes explosions and footsteps more prominent. 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, so they let in plenty of noise and leak 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
The ASUS ROG Kithara are worth considering if you prefer an open-back design or simply care more about audio fidelity than gaming features. These wired, passive headphones have planar magnetic drivers and a flat sound signature that's closer to studio headphones than a typical gaming headset. They don't deliver as much low-bass rumble as many closed-back gaming headsets, so explosions don't feel as powerful, but their mid-range is smooth and accurate, meaning voices sound true-to-life. Their open-back design also means audio sounds more speaker-like than it does coming from cans like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro.
They aren't ideal for every setup, though. They don't block out sound around you and leak a lot of audio, so they're best used in a quiet room. They also don't have extras like Bluetooth, ANC, EQ, channel mixing, or app support. Still, they're comfortable enough for long sessions, and their included USB-C adapter gives them full audio and microphone compatibility with PC and PlayStation consoles. The Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X are a good alternative that offer full audio and microphone support via their analog connection. They also have a slightly better mic, but the ASUS deliver more accurate sound reproduction and are better built.
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 designed for both 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 are some of the best headphones for gaming we've tested, but they come at a price. They support up to four device connections from their dock and two Bluetooth connections simultaneously. They also offer an ANC system that surpasses the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro's. That said, they cost 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 ASUS ROG Kithara. They're fairly balanced but have 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 ASUS, though.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 06, 2026:
The ASUS Rog Kithara replace the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X as our open-back pick for their strong all-around performance. The Drop + Sennheiser remain an alternative for anyone who prefers to use analog connections.
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.
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'd like to choose for yourself, here's 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.