If you're an avid PlayStation gamer and are looking for the best PS4 headset, you're likely well-acquainted with the overwhelming number of different options. There's certainly a lot to choose from, so knowing your priorities can help with your decision. For those who mostly game from the couch and hate having a long cable running to your PS4, wireless headphones are a must. However, those who find that there's nothing worse than having to keep an eye on your headphones' battery life will likely gravitate towards a wired headset. If you like to customize your audio experience, some headphones come with companion software so that you can tweak their sound, access virtual surround features, and even control mic performance. That said, any good pair of gaming headphones should be able to accurately localize sounds like footsteps in the stereo image and be comfortable enough for long gaming sessions.
We’ve tested over 670 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best PS4 headset to buy. If you’re looking for our top picks for other consoles and PC, check out our recommendations for the best headsets for PS5, the best gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets for Xbox One.
The best wireless headset for PS4 that we've tested is the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019. These over-ears come with a base station that ensures low wireless latency while you game. Although the headphones are console-locked to either the PS4 or Xbox One, both variants have full mic and audio compatibility on PCs.
Out of the box, these very comfortable and well-built headphones have a well-balanced sound profile. Their bump of extra bass can help emphasize sound effects while vocals and lead instruments are bright. You can also customize their sound using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. For those who chat with teammates, the boom mic offers excellent performance. The headphones' over 17 hours of continuous playback time should also last through long gaming sessions, and they're equipped with an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them.
Unfortunately, they barely block out background noise, which could be annoying if you game in a noisy environment. They leak a lot of audio at high volumes, and the audio bleed could disturb others around you. That said, if you're looking for the best wireless headset for PS4, they offer a well-rounded performance that's sure to please most users.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is the best wireless PS4 gaming headset for battery life that we've tested. If you don't want to worry about recharging your headphones each time you use them, these over-ears are advertised to deliver over 300 hours of continuous playback time. They also have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off.
These headphones have a sturdy build and a comfortable fit. When using the 'Balanced' EQ, they have a slightly v-shaped sound profile with a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom, which can help emphasize sound effects. That said, unlike other HyperX headphones, their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. Their boom mic also offers a very good performance, so your voice sounds clear, even in moderately noisy environments. They have low latency too, so your audio and visuals stay in sync.
On the downside, they struggle to block out background noise. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, and you may especially notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses. That said, if you're looking for wireless headphones with a long battery life, they're worth checking out.
The best PS4 gaming headset with a wired design that we've tested are the SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC. These headphones come with a digital to analog converter (DAC) called the GameDAC. It gives you full compatibility with PS4 consoles and lets you easily adjust your channel mixing, switch EQs, and toggle virtual surround sound on and off while you play.
They're well-built and very comfortable. Once you achieve a good fit with the ski-band headband, their default sound profile is neutral and well-balanced. You can also use their companion software's graphic EQ to adjust their sound or create presets that you can access with the GameDAC. Their boom mic has a good overall performance, so if you're playing with friends, they can hear you clearly, even if you're gaming in a noisy environment.
Unfortunately, like many headphones with the same elastic headband design, they're prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery, so you may need to adjust their fit and positioning to hear the same sound every time you wear them. The boom mic also isn't detachable when you want a more casual look. Otherwise, if you're looking for headphones for PS4, these offer a well-rounded performance and plenty of customization options.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is the best open-back PS4 gaming headset that we've tested. Open-back headphones are a great choice if you're looking for a more immersive audio experience. Thanks to their design, audio is able to leave the ear cup and interact with your surroundings, which helps create a spacious passive soundstage.
These comfortable and well-built wired headphones come with a MixAmp, which puts controls such as channel mixing, and EQ presets at your fingertips. Out of the box, they have a warm sound profile that adds a touch of extra boom to mixes. You can customize their sound to your liking using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets though. If you like to game with others, their boom mic does a great job of recording your voice, so your teammates should have no problems hearing you clearly.
There are a couple of drawbacks to an open-back design. They're not able to block out most background noise and they leak a lot of audio, which can be annoying for others around you. That said, these over-ears offer a great, customizable performance for gaming. They're even among the best open-back headphones that we've tested.
The best PS4 gaming headset we've tested in the budget category is the HyperX Cloud Alpha S. These wired gaming headphones have a very comfortable fit and come with a choice of cloth or faux leather ear cup padding. While they lack more robust sound customization features like an EQ, there's a slider on each ear cup that you can use to adjust the amount of bass on both sides separately.
With the bass turned up, they add extra punch and boom to your audio, helping to emphasize sound effects in action-packed games. Their USΒ dongle offers additional controls when you use it to connect to your PS4, including surround sound and channel mixing. They also have a detachable boom mic with good performance, so your voice sounds clear when gaming with friends.
Unfortunately, their boomy sound profile can make your audio sound muddy. Their treble response is also underemphasized, so elements like voices lack a bit of detail. If you're looking for affordable gaming headphones for PS4, they're worth considering.
May 12, 2022: Added the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless and Astro A40TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 as 'Best Wireless PS4 Gaming Headset For Battery Life' and 'Best Open-Back PS4 Gaming Headset', respectively. Removed the Logitech G935 Wireless Gaming Headset and the Corsair HS60 PRO SURROUND. Moved the Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset and Logitech G432 Gaming Headset to Notable Mentions.
Mar 30, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
Feb 24, 2022: Checked our picks for product availability and accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
Jan 21, 2022: Moved the ROCCAT Elo 7.1 Air Wireless to Notable Mentions as the ROCCAT have high non-Bluetooth wireless latency.
Dec 23, 2021: Removed the Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Ηeadset as the 'Βest Βudget PS4 Ηeadset' because it now costs more than $100. Replaced it with the ΗyperX Cloud Alpha S and added the ROCCAT Elo 7.1 Air Wireless as a 'More Customizable Alternative'.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best PS4 headsets 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 reviews for headphones that are good for gaming. 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.