The 5 Best PS4 Gaming Headsets - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best PS4 wireless headset that we've tested is the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. These wireless gaming headphones look and feel premium, with high-grade metal construction and a very plush fit that's comfortable enough to get you through the longest gaming sessions. They come with an all-in-one wireless base station that also serves as a charger for the battery. It offers a wealth of gamer-pleasing features, including onboard volume control, channel mixing, an equalizer, and a display of the headphones' current battery life.

In terms of audio reproduction, they provide a well-balanced sound profile out of the box that should provide equal emphasis to everything from explosions to dialogue. Thanks to their Bluetooth and analog audio compatibility, they're also versatile enough for more casual use, like listening to music on your phone. They have an excellent retractable boom microphone that makes your voice sound clear, full-bodied, and mostly free of ambient noise.

Unfortunately, their somewhat uniquely-designed elastic headband is a tad tight for people with larger heads. Also, they don't provide an especially consistent listening experience, especially if you have long, thick hair or wear glasses. Like most gaming headphones, they struggle to isolate you from the rumble and chatter of background noise. With that said, these are among the best gaming headsets that we've tested.

The best PS4 headset with a wired connection that we’ve tested is the Steelseries Arctis Pro GameDAC. They have a very similar design to the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, with the same elastic ski goggle-like headband, well-padded ear cups, and retractable boom microphone. Their build quality is very good, with plenty of metal and high-grade plastic used in their construction. Their mic also does a great job of making your voice sound full-bodied and clear of any background chatter.

Their default sound profile is well-balanced overall, giving mostly equal auditory weight to everything from gunshots to villainous monologues. If that’s not to your liking, the proprietary GameDAC USB dongle offers plug-in-and-play compatibility for PS4 consoles and on-the-fly configuration options for switching EQ modes. If you game on PC, you can further adjust your listening experience with the SteelSeries Engine software, which includes options for DTS surround sound and microphone control.

Unfortunately, their unique headband design makes it tricky to get a consistent fit, especially if you have a larger head. Also, you might have a hard time hearing your teammates at a loud gaming tournament due to their disappointing noise isolation performance. Combined with their unwieldy design, they’re best suited for use in a quiet home environment. Overall, these are very well-built, highly customizable wired gaming headphones.

The best PS4 gaming headset in the budget category that we've tested is the HyperX Cloud Stinger. These over-ears can only be used with a wired connection, so you don't have to worry about battery life or latency. When plugged into the controller, they're fully compatible with both PS4 and Xbox One.

Overall, they have a bass-heavy sound that adds an extra boom and punch to action-packed scenes in your favorite games. Their boom microphone also has an impressive overall performance, so your voice is transmitted clearly to your teammates, even if you're gaming in a lively environment. Thanks to their comfortable fit, they're ideal for long gaming sessions, too.

Unfortunately, they don't really block out a lot of background noise, and they leak a bit of sound, too. They also don't have any sound customization features. If you don't mind spending a little more money, you can also check out the HyperX Cloud Stinger S, which comes with a few more features including a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature. That said, if you're shopping on a budget, these headphones are a solid choice.