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The 6 Best Headsets For Xbox Series X/S - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Headsets For Xbox Series X/S

If you've gotten your hands on an Xbox Series X or Series S console and are looking for a headset to match, there are a few options on the market. There's no best Xbox Series X headset, as which one you buy heavily depends on your preferences. However, do you despise tripping on a rat's nest of wires or want to give your gaming setup a sleek, streamlined look? Consider a pair of wireless gaming headphones that use Xbox Wireless Technology, which allows you to pair your headset to your console without needing a dongle, similar to how the Xbox controller functions. On the other hand, if you hate running out of battery at a crucial moment or experiencing a delay in audio due to latency, you may prefer wired headphones.

We've tested over 775 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best Xbox Series X|S headsets to buy. If you're looking for other consoles and PCs, look at our picks for the best gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets for Xbox One, and the best wireless gaming headsets.


  1. Best Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    The best headset for Xbox Series X|S we've tested is the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. Even though these headphones can be hard to find in stock, they can be worth waiting for. If they aren't in stock from online retailers, you might have better luck buying directly from the manufacturer. The Xbox variant of these headphones offers full audio and mic compatibility, whether connected via non-Bluetooth wireless, wired USB, or analog. They have low wireless latency and support Bluetooth, so you can stream chat audio or music from your phone and hear sound from your console. Their battery lasts for over 77 hours continuously, making them a good choice for several long gaming sessions.

    These cans have planar magnetic drivers, which help set them apart from most other gaming headphones on the market, which use dynamic drivers. This design allows them to reproduce a more extended low bass, keep distortion low, and create a wider, more immersive soundstage than closed-back, dynamic counterparts like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. However, these drivers also make them quite heavy, and wearing them over long periods can be fatiguing. In addition, consistent imaging (which varies from unit to unit) is more difficult to match with planar drivers than conventional dynamic drivers. Lastly, their headband only offers a limited adjustment range, making it tricky to get the right fit.

    Out of the box, they have a versatile and neutral sound profile that's well-suited for gaming. If you prefer a different sound, you can fine-tune them using their companion app's EQ presets. They have a boom mic and an integrated mic, but if you want to ensure the best performance, the boom mic keeps your voice clear and understandable, even in noisy environments.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    If you're looking for premium design at a lower price point, look at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, the best gaming headset for Xbox Series X in the upper mid-range. Unlike our top pick, you don't need to charge any batteries. They're the wired counterpart of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Instead of a wireless transmitter base, they come with a GameDAC (digital-to-analog converter), placing valuable controls like volume, EQ, and channel mixing within easy reach. That said, they're less well-built than our top pick, as their ear cups feel easily removable from the frame, making the headphones seem a bit cheap.

    Like most SteelSeries headphones, they have a ski-band headband design to help ensure a comfortable fit during gaming marathons. Unfortunately, it makes them prone to inconsistent audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to ensure you have a good fit. Fortunately, if you need to replace the band, you can buy one separately. Their somewhat neutral sound profile keeps instruments and dialogue bright and clear in gameplay, but you can also use their 10-band EQ to customize them to your liking.

    Their boom mic also ensures your voice is clear and natural, even if there's some noise around you. If you still prefer a wireless design or want more casual-looking headphones, consider the Astro A30 Wireless, which also come in an Xbox variant. Using either their boom or integrated mic doesn't produce the same high performance as the SteelSeries, but they support Bluetooth and come with a wireless dongle for gaming on a console.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless is the best wireless headset for Xbox Series X we've tested at this price point These headphones lack high-end bells and whistles like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro's GameDAC but represent a solid option for less. They have many features that are well-suited for gaming, including a wireless dongle that you can use on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation with low latency. They also support Bluetooth, which is great if you want to receive audio from your smartphone while gaming. They last over 33 hours continuously and have an auto-off timer if you forget to turn them off.

    They have a bass-rich sound profile out of the box, which can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps or explosions. You can fine-tune them using their companion app's customization features, too. However, you'll need to disable Sonar and strictly use SteelSeries GG if you want your settings to transfer over to this console. Their boom mic does a very good job overall, so your teammates and enemies alike will hear you clearly, even if you're gaming in a noisy living room.

    See our review

  4. Best Lower Mid-Range Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    The best wireless headset for Xbox Series X in the lower mid-range we've tested is the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Wireless, these headphones have an integrated Xbox Wireless design, ensuring low latency while eliminating the use of a dongle or transmitter. They also have a companion app within the Microsoft store, and you can fine-tune their sound to your liking through your console.

    Their default sound profile is uneven, though. They deliver a lot of extra boom, which can help emphasize action-packed scenes, but this added bass also muddies dialogue and instruments. Their mic delivers excellent recording quality, so your voice is clear to teammates and enemies alike. It can also separate your voice from background noise well.

    These well-built over-ears are comfortable enough for long gaming marathons and last over 19 hours continuously. If you don't want to stress about battery life, it's worth checking out the HyperX Cloud Alpha S instead. These are wired headphones that are more comfortable. They also have a bass slider on each ear cup, so you can easily adjust the bass to suit your tastes. However, their mic has a worse recording quality.

    See our review

  5. Best Budget Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    If you're looking for something more budget-friendly for your Xbox, the best headset for Xbox Series S we've tested is the Logitech G432. Unlike the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless, these gaming headphones are designed with PCs in mind, meaning their customization features aren't available on Xbox. However, if you're okay with that, their wired design ensures a virtually latency-free gaming experience on Xbox.

    They have a fairly balanced sound with punchy bass. Their flat mid-range also helps ensure dialogue and instruments reproduce clearly and accurately. However, they're somewhat prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to ensure a good fit when you use them. Their boom mic offers excellent overall performance, meaning teammates will have no problem understanding you well.

    At this price point, headphones tend to have simple controls, and these comfortable over-ears only have a volume wheel and mic mute when you flip the mic upwards. Their build also feels plasticky and cheap compared to other options. If you want something sturdier, check out the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 instead. They have a significantly more robust build, but their sound profile isn't as neutral, and they're even more prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery.

    See our review

  6. Best Open-Back Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S

    If you prefer open-backs for gaming, you'll want to check out the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X, the best Xbox Series X headset with an open-back design we've tested. This enclosure allows audio to leave the ear cups and interact with your environment, creating a more spacious, open, and immersive soundstage than similarly priced closed-back headphones like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X. At the same time, they may not be the best choice if you share your space with others since they leak a lot of audio by design and won't block out any background noise. Consider these if you have a quiet, dedicated space for gaming.

    These headphones have a very comfortable fit and can last through long gaming marathons. Their boom mic also captures your voice, even in moderately noisy environments, so your teammates and enemies hear you clearly. Since they're open-back, they struggle to reproduce a thumpy low bass, but their sound has extra boom to help emphasize sound effects like footsteps in your gameplay. Unfortunately, they lack customization features to help you tweak them to suit your preferences.

    If you're looking for another pair of gamer-centric open-backs, try the Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO. The Corsair can create a more spacious and dimensional soundstage to help immerse you in your gameplay. However, they're less comfortable, and their sound profile isn't quite as neutral.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless for Xbox: The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Wireless are high-end gaming headphones with Xbox compatibility. They have a swappable dual-battery pack system to ensure adequate playtime for long gaming sessions. However, they don't last as long continuously, and their sound profile isn't as neutral as that of the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. See our review
  • Corsair HS75 XB WIRELESS: The Corsair HS75 XB WIRELESS headphones use Xbox Wireless Technology to pair seamlessly with your console. They're sturdily built and comfy to wear, and they offer great microphone recording quality and noise-handling capability. However, unlike the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless, they aren't Bluetooth-compatible. See our review
  • Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2: The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless are gaming headphones that use Xbox Wireless Technology to pair with your console but are also Bluetooth-compatible, allowing you to stream music or chat with friends through your phone as you game. However, they're less comfortable than the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless and have shorter battery life. See our review
  • Xbox Wireless Headset: The Xbox Wireless Headset is designed specifically for this console and supports Bluetooth. However, these headphones have high Xbox Wireless latency compared to the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless, and their immensely bass-heavy sound profile overwhelms vocals and instruments. See our review
  • Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (2nd Generation): The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (2nd Generation) is a straightforward wired headset that appeals to audiophiles who like to game. This set is worth a look if you want something less complicated than the wireless Audeze Maxwell Wireless but still want to retain an audio enthusiast sound profile. For some, however, the simplicity and lack of EQ can be a turn-off. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 08, 2024: The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (2nd Generation) have been added as a Notable Mention. Otherwise, the picks are unchanged, and the article has only minor edits.

  2. Feb 07, 2024: We've updated the text to ensure it's still accurate and up to date. Our picks remain the same.

  3. Jan 08, 2024: We've moved the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless from Notable Mentions to a comparison within the Audeze Maxwell Wireless' text, as they're similarly priced and feature-heavy. They're also compared in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox's text since they're the wireless counterpart.

  4. Dec 07, 2023: We've added a comparison between the Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X and the Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO in 'Open-Back Gaming Headset For Xbox Series X/S'.

  5. Nov 14, 2023: Made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think is currently the best gaming headset to pair with your Xbox Series X in each price range for most people to buy. 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 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 do not care about having a microphone or wireless features.