Best gaming headsets 2024: Reviews and buying advice

Most people when trying to maximize their gaming experience focus on the quality of the game and their computer’s processing power. But an often-overlooked variable that can greatly affect the experience is a decent gaming headset. It’s especially important if you plan on getting the best out of multiplayer games, where you’re just as likely to use your headset to chat with friends as you are to use it as a strategic tool to help you win.

As you’d expect, there’s no shortage of gaming headsets out there. No one wants to wade through the myriad options only to settle on one that ends up leaving you disappointed. That’s why I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you, testing a ton of different headsets to find the best.

Why should you trust me? Because I’m a hardcore gamer and tech user like you, which means I’m always on the hunt for better gear to improve my own experience. More than that, I’ve spent many years weighing the pros and cons of the latest new-release gaming headsets, so you could say I know more than a thing or two about them.

To see the criteria I use to test each product and some helpful buying advice, be sure to read my rundown of how we test gaming headsets at PCWorld.

Updated June 25, 2024 to include the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed. This headset has clear audio with an impressively deep and smooth bass. It mixes that with soft comfortable earpads and a robust attractive design. However, its most impressive feature is its DTS Headphone: X 2.0 3D spatial audio, which has terrific directionality — especially in games that support Microsoft’s spatial sound API.






SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Best dual-purpose wired/wireless gaming headset / Best overall





















Pros


Great-quality audio

Dual wireless functionality

Lots of software options for personalization



Cons


Quite expensive

Active Noise Cancellation won't block out all external sound


















Why I like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

I have to nit pick very hard to find any flaws with this premium headset that offers the versatility of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, as well as a wired connection. In wireless mode, it delivered crisp sound in 44.1KHz/16-bit standard resolution at up to 40 feet from my computer. But when I wanted to enjoy a richer sound, I could plug into a GameDAC controller that let me access a higher 96KHz/24-bit hi-res audio. The GameDAC also let me switch between my PC and Xbox One or Xbox X/S at the press of a button — which saved me the hassle of having to buy separate headsets for my consoles.

Active Noise Cancellation and 360 Degree Spatial Audio technologies also boosted the headset’s audio experience for me, the standout of the two being the latter, which utilizes 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound tracks to accurately reflect the direction of sounds. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless also has the finest software support I’ve seen for a gaming headset, allowing me to choose from among 23 pre-made EQ presets designed for games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, Dota 2, Forza Horizon V, and Call of Duty: Warzone, to name just a few.

Who should buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Gamers serious about their audio setup who want excellent cross-platform compatibility, clear sound, and a spatial audio that better enables them to hear the direction of sounds in games. There’s a lot to personalize with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, so if you love tinkering with settings, this headset is just the ticket.

Read our full

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review





Audeze Maxwell Wireless – Best audio quality





















Pros


Impressive audio that sounds warm and full-bodied

Strong and robust design

Excellent cross compatibility



Cons


It's quite heavy and large

The headband isn't extendable

The software app is too simple


















Why I like the Audeze Maxwell Wireless

It has undoubtedly the best audio of any gaming headset I’ve used. Audiophile-grade headsets are usually the domain of high-end music studios and not gaming dens. But Audeze’s Maxwell Wireless is an exception, being a studio-grade headset especially made for gamers. Its secret sauce is its 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which produce a more natural, full-bodied audio signature than headsets with 40- to 50mm neodymium drivers.

To fit such large drivers, the Maxwell Wireless is extremely big and heavy — it weighs a little more than a pound (490 grams). Although, you wouldn’t know by wearing it — the comfort onboard is very luxe; soft memory foam sits under plush leatherette for a premium feel and there’s an inner adjustable suspension band that balances out the headset’s weight across the top of your head.

The Maxwell Wireless works with just about any device — Windows PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS devices, and PlayStation 5. It supports Dolby Atmos for surround sound in games. For connectivity, you get a USB cable and an adapter for making a wired connection, a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for low-latency Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm cable for making an old-school analog connection. Although simultaneous Bluetooth isn’t available using the Wi-Fi dongle, you can still hook up simultaneous audio using the headset’s Bluetooth and a wired connection.

Who should buy the Audeze Maxwell Wireless

Anyone who’s really particular about the fidelity of their gaming audio and wants the best they can possibly find. Also, anyone who wants to use their gaming headset like a premium pair of headphones to listen to music. The Maxwell Wireless stands above many headsets for its sound quality, so if you’re an audiophile, it will definitely impress you.

Read our full

Audeze Maxwell Wireless review





Roccat Syn Max Air – Best RGB headset / Best for people who wear glasses





















Pros


The audio sounds balanced

Simultaneous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth lets you listen to multiple audio sources at once

The futuristic styling looks fantastic



Cons


The microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise

The controls are reasonably basic

It's expensive considering there's no ANC

















Best Prices Today:



$249.99 at Roccat





Why I like the Roccat Syn Max Air

I thought the Roccat Syn Max Air headset had a knockout futuristic aesthetic thanks to it cuboid shaped earcups that also have mesmerizing programmable RGB zones. The cups also feature ProSpec earpads, meaning if you wear glasses the frames will easily fit through the sides of the cups for a comfortable fit.

Looks aside, this headset impressed me with its list of gamer-centric features. Connectivity comes in the form of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wired connection, and the Bluetooth can be used simultaneously with the Wi-Fi so that you can enjoy an extra audio source while gaming. In my review I thought its 50mm Nanoclear drivers produced a nice balanced sound that was a marked improvement over its predecessor the Syn Pro Air. It also comes with a convenient dock for charging between uses.

Who should buy the Roccat Syn Max Air

Players who want to rock the RGB look and be able to personalize the lighting effects in their headset. The headset’s spectacles-friendly design also makes it a great choice for gamers who wear glasses.

Read our full

Roccat Syn Max Air review





HyperX Cloud Alpha – Best wired gaming headset





















Pros


Fully removable cabling and smarter inline control placement

Comfortable

Excellent audio quality



Cons


More expensive than the original Cloud, with fewer accessories

Upper audio range can be a bit muddled

















Best Prices Today:



89.02 at HyperX





Why I like the HyperX Cloud Alpha

Cloud Alpha is a chip off the old block in HyperX’s Cloud series, combining comfort with impressive audio quality. The impressive sound comes courtesy of a dual driver chamber design that separates out bass notes from mids and highs — ultimately producing clearer, smoother output.

The Cloud Alpha’s earcups are the secret sauce behind its comfortable feel. These generously padded cups sit tightly on your head but without squeezing your temples, so they’re perfect for long gaming stints where you can forget you’re wearing them. In our PCWorld review our reviewer was impressed by the fact that you can fully remove the HyperX Cloud Alpha’s cables in the event they break, rather than having to buy a whole new gaming headset.

Who should buy the HyperX Cloud Alpha

Those who don’t need wireless functionality but want excellent audio fidelity and comfort while they’re gaming. The HyperX Cloud Alpha’s metal frame and headband should also please gamers wanting a tough device that won’t break easily.

Another wired option that’s a little cheaper than the HyperX Cloud Alpha but still has great audio is the Astro A10.

Read our full

HyperX Cloud Alpha review





Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed – Best 3D spatial audio





















Pros


Clear audio with fine detail in the sound

Oozes comfort at every turn

Pinpoint-accurate spatial audio support

Mix of wireless and wired connectivity



Cons


No Active Noise Cancellation

Exposed cords could be a risk of breakage

It comes with a soft case instead of a more robust case


















Why I like the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed

At $250 the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed isn’t cheap, but this headset’s mix of clear audio with a deep and smooth bass range, comfortable earcups, and 3D spatial audio makes it ideal for gaming. It has three connectivity types: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and wired (3.5mm auxiliary in), which means it connects to nearly any device. It also has a long battery life of up to 50 hours.

What’s really drawn me to this headset, though, is the fact that its DTS Headphone: X 2.0 spatial audio is one of the best I’ve used. It’s compatible with Microsoft’s spatial sound API, so its directionality is superb — you can even hear sounds from above very clearly. You can also tweak the volume of the sound emanating from each directional point in Logitech’s G Hub software app.

Who should buy the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed

If 3D spatial audio is a must-have, the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed’s is one of the best you can get. Apart from that, the cans are so comfy, and the audio is so crisp, that most gamers are really going to dig this headset.

Be sure to also check out the Razer Barracuda Pro. This headset’s 3D spatial audio comes courtesy of THX Spatial Audio, which you can tweak and fine tune in Razer’s Synapse app.

Read our full

Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed review





Corsair Virtuoso Pro – Best for streaming





















Pros


High-quality workmanship and elegant design

High sound quality

Two connection cables for flexibility

Robust hardcase transport bag

Multi-platform compatibility thanks to jack connection

Many interchangeable parts



Cons


High price

Open design not ideal for noisy environments

Hardly and sound shielding to the outside

















Best Prices Today:



$199.99 at Corsair





Why I like the Corsair Virtuoso Pro

With an open-ear design in the earcups, the Corsair Virtuoso Pro headset lets in more sound than most gaming headsets, which is perfect if you like to stream your games and want to monitor your own voice or hear your talent interviews in real time. The headset’s design is both elegant and comfortable too. Comfort comes courtesy of an adjustable headband, soft memory foam earpads, and a lightweight frame that weighs just 13.6 ounces (338 grams). The headset’s build quality is very decent — it’s comprised of robust plastic and metal.

In our review, we found that the Corsair Virtuoso Pro’s 50mm graphene drivers produced deep bass and clear treble tones with great detail. While that makes for a great audio experience while gaming, the lack of protective shielding in the earcups does mean that this headset isn’t that effective at blocking ambient noise, so it’s best used in quiet environments.

Who should buy the Corsair Virtuoso Pro

Aspiring or experienced content streamers or gamers who want to make Let’s Plays, walkthroughs, or game tutorials for YouTube or another video platform.

Read our full

Corsair Virtuoso Pro review





ROG Delta S Wireless – Best for casual gaming





















Pros


It comes with two sets of earpads to personalize comfort

The headband and cups allow for a good amount of head movement

The audio sounds great across the spectrum

The build quality is robust



Cons


The AI Noise Cancellation could be better

It lacks a boom microphone

No simultaneous Bluetooth functionality


















Why I like the ROG Delta S Wireless

If you want a premium wireless gaming headset with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wireless connectivity that you can just pop straight on for no-fuss casual gaming, then the ROG Delta S Wireless is ideal. With unique D-shaped earcups and a robust metal headband, it has plenty of gamer-centric appeal. It also features excellent cross compatibility, connecting to most devices (with the exception of Xbox), including PCs, Macs, PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

In my playtesting, the two pairs of interchangeable earpads really allowed me to personalize my comfort. For long gaming stints, the 100 percent protein leather set with one-inch-thick memory foam kept my ears luxuriously comfy, while the hybrid mesh earpads cooled things down when they got too hot.

The ROG Delta S Wireless also sounds terrific — its 50mm neodymium drivers are loud and they comfortably produce clear sound at the far ends of the audio spectrum. One nitpick is that the microphone isn’t the best. Indeed, the ROG Delta S Wireless’s internal beamforming mic can’t quite block out as much background noise as other headsets that rely on external boom microphones but doesn’t sound terrible either.

Who should buy the ROG Delta S Wireless

Casual gamers who want a great all-rounder pair of cans with equal dollops of great sound quality and great comfort but don’t necessarily want to tinker endlessly with their sound settings.

Read our full

Asus ROG Delta S Wireless review





Turtle Beach Stealth Pro – Best for FPS games





















Pros


Punchy audio that's great for FPS games

Solid attractive and versatile design

Very good noise cancellation



Cons


Lacks support for spatial audio

The batteries need frequent changing

It's expensive


















Why I like the Turtle Beach Pro

It’s a premium headset brimming with an almost complete list of premium features. It has excellent cross-platform compatibility and worked across almost all my devices. Plus, it has 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, which meant I could wander away from my PC and still enjoy my gaming audio.

The Turtle Beach Pro sounded punchy with a great level of detail across the spectrum. It was especially well-tuned for FPS games like Halo, CounterStrike 2 and Battlefield I, where it delivered realistic thuds, clinks, and ricochets. A feature specific to Turtle Beach headsets called SuperHuman Hearing made it super easy for me to hear my opponents’ footsteps as they approached.

Who should buy the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro

Keen FPS gamers will really benefit from the headset’s punchy audio that’s ideally tuned for the games they play. The headset can easily pass off as a high-end headphone, so it will also suit gamers that want to use it on the fly.

Read our full

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro review





Corsair HS80 Max – Most comfortable design





















Pros


Great audio performance with neutral mid-tones

Lightweight, comfortable design

Mesh coverings on the earcups minimize sweat

Flip-to-mute mic



Cons


The omnidirectional mic is not detachable

Lacks true simultaneous audio for listening to multiple audio sources

The small RGB light zones feel like an afterthought

















Best Prices Today:



$179.99 at Corsair





Why I like the Corsair HS80 Max

Corsair has made a brave move to prioritize comfort for gamers even at the expense of what most gamers might expect from a premium gaming headset’s design. How so? The HS80 Max eschews leatherette for a cooling mesh fabric on its earcups, and swaps metal for plastic in the headband, making it extremely lightweight and relatively sweat-free for long gaming sessions.

On the audio front, the HS80 Max sounds terrific — its 50mm audio drivers produce a clear, high-resolution audio signature with neutral mid-tones, which really enliven sounds like footfalls and ricochets. It has both 2.4GHz low-latency Wi-Fi connectivity as well as Bluetooth, which you can’t listen to at the same time, but both connectivity types do have a long signal range that allows you to keep listening while taking breaks away from your rig. The non-detachable flip-to-mute mic does a great job reproducing natural-sounding speech for team chats.

Who should buy the Corsair HS80 Max

Anyone who suffers from sweaty, hot ears when they wear leather or leatherette covered earpads and want a cooler less sweat-inducing pair of cans. It’s also ideal for players that feel the burden of wearing heavy headsets and want a lighter option.

Read our full

Corsair HS80 Max review





Logitech G Pro X – Best microphone