The holidays are creeping up on us rather fast and that means that once again soon, it’s going to be time to search for a gift for loved ones, and in this gift guide we’re going to go over the best options for gaming headsets if you have a gamer in your life. We’ll be doing our gift guides a little differently than usual this year. We’ll be choosing the very best options for gaming headsets at three different price points.
The two best headsets at the high-end price point, the two best headsets at the mid-range price point, and then the two best headsets at the low-end price point. This way there’s a little something for everyone. On top of this, you know you’ll be choosing from the best options no matter which price point you’re shopping in.
The picks are based on gaming headsets I’ve tested as well. So I’ve had personal user experiences with each option. Because of this, I feel like I’ve chosen the best ones for every type of customer. Granted, everyone’s tastes are different. And you may be looking for something that isn’t in our guide, and that’s totally ok. Having said that, if you want the best, I’ve got you covered regardless of your budget. Now, let’s dive into the guide.
Best high-end gaming headsets
We’re going to kick things off with the best high-end gaming headsets. These are the best possible gaming headsets on the market with a wide range of features. They also have premium build quality, excellent sound quality, and much more. They come with a high price tag, but they’re worth it if you want the very best. Like all the price points, there are tons and tons of options in the high-end range. I’ve had to narrow it down to just two. This means there were some that I loved which had to be filtered out.
However, that should make you feel better about picking one of these two options if you’re looking for a high-end gaming headset. As there was some stiff competition and these are what came out on top.
Audeze Maxwell
I learned of the Audeze Maxwell when it was first launched a few years ago. However, I only just recently got the chance to try it a couple of months ago. When I used it for the first time, I was blown away at how amazing everything sounded. Not only did it bring my game sounds to life in a way I hadn’t really experienced before, but everything was crisp and clear. Playing games like Call of Duty with this headset on made it easier to hear the footsteps of approaching enemies, provided they don’t have the Ninja perk equipped.
Outside of shooter games, the Maxwell headset amped up the sounds around me in games like Final Fantasy XIV, Space Marine 2, and Black Myth: Wukong. Hearing the environments in ways that made it feel like they were living worlds that I was a part of.
All of this is made possible by the planar magnetic drivers that Audeze is using inside of this headset. Putting the sound quality aside, the Maxwell headset also has one of the best microphones I’ve ever used for gaming. Now I have rarely ever received complaints about any mic I was using for Discord chat, but it has happened. Not with the Maxwell, though, and in fact I was told that I sounded better than usual.
Another really awesome feature I loved about the Maxwell headset is the battery life. These last for up to 80 hours on a single charge. I’m not kidding when I say it was about three weeks before I had to plug these in for the first time. Plus, they support fast charging so you get back to full in no time. They’re also extremely comfortable and isolate noise well, with an included active noise cancellation feature if desired. It’s pretty convenient to swap them from platform to platform too. Thanks to the included USB-C dongle, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
All-in-all, this is the best gaming headset you can buy right now. At $299 it isn’t cheap, but I can promise you that you’ll love this thing.
Astro A50 Gen 5
The Astro A50 Gen 5 is another really amazing gaming headset. While it isn’t cheap, has several quality-of-life features and extras that make it worth the price. I’ve been using this headset as my main for a little bit and so far, I’m loving it. It has all the hallmarks of a great gaming headset with the nice little added features that really solidify it as one of the best you can buy.
First, let’s start with the sound quality. Since Astro is now owned by Logitech, the Astro A50 Gen 5 is using the same graphene drivers as the G Pro X 2 headset. And thanks to Logitech’s sound tuning, these really help amplify the sounds of footsteps and other finer details in games. While not as premium-felling as the Audeze Maxwell, the Astro A50 Gen 5 is very comfortable. The soft cloth memory foam earpads are very breathable as well. I have yet to use these while gaming and come out at the end of my session with my ears feeling hot or sweaty.
The sound quality is really good but there is no active noise cancellation. So if you like blocking out everything, you won’t find that on this headset. What I really, really love about the Astro A50 Gen 5, however, is the base station. This serves as both a means for charging, and a way to connect the headset to multiple platforms. On the charging front, I have never had to worry about these dying on me in the middle of use. Because they last for up to 24 hours. As soon as I’m done playing, they go right back to the base station to charge.
The base station is also connected to my PS5, my laptop, and a desktop, and I can easily switch between each source for audio with the press of a button on the headset. It’s a flawless transition. The base station even tells you which one you’re currently connected to. On top of all that, this headset supports simultaneous audio from two sources at once. This means I can have it connected to PS5 through the Lightspeed wireless connection, and to my phone via Bluetooth for chat with the Discord mobile app. They’re the same price as the Audeze Maxwell too.
Best mid-range gaming headsets
They don’t have all the bells and whistles of the high-end headsets, but there are still some amazing options at the mid-range price point if you aren’t looking to spend a few hundred dollars. We completely understand that, too. Sometimes you just want something that sounds good and works well, but it doesn’t need to be super extra. That’s what you’ll find at this tier, without the headsets compromising on quality.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7
I’ve had the pleasure of using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 numerous times over the past year or so and I absolutely love this headset. It offers MOST of the same features of what used to be my favorite gaming headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. It doesn’t cost nearly as much though and that’s one of its main strengths.
First and foremost, it’s a very comfortable headset that I can wear for hours without having issues. And when I say issues, I mean issues with discomfort due to soreness or sweat. It also has a really good microphone that helps your voice come through pretty clearly in chats.
Of course, my favorite feature of this headset is the dual audio streams. It’s one thing that I feel really helps lift it up above many other headsets. You can use the USB-C dongle for low-latency audio on console or PC, and then connect to your phone via Bluetooth and have audio playing from both at the same time. These days, I just feel this is too good of a feature to not have. It comes in very handy if you play games on console, or if you just like hearing your PC games while being able to talk on the phone at the same time.
It also lasts for a decent amount of time between charges at up to 38 hours. Plus, it’s compatible with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, mobile, Nintendo Switch, and VR. At $180 you get loads of features, and it’s not too expensive. It commonly goes on sale too, and is currently on sale for $150.
Razer Kraken V4
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Razer Kraken because it was my very first true gaming headset. Of all the different models I’ve tried over the years, I’ve never disliked one of them. The Kraken line is a tried and true staple in the gaming headset market and Razer’s latest, the Kraken V4, is my favorite so far. I’ve used this on and off for several weeks and it has plenty of upgrades over past models.
My favorite, though, is the new microphone. It’s no longer detachable and instead retracts into the headset’s left ear cup. I have always loved this design for simplicity and style. To make things even better, Razer made the microphone flush with the ear cup so it’s not sticking out even when retracted. To top that off, there is a small indent right where the mic meets the earcup. So you can easily slide your finger in there to pull the mic out.
I also really like that it has three modes of connectivity. This allows it to be multi-platform and that makes it a versatile option for people who want one headset for everything. You can use the HyperSpeed wireless dongle, Bluetooth, or connect the headset via USB. During my time with it so far, what I found myself appreciating the most was the THX spatial audio for more immersive game sessions. It’s just hard to go back to a headset that doesn’t offer this kind of audio experience.
You also get on-ear controls for everything you need, including the mute button, and of course, Razer Chroma is on offer too. That being said, I didn’t use Chroma much as I can’t see it when the headset is on my head, and it drains more battery life. But it’s a nice touch anyway. For $180, it’s a solid pick that I have enjoyed using with my games thanks to comfort and great sound quality.
Best low-end gaming headsets
Finally, we’ve come to the last part of our guide, which is the best gaming headsets in the low-end price range. These are the best options you can find at an affordable, low-end price point. Just because you aren’t spending hundreds of dollars on your gaming headset, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t end up with something that really shines and does its job well.
Logitech G Pro X
Logitech G’s Pro X headset has been one of our favorites for several reasons. One of those reasons is that, aside from the lack of wireless connectivity, the wired model doesn’t lose any of the quality that it offers when it comes to sound. This headset is packed with great audio quality and it’s extremely comfortable to wear. This is helped by Logitech G including two sets of memory foam earpads. A set that’s leatherette and a set that’s made of cloth.
I tend to gravitate toward the leatherette whenever I put this headset on. That being said the cloth is very nice because it’s a bit more breathable. I do find however that the leatherette ear pads feel a little nicer. This headset also comes with a detachable mic. So you don’t always have to have it in front of your face when you don’t need it. You just want to be sure to keep it stored somewhere safe so as not to lose it.
Another really nice touch is that it comes with a cloth carrying pouch for travel storage. I didn’t need to use this much, but it was really cool to have for when I took my setup over to a friend’s house for some LAN gaming. And this is included with the headset at no extra cost. This sits right at the $99 price point and you really won’t find anything that’s a better value with how good quality the G Pro X wired is.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
Rounding out our holiday gift guide for the best gaming headsets is going to be the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. While I don’t use wired headsets as much, if I’m going to use one I want it to be as good as the Arctis Nova 1 from SteelSeries. This is by far one of the best wired gaming headsets I’ve ever tested. That has helped it secure one of our two picks for the best low-end gaming headsets.
For $60, SteelSeries is packing A LOT of features into the headset. One of my favorites is the noise-cancelling microphone. There is nothing worse than being in chat with someone during a game and all you can hear is all of the background noise coming into the mic. Whether that’s air from the fan, screaming children, a vacuum cleaner, you name it. Thankfully, the Arctis Nova 1 filters that out thanks to the noise-cancelling mic. And it’s helped ensure that when it gets noisy inside my place, my friends weren’t forced to listen to all of that.
This headset has also been extremely comfortable to use thanks to the memory foam ear cups and the adjustable headband. The headband in particular is a favorite of mine because it’s the same type of headband used on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. It’s called the ComfortMAX system and it’s really, really easy to adjust the fit with it. All you have to do is move the band to match one of the three holes up with the knob on the inner part of the headset’s outer headband. The inner headband is also stretchy so it adjusts to your head shape.
Because this uses a 3.5mm headphone jack it can connect to just about any platform as well. Including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile, VR headsets, handheld gaming PCs, and regular gaming PCs. If you’re not looking to spend a ton, this is absolutely the gaming headset you want to go for.
