Whether you prefer to play on PC,
on Xbox or PS4, or on the go with your Nintendo Switch, it’s always
important to consider your audio setup – especially as more and more
games now support high resolution audio for immersive soundscapes.
Games like
Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
all have remarkable sound design that makes the step into these
authentically realized visual worlds even more believable.
These headsets offer a variety of different experiences depending on your preference to wired or wireless, not to mention your budget, and let you crank up the volume without bothering the neighbours.
To test them we look at everything from out-of-the-box performance to
build quality, battery life, comfort, versatility and the initial setup
process. We tested on multiple consoles as well as gaming PCs.
We also experimented with how these gaming headsets fare with music or film audio to work out if they are suitable for more broad use than simply just for games.
You can trust our independent
reviews. We may earn commission from a number of the retailers, but we
never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from
real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund
journalism across The Independent.
Steel Series Arctis 7 gaming headset: £119, Amazon
This headset it one to consider if you want some of the best-sounding
gaming audio in the business, but aren’t prepared to shell out that bit
extra for SteelSeries’ higher-end pair, the Arctis pro wireless (see
below). You still get the excellent build quality the brand is known for
– the high levels of comfort, and the impressive versatility of audio
response – just without the wireless transmitter box that acts as a hub
device under or next to your television.
Instead it operates with a smaller transmitter device – perfect if
you’re a touch more strapped for space. One thing to note is that, while
they are very comparable to the pro wireless headphones in terms of
audio quality, the Arctis 7’s are slightly less adaptable. Gamers will
find that playing with PS4 and PC is well supported, although you will
need the included wired adaptor for use with the Xbox One or Nintendo
Switch. However, considering the cost saving against the pro, that’s
still a small price to pay.
Buy now
SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless gaming headset: £280, Currys
The Arctis Pro is handily one among the simplest sounding wireless
gaming headsets out there. However, that lossless wireless sound quality
– as well as the superlative build quality – comes at a high price of
almost £300, making it the most pricey device in this roundup. Still, if
you can stomach the high cost of entry, we think the Arctis Pro offers
enough features to justify its price tag.
From the aforementioned build quality, to a well designed wireless
transmitter; not to mention the sheer number of customisation options in
the audio settings, we’re impressed. There’s also the fact that it
comes with a dual-battery system, meaning that you can reduce charging
downtime to zero by having one battery pack on charge in the wireless
transmitter, and one in use at any given time. It’s an expensive – but
worthwhile – addition to your gaming setup, just be aware that it is not
compatible with Xbox One chat functionality.
HyperX Cloud Mix gaming headset: £144.95, Amazon
HyperX is well known in the gaming space and for mostly good reasons –
the Cloud Mix is perhaps its best made headset, and one that’s not
packed with frill or needless design quirks. With a solid black
aluminium frame, black leatherette ear cups and headband, a detachable
microphone and Bluetooth capabilities with a 20-hour battery life, it’s a
really well designed piece of kit.
Factor in the onboard controls for playback and the headset can double
as an unobtrusive on-the-go option for music and podcasts, as well as
wired gaming for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mac, mobile, Nintendo Switch and VR.
As for the actual sound quality, it’s fantastic – the hi-res
audio-certified speakers make for an excellent all-rounder – but gamers
may find they’d prefer a more focused audio peripheral for the price,
which is on the higher end of the spectrum.
Audio Technica ATH-G1 gaming headset: £159, Amazon
One thing you notice as soon as you put the ATH-G1’s over your ears is
just how comfortable and light they are. The wired design is clearly
intended for long periods of wear sat at a PC or TV screen, and from our
testing they absolutely succeed in offering something that doesn’t make
your ears feel overly sweaty or compressed after extended use.
In terms of sound quality, they’re exactly what you’d expect from a
premium audio brand like Audio Technica: really well defined and
excellent. The detachable microphone also performs well. And while they
don’t offer as impressively booming bass as some other units which have
the low-end punched up, this means they have a cleaner, more refined
balance that makes them excellent for a more authentic audio experience.
They’re also very versatile, supported by all the major console
manufacturers, PCs, and any other device with a 3.5mm jack.
Turtle Beach recon 70P gaming headset: £29.99, Argos
For console gamers, value for money doesn’t get far better than the
Turtle Beach Recon 70s. Available for fewer than £30, they are available
in three different colour morphs – red and black for Nintendo Switch,
blue and black for PS4 and PS4 Pro, and green and black for the Xbox
lineup of consoles. aside from colour, the three different variants
function almost identically, connecting via 3.5mm jack making them
universally adaptable.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the cable is brief , so is best
plugged into a console controller or the highest of your Nintendo
Switch. As a basic wired headset made entirely of plastic, the recons
deliver on the promise of solid entry-level audio quality and chat
functionality, albeit they don’t deliver all that highly within the
product design or extended comfort departments. they'll not give the
clear high-end and booming low-end of costlier headsets either, but as a
reasonable entry for casual players, these are hard to ignore.
Logitech G Pro gaming headset: £84.99, Amazon
Logitech’s updated Pro headset may be a superbly designed mid-tier
option that strips away the superfluous fluff of the many hardcore
gaming headsets and delivers on a focused device. It’s been designed
together with eSports players across the world , meaning it’s intended
to deliver for competitive gaming – it with great care happens that
Logitech has also created something that isn’t flashing with bright
lights or covered in cheap-looking angular accents.
Instead, it’s plain black aside from the metallic Logitech logos on each
ear cup, features a top quality build and incredibly lightweight form
factor. The comfort levels are top notch, too. The detachable mic is
great and clear, and Logitech even seems to possess tidied up the bass
response from previous iterations, which were noted to be pretty loose
on the low end, but were solid in our test of this device.
Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 gaming headset: £219.99, Argos
As the name not-so-subtly suggests, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 is that
the company’s top end headset – designed, because the box inlay says,
as “the second coming” of gaming audio. Now, which may promise tons –
and considering the worth , you ought to expect it to deliver – but the
Elite Pro 2’s are undoubtedly a number of the simplest sounding cans
that Turtle Beach has ever made, with 7.1 surround sound that immerses
you fully into whichever computer game you happen to be playing.
These also are a number of the foremost comfortable headphones we’ve
tested. Setup are often a touch clumsy as there’s variety of wires –
running from headset to the “elite superamp”, then into the PS4 or PC
via USB – but it’s a one-time process that shouldn’t be of concern to
anyone looking to use these regularly as their go-to device during a
fixed setup. There’s also the Turtle Beach app, which provides you
immediate customisation options from your smartphone, tweaking
everything from chat mix to overall EQ.
It’s undoubtedly a touch bit more fiddly than some more simple solutions
– see the SteelSeries Arctis Pro – but there’s no questioning the audio
quality of the Elite Pro 2’s.
Plantronics RIG 800HS wireless gaming headset: £136.36, Amazon
While a bunch of headset manufacturers are chasing a sleeker, more
minimal aesthetic, Plantronics are sacking that off entirely, going
instead for the apache combat pilot look with an angular design that's
divisive to mention the smallest amount . But there’s no avoiding the
very fact that these also are a number of , if not the foremost
comfortable headphones we’ve ever worn.
In terms of sound quality, the 800HS may be a decent quality wireless
set that’s unbelievably lightweight, although that has clearly got
something to try to to with the mostly plastic build which feels a touch
but premium compared to another devices in our roundup.
The HS is meant specifically to be used with the PS4, connecting via USB
to a wireless transmitter, but does accompany the specified cables to
plug it into Xbox or PC. We also found the device had good use of Dolby
Atmos, although the bass may be a little less present than many gamers
wish to have it. It’s also a shame that the mic isn’t detachable,
although this may likely only be a priority for alittle number of
players.
Razer Thresher Ultimate gaming headset: £210, Amazon
Razer’s Thresher Ultimate headset may be a premium product both in terms
of build quality and audio performance. With a simple setup and a very
useful headset stand packed within the box (there’s no wireless
charging, sadly), the last word is meant for quick and seamless
integration into your gaming setup.
The audio makes full use of these big cans to pack a hefty, bassy and
clear punch that suits all kinds of games, whether you’re playing a
bombastic shooter or a relaxed platformer. They’ll work with PC, PS4 and
Xbox, but you’ll only get surround sound for PC and your chosen console
counting on the version of the headset you purchase . aside from that
they’re also really comfortable and battery life is sweet too, at round
the 15-hour mark.
Astro Gaming A50 headset: £249.99, Argos
The Astro A50s are just about a staple for gamers nowadays and stand
tall together of the simplest headsets you'll buy. they are available at
a premium price but deliver flawless wireless audio with Dolby 7.1
surround and are compatible with just about every console. meaning big,
spacious sound stages that pack a correct punch, with a talk
functionality that's designed with gamers in mind. There’s even an input
on the most base station for extra audio signal input. For the cash you
get excellent additional features beyond the sound quality itself,
including wireless charging (it are often charged while in use via a
cable, too)...
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