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by Ashas Bukhari
Tried And Tested: A Curated List Of the Best Gaming Headphones
5 Aug 2024
Photo: Mahdi Bafande
What do you need in a pair of gaming headphones? It is a short list of demands, if a very tough one to get right. And unlike Goldilocks and her short tenure as a porridge connoisseur, what works for one may not quite work for the other. Nevertheless, after hours of testing and almost two decades playing video games, this author feels confident enough to presume to tell you which pair of headphones you should buy. But jokes aside, when looking for a good pair of gaming headphones, here are things to keep in mind:
— Spatial audio: you need spatial audio. This author will knife-fight you in CS 2 if you disagree. Spatial audio is surround sound on steroids. It changes your game by orders of magnitude, whether you are playing in single or competitive multiplayer, or just goofing around with friends. Knowing where sounds are coming from is a boon to immersion that is criminal to pass up on.
— High-quality sound: don’t skimp on sound quality. Just don’t, and thank me for it later.
— A good mic: having a good microphone will make you a better teammate, and if, like this author, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn in an FPS, being a good teammate is how you make up for potato aim. Make sure you have a good mic.
— Comfort: you don’t care how good it sounds. If you can’t wear it without feeling like it is cruising your ears and skull, it is useless. Prioritise comfort when shopping for gaming headphones.
So, these are just the main considerations. Now let’s talk about compromise like proper adults. When choosing a gaming headphones, you might be tempted to get a wireless headphone or a bluetooth one. For the longest time, this author was tempted to think of wireless headphones and mice as gimmicks, especially since the first wireless mouse I had was handicapped by noticeable input lag. That was until I got my hands on a proper gaming mouse, the ASUS ROG Gladius III. And I’m not going back. So, when looking for bluetooth headphones, you will want to take other things into consideration, like battery life and charging speed.
King of the gaming headphones
The overall winner is, without a doubt, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
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Short and sweet
Connection: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Driver size: 40mm
Battery: 18 to 22 hours
Compatibility:
— PC
— Mac
— Sony PlayStation 4
— Sony PlayStation 5
— Xbox One
— Xbox Series X|S
— Nintendo Switch
Warranty: 1 year
Buy it for: audio quality, comfort and inter-system compatibility
Skip if: you want top-tier noise cancellation.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless impresses with its sleek and practical design, despite lacking the vibrant colours or RGB accents of some rivals. It features a retractable microphone that seamlessly integrates with the left ear cup, allowing it to be hidden when not in use and easily extended when needed. The left ear cup also includes a convenient volume wheel and power button, both of which are easily distinguishable by touch. The right ear cup houses a Bluetooth button.
This headset is exceptionally comfortable, even during long gaming sessions. It is lightweight and equipped with an elastic headband that fits comfortably on any head size or shape. The plush over-ear ear cups are covered in soft-touch faux leather. While the ear cups do become slightly warm after extended use, this is a common occurrence with most headsets but does not cause any discomfort.
Best among the midrange gaming headphones
The midrange king is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless.
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Short and sweet
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Driver size: 40mm
Compatibility:
— PC
— Mac
— Sony PlayStation 4
— Sony PlayStation 5
— Xbox One
— Xbox Series X|S
— Nintendo Switch
Warranty: 1 year
Buy if: you want something affordable and comfortable with versatile connectivity.
Skip if: you want noise cancellation and a long battery life.
This is sort of becoming a SteelSeries-fest, isn’t it? But there is a good reason for that. Just one step down its bigger brother, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, — wow, a lot of words and numbers! To make things more confusing, it comes in variants, (in)conveniently named: the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless and the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless.
To explain the differences and save us all some brain damage: the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless is designed for PlayStation, but it also works wirelessly with PC and Nintendo Switch, and with Xbox via a standard wired connection. The Arctis Nova 7X Wireless includes the Xbox security chip, allowing it to be used wirelessly on any platform. However, on PlayStation, you won't be able to control the game/chat mix directly from the headphones. The Nova 7 Wireless is compatible with everything except Xbox. It features a Chatmix dial but lacks the PlayStation 5 sidetone dial specific to the 7P, although sidetone can still be controlled through the PlayStation 5 software. While this setup may seem a bit confusing, it is designed to maximise your gaming experience.
Best of the value gaming headsets
This is the last SteelSeries, I promise. But the best value gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless.
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Short and sweet
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Driver size: 40mm
Compatibility:
— PC
— Mac
— Sony PlayStation 4
— Sony PlayStation 5
— Xbox One
— Xbox Series X|S
— Nintendo Switch
Warranty: 1 year
Buy if: you want compatibility, a great battery life and a neat phone app with lots of customisation options.
Skip if: you want the option to go wired and simultaneously want 2.4GHz and Bluetooth.
SteelSeries just won’t stop bringing the best of both worlds: top design elements and feature-rich approach into more affordable gaming headphones. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, along with the Nova 5P and 5X Wireless, is the latest addition to this lineup, quickly establishing itself as the best gaming headset available for under $150.
Its compatibility mirrors that of other headsets in the series. Unlike the Nova 7 Wireless, which features a special dial for controlling Sidetone/Chatmix, the Nova 5 lacks this dial. The PlayStation 5 model won't work with Xbox, but the Xbox model will work with PlayStation, though it won't have on-headset chat/game mix control. The setup can be a bit confusing, so it is essential to read the details to ensure you get the headset that works with all your consoles and gaming PCs.
The budget king of gaming headphones
As promised, no more SteelSeries. The best budget gaming headphone is the Razer BlackShark V2.
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Short and sweet
Connection: 3.5mm, USB-C
Driver size: 50mm
Compatibility:
— PC
— Mac
— Sony PlayStation 4
— Sony PlayStation 5
— Xbox One
— Xbox Series X|S
— Nintendo Switch
Buy if: you want something that looks awesome, has great audio quality, and is comfortable to wear.
Skip if: you want wireless headphones.
If you're seeking a pair of top-notch gaming headphones at a more affordable price, the Razer BlackShark V2 is my top recommendation for the best budget option, defined as the best headset under $100. While it doesn't boast the extensive wireless connectivity features of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, it offers excellent aesthetics and sound quality. Additionally, its straightforward wired connection is compatible with any gaming console that has a headphone jack.
The best of the gaming headphones for audiophiles
For gamers who want an eargasm, the only choice is the Audeze Maxwell.
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Short and sweet
Connection: 3.5mm, USB-C, Bluetooth, 2.4GHz
Driver size: 90mm
Compatibility:
— PC
— Mac
— Sony PlayStation 4
— Sony PlayStation 5
— Xbox One
— Xbox Series X|S
— Nintendo Switch
Warranty: 1 year
Buy if: you want top-tier audio quality, versatile connectivity, and easy controls.
Skip if: you have budgetary concerns, or if you want easy adjustability.
If audio quality is your top priority when choosing a gaming headset, the Audeze Maxwell is the one to get. It has earned the reputation as the best gaming headset for audiophiles due to its superior sound compared to any other gaming headset on the market. It also provides excellent connectivity options. While it may not be as comfortable or feature-packed as the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, it still delivers most of the features gamers seek in a versatile pair of headphones, whether you want to stomp noobs in Valorant or listen to your favourite music songs.
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