Our personal audio experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our database of headphones and earbuds to find the best gaming headset available in 2024. Here are the top 10 picks.
Our criteria for the best gaming headset:
Gaming: We prioritized products that have minimal delay between the action on the screen and the sound, and also have a good microphone for voice chat.
Headphones: We limited our search to headphones and excluded earbuds.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized Earbuds or Headphones recommendation
The Audeze Maxwell are premium closed-back over-ear headphones with both wireless and wired capabilities. They offer very good overall sound quality, with an impressive soundstage and imaging capability, making them excellent for immersive music, gaming, and TV/video experiences. Comfort and build quality are also rated very high, along with mic quality, which benefits calls and meetings. The headphones support LDAC for high-quality audio over Bluetooth and feature a detachable cable, a boom mic for clear communication, and an app equalizer for sound customization. They are substantial in weight and size, so they aren't ideal for exercising or use on-the-go. While they aren't specifically optimized for Android or Apple, they do work well with either, and the battery life is lengthy, allowing for prolonged use. However, they may not be the best choice for those seeking optimal noise isolation or portability, and there's no mention of sweat or dust resistance, which could be a consideration for some users.
The EPOS PC38X headphones are well-regarded for their excellent soundstage and imaging, making them a strong choice for an immersive gaming and music experience. They have open-back enclosures which contribute to a more expansive sound but do not isolate noise well, so they may not be ideal for noisy environments or air travel. Although the headphones have a microphone that rates highly for calls and meetings, the boom mic isn't removable, though it can be folded out of the way. Designed primarily for home use, as they are wired and not suited for exercise, their midrange price and very good build quality provide a balance between affordability and durability.
The Sennheiser HD 250BT headphones, released in May 2021, are over-ear, closed-back, and of a budget price. With wireless capability and dynamic drivers, these headphones offer very good overall sound quality and mic quality, as well as very good scores for durability and built-in controls. They have a 25-hour battery life but don't support wireless charging, requiring 3 hours for a full charge. They are sweatproof certified for those who exercise. Notably, they have AptX Low Latency support, enhancing their aptness for gaming and TV/video experiences by reducing audio lag. They do not have active noise cancelling, but the closed-back design provides a degree of noise isolation. The HD 250BT is equipped with an integrated mic, foldable design for portability, and an app that allows equalizer and audio controls customization. They are not optimized specifically for either Android or Apple, making them versatile for various device users. However, their comfort during air travel is considered poor, and they are not dustproof or sweatproof certified.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones offer very good overall sound quality and excellent comfort. They come with active noise canceling and are suitable for extended wear with a long battery life. Their build quality and built-in controls are considered very good. These headphones are well-suited for music listening, calls and meetings, gaming, TV and video, and also for air travel due to their noise isolation capabilities. However, they may not be the best choice for exercise due to their over-ear form factor and size. They also provide an app for equalization and audio control customization, and they support high-quality codecs like AptX Adaptive for improved wireless audio transmission.
The HyperX Cloud II headphones are a good choice for gaming with their superior mic and overall build quality, and they're comfortable enough for long sessions. They offer very good sound for music and games, but only fair soundstage, so they aren't the most immersive for music or TV. Since they have a closed enclosure, they isolate noise fairly well and have a detachable cable for convenience. They're wired, so there's no worry about latency for gaming or calls, but they aren't suitable for exercise due to their size and lack of sweatproofing. With no active noise cancelling, they may not be ideal for noisy environments or air travel. They do feature virtual surround sound, enhancing the gaming experience.
The Sennheiser HD 350BT headphones offer strong overall sound quality and are particularly impressive for music and TV/video experiences due to their dynamic drivers and support for AAC and AptX Low Latency codecs, which ensure high-quality audio and reduced lag. They feature good comfort and very good build quality, with convenient built-in controls. However, they aren't ideal for exercise due to their over-ear form and only fair portability. While they provide very good noise isolation, they lack active noise cancelling, which might be important if you're looking to use them in particularly noisy environments or for air travel. Additionally, they are not sweatproof or dustproof, and they do not come with wireless charging, which could be considered downsides depending on your needs. Their battery life is robust at 33 hours, making them suitable for extended use without frequent recharges.
The Sennheiser HD 400S is a budget-friendly pair of closed-back, over-ear headphones released in 2019, with a focus on good sound quality and excellent comfort. They come with a very good built-in microphone, making them suitable for calls and meetings, and have robust build quality. However, they lack wireless capability, active noise cancelling, and app-related features such as equalizer adjustments. Due to their closed enclosure, they provide some degree of noise isolation, although not as effectively as active noise cancelling headphones. Plus, they're not ideal for exercise since they aren't sweatproof. They have a detachable cable, which can be useful for portability and cable management. The Sennheiser HD 400S folds for easier storage and comes with a medium-sized carry case. Their wired connection ensures low latency, making them a good choice for gaming and watching TV or videos. However, the lack of wireless functionality means they're less convenient for on-the-go use compared to wireless options.
The Sony WH-CH520 headphones are a budget-friendly, closed-back, over-ear option, offering a wireless experience without the ability to connect via a wired connection. They are praised for their comfort and have a very good built-in microphone quality, making them suitable for calls and meetings, but may not be the best choice for critical listening purposes, as their overall sound quality is good but not exceptional. They provide excellent battery life, boasting up to 52 hours of typical use, and come with features like app control customization and an integrated microphone, but lack active noise cancelling. They are foldable for better portability and also come with virtual surround capabilities. However, they are not sweatproof or dustproof certified, which could be important if you plan to use them during exercise or in challenging environments.
The JBL Quantum 100 is an over-ear, wired headset offering good sound quality for its budget price, emphasizing gaming with its very good score in that category, thanks to its boom microphone, which is rated as the best for mic quality. They provide sound isolation and a closed-back enclosure, but don't come with active noise cancelling, so while helpful in reducing some background noise, they may not block out all ambient sounds like busier environments or airplane cabins. These headphones have a comfortable fit, although not rated the highest for comfort, so they're suitable for extended gaming sessions but might not be the best for very long periods of wear. They're not suited for exercise as they lack sweat-proof certification, and with a fair portability score, they are bulkier to carry around than more compact options. The 1.2-meter cable is non-detachable, which means if the cable gets damaged, it would require servicing rather than just replacing the cable. Ideal for gaming and casual listening, these headphones deliver a balanced trade-off between affordability and performance for the right user.
The Sennheiser 450BT headphones, released in early 2020, are a good option if you're seeking high-quality sound with the convenience of both wired and wireless connectivity. They have closed-back, over-ear design, are foldable for portability, and are priced in the lower midrange. With a good comfort score, these headphones may be suitable for long listening sessions, and their very good build quality makes them a durable choice. Active noise cancelling is included, enhancing the experience in noisy environments such as air travel, where they're rated as best for use. The 450BT also offers aptX Low Latency, optimizing them for video content by minimizing delay, though they might not be the top choice for exercise, given their form factor. Notably, the microphone quality is very good, which is a plus for calls and meetings, and they offer a long battery life of about 27.5 hours. They come with an app that provides an equalizer and audio controls, boosting their versatility. However, if your primary use is gaming, these may not be ideal due to potential latency issues with wireless headphones in general.