Best Gaming Headsets of 2021

Today’s games sound greater than ever before, competing with major Hollywood films in sound design quality.

I will never forget the intense guttural feel of driving in Mad Max with decent Sony headphones or the unique sound design that went into Half-life: Alyx that makes Virtual Reality feel alive.

It’s important. Great headphones can help you play better in games like CS:GO because you have much greater auditory awareness. They also can cost you the match though if they’re low quality or keep sending you off to die in the wrong area. Adding to this complexity, good headphones may be the opposite of what you want if ol’ Stereo on some cheap earbuds works just fine.

This guide from World’s Best Gaming is there to help you sift through the glut of options available for PC as well as answer some of those burning questions you may have about sound.

First is our list followed by our in-depth tech guide. So let’s dive on in and make some ambrosia for your auditory system!

ALL AROUND BEST – HYPERX CLOUD ALPHA / ALPHA S

HyperX Cloud Alpha - Gaming Headset, Dual Chamber Drivers, Award Winning Comfort, Durable Aluminum Frame, Detachable Microphone, Works on PC,...

• Frequency response 15Hz–25,000 H.Headphones fit type:Over-Ear.The versatile Cloud Alpha is designed to work on PC, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and other platforms with a 3.5mm port.
• HyperX Dual Chamber Drivers for more distinction and less distortion

20 used from $55.29
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Last update was on: November 18, 2024 2:50 pm

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$69.99 $99.99

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Features

Detachable Mic
Noise-Canceling Mic
Stereo and 7.1 Surround Options

Our Thoughts

Listen, we’re a bit biased here. Truth be told, despite dabbling with Logitech, Turtle Beach, some off-brand models, and more, we always keep coming back to HyperX for producing incredible sound, comfortable design, while keeping them rather affordable. I cut my gums on the HyperX Cloud and Revolver S series. The Alpha is just a continued build towards better quality and crisper sound. It’s much newer and people will debate for hours the tonal differences between the two. The Alpha is hecka comfortable, sounds great, affordable, comes with a cheaper version if you don’t like virtual surround sound. Overall it’s one of the best PC Gaming headsets to come out in recent years. Two flaws. The blue and red sort of have that “Oh God, please don’t wear that in the office feel,” so opt for black. Also the mic is just a bit crusty. It’s not the best quality (Don’t worry, headset mics usually aren’t). But can we at least not make it look like a Britney Spears mic? You’ll absolutely LOVE this headset even if it has a visual issue or two.

RUNNER UP – STEELSERIES ARCTIS 7

SteelSeries Arctis 7 - Lossless Wireless Gaming Headset with DTS Headphone:X v2.0 Surround - For PC and PlayStation 4 -...

• Designed for gaming, the 2.4 grams connection delivers rock solid, lossless wireless audio with ultra-low latency and zero interference
• Widely recognized as the best mic in gaming, the discord certified clear cast microphone delivers studio quality voice clarity and background noise cancellation

10 used from $105.15
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Last update was on: November 18, 2024 2:50 pm

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$249.99

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Features

All the normal features (7.1 Surround Sound, mic, great sound)
Wireless with over 20 hours of battery life
Retractable Mic

Our Thoughts

Steelseries makes some of the best headsets in the business (Trust me, you pay for that quality). It’s become almost normal to see the Arctis 7 as a favorite of those in the PC Gaming Industry. It’s affordable, wireless, and really good sounding. The battery life lasts a good 20 hours and it’s just simple to use and set up. There is 7.1 Surround Sound (Virtual) if you install the specific software that comes with it. All peripherals have software these days so it’s not a big deal. If you hate installing things though, you can just use stereo like the good ol’ days. It’s also comfortable with a band a bit similar to that of the HyperX series. While the Mic has a sort of cheapish feel to the wire, it actually is retractable which is super nice ansd sounds really good for a headset mic. Sometimes headsets have removable mics but no one wants to continually throw a mic on the desk when it’s uncomfortable let alone deal with the wear and tear that it causes. This also looks semi-professional meaning it’s ok at the office although it’s large so you won’t be looking low-key with it on. It’s almost iconic now as it’s been such a solid staple of the gaming headset industry. They do refreshes occasionally such as the 2019 model. It’s stood the test of time and just a win for those looking for a wireless option.

MOST AFFORDABLE – HYPERX STINGER CORE

HyperX Cloud Stinger Core - Gaming Headset for PS4, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One headset, Over-Ear Wired Headset with...

• The product is compatible with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
• Optimized for comfort and convenience. Circumaural closed back type
• PC and Laptop compatibility may require a 4-pole Y-Splitter (Not Included)
• Headset connection is 3.5 millimeter plug 4 pole. Cable length is 51.18 inch headset

3 used from $21.12

Last update was on: November 18, 2024 2:50 pm

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$33.64 $39.99

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Features

Stereo sound
Mic
Money in your pocket

Our Thoughts

Why do you want a gaming headset? To game. So if you don’t care about features and think Stereo is A-Ok, then this is a great option. It’s affordable. Like really affordable. It’s sound is good to great and for the price, excellent. It also is an entire product line meaning you can buy a wireless model or 7.1 model. Having been around for awhile, these are some of the best budget headsets around. They’re not going to blow your eardrums out with base. They’re not so stylish that you put it on for your Instagram profile pic. But they get the job done and they get it done almost $100 lighter than other options. Always be careful buying cheap headsets. They aren’t durable and break at the slightest touch. There isn’t that flexibility you see in the more frame moving styles of the Alpha and Arctis 7. Still, these are an excellent option for those who just need a down and dirty solution.

PREMIUM WIRELESS EXPERIENCE – LOGITECH G935

Logitech G935 Wireless DTS:X 7.1 Surround Sound LIGHTSYNC RGB PC Gaming Headset - Black, blue

• The most advanced wireless gaming headset yet from Logitech G. 2.4 GHz wireless delivers premium Sound, complete freedom and a clean set up without wires. Default lighting- 8 hours. No lighting-12 hours.Control Type:Button

17 used from $84.90
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Last update was on: November 18, 2024 2:50 pm

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$119.99 $169.99

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Features

Wireless
Programmable Keys
Tons of options on the headset itself
Flip to Mute Mic
RBGB

Our Thoughts

I love this headset. Just the flip to mute mic is enough to make me shake Logitechs hand and tell them I’m proud of them for changing the world. This headset is an awesome wireless headset and despite being wireless is on par with the best gaming headphones out there. The mic is great, the RGB is good for those who like flashy lights (It doesn’t really tickle my fancy but people love it). These are some of my facorite headphones of the last decade. The only real con is that they’re not cheap. That’s about it. They’ll outclass most headsets and do it in style. It’s an excellent choice for those who have the funds!

THE ODD ONE OUT – AIRPOD PROS

Apple AirPods Pro

• Active noise cancellation for immersive sound
• Transparency mode for hearing and connecting with the world around you
• Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
• Sweat and water resistant

2 used from $363.10
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Last update was on: November 18, 2024 2:50 pm

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• Possible compatibility issues

Features

Custom fit
Active Noise Cancellation
Adaptive EQ
Sweat and Water Resistant
4.5 Hours of listening time on one charge
Wireless Charging Case

Our Thoughts

Without a doubt some of the BEST sounding, flawless design, longest lasting wireless headphones around. But there is an elephant in the room. For whatever reason, users of Windows 10 OS will encounter a wide array of problems using them in certain situations such as Adobe Premiere Pro. This is because of a few small things that can be changed in settings such as fixing auto-disconnects and also Windows 10 seems to iron out these kinks as they come. If those kinks don’t make you afraid though, Airpods, specifically the Pro version are just a phenomenal device. Personally, getting a pair and experiencing the Active Noise Cancellation was a game changer. You don’t realize how much buzz and feedback you get from just the living space around you. The little echoes are minimized and suddenly it’s just you and your audio needs. Not the Air Conditioner. The audio quality is fantastic but that noise cancellation is why it’s worth putting up with a little bit of hassle between devices. If you have a bluetooth capable desktop, these are an awesome choice. They can work with loads of other devices as well as not work so this is definitely a “Do your own research” situation. As for gaming? Flawless, clear, and even have pretty decent headphones allowing you to game and chat. Getting up to walk away from the PC is nice too as it’s got a decent range.

TECHNICAL GUIDE

Some Notes On Headset Quality

Don’t spend 100 hours doing research when you won’t even know the difference!

Some people may wonder why we didn’t go into frequency ranges, bandwidth, the size of your fancy neodynmium drivers! While WBG has no fear of tough, technical deep dives into features and models, we find most people can’t really tell the difference between a headset that runs 20Hz-20,000Hz frequency range and ones that go higher or sound like “This or that.”

What can the average person tell? Does it crackle. Does it sound hollow or like there is some weight to the sound? These sorts of things are more useful so we picked some of the best headsets around and none of them have those sort of sound issues. If by chance you are an in-depth audiophile and wanted more, leave us a note! We’d love to answer questions and dive deep, but let’s be honest. For the average audience, it’s all about does it work, is it comfortable, will my wallet hate me, and do I look like a loser at the office with this headset?

It’s 2020. If you buy a gaming headset that sounds awful, you brought a broken product or something dirt cheap. Most if not all of the gaming peripherals above $100 are going to sound phenomenal to those of us who aren’t audiophiles.

That being said, Gaming headsets are different from professional sound headsets and you’ll find a notorious amount of writing online saying things like “There are no good gaming headsets! Every headset is a scam!”

That’s not true at all, Gaming Headsets aren’t always designed to get those fine fancy flute notes or the best wavelengths of good DJ work. They’re designed for games. Studio headsets have a different value and purpose (And price tag!) Most people won’t notice the difference between two high-end models and gaming features are pretty specific. Like having a mic you can push to mute or having the ability to amplify certain things like ambient footsteps. As gimmicky as that might seem, it’s a different animal then wanting deep bassy tones from the latest Rap Album.The things that may or may not work are likely virtual surround sound, bass that feels heavy, and compatibility. If you listen to some sweet jams on Spotify though you’ll most likely be fine.

If you are a musician, do work with editing (Although you shouldn’t really edit sound with headphones because it’s not as widely listened to..), or use headsets for multimedia, a gaming headset might work but it might not be for you. That’s ok. You’ll LOVE playing games with any of these headsets.

FEATURES TO CONSIDER

Wireless or Wired

Probably the biggest feature to think about. There are pro and con aspects about both. Wired always has a bit more consistency and often superior sound (Although that’s changed) and no battery issues. They also are prone to a frayed cord or jack that basically ruins everything with cracklin’ like a southern BBQ. Wired headsets rock but they take a bit more finess, bluetooth ability, and don’t always work with different systems. I personally use both depending on the game and purpose.

Virtual Surround Sound

It seems like every company is now saying “I can fit so many speakers in this bad boy!” I love Virtual Surround Sound, usually. Some do not. I find it adds depth to the headset and feels like a stage. Sound seems to travel and bounce. A lot of this is preference. Virtual Surround Sound today is pretty great but a cheap product may fudge the quality. The biggest challenge is competitive gaming with VSS. Sometimes it makes sounds seem more distance so really good surround sound is awesome, but if doen wrong, you may miscalculate distance. For instance lots of CS:GO players use Stereo as it gives clear directional ques without getting weird. Fortunately it’s almost always a little button you press off and on so you’ll get both with any headset worth it’s salt.

Make a note that the game itself and your PC may not be setup for virtual surround. So the best headset with a terrible game may struggle.

Compatibility

This is a huge thing but not always obvious when buying headsets. For whatever reason, headsets often won’t work with a PS4 or Phone or Xbox One unless they nail the compatibility. Sometimes this means a loss of features (No digital surround sound, crackling, a mic that won’t work). The worst offenders just won’t work which is pretty sad, especially when you spent a lot of dosh. We didn’t put console specific headsets though because this is a PC list and that’s a loser move. To not make headsets that can work across a wide array of outcomes.

Mic Quality

Headset mics tend to suck. I love my Revolver S mic but if I was streaming, I’d use a Blue Yeti. The mic isn’t going to wow anyone and that’s ok but expect some ok audio (Not good enough to record with) and depending on the headset, your friends to hear the cat screaming for attention. It’s ok to have low expectations here. There isn’t a professional alive who would expect high-quality from a mic on a headset, good mics in the industry are around $600-800 so you’re just not going to see that here.

Comfort and Fit

This matters but every headset is different. Ideally look for those that have a lot of testing and positive reviews on feel. With the original Revolver, I heard complaint after complaint about the metal frame jittering if you touch it. Either I don’t touch my head alot or people love to complain. It wasn’t a problem. Sometimes a headset is super comfortable but almost anything hurts after 8 hours. Be reasonable and expect that most headsets that cost money have some level of comfort but you want to try them out if you are particularly sensitive to this. At least before Covid-19 we would. I’m not sure what is taboo today with regards to headphone sharing.

Durability

It’s lame but plasticy cheap headsets break from rolling a chair over them or playing rough. I prefer metal. Just get something that lasts.

Passive Noise Cancellation

A.K.A. A headset with things like loads of insulation. I love it but some like to hear the outside world. Just be aware that it may get warm if your headset kills noise with pure insulation.

Active Noise Cancellation

I’ll never be the same after experiencing it. This tech rocks, kills batteries, be aware, but it is worth it.

Don’t Worry About Crazy Sound Features

You actually don’t usually need to consider these. They are fairly specific and usually not game-changing. EXCEPT FOR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION.

Wait! What about Hz, Drivers, The amount of this and that!!! Why shouldn’t I think about that?

You probably won’t care. Let’s be honest. Those things sound nice but if you aren’t a sound technician or audiophile, you won’t care. If you are, well, you’d probably be picking headsets for a completely different purpose then gaming and know what to look for. These will all sound fantastic.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What about brands?

I normally say brands don’t matter but for headsets I would say that they ABSOLUTLEY matter. Crappy headsets are kind of lame. So stick with Steelseries, Hyper X, Logitech, Razer, Turtle Beach if they’re not being lame (They can sell some breakable options). Really major manufacturers and peripheral creators will usually make something good but avoid dodgy cheap discount headsets. It’s very similar to taking money and some matches and doing that whole burn it for no purpose thing.

Why should I pay this much money for headphones?

Oh, it does make a difference. You’ll notice it on any of the headset with the acception of the wonderful but get-a-bit-more-than-what-you-pay-for stinger core option. Headsets that hit the abr with quality sound phenomenal and make you wonder how gaming companies afford so many people making bird noises and ruffling shrub noises. They change everything. But you do need to be willing to pay a little bit of cash. They’re also easy to operate making that whole “My mic isn’t working” discord conversation happen way less with friends.

Why did you only pick these headsets?

Listen, there are probably around 30 EXCELLENT models right now with various cost levels and all that. At World’s Best Gaming we try to keep our lists small. The reason being that it is exhausting to comb through 20 products and still have no idea which ones are “Best.” The average listicle online is going to contain 13-15 products and it always bugs us a bit. Can you test that many? Can you seriously say these are all good? Can you differentiate between two similar products? So at WBG, we often can’t review 20 products in good faith and we don’t ask you to think that we did. At least until we build a warehouse to hold all the extra gear, chairs, keyboards, processors and more that we’d need to casually buy and toss on the regular. We read, research, often own and test many of these products and aggregate them (Like these other sites usually do without telling anyone). We’re honest though because the products we recommend (Or say to avoid) are the ones WE would or have bought. Thus, small lists, trustworthy lists, and a whole lotta of avoiding second-tier fluff with our product lines. Uh, but PC Gamer and TechRadar actually list out how they test things so that’s cool. Please don’t leave us.

Thanks for joining us!

We hope that at World’s Best Gaming you can find a home for all your PC needs. And that’s because we’re gamers ourselves. The products we recommend are the ones we buy (Or would buy if we had loads of money). If you need a gaming headset, remember that most today are actually pretty great. Don’t get caught up looking for a set with Music Industry standard sound. You’ll love these options for gaming. But tell us what you love! What do you have questions about? Leave a comment because we want to write content you relate to and need. As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on gaming.