Best High-End Gaming Headset 2021: The Absolute Best You Can Buy
You may not want to use a
gaming headset
only $20 because you can end up with weak sound, horrible mic and uncomfortable sound. design. But, it's safe to say that there are some really decent options in the $50 ballpark, and even a few
wireless gaming headsets
at a slight supplement to that. But, if you care about sound and comfort as much as visuals, there's still a lot to be gained by opting for a high-end gaming headset.
You'll find plenty of models that incorporate a good bit of metal to give them great durability, but don't worry about them making them uncomfortably heavy. The best high-end headphones don't skimp on memory foam cushions, so you can get a high level of comfort even if they're heavy. Typically, you'll also find support for sophisticated features like surround sound, wider frequency response ranges, crystal-clear microphones, multiple connectivity options, and support for many different platforms. Whether you're using console, PC, or even playing on a
smart phone
, these helmets have a lot to offer. None are quite the same, so check them all out to see which one will suit you best - and
click here to find them in the UK
.
TL;DR - Here are the best high-end gaming headsets:
Audeze Penrose X
SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
Bang & Portal Olufsen Beoplay
Sennheiser GSP 670
Logitech G935
HyperX Cloud Orbit S
JBL Quantum One
Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed Wireless
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1. Audeze Penrose X
Best High-End Gaming Headset
Audeze-Penrose
X
2
See< /p>
on Amazon
To see in Audeze
Compatibility:
Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●
Interface:
Wireless, Wired ●
Connections:
Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz USB dongle, 3.5mm audio cable, USB-C (charging) ●
Drivers:
100mm planar ●
Frequency response:
10Hz - 50,000Hz ● p>
Autonomy:
3 p.m. ●
Weight:
320g
Audeze continues to push things forward with its headphones, and it's done it again with the Audeze Penrose X (
read our review
). These wireless gaming headphones take a lot of the lessons learned in the Audeze Mobius Wireless and bring them to a more affordable $299. While that might still seem like a lot for a pair of headphones, these boxes are ready for just about any audio setup.
The Audeze Penrose X supports a wireless connection using a USB dongle, but they also allow for Bluetooth pairing. And, when wireless isn't an option, you can switch to the older 3.5mm audio connection (although they still need to be on). The Penrose X headset is designed to support Xbox Series X and S, but also works wirelessly with PC and PlayStation consoles. All these opinions on connectivity make these headphones a one-stop solution. And that's great news because these headphones feature planar magnetic driver technology for truly stunning audio quality.
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Logitech G PRO X Wireless
-
$182.99
Logitech G635 DTS, X 7.1 Surround Sound LIGHTSYNC RGB PC Gaming Headset
-
$86.48< /p>
Razer Kraken Tournament Edition
-
$69.99
For more handpicked deals, visit IGN Deals
2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC
Best High-End Wired Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Pro+
GameDAC
0
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
View on Walmart
View on Newegg
Compatibility:
PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●
Interface:
wired ●
< p>Connections:USB, 3.5mm audio cable, optical ●
Drivers:
Neodymium 40mm ●
Frequency response:< /p>
10Hz - 40,000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
DTS Headphone:X v2.0 ●
Weight:
348g
SteelSeries' latest flagship headset is quite unique in that it includes a small USB "GameDAC" that sits on your desk and offloads your host system's sound processing to a chip inside (
Read our review
). The small control center has an OLED screen, which allows you to adjust everything on the helmet with simple and intuitive controls.
It's a nifty way to manage settings, and the audio output is great too. On top of that, you have a super premium design which is extremely comfortable, customizable and just plain perfect. The fit and finish are top notch, and it even has RGB lighting.
3. SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
Best High-End Wireless Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Wireless
0
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
View on Newegg
View on Best Buy
Compatibility:
PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, mobile ●
Interface:
wired ●
Connections:
USB, 3.5mm audio cable, optical ●
Drivers:
Neodymium 40mm ●
Frequency response: p>
10Hz - 40,000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
DTS Headphone:X v2.0 ●
Weight:
< p>348gThe SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless (
read our review
) is the full package; a well-designed and super comfortable wireless headset with 7.1 surround sound with the ability to connect up to three devices. If you plan things right, you could have this gaming headset hooked up to both PC and console at the same time. And on top of all that, this gaming headset also has Bluetooth so you can pair it with a smartphone to listen to something else while you game.
It also happens to adapt to your head with a super comfortable "ski mask" band and breathable fabric ear cups. You can even buy replacements with different colors and patterns to personalize things a bit. The microphone is also excellent and slips into the earcup when not in use. the icing on the cake is the wireless hub, which not only lets you wire your devices out of sight, but it also charges a spare battery so you can game wirelessly almost non-stop.
Overall the Arctis Pro Wireless has pretty much every feature we could want in a gaming headset, and they're all wrapped up in an understated package that's both sophisticated and all-day comfortable. When it comes to gaming headsets, it really doesn't get any better than this.
4. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
High-end gaming audio at a discount
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen
2
0< /p>
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
Compatibility:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Mobile
● Interface:
Wireless ●
Connections:
Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth ● p>
Drivers:
50mm ●
Surround sound modes:
Windows Sonic ●
Battery life:
20 hours
Turtle Beach makes audio more affordable, and that's premium gaming audio in the case of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 (
read our review< /p>
). These excellent headphones cost $150 and deliver punchy sound. Plus, they're wireless headphones that give you extra flexibility in how you use them.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 can connect directly to your Xbox or PC using an Xbox Wireless Adapter for superior, low-latency gaming audio. They can also connect via Bluetooth to many other audio sources, and they can establish the Xbox wireless connection and the Bluetooth connection at the same time. You can play with your friends on Xbox while chatting with them on Discord on your phone or tune in to your favorite Spotify playlist - there's even a volume button for each audio source. Thanks to this wireless connection, you will benefit from a battery life of 20 hours, which will allow you to have enough playing time before having to recharge.
5. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Best High-End Xbox Gaming Headset
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay
Gate
0
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
Compatibility:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Mac, PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile●
Interface:
Wireless, Wired ●
Connections:
Xbox 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm audio cable, USB-C ●
Frequency response: p>
20 - 22000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
Dolby Atmos ●
Design:
Closed ●
Autonomy:
12-24 hours ●
Weight:
311g
Audiophile gamers, rejoice! Your gaming setup is about to get a whole lot easier with the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal. This premium pair of headphones may cost a little more than your regular over-ear tips, but they can play the role of many different pairs of headphones, and they have a very special role on Xbox. The Beoplay Portal headphones support a handful of connections from old school 3.5mm to the new USB-C connection as well as wireless Bluetooth 5.1 for use with tons of mobile devices. And, for Xbox owners, the Beoplay Portal can connect directly without any wires in sight thanks to Xbox 2.4GHz Wireless Connectivity.
Whether you're on a noisy train during a commute, on a plane, or just trying to cut out the extra sound in your living room, Beoplay Portal's active noise cancellation can help you focus on your game sound. However, headphones can help you hear outside noise better: your voice. Microphones can cancel out external noise, but you can enable microphone monitoring to better hear your own voice and avoid yelling at your teammates. And, if you play on Xbox or PC, you can enjoy a bonus in your game with Dolby Atmos for Headphones.
6. Sennheiser GSP 670
Pro Gaming Audio from a Pro Audio Maker
Sennheiser GSP
670
0
To see
on Amazon
View on Walmart
Compatibility:
PS4, PC, Mobile ●
Interface:
Wireless ●
Connections:
USB dongle, Bluetooth ●
Frequency response:
10Hz - 23,000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
7.1 ●
Battery life:
8 p.m. ●
Weight:
398g
Sennheiser has brought its legendary expertise to gaming headsets and its latest creation is the GSP 670 Wireless. This wireless gaming headset is ready to deliver up to 7.1 surround sound. over a low latency connection with near zero delay. Since our days with the Sennheiser GSP 670, the headphones sounded perfectly balanced without the highs dominating the mids or lows.
It also comes with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, so you can also connect this headset to a smartphone or tablet to listen to music or podcasts, or watch videos while you game. It might sound a little big, but this headset basically rests on your head with four plush fabric pads, so it'll never dig into your dome or get hot. It also has quite a long battery life that will last up to 20 hours, and plugging it in for just seven minutes will give you two hours of playback.
This might sound silly ... can you connect a Bluetooth headset to Xbox one or is there away I can connect it to the companion app?
— PaP Scoop Tue Apr 13 18:02:47 +0000 2021
7.Logitech G935
Serious wireless surround sound for gaming
Logitech
G935
1
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
Compatibility:
PC (wireless), PS4, Nintendo Switch; (Wired) Xbox One, Mac, Mobile ●
Interface:
wireless, wired ●
Connections:
2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, USB, 3.5mm audio cable ●
Drivers:
50mm Neodymium ●
Frequency response:
20Hz - 20,000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
DTS Headphone:X 2.0, Dolby Atmos ●
Autonomy:
12 hours ●
Weight:
379g
Logitech's updated G935 headset (
read our review
) isn't as expensive as some of the headphones on this list at just $169.99, but still offer great audio quality, crisp surround sound, and plenty of advanced features.
It's an upgrade from the G933 Artemis Spectrum, with bigger drivers, better surround sound, and a smoother audio mix that lets you crank up the volume without anything getting distorted. On top of all that, they can be used with any gaming rig, and they even have RGB!
8. HyperX Cloud Orbit S
Best Audiophile-Grade Gaming Headphones
HyperX Cloud Orbit
S
8
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
Compatibility:
PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●
Interface:
wired ●
Connections:
USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm audio cable ● p>
Pilot:
100mm planar ●
Frequency response:
10Hz - 50000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
7.1 ●
Autonomy:
10am ●
Weight:
368g
Remember how we chose to put the Audeze Mobius at the top of the list due to its high-end planar drivers and head-tracking technology, as well as the HyperX Cloud Orbit S (
read our review p>
) offers all of this at a slightly lower price of $329. These two headsets are so similar you'd think HyperX was doing a knockoff, but the two audio makers actually teamed up to develop this more gaming-focused headset for audiophiles.
The HyperX Cloud Orbit S offers the astonishing wide and balanced sound signature of the Audeze Mobius. You're also playing with the same Waves NX head-tracking technology, so you can turn your head to hear sound effects better by turning in their direction. The only thing you don't get on this version of the headset is Bluetooth and a slightly worse microphone.
9. JBL Quantum One
Best High-End Noise Canceling Gaming Headset
JBL Quantum
One
1
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
View on Dell
View on Newegg
< p> Watch on JBLCompatibility:
PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch ●
Interface:
Wired ●
Connections:
USB, 3.5mm audio cable ●
Drivers:
50mm neodymium dynamic drivers ●
Frequency response:
20Hz - 40000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
QuantumSPHERE 360, DTS Headphone X: v2.0 ●
Weight:
369g
The JBL Quantum One (
read our review
) is about as serious as a gaming headset can get. It is large enough to house 50mm dynamic speakers tuned to deliver a wide frequency response range. This allows them to achieve Hi-Res certification, but that's just the start. These headphones ensure that the sound you want to hear is exactly what you get, as they use active noise cancellation to shut out other external sounds.
The JBL Quantum One headphones also use several surround sound modes to produce sound. you live a much more immersive experience. DTS Headphones X: v2.0 can create a solid 3D soundscape. Plus, JBL's QuantumSphere 360 feature will track your head movements and adjust positional audio to match the direction you're facing. All in all, you get great surround sound in a solidly built gaming headset that offers comfort, convenience, and a big splash of RGB lighting.
10. Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed Wireless
Best High-End Gaming Headset for Streaming
Logitech G-Pro
X
0
To see
on BestBuy
See on Amazon
Compatibility:
PC (wireless) ●
Interface:
wireless ●
Connections:
Lightspeed USB-A Wireless Dongle ●
Drivers:
50mm Pro-G Hybrid Mesh ●
Frequency response:
20Hz - 20000Hz ●
Surround sound modes:
DTS Headphone:X 2.0 ●
Autonomy:
8 p.m. ●
Weight:
370g
If you are a streamer, you will need a good headset to be able to hear and play well in games. But not all great gaming headsets offer a quality microphone. This means that you either settle for a lackluster mic to do your voiceovers and speak to your viewers, or you are forced to purchase an additional microphone in addition to the headset. Logitech has a solution in the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed Wireless Headset (
read our review
).
Make no mistake, this is a serious gaming headset. It features Logitech's 50mm Pro-G drivers backed by DTS Headphone:X 2.0 object-based surround sound for a high level of audio detail in your games. And, it relies on Logitech's Lightspeed wireless connectivity for a great experience without being tethered to your computer. But the mic also shines thanks to the incorporation of Blue Vo!ce technology. You get advanced customization for the microphone in Logitech's software, so you can adjust how much it reduces background noise or tames loud noise (handy if you get a little flustered every once in a while), letting you to get your streaming voice signature dialed.
Where to find high-end gaming headsets in the UK
Best High-End Gaming Headset
Audeze-Penrose
X
0
£299.00
To see
on Amazon
Best High-End Wired Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Pro+
GameDAC
0
£249.99
To see
on Amazon
Best High-End Wireless Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Wireless
0
£299.99
To see
on Amazon
Premium gaming audio at a discount
HyperX Cloud Revolver+
7.1
0
£139.99
To see
on the box
The industry classic high-end gaming headset
stro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro
TR
0
£250.00
See p>
on Currys PC World
Pro Gaming Audio from a Pro Audio Maker
Sennheiser GSP
670
0
£269.00
See< /p>
on Amazon
Serious wireless surround sound for gaming
Logitech
G935
0
< p>£159.99To see
on Amazon
Best Audiophile-Grade Gaming Headphones
HyperX Cloud Orbit
S
0
£299.99
To see
on Amazon
Best High End Noise Canceling Gaming Headphones
JBL Quantum
One
0
£229.99
To see
on Amazon
Why do you need a premium headset
You probably think an $8 pair of headphones you bought at the gas station is fine, but I'm here to tell you: you're wrong. Even the
mid-range gaming headsets
are far from the quality of a high-end set. It's more than just build quality, it's sound quality.
Most high-end headsets are made of some sort of metal or at least sturdy plastic. That means they can withstand a lot more abuse than a pair of $75 plastic headphones. They also tend to be much more comfortable and much longer too. A premium gaming headset is simply built better, with better materials that last longer.
This superior quality is also evident in the sound. Again, a mid-range headset will sound fine, but a high-end one will sound fine. It's one of those things you don't really enjoy until you try one. Then it's hard to go back.
Once you've picked out a new high-end gaming headset, be sure to check out our guide to
best 4k gaming monitors
p>
, the
best graphics cards of 2020
, or for absolutely blazing frame rates, our guide to
best 240hz monitors p>
.