Best high-end gaming headset 2021: The absolute best you can buy

You might not want to go with a

gaming headset

it's only $20 because you can end up with weak sound, an awful mic, and an uncomfortable design. But, it's safe to say that there are actually decent options in the ballpark of $50, and even some

wireless gaming headsets

at a slight premium on 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 on console, PC, or even playing on a

smartphone

, these helmets have a lot to offer. Not one is quite the same, so check them all out to see which 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 & Olufsen Beoplay Portal

Sennheiser GSP 670

Logitech G935

HyperX Cloud Orbit S

JBL Quantum One

Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed Wireless

1. Audeze Penrose X

Best High-End Gaming Headset

Audeze Penrose

To see

on Amazon

To see in Audeze

Compatibility:

Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●

Interface:

Wireless, Wired ●

Connections:

Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz USB dongle, 3.5 mm audio cable, USB-C (charging) ●

Drivers:

100 mm planar ●

Response frequency:

10Hz - 50,000Hz ●

Battery life:

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 much of the lessons learned in the Audeze Mobius Wireless and bring them to a more affordable price of $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 also allows Bluetooth pairing. And, when wireless isn't an option, you can go the old fashioned way. 3.5mm audio connection (although they must always be switched on). The Penrose X headset is designed to support Xbox Series X and S, but also works wirelessly with PC and PlayStation consoles. All of these Connectivity opinions 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

Razer Kraken Tournament Edition

$69.99

For more hand-picked deals, visit IGN Deals

2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

Best High-End Wired Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro+

GameDAC

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

View on Walmart

To see on Newegg

Compatibility:

PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●

Interface:

wired ●

Connections:

USB, 3.5mm audio cable, optical ●

Drivers:

40 mm Neodymium ●

Response frequency:

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 adjustments, and the audio output is great too. On top of that, you get a super premium design that's extremely comfortable, customizable, and just plain perfect. The fit and finish is top-notch. order, and it even has RGB lighting.

3. SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

Best High-End Wireless Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Wireless

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

To see 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:

40mm Neodymium ●

Response frequency:

10Hz - 40,000Hz ●

Surround sound modes:

DTS Headphone:X v2.0 ●

Weight:

348g

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless (

read our review

) is the complete 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 connected to both a PC and a 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 fit your head with a super comfortable "ski mask" band and breathable fabric ear pads. You can even buy replacements with different colors and patterns to personalize things a bit. The microphone is also excellent and slips into the headset when not in use. the icing on the cake is the wireless hub, which not only allows you to wire your devices out of sight, but it also charges a spare battery so you can play almost non-stop wirelessly.

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. gaming headsets, it really doesn't get better than this.

4. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2

Premium gaming audio at a discount

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

Compatibility:

Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Mobile

● Interface:

Wireless ●

Connections:

Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth ●

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

).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 quality, low-latency gaming audio. They can also connect via Bluetooth to many many other audio sources, and they can establish Xbox wireless connection and Bluetooth connection at the same time. You can play with your friends on Xbox while chatting with them on Discord on your phone or connecting to your Spotify playlist favourite. There's even a volume button for each audio source. Thanks to this wireless connection, you'll get up to 20 hours of battery life, so you'll have plenty of game time before you need to recharge.

5. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal

Best High-End Xbox Gaming Headset

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay

Gate

To see

on BestBuy

To 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 ●

Response frequency:

20 - 22000Hz ●

Surround sound modes:

Dolby Atmos ●

Design:

Closed ●

Battery life:

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. but they can act as several different pairs of headphones, and they have a very special role on Xbox. Beoplay Portal headphones support a handful of connections from the old school 3.5mm to the new USB-C connection as well as Bluetooth 5.1 wireless for use with tons of mobile devices. And, for Xbox owners, the Beoplay Portal can connect directly wirelessly using Xbox 2.4GHz Wireless Connectivity.

Whether you're on a noisy train during a commute, on a plane, or just trying to tune out the extra sound in your living room, Beoplay Portal's active noise cancellation can help you focus on your game sound. Headphones can, however, help you hear outside noise better: your voice. 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 GPS

670

To see

on Amazon

View on Walmart

Compatibility:

PS4, PC, Mobile ●

Interface:

Wireless ●

Connections:

USB stick, Bluetooth ●

Response frequency:

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 7.1 surround sound over a low latency connection with near-zero delay.Since our days with the Sennheiser GSP 670, the headset sounded perfectly balanced without the highs dominating the mids or bass completely lost.

It also comes with built-in Bluetooth connectivity, so you can also connect this headset to a smartphone or tablet to play music or podcasts, or watch videos while you game. headset basically rests on your head with four plush fabric earpads, so it will never dig into your dome or get hot. It also has a pretty 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.

Best high-end gaming headset 2021: The absolute best you can buy

7.Logitech G935

Serious wireless surround sound for gaming

Logitech

G935

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

Compatibility:

(Wireless) PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch; (Wired) Xbox One, Mac, Mobile ●

Interface:

wireless, wired ●

Connections:

2.4 GHz wireless USB dongle, USB, 3.5 mm audio cable ●

Drivers:

50mm Neodymium ●

Response frequency:

20Hz - 20,000Hz ●

Surround sound modes:

Headphones DTS: X 2.0, Dolby Atmos ●

Battery life:

12 hours ●

Weight:

379g

Logitech's updated G935 headset (

read our review

) isn't as expensive as some of the headsets on this list at just $169.99, but still offers 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

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

Compatibility:

PS4, Xbox One, PC/Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile ●

Interface:

wired ●

Connections:

USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm audio cable ●

Drivers:

100 mm planar ●

Response frequency:

10Hz - 50,000Hz ●

Surround sound modes:

7.1 ●

Battery life:

10 hours ●

Weight:

368g

Remember how we chose to put the Audeze Mobius at the top of our list because of its high-end planar drivers and head tracking technology, as well as the HyperX Cloud Orbit S (

read our review

) offers all of this at a slightly lower price of $329. These two headsets are so similar you'd think HyperX did 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 surprisingly wide and balanced sound signature of the Audeze Mobius. You also play with the same Waves NX head tracking technology, so you can turn your head to hear sound effects better when turning towards 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

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

View on Dell

To see on Newegg

To see on JBL

Compatibility:

PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch ●

Interface:

Wired ●

Connections:

USB, 3.5mm audio cable ●

Drivers:

50mm neodymium dynamic drivers ●

Response frequency:

20Hz - 40,000Hz ●

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's large enough to house 50mm dynamic drivers tuned to deliver a wide range of frequency response. This allows them to achieve the Hi-Res certification, but that's just the start. These headphones ensure 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 multiple surround sound modes to make the sound you experience even more immersive. DTS Headphones X: v2.0 can create a solid 3D soundscape. Additionally, JBL's QuantumSphere 360 feature will follow your head movements and will adjust positional audio to match the direction you are facing. Overall, you get great surround sound in a solidly built gaming headset that offers comfort, convenience and a great splash of sound. RGB lighting.

10. Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed Wireless

Best High-End Gaming Headset for Streaming

Logitech G-Pro

To see

on BestBuy

To see on Amazon

Compatibility:

Computer (wireless) ●

Interface:

wireless ●

Connections:

Lightspeed USB-A Wireless Dongle ●

Drivers:

50mm Pro-G Hybrid Mesh ●

Response frequency:

20Hz - 20,000Hz ●

Surround sound modes:

Headphone DTS:X 2.0 ●

Battery life:

8 p.m. ●

Weight:

370g

If you're a streamer, you'll need a good headset to be able to hear and play well in games. But not all great gaming headsets offer a quality microphone. That means you either settle for a dull mic to do your voiceovers and talk to your viewers, or you're forced to buy an extra 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 level of detail high audio in your games. Plus, 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 well it reduces background noise or tames loud noise (handy if you get a little flustered every once in a while), allowing you to get your signature streaming voice dialed.

Where to get the top gaming headsets in the UK

Best High-End Gaming Headset

Audeze Penrose

£299.00

To see

on Amazon

Best High-End Wired Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro+

GameDAC

£249.99

To see

on Amazon

Best High-End Wireless Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Wireless

£299.99

To see

on Amazon

Premium gaming audio at a discount

HyperX Cloud+ Revolver

7.1

£139.99

To see

on the box

The industry classic premium gaming headset

stereo A40 TR + MixAmp Pro

£250.00

To see

on Currys PC World

Pro Gaming Audio from a Pro Audio Maker

Sennheiser GPS

670

£269.00

To see

on Amazon

Serious wireless surround sound for gaming

Logitech

G935

£159.99

To see

on Amazon

Best Audiophile-Grade Gaming Headphones

HyperX Cloud Orbit

£299.99

To see

on Amazon

Best High-End Noise Canceling Gaming Headset

JBL Quantum

£229.99

To see

on Amazon

Why 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 that you're wrong.

mid-range gaming headsets

far behind the quality of a high-end set. It's more than just manufacturing quality, it's sound quality.

Most high-end headphones are made from some sort of metal or at least sturdy plastic. This means they can withstand a lot more abuse than a pair of plastic headphones at 75 $. They also tend to be a lot more comfortable and last a lot longer too. A high-end gaming headset is simply built better, with better materials that last longer.

This superior quality also shows in the sound. Again, a mid-range headset will sound great, but a high-end one will sound great. It's one of those things you don't really appreciate 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

, the

best graphics cards of 2020

, or for absolutely blazing frame rates, our guide to

best 240hz monitors