Best gaming headset

Which is the best gaming headset? That’s what we’re here to answer with our comprehensive list of the best options from budget, wired options all the way through to premium wireless models.

A gaming headset is an essential tool for getting the most from your gaming PC, whether you’re looking to optimize your competitive gaming setup, get great audio for your home office, or just want a comfortable way to take in your favorite games or tunes.

We’ve tested all these headsets thoroughly at features such as whether the headset is wired, wireless, or has Bluetooth, whether the microphone is removable, and if many buttons and controls are included. We also assess the comfort, ease of use, accessibility of functions, battery life, and of course sound quality of both the headphones and the microphone.

Here are the best gaming headsets in 2023:

• EPOS GSP 300 – the best stereo gaming headset
• Roccat Elo X Stereo – the best budget gaming headset
• Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE – the best premium wireless gaming headset
• EPOS H3Pro Hybrid – the best travel gaming headset
• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) – the best wireless gaming headset for esports

1. EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 300

The best stereo gaming headset is the EPOS GSP 300.

The GSP 300 is not a stylish headset and its large non-removable microphone means it’s no good for use as a travel headset/headphones as well as gaming. However, it’s very comfortable and light, making it great for long gaming sessions. Its microphone is also class-leading for sound quality and very convenient to deploy and stow away. The large volume control is also easy to use too. All that and the headphones sound good too. It’s just a basic stereo headset so needs a sound card for input and output, but for the money it’s a steal, as we explain further in our full EPOS Sennheiser GSP 300 review.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Great sound quality

Cons

• Fussy design
• Quite bass-heavy sound
• Fixed cable

Epos | Sennheiser GSP 300 specs:

Price: Expect to pay $50 / £50.

2. Roccat Elo X Stereo

The best budget gaming headset is the Roccat Elo X Stereo.

The Roccat Elo X Stereo makes for a really compelling gaming headset for the money. It’s comfortable to wear, has all the essential features you’ll need, and offers a sound that, although a little bass heavy, is basically fine and certainly clear enough for gaming. For just $37 USD / £37 GBP, it offers great value, making it our top choice if you want to buy a truly low-cost gaming headset. Find out more in our full Roccat Elo X Stereo review.

Pros

• Comfortable lightweight design
• Easy-going sound
• Fantastic value

Cons

• Tethered cable
• Dull design
• Few features

Roccat Elo X Stereo specs:

Price: Expect to pay $37 / £37.

3. Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE

The best premium wireless gaming headset is the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE.

The Virtuoso SE earns its place on our best headset list thanks to its premium aluminum-clad build and exceptional sound quality. The 20-40,000Hz range of its headphones provides superb clarity with plenty of bass, bringing game, music, and video to life, whether you’re using it in stereo or virtual surround sound modes. Wireless convenience means you don’t have to worry about wire tangle and the mic is removable too. Find out more in our full Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE review.

Pros

• Superb sound quality
• Comfortable
• Excellent build quality

Cons

• Headband cushion could be thicker
• Expensive
• 7.1 surround sound makes music sound poor

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE specs:

Price: Expect to pay $270 / £220.

4. EPOS H3Pro Hybrid

The best travel gaming headset is the EPOS H3Pro Hybrid.

The EPOS H3Pro Hybrid is in many ways as good as the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE just as a gaming headset but what really elevates this headset is its hybrid travel functionality. While both headsets have Bluetooth connectivity and removable mics, allowing them to function more like a set of travel headphones, the H3 Hybrid Pro also includes active noise canceling (ANC) for greatly reducing external noise.

This can be useful in noisy shared office spaces or when you want to drown out the noise of your family or housemates while gaming but really comes into its own when using this headset while traveling. It’s every bit the rival to premium travel headphones for audio reduction, comfort and sound quality. Find out more in our full EPOS H3Pro Hybrid review.

Pros

• Superb sound quality
• Removable boom mic
• Internal mic for travel use
• Includes ANC

Cons

• Expensive
• Unresponsive volume wheel
• Slightly awkward headband adjustment

EPOS H3Pro Hybrid specs:

Price: Expect to pay $270 USD / £190 GBP.

5. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023)

The best esports gaming headset is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023).

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) is a no-holds-barred wireless esports gaming headset. Its lightweight, comfortable, sounds great, and has a top-quality microphone for clear voice comms. Its mic is also removable and you get Bluetooth connectivity too. Its key feature, though, is the game-optimized sound profiles that have been tweaked by professional players of Apex Legends, CSGO, Valorant and more. The modes automatically engage when playing each game and you can tweak them yourself too. Find out more in our full Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) review.
Pros

• Useful 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless connections
• Smart design
• Decent sound quality
• Long battery life

Cons:

• No wired connection
• Expensive
• No internal microphone

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) specs:

Price: Expect to pay $270 / £190.

Found the best gaming headset for your needs? Why not complete your setup by looking at our choice of the best gaming mouse or the best gaming keyboard.