What’s the best gaming headset? That’s the question we’re here to answer, with our comprehensive list of the best gaming headsets, from budget wired headsets all the way through to premium wireless headsets.
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 if you just want a comfortable way to take in your favorite games or tunes.
We’ve tested all these headsets thoroughly, looking at features such as whether the headset is wired, wireless, or has Bluetooth, as well as 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. For more information, see the how we test gaming headsets section below or check out How we test page. Also, check out the best gaming headset FAQ section at the bottom of this page for more answers to the most common gaming headset questions.
At Custom PC, we’ve been reviewing the latest PC hardware since we first launched in 2003, so we know exactly what to look for in terms of features, design, and performance. We only recommend products we’ve thoroughly tested too – we don’t base our guides on products we haven’t actually used.
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 wireless gaming headset with ANC
- Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) – the best wireless gaming headset for esports
- Corsair Virtuoso Pro – the best gaming headset for sound quality
1. EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 300
The best stereo gaming headset is the EPOS GSP 300.
Epos | Sennheiser GSP 300 specs:
| Connections | 3.5mm analog jack |
| Frequency range | 15-26,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | 113dB |
| Microphone frequency response | 10-24,000Hz |
| Microphone sensitivity | -41dBV/Pa |
| Weight | 266g |
| Extras | Earcup-mounted volume wheel |
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Great sound quality
Cons
- Fussy design
- Bass-heavy sound
- Fixed cable
The GSP 300 might not be particularly stylish, and its large non-removable microphone means it’s no good for use as a travel headset or pair of headphones either. 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, and the headphones sound good too. It’s just a basic stereo headset, so it needs jack sockets for input and output, but it’s a steal for the money, as we explain further in our full EPOS Sennheiser GSP 300 review.
2. Roccat Elo X Stereo
The best budget gaming headset is the Roccat Elo X Stereo.
Roccat Elo X Stereo specs:
| Connections | 3.5mm stereo |
| Frequency range | 20-20,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | Not stated |
| Microphone frequency response | Not stated |
| Microphone sensitivity | Not stated |
| Weight | 314g |
| Extras | Removable mic |
Pros
- Comfortable lightweight design
- Easy-going sound
- Fantastic value
Cons
- Tethered cable
- Dull design
- Few features
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, 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.
3. Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE
The best premium wireless gaming headset is the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE.
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE specs:
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless, USB charging and audio, 3.5mm analog jack |
| Frequency range | 20-40,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | 109dB |
| Microphone frequency response | 100-10,000Hz |
| Microphone sensitivity | -42dB |
| Weight | 371g |
| Battery life | 20hrs wireless |
| Extras | Aluminum construction, removable microphone |
Pros
- Superb sound quality
- Comfortable
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Headband cushion could be thicker
- Expensive
- 7.1 surround sound makes music sound poor
The Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless 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.
4. EPOS H3Pro Hybrid
The best ANC wireless gaming headset is the EPOS H3Pro Hybrid.
EPOS H3Pro Hybrid specs:
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C charging and audio, 2.5mm analog jack |
| Frequency range | 20-20,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | 116dB |
| Microphone frequency response | 100-7,500Hz |
| Microphone sensitivity | -20dB |
| Weight | 308g (288g without boom mic) |
| Battery life | 30hrs wireless (19hrs with ANC), 38hrs Bluetooth (22hrs with ANC), 29hrs with 3.5mm cable (19hrs with ANC) |
| Extras | Detachable mic arm, mic arm joint cover plate, secondary internal mic, smart button, USB-A extension cable, USB-C cable, active noise canceling (ANC) |
Pros
- Superb sound quality
- Removable boom mic
- Internal mic for travel use
- Includes ANC
Cons
- Expensive
- Unresponsive volume wheel
- Slightly awkward headband adjustment
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 abilities. 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 you’re gaming, but it 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.
5. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023)
The best wireless esports gaming headset is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023).
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) specs:
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C charging |
| Frequency range | 18-28,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | 100 dB (+/-3dB) |
| Mic frequency response | 100Hz – 10kHz |
| Mic sensitivity | -42dB (+/-3dB) |
| Weight | 320g |
| Battery life | 70 hours on 2.4GHz wireless, 90 hours on Bluetooth |
| Extras | Detachable mic arm, USB-A extension cable, sound profile button, mic mute button, auto power off, game-specific sound profiles |
Pros
- Useful 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless connections
- Smart design
- Decent sound quality
- Long battery life
Cons:
- No wired connection
- Expensive
- No internal microphone
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) is a no-holds-barred wireless esports gaming headset. It’s lightweight and comfortable, plus it sounds great and has a top-quality microphone for clear voice comms. Its mic is also removable and you get Bluetooth support as well. Its key feature, though, is the game-optimized sound profiles that have been tweaked by professional players of Apex Legends, CS:GO, 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.
6. Corsair Virtuoso Pro
The best gaming headset for sound quality is the Corsair Virtuoso Pro.
Corsair Virtuoso Pro specs:
| Connections | 2 x 3.5mm jack sockets |
| Frequency range | 20-40,000Hz |
| Sensitivity / sound pressure level | 117 dB (+/-3dB) |
| Mic frequency response | 100Hz – 10kHz |
| Mic sensitivity | -41dB (+/-3dB) |
| Weight | 338g |
| Battery life | N/A |
| Extras | Boom mic wind shield. Three included cables: 2 x 3-pole jacks with boom microphone to 4-pole jack, 2 x 3-pole jacks to 4-pole jack, 4-pole jack to 2 x 3-pole jack ‘Y-splitter’ |
Pros
- Top build quality
- Excellent headphone sound quality
- Open-back design sounds great
- Useful selection of cables
- Reasonable value
Cons
- Basic feature set
- No on-headset volume control
- Underwhelming microphone quality
- Below-par comfort levels
- Open-back design limits uses
The best-sounding gaming headset is the Corsair Virtuoso Pro. Its open-back 50mm drivers deliver superb clarity and range, bringing music, movies, and of course games to life like few other headsets. However, there are three major caveats to take note of. The first is that it’s not the most comfortable headset: the padding isn’t great and it’s quite heavy. The second is that its price is quite high, at $200. Thirdly, it has basically no features. It’s essentially just a set of headphones with a detachable cable that has a built-in microphone. But, if sound quality is your top priority this is technically the best-sounding gaming headset we’ve tested. Find out more in our full Corsair Virtuoso Pro review.
How we test gaming headsets
When testing gaming headsets, we look at the design in terms of ease of use, comfort, ease and range of adjustment and styling. Some headsets are comfortable but look naff, while others look amazing but fall off your head. Comfort, in particular, is tricky to get right, with the wrong choice or thickness of foam padding, or a badly contoured headband, making all the difference.
We also assess the range and ease of use of any extra features. Some headsets are only wired, others only use a 2.5GHz USB dongle-based wireless connection, while some include Bluetooth, USB audio, and analog audio inputs. Others include retractable or fold-down microphones, while others have removable or internal mics. Extra controls for all those features can certainly help, but too many controls can make the headset tricky to use.
To test the microphones we record a voice sample and a section of music to check for overall sound quality, breath pickup, noise canceling, and more. Meanwhile, the headphones are tested using a range of music and games, to assess the audio range, level of detail, and the balance of bass, mid-range, and treble frequencies. We also engage any virtual surround sound modes to see how they perform in games.
For wireless headsets we also tested range, look for features such as the ability to listen to both Bluetooth and wireless at the same time (to take calls while gaming) and how well the headset works for travel. Some headsets include active noise canceling and are ideal as replacements for dedicated travel headphones. Battery life is also crucial – we expect headsets to provide at least 24 hours of actual use these days.
Best gaming headset FAQ
Are wired or wireless headsets better for gaming?
Wireless technology is so good these days that you can use it for your headset, keyboard, and mouse without issue. In fact, for gaming headsets, the advantages of wireless are perhaps most crucial. Keyboards just sit on your desk anyway while mice cable annoyance can be alleviated with a mouse bungee, but nothing can stop the aggravation of your headset cable dragging over your keyboard or you accidentally walking off forgetting you’re head’s still attached to your PC!
The main downside to wireless is battery life, with some headsets needing to be charged at least twice a week with regular use. Battery life is improving, though, so several headsets last a week between charges with typical use. As for wired headsets, they avoid battery concerns, and simple analog headsets can be very light too, making them comfortable. Just make sure the cable is long enough – or get an extension – so you can route it in the most convenient way for your setup.
Can you use a gaming headset for travel, recording, and more than just gaming?
Many gaming headsets can be used for a wider range of purposes, such as general headphones (including for things like audio monitoring when recording music) or even travel headphones. However, there are some types of headsets that don’t work for these purposes and some that are better suited than others.
For travel, the two key features to look out for are to have either Bluetooth or an analog connection and for any boom microphone to be removable or retractable. Any headset that only has a USB input (whether wired or wireless) won’t work with your phone or tablet while boom mics look odd and make the headset bulky. Some headsets also include active noise canceling, which is great for blocking out external noise like plane and train engines.
For audio recording, use with an old Hi-Fi or record player, or just any other broader musical application, the key feature to look out for is an analog input/output. Some audio equipment has Bluetooth – and some devices such as games consoles will support USB audio – but high-quality headphone amps, instrument monitoring (i.e. plugging in headphones to a guitar amp), and such like will generally require an analog signal. You might just need to find the right cable/plug.
Found the best gaming headset for your needs? Why not complete your PC peripheral setup by looking at our choice of the best gaming mouse or the best gaming keyboard. If you’re looking to build a new PC, then make sure you also check out our full guide on how to build a gaming PC, which takes you through every step of the process.
