If you’re the one who loves playing games at high volume but does not want to disturb the people in your surroundings, gaming headsets are one of the two ways you can enjoy gaming, the other being gaming earbuds.
A good gaming headset can really take your gaming to the next level. But when you search online to buy one, chances are pretty high that you’ll get completely overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of the different types of these headsets available in the market.
That’s why here we’ve listed only ones that we’ve actually tested and loved.And if you follow this post carefully, the headset you’ll buy will serve you for years to come.
Best Gaming Headset 2020 Buying Guide
- Corsair HS50 Stereo Headset (Best Cheap Gaming Headset 2020)
- Razer Kraken Pro V2 (Best Xbox One Gaming Headset 2020)
- Steelseries Arctis 7 (Best Wireless Gaming Headset)
- HyperX Cloud Alpha (Best Gaming Headset 2020 Overall)
- Logitech G Pro Headset (Best eSports Gaming Headset 2020)
Corsair HS50 Stereo Headset: Check Price On Amazon
Best Budget Gaming Headset 2020
When it comes to gaming accessories, you generally get what you paid for. That means, more often than not, the budget-friendly accessories are actually compromised products.But there come some hidden gems, every now and then, that gain attention despite their low budget.Corsair HS50 Stereo headset is one of those hidden gems.Design wise, this headset defies its price. Its capacious and foamy earpads, covered up by artificial leather, nicely cover your ears and provide gentle pressure on your head – without being too loose or too tight.We literally spend tens of hours and didn’t get any headache due to its pressure.It comes in different versions which have different shades on earpads and headband (which also has a premium touch by having artificial leather), like green, blue, and carbon etc.The arch that connects the earcups with the headband is made up of metal but is flexible enough to fit a majority of heads.Being a stereo headset, this one has a 3.5 mm jack coming out from its left earcup, and you can use it on almost any audio device out there: Android, gaming consoles, PC, etc.Speaking of left earcup, we should mention that this cup also has some other functions.For starters, it has a small volume-dial that can be used to lower and raise the sound. Next up is the toggle button that is used to on and off the microphone capability (mic is also attached to that left cup).The last one is the mic itself. You can detach it to use HS50 as a normal headphones pair – making it perfect to be used in a public gathering. Remember, though, that you have to store this mic in a safe place. It’s very small and if you’ve lost it, you’ll probably have to get a new one.Just like design and functionality, the performance of Corsair HS50 is nothing like a budget headset. Corsair has put 50 mm sound drivers in it, while many other expensive headsets come with only 40 mm drivers.The result is excellent sound – something not found even in many pricier headsets.Sure, it doesn’t have some bells and whistles of expensive headsets, like 7.1 surround sound, but the sound is precise and there is a decent amount of bass.The same goes for mic performance. Despite being smaller in size, it catches enough of your voice to make you sound loud and clear.Overall, this headset has something good in its every aspect, that too on a small budget. All these things make it the best budget gaming headset for 2020.
Sennheiser GSP 300: Check Price On Amazon
Alternative Best Budget Gaming Headset 2020
Sennheiser has been a leading headphone-manufacturer of quite some time, and it’s only now that they have entered into this “gaming headset” bandwagon with a bunch of headsets – with GSP 300 being a budget product in that lineup.It promises to deliver the right balance between sound quality, gaming experience, and price. So let’s see how it goes.On the surface, it looks smaller than most of the other headsets. Sennheiser has used a two-color scheme here: Blue color inside the earcups and headband’s padding blends well with the grey-colored exterior.Despite being made up of plastic for a large part, it’s well-built and tough. It exerts a good amount of force on your head while you’re wearing it, but not too much.The earcups have leatherette finish, a popular material among headset-manufacturers. This leatherette finish can be really comfortable but can also make your ears sweaty in the longer run.The left side of this headset contains a large, non-detachable mic boom, which means you can’t use this headset outside your home.On the right side of this headset, you’ll find the volume wheel. It’s really easy to use and bigger than what most of the other headsets provide.In terms of connectivity, you can use GSP 300 with both PC and gaming consoles.You can expect a Sennheiser-made headphone/headset to sound good, and this one is not an exception.There’s detail in vocals and richness in the overall sound. It certainly lacks the bass-centric sound found in most gaming headsets nowadays but I think that is its beauty: Balanced sound.While there’s no surround sound here, sound clarity and warmth are in abundance.High notes aren’t as controlled as in some other expensive headphones by Sennheiser, but it would be unfair to compare this budget headset with those $250 high-end cans.All in all, this is a value-packed headset with little downsides in the form of a non-detachable mic and no surround sound. Also, it doesn’t come with an extra pair of earcups in case the current ones don’t fit you properly.
Razer Kraken Pro V2: Check Price On Amazon
Note: Here we’re talking about the Kraken Pro V2 headset, not the Kraken 7.1 v2 surround sound headset.Like Logitech G pro headset, Kraken Pro V2 is designed by Razer for eSports gaming.Its round-shaped earcups are large and go over-your-ears. They’re really comfortable and I didn’t feel any discomfort despite wearing them with my glasses on.That being said, they tend to make ears sweaty after long sessions.In case you have any adjustment issues, you can buy 3rd-party oval-shaped earcups (for as low as 20 bucks).It’s the successor of the earlier released Kraken Pro, and in many areas, it’s better than the original headset, such as 50mm sound drivers instead of 40mm ones, and aluminum uni-body etc.That aluminum frame makes it sturdy, but despite that, it’s surprisingly lightweight.Thanks to its 50mm audio drivers, low-frequencies can be easily felt. Another good thing about this headset is that it’s bass-heavy without making the mids and highs dull.Even when listening to music, the difference of 50mm sound drivers was there.All in all, this headset sounds better than most of the others in its price category.On its left side, there’s a retractable unidirectional mic which gives you an option of taking it outside your home.Performance wise, this mic is perfect for in-game chats but don’t push its limits by doing stuff like podcast recording.Having a retractable design means this mic doesn’t have a foam pop filter on its top.A handy feature I found is the mute-button on this mic, which is really helpful just in case you want to talk a person sitting beside you, while you’re gaming.If I had to pinpoint one mistake in this mic, that would be its low volume.Since it has a 3.5 mm jack, you can connect this headset with PS4, Xbox, and any device with 3.5mm port.Like Razer’s mic and keyboard, you can use Razer Synapse for this headset. It doesn’t have surround sound by default, but you can install an add-on named Razer Surround Pro to make it sound like a virtual surround sound headset.Apart from this, it also has goodies like a graphic equalizer, bass boost, sound normalization, and voice clarity etc.
Steelseries Arctis 7: Check Price On Amazon
Best Wireless Gaming Headset 2020
There was a time when wireless products were frowned upon in PC gaming community. They were expensive and lacked the robustness of their wired equivalents.
But now times have changed. Due to ever-changing wireless technology, more and more companies are now producing better products, and we’ve recently seen a lot of wireless keyboards, wireless gaming mice, and of course, wireless gaming headsets.
One of those headsets is Arctis 7 by SteelSeries. Yes, it’s expensive than most of the headsets out there, but SteelSeries has tried to justify that price in every area of this headset.The first thing I loved in its construction is the adjustable headband. This headband is connected to the earcups through a plastic hinge that can be rotated up to 90 degrees. That hinge aside, the headset frame is made up of aluminum with earcups having a matte finish.Earpads, on the other hand, are covered with a silky cloth that feels much better than plain faux leather.Comfort level is also very high. I wear glasses regularly but didn’t face any discomfort wearing this headset on top of them.In order to make this headset work, you’ll need the USB transmitter that comes along with it. This transmitter is larger than what it is in some other headsets but gives stronger signals.
You can operate it through some buttons and dials (for different settings like headset volume control and mic volume control etc.).If the design was great, the sound quality is even higher. It’s one of the most natural sounding headsets I’ve come across, with vocals blending well with the background music. It tells you from where an in-game bullet or footsteps (if any) are coming from.Apart from gaming, you can use it well for other activities like watching movies, listening to music etc. In case you want to tweak its settings, there’s SteelSeries software for you.It doesn’t allow you too many options but surely works in changing the EQ in real time, enabling DTS, and creating different sound profiles etc.Unlike in many other headsets, the microphone here is of good quality. It picks up clear sound. If it picks lower sound than intended, try to increase its sound pick-up through the software.According to SteelSeries, this headset has a battery life of 24 hours, which is more or less what lasted in our testing.The only thing I didn’t like in this headset, is its non-removable mic. Yes, it can be retracted nicely into the headset, but a completely detachable mic would be even better.
HyperX Cloud Alpha: Check Price On Amazon
Best Gaming Headset 2020 Overall
For anyone who’s ever owned – or even researched online for – a gaming headset, HyperX isn’t an unfamiliar name.
In fact, back in 2014, they released the original HyperX cloud which was a mainstream success and led many people to call it the best gaming headset.
The success of cloud headset encouraged HyperX to release many new headsets, such as Cloud II, Cloud revolver, and cloud stinger etc. but they didn’t get as much success as their predecessor.
So now that HyperX has released Cloud Alpha – the latest variant of cloud headset, let’s see how it turned out.
From looks, you can quickly relate it to cloud headset, with a red-colored hinge that connects the earcups to the headband, found in both headsets. The only difference is that the hinge in Cloud Alpha is perforated, probably for keeping it low-weight, considering its all-aluminum frame.
The earcups grip your head enough to not fall, yet relaxing enough to not make you uncomfortable.
There’s HyperX’ logo on the outer side of these earcups that are covered in artificial leather.
Another thing Alpha headset borrowed from the Cloud (2014) is a great comfort level.
One major difference I have found in this headset is the removable cables.
Yes, all the cables in this headset are removable, which comes really handy in case you broke the original cord. Not only cables but earcups and mic are also removable (hence replaceable).
In-line remote controls are present, but they are fairly basic. Only volume controlling wheel and a toggle for muting the mic are present.
Although Cloud 2014 headset came with a variety of accessories, Cloud Alpha doesn’t. There’s only a single pair of extra earcups.
In terms of connectivity, you have a couple of options. For gaming consoles and smartphones, you can use a cable with 4 pole headset jack, and for PCs, you can have a dual jack cable.
Audio quality is the area where Cloud Alpha actually excels. Because I can’t recall any audio source – from SoundCloud to YouTube to PC games – that sounded bad while I had this one on my head. In fact, it can give any decent headphones pair a run for its money.
The overall sound signature is balanced with a slight touch of bass. Not only this bass makes it good for gaming, but also it doesn’t overpower other frequencies.
There isn’t any virtual surround sound, but that’s only subjective, and not many people like it anyway. Distortion is minimal even if your volume level is too loud.
Its microphone is also top-class. Not a replacement for any dedicated mic, but the best one I’ve experienced on a headset.
The only potential issue you can have with this headset is it being an analog headset. It means its sound will be a lot more dependent on the quality of the input sources.
Yes, it sounded great during the time I had with it (no matter what audio source was), if you don’t have a good-quality DAC, your sound experience will be way less awesome than it should be.
Still, this is the best headset we got our hands on. And if virtual surround sound and USB connectivity aren’t deal-breakers to you, there’s no reason for you not getting this pair.
Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC: Check Price On Amazon
Best High-End Gaming Headset 2020
For a majority of people, a gaming headset with average sound quality will suffice. The purpose here is gaming, not music – they argue.
But there are some people (very few to be honest) who want nothing less than high-quality audio experience, even in gaming. For those, here is Arctis Pro + GameDAC by Steelseries – a high-end gaming headset.
Actually, the idea of High-res sound isn’t new at all.
For a number of years, PC hardware and gaming console manufacturers have been pushing for higher fidelity sound in gaming – and speakers have been coming to complement that – but only recently this concept has found its place among gaming headsets.
Arctis series, for those who don’t know, isn’t new either. These headsets are known for their extra-comfortable design. This is probably the reason why Steelseries didn’t do a major overhaul in the design area.
But there are some differences like the aluminum frame, instead of the plastic body of older Arctis models.
Ear-cup covers are magnetic in nature, are easily removable, and can also be swapped out for customization. There’s RGB lighting on both of the earcups as well as the microphone, which takes gaming aesthetics to a whole new level.
Apart from this, Arctis Pro has its left earcup loaded with features like a volume knob, a retractable mic, mute button, and 3.5 mm audio jack etc.
These features were present in the older Arctis models too, but one slight change is that this time, the mute button is bigger as well as textured, so that you can easily find it without any delay.
Like Arctis 7, this headset features an elegant, all-black design which makes it one of the few headsets you’ll be proud of taking outside. There’s ski-goggle headband design which gives it a cozy yet firm grip over your head. I wore for almost 8 hours but didn’t feel the discomfort of any sort.
The headset grip will be perfect for most of us out of the box, but if that’s not the case somehow, you can adjust the Velcro strap at its top, to make it tighter or looser than before.
Another major selling point of this headset is the GameDAC. GameDAC is basically a digital-to-audio converter (DAC), which means (by using it) you can hear higher-res audio than you would hear from a regular USB or analog connection.
This DAC comes in the form a small-size transmitter with a Big OLED screen and other things like the volume knob, micro USB port, and 3.5 mm jack etc.
In order to make some tweaks, press and hold the volume knob for a moment. Then you can do things like adjusting brightness, changing input/output sources, and change other audio settings.
There are different presets available in its equalizer settings, or you can also manually change the frequencies.
The same goes for the microphone. It’s almost as good as a dedicated microphone.
Apart from one minor flaw that it has short cables which makes it less beneficial for everyone who’s not a gamer, GameDAC performs very well. You can buy your own cables too, if you think they’re short in any way.
In terms of audio performance, Arctis pro is a step-up from what all other headsets offer. Its rich sound helps you in getting a real feel to any game. Even outside gaming, it sounds perfect.
The GameDAC enables this headset to catch even the tiniest of the music details in a soundtrack. The volume is a little less than what some high-end headphones offer, but this is the only flaw we were able to find in Arctis pro – except its price.
Yes, Arctis pro is expensive. So expensive that you can get two HyperX Alpha and still save 50 bucks, for one Arctis pro. This is the only reason why it’s not the best gaming headset in this roundup.
But for all its pros, it is definitely the best high-end gaming headset for 2020, and if you can afford it, there’s no reason for not getting it.
Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset: Check Price On Amazon
Best eSports Gaming Headset 2020
Logitech’s G Pro lineup of gaming peripherals, which also includes Logitech G pro mouse and G pro Keyboard, is geared towards eSports players.
And G pro headset is no exception. Logitech has collaborated with some professional gamers to produce a headset that many people call ‘best for eSports‘.
So let’s how much value an eSports headset brings to the table.
Design wise, G pro headset is pretty straightforward.
Having a black-only color scheme, it looks simpler (read elegant) than most of the other headsets around us. Its Over-the-ear cups and headband have extra padding, with earcups having premium leatherette too.
These leatherette earcups, along with flexible steel headband, make G Pro super comfortable to wear.
In its left earcup, there’s a detachable and flexible mic.
It doesn’t look as classy as retractable mics in some headsets, but being detachable means you can simply take it off and use G pro outside – something not offered in other headsets.
Apart from the mic, the 3.5 mm cable is also removable and since it comes with a splitter adapter, you can G pro for single as well as dual-input headphone and mic jacks.
This cable also comes with a mic-mute button and volume controller, and although my favorite placement for volume-controls is on the left-ear, something is better than nothing.
All of this means that G pro is a lot more portable than its competitors, something pro-gamers will surely enjoy.
One obvious downside of this headset being made for tournament-based purposes is no RGB lighting of any sort.
Although it went only par in single-player games, in my testing, it excelled in multiplayer-games, which was the main purpose of G pro.
Upon playing some soundtracks too, I had mixed results. While the right balance was there, it could’ve been a lot better – particularly Bass frequencies.
All in all, this is your best option if you’re into multi-player gaming (only). For those with different use cases, there are better options in this roundup.
Here’s what Marshall Honorof of Tom’s Guide has to say about it.
If you want something relatively inexpensive but extremely functional for the multiplayer, tournament or esports scene, the G Pro is one of the better options on the market
Conclusion
Alright. So these were some of the best gaming headsets for 2020 in my opinion. In case you have another awesome headset in mind, that you think should be in this list, feel free to comment down below.
Headset vs Headphones
Most people use terms headset and headphones interchangeably for each other (and I will also do the same), but it is technically not correct.
One slight difference between headphones and headsets is that a headset actually has a built-in microphone while the headphones don’t. This microphone obviously can’t match with dedicated mics, but still it’s better than nothing.
Related Post: Best Gaming soundbars for this year
Things To Look For In A Gaming Headset
OK, now we are going to look into 9 things you need to keep in mind while looking for a gaming headset.
1. Gaming Platform
The first thing you need to check in a gaming headset is its supported gaming platform(s). There are many headsets that support only one gaming platform (such as Xbox, PS4, and PC etc.).
In case you play games on more than one gaming platforms, there are some multi-platform headsets too, such as Logitech’s G633 Artemis Spectrum.
These headsets usually come with 2 connectors: A USB-connector for PC and a 3.5 mm jack for the console gaming.
2. Comfort Level
Since you’re a gamer, there’s a high chance of you wearing these headsets for a long time period. That’s why, the headset you want to buy should have a good comfort level.
For starters, headsets are considered by many as more comfortable than earbuds, when it comes to gaming.
But not all gaming headsets are equal. The main things that determine the comfortableness of a headset are weight, material type of earcups, and the size of earcups.
Some manufacturers make leather earcups while other offer ones with foam. In my opinion though, comfort is a pretty subjective matter which differs from one person to another.
What feels good to you, might not feel that pleasant to me.
3. Open vs Closed back
Open back headsets/headphones are the ones that have the back-side of their earcups perforated or “open”. This allows audio to leak out of your earcups and let you hear the sound coming from your surroundings.
The main benefit of this type of headsets is that they provide “spacious” sound that feels very natural and let you hear what’s happening around you. Apart from this, these headsets also keep your ears cool.
Closed-back headsets, on the other hand, have a closed back-side of their earcups. It means that no sound leaks from these headphones and also you cannot hear any ambient noise from your surroundings.
These headsets are perfect for you if you want noise isolation and don’t want to disturb your surroundings.
A major benefit of having closed back headsets is that you can hear each teeny tiny in-game movement which certainly gives you a competitive edge.
4. Wired vs Wireless Headsets
The cord is another way through which headsets can be differentiated with each other. There are wired and wireless headsets. As their names imply, wireless headsets are wire-less and wired headsets are not.
Both of these types have their own advantages and disadvantages.
One major drawback of wireless headphones is that there’s always a slight chance that you’ll forget to fully charge them, and that’s a potential disaster if happens in the middle of your gaming session.
That being said, many high-quality wireless gaming headsets come with at least 7-8 hours of battery life, which is more than enough time for you to play games.
In case you want to have a wired gaming headset, make sure to check its cable quality. Don’t ever buy a headset with an average quality cable, because (if you break it somehow) it will make your whole headset useless.
Some manufacturers give you a spare cable that can replace the current (and broken) cord but this functionality isn’t very common.
5. Built-in Microphone
Microphones are necessary if you want to have an in-game talk with your teammates. You need to make sure that the headset you’re going to buy has a decent mic that at least sends your voice clean and clear.
If a mic doesn’t collect all the ambient noise and sends your voice without any clutter, it’s good.
That being said, there are some people who don’t give too much attention to the mic of their headsets. They usually rely on a separate mic.
Some people don’t like headsets with a mic boom because they find it a distraction. If you happen to be one of those, then buy something like a clip-on mic. These mics are really small and can be attached to your shirt.
6. Durability
No matter how many good features a headset can have, if it’s not strong enough, nobody’s gonna buy it.
That’s why you should always go for a tough gaming headset. Generally, headsets with some metal in their frame are found to be tougher than the ones with plastic construction.
So, if you have shortlisted a gaming headset, read its reviews (from online stores such as Amazon, and reviewers like us) and find out any build-flaw that gaming headset may have.
7. Sound Quality
The headset you’re going to buy should have a good sound quality. Most of the headsets are a bit inclined towards heavy bass (some people think that high bass is good in FPS games), but it shouldn’t eclipse other frequencies.
One thing you can do to make sure your headset sounds good, is checking its specs sheet. In most cases, bigger sound drivers mean better sound. It’s because bigger drivers can handle low and high-end frequencies better.
Other than this, many gaming headsets nowadays come with noise cancellation.
In simple terms, a dedicated mic is used in all noise cancellation headsets to invert any ambient noise coming from outside. Having no sound coming into your ears can make you fully concentrated on your game.
8. Surround Sound or Not
Apart from noise cancellation and stuff like that, headsets with surround sound are now coming into the market.
The basic concept of surround sound among gaming headsets is a bit similar as in surround sound gaming speakers: Different drivers are placed in different locations of the ear-pads, with each related to different audio channels.
This enables the sound to come into your ears from different directions.
In games, this feature can be really handy, if implemented right. This enables you to judge the direction from which the opponent is shooting you, for example.
The reason why I said “if implemented right” is because this feature comes only in high-end gaming headsets, and in cheaper headsets, it’s nothing more than a gimmick.
Still, if you’re a hardcore/competitive gamer, there’s no reason for you to not go for a surround sound headset.
9. Your Budget
Most high-quality gaming headsets come in the price range of $100-$150, so unless you’re looking for a real audiophile-grade experience, don’t spend more than that on a gaming headset (no matter how good it looks/feels).
On average, wireless gaming headsets are more expensive than their wired counterparts (due to being wireless). If you ask me, I would recommend you to go for headsets with under-100 price-range, or even less than 50 bucks, if you’re a beginner. For experienced gamers, as I told earlier, $100-$150 is the sweet spot.