Gaming headset 2022: The best gaming headsets in 2022 — Mitspielen — Vampire Live in München

Razer Kraken headset review | PC Gamer

Our Verdict

A truly tremendous gaming headset you can easily have confidence in. It’ll have you well covered whatever you like playing, delivering quality and rich sounds to your ears consistently, while also competent enough to be your go-to headphones for other media.

For

Superior gaming sound quality
Performs well with other medias
Great design and build quality

Against

Slight discomfort after long sessions
Sound won’t match more expensive headsets

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Razer has a healthy range of gaming headsets, and many of them sit in the upper echelons of ‘best of’ lists across the internet. And now there’s a new kid on the block: known simply as the Razer Kraken it’s part of a mini suite of Razer gear designated as the manufacturer’s ‘essentials range’. The Kraken is the third generation of this headset, promising a honed and enhanced bit of kit that builds on everything good and great that came before. But does it? And how does it stack up against those that rank on our list of best gaming headsets?

At first inspection it looks and feels the same as the Pro V2 and similar to the Tournament Edition, and that’s fine. The Kraken series had, and maintains through this headset, a distinctive style mixed with quality in build. The exterior and aesthetic is largely familiar, and the enhancements and developments have occurred under the hood. The aesthetic is just as cool as previous Krakens and keeps the distinct design quirks and mix of colours; the two main elements of the solid headband and the semi open nature of the earcups seamlessly come together and still work as a whole. The solidity is still present with the earcups feeling bash-resistant as well as light; the headband feels very secure—finished with more cushioning than ever—and each click on the sizing ratchet is solid and unlikely to slip. Given the quality of the build and the the solid materials used, I might have expected it to have a hefty weight to it, but it maintains a feathery touch, coming in at around 10.5 ozs/300 grams. Impressive.

On the headset itself, no buttons are built into the structure or housing, and no frills penetrate or adorn the cups. The headset and sound does the majority of the Kraken’s talking in terms of features. The neat and retractable microphone is again a stand out feature—it’s incredibly compact and because you can stow it away, it means you can use the Kraken as regular headphones or a full-blown gaming headset.

Down the cable, there’s a small, integrated control box that includes a volume roller dial as well as a microphone, much like in the TE. It’s convenient and is the only on-board controls, but it’s worth noting that the volume roller does all audio and not just game or chat, so a balance might take some finding depending on your preferences. The cable is an audio jack connection which makes it appropropriate for all gaming setups if you switch from your PC to consoles, mobiles or tablets, however there is a splitter included which is ideal for dividing the input for mic and headphones. Handy.

I found that while there was no ‘feature’ or designated noise-cancelling tech on the headset, the design of the earcups is such that they naturally help to exclude outside noise, though if you’re sharing the room with someone, they may well also hear your ingame audio as it seems to leak or pass through the headphones a little. Generally, in terms of features, I did think that for a near $100/£100 headset I would have expected a few more features, perhaps: some presets for gaming, a party audio vs game audio adjuster or audio boosts of some kind (which are becoming more and more prevalent in headsets up and down the price scale).

Headsets are pretty major investments and can last years, spanning many generations of PC upgrades. With this in mind we always try to review them hard, testing them for long periods with loads of games. A session playing through Wolfenstein II was incredibly enjoyable, with the Kraken doing well in terms of both performance and comfort. Dialogue in the cutscenes is tremendously clear and even small, previously almost-unheard sounds when using speakers are presented well by the Kraken. Navigating tighter spaces of the game such as buildings and urban areas and fending off Nazis from corners, I could always tell which way they and their gunfire was coming from due to the excellent surround sound. There were no gaps, losses, or obvious transitions in the audio when changing orientation.

When trying out Doom, the Kraken handles the bass-heavy noises and fast, pacey soundtrack well. It shows off the headsets 50mm drivers well, and although there’s little subtlety to this kind of audio, it’s great to know the headset handles it. To get a good spread across the audio range I turned to the slightly older title, Titan Quest, as its sword and sorcery setting and gameplay, combined with its light and plucky soundtrack that has its home in the treble and middle ranges, ensured that the Kraken would get a run out across a broad range of games. The audio held up here and was nice and full, each pluck of a string or lightly spoken word was presented to me clearly and rarely lost or obscured.

Turning to Apex Legends to test the Kraken’s microphone I found even more to like. The surround sound was directly responsible for identifying enemy locations to the point of informing tactics and dictating what should be done in the game itself. The microphone also really impressed here and I was crystal clear to my teammates; the pull out mic coming around to the front of my face proving to be an effective, tried and tested design. The only slight criticism here is that my voice overall was clear, but a bit tinny, so not as fully rounded as one might hope. The other way, my teammates’ voices were clearly presented and with no hollowness or tinniness. A slight complaint here was that I was crying out a bit for some sort of means to address the balance between party chat and game sound as everything was coming through, clearly and richly of course, but very loudly and I could only turn everything down rather than subtly address a balance( which is possible on other headsets). It got hard to concentrate during the busier games of Apex Legends.

To complete the set of media testing, I turned over to Netflix and also tried a Blu-ray or two to see what it made of films and TV. The short review here is that it was all round a good and consistent performer though just sometimes lacked in some richness of dialogue-heavy scenes. As it started to hint at when playing Doom, the Kraken is a nice headset for music too and while it excelled most with metal and rock and bass-heavy tunes, it was certainly comfortable and competent enough to handle a whole afternoon of a range of music from rock and roll to orchestral soundtracks.

Generally the Kraken is a very comfortable headset and there’s nothing that really identifies it as anything else. The padding works in terms of semi-moulding to your ears and it was comfortable when I had to shift it or move myself around. There was a slight ache on the bottom of my ears after long sessions but not really a whole lot more than any headset I’ve tested. All in, the Kraken performed exactly as I’d expect a premium, designated gaming headset to perform: performing well in game audio, though not quite with the same quality of those headsets further up the price scale.

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Review

Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

The best wireless gaming headset gets ANC and a fresh look.

By Kevin Lee

Updated: May 24, 2022 5:42 pm

Posted: May 24, 2022 1:00 pm

The latest form of SteelSeries’ high-end wireless gaming headset – the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – has gotten a major shot in the arm: this new version revises one of our favorite gaming headsets with a sleeker and more adjustable design while also adding active noise-canceling, longer battery life, and improved audio. And even more impressive, it offers a plethora of ways to tweak your game and chat audio on a per-game basis.

On paper the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has it all – but it demands a high $350 price too. Personally, I think it’s worth every dollar. It delivers fantastic spatial gaming audio and high-quality sound for music, and its multi-platform connectivity and simultaneous-device support mean it could be the one and only audio device you need for all your gaming platforms and daily listening.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Images

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Design and Features

This headset and its wired sibling, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, features a new design that diverges quite a bit from the existing Arctis line, which until now hadn’t really changed since it debuted in 2017.

The first change you’ll notice is that where the older Arctis line featured a rigid metal headband with an elastic tension band to adjust fit, the headband now also features telescoping arms so it can accommodate larger heads. The older ones were great unless you, like me, have a larger head, in which case the tension band would press down even when set to its largest size. I don’t have to worry about that with the new design – I can even extend the arms fully to make the headset a few sizes larger than my head, which I find makes wearing it even more comfortable.

The elastic headband is also a bit different in that it connects to the metal headband with plastic snaps similar to the ones you find on an adjustable baseball cap. You can adjust the elastic band to rest tighter or looser to your head in three one-centimeter increments – though this means you can’t fine-tune it with quite as much precision as the old velcro design. But on the plus side, because the new model’s elastic band sits beneath the metal headband, it also won’t get dusty as quickly.

The earcups are also noticeably smaller and thinner compared to the large, oblong earcups of the older Arctis headsets. The new design’s stepped profile looks more stylish in my opinion – less like an earmuffs-looking gaming headset and more like a sophisticated pair of wireless headphones from the likes of JBL or Audio-Technica.

Beyond the updated styling, SteelSeries has improved on several of the onboard controls. The Nova Pro Wireless has large pill-shaped buttons that are well-spaced around the stepped design of the earcups, a nice improvement compared to the tiny M&M mini-sized power and Bluetooth buttons I’d have to feel around for on the old design.

Thankfully, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless still features magnetic earcup covers to conceal the removable rechargeable battery on the right side – as well as a charging port, which has been moved to the left side. A minor quirk is that the removable circular covers use only two magnets to attach to the earcups, so it takes a bit more trial-and-error to correctly reattach them. Another quite literally grating thing about these circular covers is they feature a ring-shaped micro-etched finish that’s coarse enough to file your nails if you touch them the wrong way.

One of the old Arctis Pro Wireless’ standout features was its swappable battery system that let you charge one battery while the other is in use so that the headset doesn’t die on you when you need it most. The Nova Pro Wireless improves on that system by making the batteries hot-swappable; the headset packs capacitors large enough to keep it powered on for a short time, long enough for you to toss in the second battery. It’s not enough charge to power the drivers and keep your audio playing without interruption, but it’s nice to not have to turn the headset back on after a quick battery change.

The inside of the earcups has switched from cloth-based air weave cushions to more sound-isolating leatherette. Although the new material isn’t as breathable, I never found my ears getting sweaty, even after wearing them all day. The clamping force of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has also been increased slightly to make a better isolating seal, but it just feels snug instead of uncomfortable. I’ve easily worn this gaming headset for eight to 10 hours straight without discomfort.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Active Noise-Canceling

On top of the improved sound isolation on the earcups, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless now features active noise-canceling. It uses a four-mic hybrid system (two microphones inside and two outside) that adjusts ANC based on outside noises and what you hear in the earcups.

That said, the Nova Pro Wireless honestly doesn’t provide the strongest ANC I’ve heard. It’s a welcome feature, just not quite on the same level as the Sony WH-1000XM5, which I’d still prefer for my next long-haul flight. The noise-canceling here is instead best at drowning out white noise like an air conditioner or your neighbor mowing grass, as opposed to a TV playing loudly in the same room or the sound of a helicopter flying overhead. It also helps take the edge off of my really loud and clicky Logitech G915 gaming keyboard, but it doesn’t completely silence my keystrokes as the Sony WH-1000XM5 can.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Setup and Connectivity

The Wireless Transmitter box has been given a bit of a makeover with a rounded design, larger control knob, and digital touch button to navigate the settings. It features a clear OLED screen to display your volume level, the activity of the headset’s left and right drivers, battery levels, and other need-to-know information.

Long pressing the control knob lets you dive into basic headset settings like changing your audio source, adjusting your mic gain, and other system settings. But really tweaking the headset will come later in the software.

The standard Arctis Nova Pro Wireless can connect to up to two separate consoles, PCs, or other devices over USB. For the most part, the transmitter box is intelligent enough to switch between its two USB connections when you start playing audio from one of them.

There’s a PlayStation and an Xbox version of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but functionally they’re nearly identical. The only difference is that the Xbox version has a Microsoft security chip, which is necessary to work with the Xbox Series X and S, while the PlayStation version isn’t compatible with Microsoft’s consoles.

On the Xbox version, one of the two USB ports on the transmitter base is clearly labeled as Xbox-specific, and only works with Microsoft consoles and PC. The other port, however, still works just fine for PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, or any other non-Xbox device. Meanwhile, the PlayStation base station has two of the latter (non-Xbox) ports, making it compatible with everything except for Xbox.

In other words, the Xbox version is compatible with both Xbox and PS5, while the PlayStation version doesn’t work with Xbox (both versions work with Switch, PC, and other USB devices).

That said, despite having wider compatibility than its counterpart, the Xbox version doesn’t come at an additional cost. As such, even if PlayStation is your primary console, I recommend getting the Xbox version if you have or ever plan to get an Xbox console.

In my testing, the 2.4GHz wireless signal between the headset and the transmitter box was lag-free and rock solid. I didn’t hear a single signal drop even if I went to a different room or even a different floor of my house. If you go any further away (like two floors or leave your house) from the transmitter box or your connected Bluetooth devices, then you’ll start to hear the signal drop out.

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless also has Bluetooth to connect to a phone, tablet, or other devices. Better yet, you can play audio from your Bluetooth source and a single 2.4GHz wireless source simultaneously, so you can listen to music and podcasts – or take a call – while driving around Mexico in Forza Horizon 5.

One unfortunate change is that unlike the previous model, you can’t adjust the volume of your Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless audio separately from the headset or the control box. The volume dial just uniformly changes how loud your headset is overall, so you have to go through the pain of individually adjusting the source volume of whatever you’ve connected over Bluetooth or your connected console/PC/device.

Another annoyance is that turning the headset off via the power button doesn’t turn off Bluetooth as well – it has to be turned off separately. To do this you have to hold down the Bluetooth button to switch it off in addition to using the power button to power down the headset as a whole. It seems odd that the dedicated power button doesn’t deactivate everything, but it makes more sense if you think of the Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz modes as two separate devices you can use independently, or at the same time. You could, for example, turn only Bluetooth on if you’re taking the headset out of the house and don’t need the 2.4Ghz connection.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Battery Life

SteelSeries specs the battery life (with ANC on) at 22 hours with only 2.4Ghz wireless and 18 hours when using 2.4GHz and Bluetooth at the same time (which is another reason it’s nice to be able to control them independently). That’s an amazing amount of gaming and playback time considering the physical size of these batteries is smaller than Ghirardelli mini chocolates. I strung up to four days of use out of a single battery and I feel like I could stretch it out to 30 hours across five days with ANC turned off, too.

Add in the fact that these batteries take just three hours to fully recharge inside the base – and you can hot-swap between the two included batteries without turning the headset off – and you can basically keep playing with this gaming headset forever. This is easily the most unique feature of this gaming headset, especially considering most wireless options have built-in batteries and need to be plugged in to charge. There’s basically nothing else on the market that offers this type of functionality.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Software

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Software

Most gaming headsets come with software that lets you adjust some basic settings and download firmware updates, but the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless takes things to the next level. SteelSeries completely blew out its software options with the new Sonar portion of its GG application on Windows.

At its most basic level, you can tweak the volume of your game audio and chat independently instead of just tweaking the mix of audio between the two sources. This is an extremely rare feature found basically only on this gaming headset (and its predecessors), but it’s super helpful if you game with a regular set of friends and already have the chat volume dialed in for them. These are all settings you can easily access in the transmitter base too, so they’re accessible to console users, too.

The next level of customization is, of course, tweaking the equalizer, which is done via the SteelSeries GG app on Windows. Adjusting EQ is nothing new, but SteelSeries lays everything out by not only giving you a 4Hz to 40KHz frequency range to tweak, but also an easy-to-follow guide that explains what parts of the range translate to lows, mids, highs, and everything in between.

The equalizer tab also has a drop-down option that lets you create a custom EQ starting from a game preset, which also shows what part of the range translates to, say, footsteps in Halo Infinite or revives in Call of Duty: Warzone. The app comes with several pre-made EQ configurations for popular games like Apex Legends, GTA V, and League of Legends, to name a few.

SteelSeries also tells me it has plans to work with developers to master the way games sound on its headsets. Additionally, there are plans to introduce community-shared mixes, so I expect the list of EQ presets will only grow larger with more games in the future.

Tweaking the equalizer really does help elevate the sound and show how flexible the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is. After switching on the preset for Halo Infinite, the soundtrack had noticeably more bass and gunfire echoed a bit further. Forza Horizon 5 also had louder engine grumbles and screechier tire squeals after turning on the premade EQ preset for it.

The one caveat to these EQ adjustments is that they currently only apply if you’re playing on PC, but SteelSeries says it’s looking for a way to port Sonar EQ adjustments to the headset so that they work on console as well. A mobile app is also under consideration.

Beyond changing the way games sound, you can also change the way you and your friends sound over chat. Sonar gives you a slightly less intensive equalizer than the game audio EQ to play with that spans across a narrower 31Hz (sub-bass) to the 16kHz (highs) range. Once again, you get presets to tweak the way you and chat sound for more clarity or more broadcast-quality audio.

There are also a few fun options that make you sound deeper or like you’re talking from a walkie-talkie. These options are a bit more gimmicky and not always effective, though, and I was told my voice didn’t seem any deeper or I sounded like I was talking from space when I tried them out with my friends.

Without any modulation, though, the mic quality captures your voice in excellent quality and with a warm and balanced tone. That said, the unidirectional microphone is a bit sensitive out of the box and it easily picks up unwanted background (like birds chirping and or cars driving by), so you’ll want to reduce the gain on it.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – Performance and Gaming

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless sounds as good as it looks. It features 40mm high-fidelity drivers and 360-degree spatial audio, which means it supports Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic, and the PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D Audio. This headset delivers fantastic spatial audio, especially in Battlefield 2042 where I could distinctly hear everything from an Osprey flying overhead to enemies moving around on the floor beneath me. While playing Returnal, it delivered a satisfying crackle for every laser bolt fired, and it was amazing to hear the enemies’ projectiles whiz all around me as I dodged in and out of bullet hell.

This headset isn’t cheap by any means, but it punches above its weight compared to even more expensive headsets. I was able to hear new nuances of Soy Yo while drifting around Forza Horizon 5 that I never heard while using Master & Dynamic’s $449 MG20 gaming headset. Meanwhile, it almost delivers an almost as good spatial sound as the $899 Audeze LCD-GX, which sports much larger 106mm planar magnetic drivers and utilizes Embody’s specialized spatial audio engine.

And all of that is just playing with the headset primarily in its default equalizer settings. As I previously mentioned, the sound only gets better when you start making tweaks in the frequency curve and make per-game profiles.

The Nova Pro Wireless also offers a fantastic range for listening to music. It’s not quite good enough to replace audiophile-grade headphones, as this headset runs into its limits when playing highs. But for most of your everyday listening, whether it’s streaming music from any of your mobile devices to playing atmospheric games on any platform, this is a fantastic package that can do it all.

SteelSeries’ Pro Wireless headsets have always been a bit of a unicorn in the gaming headset world thanks to their outstanding sound quality, uniquely removable batteries, simultaneous connection support, and other rare features. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless truly elevates this line of gaming headsets to another level: spatial sound and audio quality are fantastic, batteries can be hot-swapped for uninterrupted use, and you can make your gaming audio experience even more nuanced thanks to very noticeable changes in the equalizer and Sonar settings. The revised design accommodates all heads – large and small – comfortably, even for extended sessions. And to top things off, the more premium design and hybrid active noise canceling make the headset even more usable as a daily pair of wireless headphones.

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Review

masterpiece

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a unique and fantastic gaming headset thanks to its removable batteries, simultaneous connection options, ANC, and per-game equalizer profiles. If you’re looking for an excellent-sounding and extremely customizable gaming headset, this is it.

Kevin Lee

Best gaming headset: TOP 10 models of autumn 2022

Recently, the abundance of gaming headsets is amazing — the market is literally overcrowded with similar models in all colors of the rainbow, with or without backlighting, with classic or modern design, surround sound, removable or foldable microphones.

But in order to decide on a purchase and not miscalculate, it is worth systematizing all this diversity and compiling a top of the best headphones for gaming. That’s exactly what we’ve done by bringing together the best, in our opinion, and popular headsets. The range of prices here is large and all categories of goods are presented, which will help you choose the right option with any budget.

See also:

Top 10 Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones for TV
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1. Lenovo Legion H300

2. Lenovo Legion H600

3. ASUS ROG Theeta 7.1

4. ASUS ROG DELTA S

5. HATOR HYPERGANG HTA-810

6. LOGITECH G PRO x

7. SteelSeries Arctis 3

8. Razer Kraken X Lite

9. Sven AP-G988MV

10. A4 Tech Bloody G575 Punk

Lenovo Legion h300

The Lenovo Legion h300 is a popular wired headset for gamers starting at $58. The headphones are quite light (337 g) and are presented in a classic low-key style, which for many will be a plus. The ear cushions are made of breathable fabric for comfort during extended gaming sessions, and are removable and washable.

The

Legion h300 features 50mm drivers with an emphasis on rich, detailed sound. The noise canceling mic is swivel and the headphone has a convenient volume control. Connection is via a Y-shaped 3.5 mm audio jack, and the cable is 2 m long.

Prices in shops

Lenovo Legion H600

Lenovo Legion H600 belongs to a higher price segment compared to H200 and will cost from $120. Despite the visual similarity to the model described above, the H600 can be connected both via cable and via radio. In addition, the headset is compatible with the Legion S600 charging station and can be charged wirelessly.

50mm dynamic drivers deliver detailed and crisp gaming sound. Removable ear pads and a noise-canceling microphone are also in place. The battery in the headphones is 1200 mAh, which provides up to 20 hours of continuous play. Charge Lenovo Legion H600 in 2.5 hours via USB-C.

Prices in shops

See also:

Their name is Legion: Play for fun
More than just laptops: Lenovo

accessories overview

ASUS ROG Theta 7.

The popular ASUS ROG Theta 7.1 gaming headset starts at $313. The headphones look aggressive and modern, and they also have RGB lighting on the cups. But the main thing is inside: four emitters on each side, two pairs of ESS 9601 amplifiers for each cup and a proprietary DAC. All this makes the sound of the headphones high-quality and «omnivorous», which means they can be recommended not only for games, movies and entertainment, but also for music. Surround sound is included if desired, but is more suited to movie and gaming sessions. Connection to PC is via USB C port.

Prices in shops
AliExpress

ASUS ROG Delta S

ASUS ROG Delta S is a stylish flagship gaming headset with unusual triangular cups. The model has RGB lighting, and the overall design can be called space-futuristic. Headphones work with PCs, laptops and smartphones.

Headphones received branded 50 mm ASUS Essence drivers with neodymium magnet. Installed in them and DAC ESS 9281 with four digital-to-analog converters. Each of them is responsible for its part of the range: low, medium, high and ultra-high frequencies. The gaming headset is praised for its detailed sound, powerful mids and highs. But some of the bottom is missing. Connection is via USB C port. Virtual 7.1 sound is available. ASUS ROG Delta S retails for $154.

Prices in shops
AliExpress

See also:

Hator Hyperpunk review. Good gaming headset with a chic microphone
TOP 10 budget gaming monitors with a frequency of 144 Hz

Hator Hypergang HTA-810

The Hator Hypergang HTA-810 gaming headset has an ascetic design. Restrained style is offset by an affordable price tag (from $45) and adequate, for its price segment, sound. The model is also praised for its excellent positioning in games. For music and cinema, they are also suitable, but in this regard, only unpretentious users will like it.

Hator Hypergang HTA-810 are equipped with 53mm drivers and detachable foldable microphone. Connection occurs only through a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Store prices

Logitech G Pro X

More serious in price (from $97), but still strict in design, the Logitech G Pro X gaming headset is equipped with a bundled adapter with a built-in DAC and supports DTS Headphone:X 2.0 multi-channel audio. The microphone works with Blue Voice technology, so the voice is digitally processed and fine-tuned through a proprietary application.

Logitech G Pro X connects via 3.5mm audio jack or via USB if you want to enhance the sound with the included digital-to-analog converter. The emitters of the model are 50 mm with neodymium magnets. The emphasis is on games, movies and TV shows, but you can also listen to music. And with an overview of the base model Logitech G Pro can be found here.

Store prices
AliExpress

See also:

Review of HyperX Cloud Stinger S headset. 0014
TOP 10 full-size headphones

SteelSeries Arctis 3

The SteelSeries Arctis 3 mid-range gaming headset has received a strict but stylish design, and only the brand inscription betrays its involvement in the gaming segment.

Headphone drivers 40mm with neodymium magnets and connection via 3.5mm jack. The manufacturer focuses on enhanced low frequencies, but verified sound, therefore recommends them for games, multimedia and music. Users also praise the sound, but more in games, although the unpretentious listener also gets into them music. The SteelSeries Arctis 3 retails for $78.

Prices in shops
AliExpress

Razer Kraken X Lite

In addition to top-end gaming peripherals, Razer also has budget models. A popular representative of this segment is the Kraken X Lite gaming headset. Starting at $31, the well-known brand offers stylish yet minimalist headphones with versatile sound. There is no RGB lighting, which was saved in the first place, but the company’s signature snakes are still on the cups and look cool.

Razer Kraken X Lite received 40mm drivers with an emphasis on low frequencies. Declared support for multi-channel audio (7.1). The headphones stand out for their light weight (230 g) and universal connectivity (PCs, laptops, consoles, smartphones).

Store prices

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Boosteroid cloud service: How to play with it to the maximum?
AVerMedia Godwit AM310 Streamer Microphone Review

Sven AP-G988MV

Sven AP-G988MV is the most budget gaming headset in this top. This is a model of the initial segment, with which you can start your acquaintance with this niche, or give it to a child. Headphones look modest, but modern. The black color is pleasantly diluted with bright red inserts on the cups and headband.

The Sven AP-G988MV runs on 50mm drivers with an emphasis on low frequencies. The middle is not bad, but the top is so-so, so the model is suitable for games, but you will have to listen to music on something else, if you are, of course, picky in this matter. Connecting Sven AP-G988MV only via 3.5m audio jack, so it will work with PC, laptop, smartphone or console. The price tag of the model starts at $24.

Store prices

A4 Tech Bloody G575 Punk

A4 Tech Bloody G575 Punk is another entry in the affordable segment (starting at $32). The design of this gaming headset is bright and juicy, which will definitely appeal to fans of bright accessories. The chip of the model was not only the design, but also a bifurcated bow, which perfectly fixes the headphones on the head.

The Bloody G575 Punk connects via USB and features 7.1 multi-channel audio technology. The drivers of the model are 50 mm and give excellent bass and mids. That is why gamer headphones are good for games (especially shooters) and multimedia, but not recommended for music.

Store prices

Among the popular gaming headsets are a variety of models with price tags from $20. Most received a strict practical design, but there are exceptions with spectacular RGB backlighting. Naturally, the more expensive the headphones, the better their sound and more features, but even the most affordable models on the list will please you with sound in games, movies and TV shows.

What gaming headset do you use? Why do you prefer this particular model? Did they replace her with something else? If yes, why? Share your experience and other cool headphones in the comments.

See also:

Marshall Monitor ll A.N.C. — Stylish transformers with noise reduction
Panasonic RP-BTD5E Review —

Wireless On-Ear Headphones

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Top 10 Best Gaming Headphones — 2022 Ranking

Every year, headset manufacturers offer more and more worthy models designed for use in games. Due to the wide abundance of goods today you can already find specific models for consoles. At the same time, there are both wired and Bluetooth models that differ in design, microphone quality, noise reduction system and other important parameters. Taking into account especially important nuances, the editorial staff has prepared for your attention a rating of the best gaming headphones in 2022 for computers and laptops. Our list contains budget, premium models with wireless and cable connectivity. At the same time, we focused on full-size solutions, since this design option is currently the most effective against the background of in-channel and other analogues.

Table of Contents

Top Wireless Gaming Headphones

This segment features headphones that connect wirelessly to PCs and laptops. Customers can choose from different headset options with IR, radio or Bluetooth connectivity. The latter, as practice shows, are in the greatest demand, and we decided to collect such gadgets in the initial, middle and highest price categories. The range of such gaming headsets, as a rule, is around 10 meters. It is important to understand that it is more difficult to use advanced technologies such as aptX (to improve sound) in such gadgets. At about the same price, as a rule, classic full-size models are better than wireless counterparts.

BASEUS Encok D02

Opens the top 10 gaming headphones for the computer wireless model BASEUS Encok D02 with a loyal price tag and a good microphone. True, it must be said right away that the AUX cable is not included in the package. The autonomy of this headset reaches 25 hours, which is a good indicator for this price. In addition, soft ear pads made using high quality artificial leather are pleasing. In the context of dynamic radiators, nothing supernatural was found: a suitable sound for this price with a clear emphasis on the bottoms. To pair with other gadgets, the modern Bluetooth 5.0 standard is used.

Pros:

stable connection;
low cost;
decent microphone;
good hold.

Cons:

no AUX cable included.

Corsair Void RGB Elite

For those of you who don’t know, Corsair Void RGB Elite is one of the leading manufacturers of PC components and headsets. A clear proof of this is this model of good 7.1 gaming wireless headphones for PC, which has a wide range of applications, thoughtful ear cushions and high-quality stereo sound. At the heart of the headset are 50mm neodymium-type drivers. In addition, the gadget attracts with comfortable ear cushions, which include mesh microfiber fabric and foam materials with the so-called memory effect. Wireless connection is available at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

Pros:

frequency range;
sensitivity level;
expensive ear pads;
reliable manufacturer;
build quality.

Cons:

high price.

AUDEZE Mobius

This is truly the flagship model of premium gaming headphones for computers that support wireless connection and virtually all known surround sound modes including 5.1, 2.0 and 7.1. Full 3D emulation has been incorporated into this headset with a focus on up, bass and solos. The quality of the implementation of the design deserves special attention. According to the manufacturer, the headset can respond to small movements of the head, up to 1000 times in one second. This guarantees the most accurate localization of sound in the gameplay. The new headset can be used via both Bluetooth and cable, including USB-C as well as USB-A. The headset weighs around 350 grams.

Pros:

light weight;
innovative design;
support for all stereo modes;
service life.

Cons:

in our opinion, overpriced.

Corsair Gaming HS70

This model is suitable for a variety of gaming systems including consoles, PCs, all-in-ones and laptops. At the same time, a good gaming headset supports Virtual 7.1 Surround sound of the highest quality with frequency operation from 20 to 20,000 kHz. The sensitivity level of 111 dB and the resistance of 32 ohms deserve special attention. The signal transmission range at a frequency of 2.4 GHz reaches 12 meters. The operating time without charging is 16 hours. 50 mm drivers are responsible for playing loud, high-quality sound. In addition, the manufacturer has taken care of the presence of a high-quality microphone with noise reduction — from 100 to 10,000 Hz.

Pros:

noise reduction level;
battery life;
sound quality;
good assembly.

Cons:

sell out quickly.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

The best wireless gaming headphones of 2021 are the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, designed for 2.4G connectivity via Bluetooth 4.1. Customer reviews indicate that the removable battery lasts for 10 hours on a single charge. At the same time, the kit includes two batteries: while one is in use, the second can be charged. The advantages of the headset include a high-quality, retractable bidirectional microphone, complemented by an advanced noise reduction system and high-quality sound controls.

Pros:

battery life;
two batteries included;
quick connection;
uncompromising sound;
Toslink optical cable.

Cons:

The best gaming headphones with microphone

Surely, many online gamers will agree that the overall gaming experience often depends on the quality of the microphone in the headphones. Down to its location, convenience, quality, after all. There are devices with the location of the microphone on the wire and built into the case. As for the choice, it already depends on the individual needs of the user. We will talk about features and characteristics at the end of the article. What is important to note is that we decided to collect both budget and premium wired headphones with high-end full-size earcups.

A4 Tech Bloody G-500

The A4 Tech Bloody G-500 model, which attracts with a chic bundle for its price range, completes the rating of gaming headphones with a microphone: a cable with a remote control, a mat, an extension cord. Closed type stereo headset suitable for computers and laptops. The model attracts with an aggressive, purposeful design, which, in fact, is typical for many devices of this class, but many users managed to appreciate the futuristic appearance of this particular gadget. The design is made of a metal headband, as well as a soft leather-look vinyl finish. Ride height adjustable. The good news is that the headband provides users with a strong hold of the cups against the user’s head. The headphones have advanced 40mm neodymium drivers, which provide a very powerful sound with a pronounced bass. The retractable directional microphone deserves special attention. There is a switch with two 3-pin mini-jack connectors at once.

Pros:

large speakers;
good microphone;
stylish design;
excellent equipment.

Cons:

simple assembly.

A4 Tech Bloody J437

If you’re looking for a good budget 7.1 gaming headphone with vibration support in games, you should pay attention to the A4 Tech Bloody J437 model that connects to a PC via USB. The model, at its moderate price, attracts with really high-quality sound insulation. A comfortable and at the same time durable design deserves special attention, in which the self-adjusting headband and durable ear cushions stand out especially strongly. Note advanced passive soundproofing. Among other things, pleases with deep bass and mids. Such vocals are not felt in all mid-range headphones. We also note good positioning and an omnidirectional microphone.

Pros:

good cable;
large speakers;
good microphone;
stylish design;
excellent illumination.

Cons:

is not the best assembly.

Razer Kraken X

The Razer Kraken X with virtual 7. 1 sound adds to the list of gaming headphones with a good microphone. The multi-platform headset weighs only 250 grams. At the same time, the gadget has an excellent cardioid retractable microphone, which justifies its cost. The model is positioned as a good gaming headset for various systems, including gaming laptops, personal computers, consoles. High quality sound is provided by advanced 40mm drivers. At the same time, customer comments indicate high sound quality with a pronounced emphasis on the bottom. An excellent solution for games of different genres, including shooters. The length of the wire is 1.3 meters.

Pros:

2×3-pin mini-Jack 3.5mm;
large speakers;
light weight;
good seals;
soft fit.

Cons:

noise reduction.

Kingston HyperX Cloud

High build quality attracts gaming headphones called Kingston HyperX Cloud, and not only. The headset received large 53 mm Hi-Fi speakers covering the frequency range from 15 to 25 kHz. It is worth adding that the model received an iron frame covered with high-quality matte plastic. Actually, no one forgot to take care of the little things. The braided cord is a vivid confirmation of this. In this case, all the control keys are displayed in a separate line, including the volume up / down button. If you believe the reviews of gamers, the sound is clear, even tone. At the same time, we could not find even information on the subject of even the slightest distortion. On the contrary, many praise the quality of the detail of the scene, the embouchures.

Pros:

value for money;
large drivers;
stylish design;
braided cord.

Cons:

not found.

Logitech G Pro X

The best gaming headphones with mic in 2022 are the wired Logitech G Pro X with advanced multi-channel audio virtualization. This is achieved through the use of a complete DAC adapter. The headset supports Blue Voice technology, the essence of which is the use of digital voice processing. High-quality sound is achieved through the use of large 50 mm dynamic drivers based on neodymium magnets. Drivers guarantee not only powerful, but also high-quality sound. In addition to the quality of the stereo sound, it is necessary to note the exact positioning and quality of the construction.

Pros:

expensive parts;
large speakers;
precise positioning;
Blue Voice technology.

Cons:

not found.

How to choose gaming headphones in 2022?

Having decided on the type of equipment, considering the advantages and disadvantages of both wireless and more sound-quality, but less convenient wired gaming headsets, it is necessary to pay due attention to important aspects. If you have not decided for yourself how to choose good gaming headphones, you should at least figure out what this or that parameter means, indicated by the developers in the description of their products:0003

Sound format . There are mono, stereo, and 5.1-channel models, but, of course, single-channel models are no longer surprising today. The 5.1 standard was originally developed to create more surround sound like surround, and the point is to use several drivers in one bowl, but such models are rare. Optimal is 7.1 stereo.
Impedance . This characteristic represents the nominal resistance of the headset to AC (audio signal). It is relevant to take this parameter into account if you managed to find two models with approximately the same characteristics and cost. In this case, from 16 to 32 ohms is considered the optimal indicator. Higher rates are typical for the use of powerful amplifiers.
Frequency band . It is considered the norm from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Here it is worth saying that the human ear perceives from 16 Hz to 22 kHz. Therefore, it is not worth chasing a too wide range, overpaying for «cunning marketing».
Sensitivity . In theory, we are talking about the volume at which the headphones sound. At the same time, the volume level also depends on the resistance indicator, which is often forgotten by sellers in electronics stores. As for the «dry values», optimally around 90 dB Higher values are needed if the headset is used outdoors, where you have to deal with third-party sounds.
Speaker diameter . One of the main parameters on which quality and power depend. At the same time, dynamic emitters are used today more often than more modernized armature counterparts, which are more expensive (more often used in in-ear gadgets). A good indicator is the size from 40 to 50 millimeters.

Which headphones for games are better to buy in Ukraine?

Of course, sophisticated buyers pay attention to harmonic distortion, noise reduction, and built-in amplifier. However, if you do not know which gaming headphones to buy, then these indicators are unlikely to help you figure it out.

On 19 января, 2023 By alexxlab

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