The best gaming headsets can take your gaming experience to the next level with crystal-clear audio and precise directional sound. Choosing the correct headset can significantly impact the outcome of competitive games.

Players who use the best gaming headsets for PS5 and Xbox Series X can fully immerse themselves in the game. These headsets help them detect enemy footsteps and communicate with teammates while experiencing the game’s audio exactly as developers intended.

Our team has tested dozens of gaming headsets to select the top 5 models that stand out in audio quality, comfort, and features. These headsets work perfectly with both PS5 and Xbox Series X and come with premium features like Dolby Atmos, customisable EQ settings, and uninterrupted wireless connectivity.

You’ll find options that fit any budget—from high-end wireless models to quality wired alternatives that deliver exceptional gaming performance.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless redefines premium gaming audio. This flagship model delivers an exceptional gaming experience with groundbreaking features. Let me show you what makes this headset stand out from the crowd:

Features

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless brings cutting-edge technology through a wireless base station that acts as your command centre for audio customization. The headset’s dual USB-C ports let you connect multiple devices and switch between them with a single button press.

This headset stands out with its groundbreaking Infinity Power System. The dual hot-swappable batteries eliminate power concerns completely. Each battery provides 22 hours of gameplay, and you can quickly swap a low battery with its fully charged backup from the base station without interrupting your gaming session.

Key Features:

• AI-powered noise-canceling microphone that retracts when not in use
• Dual 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections that blend game and mobile audio
• OLED Base Station with custom audio presets
• Active Noise Cancelation that includes transparency mode

Audio Quality

The Nova Pro’s Premium Hi-Res Capable Neodymium Magnetic Drivers enhance your gaming experience. This headset produces impressive low-end sound that makes explosions and bass notes feel powerful yet controlled. A 4-mic hybrid system monitors and adjusts your audio with up-to-the-minute data analysis to deliver crisp, clear sound.

Sonar Software elevates your audio control through gaming’s first parametric EQ. You can adjust every sound aspect precisely. The software helps you hear enemy footsteps better and magnify reload sounds to give you an edge in gameplay.

Comfort

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless delivers exceptional comfort during long gaming sessions. The headset’s metal headband features a ski goggle-style suspension strap that eliminates pressure points. Its earcups contain generous memory foam padding and premium faux leather covering. Users should note that the earcups might feel warm after hours of use.

The headset’s construction blends metal and plastic components to create an exceptionally durable design. The magnetic earcup panels add a smart touch by offering quick access to the battery compartment and USB-C charging port. This professional-looking headset transitions smoothly between intense gaming sessions at home and professional video calls at work.

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Razer BlackShark V2

The Razer BlackShark V2 demonstrates the affordability of tournament-grade gaming headsets. This impressive piece of gear combines competitive features with exceptional value that serious gamers will appreciate.

Features

The BlackShark V2 elevates your gaming experience with its remarkable features. This headset integrates state-of-the-art TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers that split into three parts. Each part precisely tunes highs, mids, and lows. You can customise your audio settings through Razer Synapse with the included USB sound card.

This headset stands out with these features:

• HyperClear Super Wideband microphone that captures natural voice across extended frequencies
• Multi-function audio dial that controls game/chat mix
• Cross-platform compatibility through 3.5mm connection
• THX Spatial Audio support that enhances PC gaming

Audio Quality

The BlackShark V2’s exceptional sound performance stands out from the first moment. The titanium-coated diaphragms produce brighter, clearer midrange with rich trebles and powerful bass. This headset shines, especially when you have competitive gaming scenarios that demand precise positional audio accuracy.

The audio profile comes optimised for gaming and includes pre-loaded sound profiles for popular titles like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, and Fortnite. The USB sound card enhances the sound quality significantly and delivers smoother midrange with better-balanced overall audio.

Comfort

The BlackShark V2 keeps you comfortable through your longest gaming marathons. Its ultra-soft FlowKnit memory foam cushions come with a breathable weave that prevents overheating. The headset weighs just 262 grams, which makes it a great choice when you game for hours.

A steel-reinforced headband adds strength without compromising flexibility. The balanced clamping force creates a better seal that blocks outside noise well. You might want to readjust the fit now and then during long gaming sessions.

Durable construction meets smart design in this headset. The memory foam ear cushions feature leatherette and mesh fabric layers that create a proper seal easily. The controls feel intuitive, with the volume dial and mic mute button placed right where you need them on the left earcup.

Audeze Maxwell

The Audeze Maxwell delivers exceptional gaming audio quality through its premium planar magnetic technology. This high-end gaming headset stands out with impressive features and specifications:

Features

The Maxwell’s impressive feature set will supercharge your gaming experience. Its remarkable 80-hour battery life stands as the longest in its category. A quick 20-minute charge powers several hours of gaming sessions.

Features that lift your gaming:

• Ultra-low latency wireless with triple the traditional range
• Bluetooth 5.3 with support for LDAC and LC3plus
• High-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz
• AI-powered noise reduction technology
• Dual microphone system with detachable boom

Audio Quality

The Maxwell’s exceptional audio comes from its 90mm planar magnetic drivers that are 3x larger than what competitors offer. The sound clarity and precision enhance your gaming experience with a frequency response from 10Hz to 50kHz. The default “Audeze” EQ delivers balanced sound that packs enough punch and thump. Your vocals and instruments sound clear and natural.

The companion app makes this headset versatile with its multiple EQ presets and competitive gaming profiles. Xbox users get an added bonus—the embedded Dolby Atmos license that boosts spatial awareness in supported games.

Comfort

The Maxwell boasts premium construction with its reinforced chassis that combines aluminium and steel components. A unique leather-like suspension strap system ensures your comfort by distributing the headset’s weight evenly across your head.

The headset weighs 490g, which might seem heavy at first glance. However, its innovative headband design helps alleviate discomfort during extended gaming sessions. The earcups come with generous padding and room, though the default cushions might feel a bit thin to some users.

The closed-back design delivers excellent passive noise isolation that becomes more noticeable at higher volumes. The left earcup houses convenient physical controls, including:

• Power button with Bluetooth pairing
• Volume wheel
• Game/chat mixer
• AI noise suppression button

This headset shines with its compatibility with gaming platforms of all types: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck. Audiophiles will appreciate the planar magnetic drivers that deliver exceptional detail and accuracy, though the default sound signature might feel slightly clinical and precise to some users.

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HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless

The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless sets a new standard for wireless gaming headsets with its groundbreaking battery life. This remarkable headset lets you game without worrying about charging. Its performance matches its impressive staying power.

Features

The Cloud Alpha Wireless delivers a game-changing upgrade with its remarkable battery performance. Tests show it can run for an incredible 340+ hours of non-stop playback, which beats HyperX’s own 300-hour promise. This means you could play games continuously for two weeks without reaching for the charger.

This headset stands out with several impressive features:

• A responsive 2.4GHz wireless connection that eliminates gaming lag
• DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio that pinpoints sound locations precisely
• A removable Discord-certified microphone with LED mute indicator
• Simple onboard controls to adjust volume, mute mic, and monitor audio

Audio Quality

A dual chamber driver system enhances your audio experience by separating mids and highs from bass-heavy lows. This engineering achievement produces clear audio at every frequency.

The headset comes with a v-shaped sound profile that adds bass punch while maintaining accurate vocal and lead instrument reproduction.

DTS Spatial Audio enhances your competitive advantage by generating an accurate virtual 3D sound stage.

This technology works exceptionally well when you have games like Valorant and Risk of Rain 2, which let you locate enemy positions accurately.

Comfort

You’ll stay comfortable during those long gaming sessions thanks to smart design choices. The headset comes with:

• Premium memory foam cushions wrapped in breathable leatherette
• A light 337g design
• Tough aluminum frame built to last
• Just the right amount of clamping force for long wear

The sturdy aluminium frame really makes this headset stand out. This headset is designed to withstand numerous gaming sessions without causing any discomfort.

The leatherette ear cushions might get a bit warm during long sessions, but you’ll still feel great wearing these. The well-planned ergonomics and balanced weight distribution make a significant difference.

This headset’s mic works better than you’d expect. Your voice is captured naturally and sounds full. Even with background noise, your teammates will be able to clearly hear you. The mic knows how to pick out your voice from the surrounding sounds.

The NGENUITY software lets you make it your own with features like:

• Battery tracking with percentage display
• Custom EQ settings using a 10-band equalizer
• Auto-shutdown timer options
• DTS Spatial Audio adjustments

Read more: How to choose the best earbuds for your lifestyle?

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro combines cutting-edge technology with premium features that will transform your gaming audio experience. This powerful headset delivers exceptional performance:

Features

The Stealth Pro’s innovative dual-battery system gives your gaming arsenal a most important upgrade. One battery powers your gaming session, and the other charges in the transmitter dock. This ensures uninterrupted gameplay. Each battery pack lasts over 12 hours, and a quick 15-minute charge provides three hours of gaming time.

Features that raise your gaming experience:

• Dual 2.4GHz wireless + Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity
• Complete Audio Hub app with 10-band EQ
• Advanced Superhuman Hearing® with adjustable settings
• Four internal noise-canceling microphones
• Proprietary lag-free wireless connection

Audio Quality

The Stealth Pro delivers exceptional sound through its carefully selected 50mm NanoclearTM drivers. These drivers cover 56% more surface area than standard 40mm versions. Sound quality follows a unique profile that emphasises both bass and treble frequencies. This setup works especially well with first-person shooters because footsteps and environmental sounds become remarkably clear.

Active Noise Cancellation technology reduces ambient noise by up to 25 dB, which blocks out computer fans and background distractions effectively. Gamers will experience these benefits:

• Deeper, more defined bass with ANC turned on
• Crisp voice communication with teammates
• A precise treble that helps you catch tactical audio signals
• Realistic sound positioning with good spatial awareness

The headset’s dual microphone system gives you options. A detachable TruSpeakTM boom mic cuts out 97% of background noise. Built-in microphones offer a convenient alternative that works well for casual conversations, though they pick up more ambient sound.

Comfort

This headset ensures you stay comfortable even through marathon gaming sessions. Plush leatherette-wrapped memory foam ear cushions come with ProSpecsTM technology that works great for glasses wearers. The steel-reinforced headband adds strength and comfort, though the headset weighs 400g without the boom mic.

Premium materials and smart design choices make this headset stand out:

• Steel-reinforced headband that lasts longer
• Earcups that swivel to fit perfectly
• Easy-to-reach volume wheel on the right earcup
• Quick ANC control button

The Audio Hub app lets you customise your headset exactly how you want it. You get access to:

• 10-band EQ with custom presets
• ANC levels you can fine-tune
• Wheel mapping options
• Mic sensitivity settings

The wireless connection stays strong up to 50 feet away, but walls can limit this range to about 9 meters. You can connect to your gaming system and phone at the same time thanks to dual-wireless support. This means you won’t miss important calls while deep into your game sessions.

Conclusion

Gaming headsets today come with amazing features at all price points, making quality audio available to gamers everywhere.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Audeze Maxwell stand out as premium choices that deliver audiophile-grade sound with active noise cancellation and dual wireless connectivity.

The Razer BlackShark V2 gives budget-minded gamers great value. It matches the audio performance and comfort of flagship models at just a third of their price.

These headsets shine in different ways. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless boasts an incredible 300-hour battery life, while the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro excels with its noise cancellation system. Finding your ideal gaming headset depends on what you need.

Competitive players often choose the BlackShark V2 for its precise audio positioning. Streamers love the Arctis Nova Pro’s ability to mix multiple audio sources at once. These top picks showcase the best of current gaming audio technology and work smoothly with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Faqs

Many gamers need help with their gaming headsets. We have answers to common questions that will enhance your gaming audio experience.

Common Gaming Headset Issues and Solutions

Connection Problems:

Your headset might act up sometimes. Here’s a checklist to help you out:

• Look for any damage in the physical connections and wires
• Make sure your platform compatibility settings are correct
• PC users should update their audio drivers
• Wireless headset users need to check battery levels and stay within range

Water Damage Signs:

These signs point to possible water damage in your headset:

• Your connection keeps dropping
• The audio sounds fuzzy
• Your mic works intermittently

Quick Fix Tips:

Here’s what you can do about water damage:

1. Clean and dry the outside parts really well
2. Take off the ear cushions and dry them
3. Let everything dry completely before you plug it back in

Platform Compatibility Guide

Cross-Platform Usage:

Multi-console gamers need to understand compatibility requirements. This guide explains the essential details:

Feature	PlayStation 5	Xbox Series X	PC
USB Connection	Yes	Limited	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	No	Yes
3.5mm Jack	Yes	Yes	Yes
Optical	No	No	Yes

• Xbox requires certified USB devices
• Xbox uses proprietary wireless standard
• PS5 lacks optical output

Audio Settings Tips:

The PS5 performs best with these adjustments:

• Review the original volume settings (default is 80%)
• Adjust 3D Audio settings in Sound menu
• Configure chat mix through quick menu

Audio Enhancement Tips

Surround Sound Considerations Virtual surround sound settings need careful adjustment:

• Players should disable it to hear footsteps better in competitive games
• Single-player games benefit from enabled surround sound features
• Think over headphones with wider audio stage that sounds naturally

Sound Quality Optimization Your headset’s audio performance improves with these steps:

1. The system works better with audio enhancements turned off
2. A dedicated DAC processes sound more effectively
3. Platform-specific audio technologies like Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos enhance the experience

Technical Specifications FAQ

Wireless vs. Wired:

You should think over these factors before choosing between wireless and wired headsets:

• Wireless headsets give you freedom to move
• Wired models deliver consistent audio quality
• Wireless options need battery management
• Wireless connections might face interference issues

Brand Selection Guide:

Each model is different, but these brands consistently deliver quality:

• HyperX stands out with reliable build quality
• SteelSeries leads with state-of-the-art features
• Sennheiser excels in superior audio quality
• Razer focuses on gaming features
• Turtle Beach provides good value options

Microphone Troubleshooting:

Your microphone stopped working? Here’s what to do:

1. Look at physical connections
2. Make sure the microphone isn’t muted
3. Try it on different devices
4. Update audio drivers if needed

Battery Management:

Wireless headset users should:

• Track battery percentage through companion apps
• Turn on auto-shutdown features when available
• Look for models with hot-swappable batteries
• Take advantage of quick-charge features

Note that most audio issues have simple solutions. Start with simple troubleshooting steps before assuming hardware failure. Your headset’s warranty status matters; reach out to manufacturer support if problems persist.