Choosing the best gaming headset in 2020 is hard – but not because there are so few choices. Companies like HyperX and SteelSeries offer exceptional sound quality, excellent mics, and premium features on high-end gaming headphones.
Each of these ten headphones is worthy of consideration in your quest for the best gaming headset.
Best For: Entry-Level PC Surround Sound Headset
The HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 headset offers a better experience than those earbuds you've been using. It's compatible with PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and smartphone gaming.
The headset features 40mm drivers and a flexible, swivel mic. Gamers can swivel the mic up to mute it instead of fiddling with buttons on the cord. The Stinger Core series features virtual 7.1 surround sound, but you'll need HyperX NGENUITY software to activate it on PC. The feature is not compatible with consoles.
Console gamers who want a full surround sound experience should check out one of the gaming headsets below.
Best For: General Budget Gaming Headset
Need a gaming headset that sounds amazing but won't break the bank? The Corsair HS60 Pro Surround gaming headset can rival some of the headphones on this list, but it only costs $70.
The HS60 Pro Surround's 50mm neodymium audio drivers deliver crisp audio quality. The headset also features 7.1 surround sound for multi-channel positional audio. Finally, the HS60 features a uni-directional microphone that is Discord certified.
Best For: Head-Tracking Audio
Most of the gaming headsets on this list only feature 50mm drivers for their speakers. The HyperX Cloud Orbit S features 100mm planar magnetic drivers. The result is a 3D audio space to deliver accurate positional sound localization.
The Cloud Orbit S is compatible with PC, Xbox, PS4, Switch, or mobile gaming. One unique feature of the Orbit S is head tracking technology to stabilize in-game audio based on head position.
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Best For: Budget Surround Sound Gaming
The Logitech G Pro gaming headset is the first in its G line-up to feature surround sound audio. It is compatible with Windows 10 surround sound like Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos. These technologies give superior positional audio – rendered perfectly by the G Pro series.
While these budget gaming headphones don't offer active noise cancellation, Logitech does include passive noise isolation. The leatherette ear pads create a seal around the ear to reduce distractions while gaming. Hate leather? The G Pro headset also comes with microsuede ear pads. The G Pro also ships with a condenser microphone that improves clarity and features a full-sized pop filter.
Best For: Active Noise Cancellation
Razer's Opus headset is a THX-certified wireless headset that offers active noise-cancellation. The Opus headset is its first attempt to reach out to audiophiles. Gone are the garish green Razer branding and outrageous gamer aesthetic.
Instead, The Opus headset offers a competent ANC that competes with other manufacturers like Sony and Bose. Razer even includes a quick attention mode to pause ANC temporarily – useful for crossing a street.
Best For: Wireless Xbox Gaming
Want to go completely wireless with your Xbox One? The SteelSeries Arctis 9x requires no cables or dongles to connect to the console. Two Bluetooth connections allow gamers to mix in audio from another device. The Arctis 9x features the same a ClearCast noise-canceling microphone for precise audio performance.
SteelSeries says gamers can expect a 20-hour battery life. The Arctis 9x is tuned to emphasize subtle sounds like footsteps and distant gunfire to grant superior audio awareness.
Best For: Game Streamers
Want to broadcast your gameplay and chat streams at the same time? The Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 headset with its SuperAmp makes that possible for PC, PS4, and Xbox gamers. The Elite Pro 2 features massive 50mm speakers and magnetic speaker plates to customize the look.
The Elite Pro 2 also features Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app. The app is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and allows gamers to control the SuperAmp with personalized EQ settings and dynamic chat boost.
Best For: PC & PS4 Gamers
The Arctis Pro + GameDAC offers the best hi-resolution audio experience available to PC and PS4 gamers. It's the first gaming headset to achieve the Hi-Res audio certification for gaming and music.
The DAC included is the ESS Sabre 9018 Reference DAC with 121 dB of dynamic range and -115 dB THD+N. SteelSeries says the configuration makes bass sounds crisper while giving each sound effect more distinction for positional cues. This DAC bypasses the poor quality DAC in the PS4 for unrivaled sound quality – for a price.
Best For: Professional Gamers
The one thing that sets professional gamers apart from others is the gaming headset they use. The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is often a choice in the professional gaming circuit because of its design. It features dual chambers to separate the bass from mids and highs – allowing for unrivaled sound quality.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is multi-platform and works with PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and smartphone gaming. It features a detachable noise-canceling microphone and in-line audio controls on the detachable braided cable.
Best For: Multi-Platform Gaming
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox is a cord-free gaming headset designed for any platform. It works with PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and smartphone gaming. The compact and portable design makes it particularly great for Switch and mobile gamers.
The Arctis 1 Wireless features the same sound-tuning as its more expensive Arctis cousins. It also features a detachable ClearCast noise-canceling microphone for unrivaled sound quality.
Finding the best gaming headset in 2020 doesn't have to mean compromise. Each of the headsets featured on this list offer pros and cons for gamers of all walks of life. No matter if you want the best home theater sound experience or on-the-go communication, these headsets have you covered.
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