How To Choose The Best Gaming Headset
Selecting the best headset for your gaming sessions is not an easy task. There are some things you can consider to help when making your decision.
Uses
How you plan to use your headset can make a big difference. While many headsets are at least passable for many different uses, sometimes you want one specially designed for your primary needs.
Streaming & Gaming
For streaming and gaming, you really want a headset that aids in the immersive experience. Sound is a major factor for immersion, and it can help make the world more real in an RPG or help you understand which direction that zombie moan may have come from so you can avoid it. Some headsets even add haptic feedback, helping you feel the different levels of sound to help deepen the immersion.
In a gaming headset, you need to look for something that provides the full range of sounds that the game developer intended. You want to hear the winds and rain, the footsteps of the enemy soldier, and the woosh of a sword.
It’s not just about the sounds you hear, you also want good audio reproduction from the microphone. Your teammates need to hear and understand what you are saying in a FPS or the whole squad may be wiped out. While your headset needs to carry the stress in your voice, it doesn’t need the same clarity a singer or podcaster would need. This is one area you may be able to give up some quality, as long as it clearly transmits your voice without clipping and with decent sound quality.
Recording & Podcasting
For recording and podcasting, you need a good set of headphones that let you hear back what you’re saying as you say it. This helps you moderate your voice level, monitor for sound quality, and position the mic appropriately to pick up your voice correctly.
You also need a microphone that will block outside sounds well. Vent sounds, chairs rolling, or other noise can be very distracting to your audience. A lot of noise in the recording means a lot of time editing to clean up the audio, so you want to avoid that.
While you need a mic that blocks outside noise well, this is less of an issue for the sounds you are hearing. You also want the lowest latency possible. Any delay can be distracting to you, or make it difficult to respond in a timely manner. Because of this, many podcasters use wired headsets, which tend to have lower latency.
Music & Singing
For musicians, a good headset can be a necessity. You’ll need a headset that is very good at isolating outside noise, and one that also has a mic that is especially good at preventing background noise. You also need a wide frequency range in both the headphones and the microphone. It’s important to capture the full range of sounds produced by the singer or musician, but it’s also important for them to hear that back.
Comfort is important, but a musician or singer really needs a headset that will stay put on their head as they move about. They also need a microphone that stays in place as well, since any movement can distort or limit a singer’s voice.
Pricing
Pricing is a major concern for a gamer. While your headset can make a world of difference in the level of immersion, you also need to meet your budget. Depending on your gaming setup, there are times when the money may better be directed toward a better graphic card or mouse. Balancing these needs is difficult, but if you need to get the best experience overall then you may find yourself looking more at budget gaming headsets.
Budget gaming headsets aren’t always bad. There are several which are solid options for a lower price. While you may not get all the top-of-the-line features, you can have a very good gaming experience for a low cost. This can free up some of that budget for an improved keyboard or monitor.
Features And Types
There are some features to keep in mind when searching for your gaming headset. While you want the perfect headset, what you really need to do is figure out which features are most important to you then buy the best headset you can get within your budget.
Frequency Range & Sound Quality
In gaming headsets, the frequency range is an important factor. For you to hear the full range of sounds intended by the game developer, you need a headset that accurately reproduces sound. That means they need a frequency range of about 20Hz-20kHz. Sounds above this range or below this range are sometimes felt by humans, but most don’t hear them.
Comfort
If you’re prone to long gaming sessions, comfort is a very important factor. The weight, clamping pressure, and ear cup design all play a role in this. Another factor in this, especially if you move around a lot, can be whether you’re tethered via wire or if the headset is wireless.
Microphone
For gaming, you want a microphone that clearly and accurately picks up your voice. But the mic needs to block your room sounds, too. While you don’t need the same mic quality a singer needs, you do need something that conveys your speech clearly to teammates in-game.
Connection Type
Most gaming headsets are wired USB, wired 3.5mm audio jack, wireless USB with a dongle, or Bluetooth. Depending on your usage, any of these can be acceptable. While the 3.5mm jack works with a wider range of devices, many surround sound headsets require the use of USB or Bluetooth.
There are some headsets that come with an XLR connector, which is a type of connector often used in professional-level audio equipment. If you come across these, just be aware that you likely need an audio mixer to use them with your computer. They can be a good choice for the right situation, but you’ll likely want to stick to the other options in most cases.
Device Type
The device you game on makes a major difference in what kind of headset you get. Many headsets require their own software to get the full range of options and settings out of them. Be sure their software works on your device. The connection type is also going to play a part in this, as some devices do not have a USB port, or do not support USB headsets not specifically designed for use with them.
Wireless Vs. Wired
If you like to move around a lot when you game, wireless is the way to go. Some people may prefer wired over wireless, preferring the lower latency that wired headsets provide, and dislike charging batteries.
Where To Buy Gaming Headsets
Whether you’ve already decided on which headset to buy or you’re still in the market, you probably want to know the best place to buy them. Here are some of the best places to purchase your gaming headsets:
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Micro Center
- Walmart
- Target
- Gamestop
You can also purchase your gaming headset directly from the website of Steelseries, Razer, HyperX, or other manufacturers.
Once you’ve settled on which headset you want, shop around. By checking at least a few of these locations, you can get the best price when you make your purchase.
Alternatives
Not everyone wants or can afford a quality gaming headset. If you don’t get a headset, you still have a couple of alternatives that you may prefer or that can at least get you by until you get your dream headset.
Earbuds
Most people into gaming likely have at least one, if not more, sets of earbuds around their home. Check phone packaging, your junk drawer, or the between the sofa cushions. While these may not provide the best audio quality for your gaming session, some can provide surprisingly decent results. And many earbuds designed for use with your phone have a built-in microphone, which can be great if playing with friends online.
Microphone
Instead of a headset with a built-in mic, you may want to try a stand alone microphone. Even a cheap one can provide enough clarity that you can chat with your teammates in your favorite FPS online. Pair that with the speakers you likely already have for your computer and you can still enjoy your gaming without the expensive headset.
Speakers
A nice set of speakers can work great for gaming. If you already have a surround sound speaker system, you're all set to go. But even a low-cost set of computer speakers can get you by, or the speakers already built into your laptop. Pair that with a cheap mic and you can game away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Wired Or Wireless Headset Better For Gaming?
Whether wired or wireless works better for gaming is mostly a matter of opinion. While the wireless allows more movement, it has its drawbacks. In exchange for being able to run to the kitchen for a drink without removing your headset you have the ongoing struggle to keep your batteries charged. There can be interference problems with a wireless connection, leading to degradation or a complete loss of signal.
Wired headsets have advantages and disadvantages as well. While they usually have no batteries to constantly charge, they have a cable. That cable can get caught under a keyboard, under a chair wheel, or tangled with your controller. It can also be too short. But for that hassle you get a lower latency than many wireless headsets can match.
Whichever you choose, there are amazing gaming headsets in both wired and wireless versions, and some that work in both modes.
Do Gaming Headsets Need Surround Sound?
Whether you need surround sound is not as straightforward as you might think. The whole point of surround sound is to deepen your gaming immersion. If this is not something you care much about, then you don’t absolutely need it.
If you do want the added immersion that surround sound can provide, you may or may not need your headset to provide that technology. Some gaming consoles such as the Sony Playstation 5 already process the surround sound for you and can work with standard headphones that do not have the technology already. Windows Sonic, THX Spatial Audio, and Dolby Atmos all do this too. These only work on compatible games and software, though, and you likely won’t get quite as high of sound quality as you will find on a good surround sound headset.
Can I Just Use Speakers?
Using speakers instead of a headset is a viable option. There are great surround sound speaker sets that can provide near the same quality as you’ll find in a gaming headset. But they will not dampen any floorboard creaks, air conditioning groans, or roommates talking. They also won’t have a microphone, so you’ll need to add one if you aren’t gaming solo.
You should also consider the people you may be sharing a home with. It’s possible they won’t want to hear every gunshot, scream, or comment made during your gaming session. If you use speakers instead of a headset, they will.
While it is possible to get a good gaming experience using speakers instead of a headset, your odds of full immersion are much higher if you use the headset.
