If you are an avid gamer, one of your primary accessories would be a great set of gaming headphones. The best gaming headsets should be compatible with all your gaming consoles, whether that be a Nintendo Switch, a Sony PlayStation or a Microsoft Xbox Series X. The could be wired headphones or wireless headphones. The Xbox Series X does not have standard bluetooth onboard, so you would need one of the newer Xbox controllers that can support bluetooth or purchase an external bluetooth USB dongle.
To enhance your gaming experience, you are going to want a comfortable headset that can rest easy on your head during long competitive gaming sessions. Having, a great set of gaming headphones that provide extreme functionality and comfort is paramount to your gaming experience. With a soft headband that rests easy on your head and won’t add to strain or cause headaches during long gaming sessions, a soft cushiony feel to the earcups of the headset will also allow for comfortable long lasting PC gaming sessions or console gaming.
Speaking as an avid esports’ gamer, who likes different platforms like the Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation and PC gaming, it is a must for us to have wired gaming headset or wireless gaming headset providing us with the audio quality that even audiophiles will appreciate. Additionally having compatibility of the gaming headset to connect to your audio source on mobile devices, gaming consoles and PC gaming, whether it be a wireless connection or with a wired connection.
You can find gaming headsets from different manufacturers like Logitech (like the Logitech G series), Turtle Beach (like the Turtle Beach Stealth), Razer (like the Razer Kraken, or the Razer Blackshark v2, v2Pro or pro x), the Steelseries Arctis Nova, Audeze Maxwell and HyperX with their Cloud Alpha series among others. Keep in mind many of the best gaming headsets offer adapters for enhanced compatibility.
Let’s take a deeper look at which option is best for you between a wired vs wireless gaming headset.
General Features
Connectivity
One of the primary functions of your gaming headset will be to have the best connectivity with your audio source so video games can be played with a low latency connection to avoid disruptions during fast action gaming sessions.
Another aspect of great connectivity is being able to function with windows-based audio sources as well as Apple devices.
The best wired gaming headsets, will have wired counterparts such as a DAC which is a digital audio converter that can potentially achieve lossless sound.
For the best wireless gaming headsets, you will get bluetooth connectivity and usually Wi-Fi connectivity on the 2.4 Ghz band of the Wi-Fi spectrum. With the 2.4ghz connection you get tremendous range for your wireless counterparts as well.
A USB-C connection which would be the fastest wired connection will also be found on many wireless headsets to connect your peripherals as well. This means that this headset can be used in both a wired connection and a detachable wireless connection.
Sound Quality
Typically, with wired headsets you will find a range of surround sound compatibility with DTS and Dolby audio. However, with the latest wireless technology, there are a range of wireless options providing better sound quality and features like passive noise cancellation or noise isolation which like earbuds such as the Apple Air Pods Pro, will tune out distracting ambient noise from your gaming environment, to allow you to focus on your video game, especially if it is an online competitive gaming experience. You will be able to have a hassle-free time playing with your friends with games like Fortnite and other fast paced games like racing games.
However the price range on wireless gaming headsets will usually reflect the additional features normally found on wireless headphones, such as the ones we mentioned with better sound quality, spatial surround sound audio and other features.
Don’t fret if you are working on a budget, or just prefer a wired connection, many of these surround sound features will be found on the best wired gaming headsets.
Battery Life
With wired connections, battery life is not an issue. Connect your wired gaming headset via a USB-C to your PC or gaming console and batteries are not needed.
With wireless connections, you will want tremendous battery life, so you don’t have to worry about your wireless headphones running out of power. Whereas a wired headset will have the power running from the connection to your gaming console or PC.
Comfortability
While both wired and wireless headsets can offer a comfortable gaming experience, with nice soft cushion ear cups and a comfortable long wear headband. However, with wireless gaming headsets, you get a tremendous amount of freedom of movement, with no wires to trip over. The ultimate in comfort for long gaming sessions gives gamers better sound quality while playing those long gaming sessions. It is also important to note that blue light on your PC or TV can affect your sleep and cause eye strain, so check to see on your settings if you can activate a blue light filter or night mode for a warmer less strenuous gaming session.
Top Picks
Option #1
Our first choice for a great wireless gaming headset is the Hewlett Packard HyperX Cloud II Core Wireless Gaming Headset. This wireless headset is made for long gaming sessions offering tremendous comfort. With it’s included memory foam earcups and padded leatherette headband, you can stay focused and comfortable throughout long gaming sessions.
Thanks to the Cloud Core II 53mm sound drivers, this premium but affordable headset delivers DTS Headphone X Spatial Audio and an overall better surround sound from your audio source. There is passive noise cancellation allowing you to focus on your game and tune out unwanted ambient sounds. The microphone is also detachable, so if you are playing an offline game where you don’t need to chat with other players, this may give you a feel of more freedom of movement.
With a 2.4 Ghz connection, you get low latency connection with your audio source for an uninterrupted and fast gaming experience.
Option #2
We love the ASUS TUF Gaming H1 Wired Headset in Black as an affordable great set of wired gaming headphones. With a Discord and TeamSpeak-certified microphone, you can chat with other individuals online in those forums. There is 7.1 virtual surround sound plus a 40 mm ASUS Essence driver for better sound quality with deeper bass to give you that rumbling feeling. This is a lightweight wired gaming headset weighing only 287 grams and with its durable build and comfortable headband, this is a great headset for long gaming sessions aimed at comfortability.
The earcups offer intuitive control buttons right on the ear cup. This makes it easy to adjust the volume; mute or unmute the microphone and get the right sound and voice settings you desire for your gaming session.
This wired gaming headset is compatible with a Windows PC, an Apple MAC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. So, there is plenty of versatility to get great audio quality from multiple audio sources.
Option #3
Our final recommendation for a tremendous gaming headset is the Sony INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headset. This is a great wired headset currently available at a discounted price even with all the features and specs this headset has to offer. We are looking at the wired version of this headset, although it is available in a wireless connection with even more amazing specs.
There is 360 spatial surround sound on this headset, so you can hear opponents in first person shooter games like Fortnite from all angles, giving you an advantage over competitors in those fast-paced gaming sessions. Ready for some heavy bass in your games for that realistic cinematic feel? This headset can optimize low frequency sound reproduction for booming bass that makes explosions, surround sound and engines in racing games seem incredibly real.
The earcups are made from an extremely comfortable material, which was designed for stability and sound insulation to tune out unwanted sounds and give you better sound quality when listening on chats with your friends while gaming with them.
The headset is compatible with Discord voice, video and text communication service. So, voice chat with friends while playing games online is even more flexible. The left earcup contains the controls including the volume dial and boom microphone.
As this is a gaming headset from Sony, you can pair it with your Sony PlayStation 5, and get immersive sound of PlayStation 5‘s Tempest 3D AudioTech feature for gaming. This feature enhances the 360-surround sound while supporting Sony’s codecs DSEE, DSEE HX and S-Master HX: -from the audio source. In addition, there is an EQ which allows you to fine tune the sound profile for your game. This will make the surround sound even more immersive as you set the EQ to your liking, plus you can set other EQs for different games, based on the respective sound profile you want for that game.
The wireless gaming headset of the Sony ISONE H3 offers an even more impressive array of features and specs. Such as included Wi-Fi on the 2.4 Ghz network, plus Bluetooth for a wide variety of connectivity options. In addition to being able to charge the wireless gaming headset version while playing, you can fast charge the headset and get an hour of playing time with just 10 minutes of charging. When fully charged, you can expect approximately 32 hours of gameplay, which lets you handle those long gaming sessions without worry of losing power to your headphones.
Conclusion
The gamer would choose what setup is better for them, either a wired gaming headset or a wireless gaming headset. Many gamers choose wired headsets for the fastest connections with extreme low latency, but there is the appeal of the freedom of movement and features offered by the best wireless gaming headsets available. Being able to wirelessly connect to your favorite gaming platforms, gaming consoles like the Xbox, Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 5, is a boon for gamers. With features like noise cancellation, more immersive and a better sound quality that audiophiles will love for their gaming sessions.
That is not to say some of the features are not available on wired headsets, because they are. If you are working with a budget, then wired headphones may be better for you, as they are usually more affordable than wireless headphones. However, the full spectrum of features available on wireless gaming headsets, make them a more appealing choice for overall gaming.
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