Best Gaming Headsets 2020

The SteelSeries Arctis 7 is a well-rounded headset for gamers who play on multiple platforms. Its wireless option is compatible with PC, Mac, PS4, and Switch. And the included 3.5mm analog option works with mobile and Xbox One (with an adapter).

The only issue with the Arctis 7’s flexibility is that some of its best features don’t work on every platform. You can’t use it wirelessly on Xbox One, and its surround sound works only on PC. But even without the surround sound, you still get stereo audio with excellent bass.

The design of the Arctis 7 really pushes this headset to the top. It’s comfy as heck and has simple but useful on-ear controls. The elastic suspension headband and padded foam ear cushions make the headset feel very light—kind of like it’s just floating on your head. That and its 24-hour wireless battery life make it great for long wear.

The headset’s volume and mute controls are at the bottom of the left ear cup, so it’s easy to thumb the volume wheel up or down. And there’s a ChatMix dial in the same spot on your right, so you can easily adjust the balance of in-game audio vs. chat audio.

Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is the best gaming headset because of its spectacular combination of comfort, sound, controls, flexible compatibility, and price. Really, this headset has it all, and it’s a great choice for any gamer.

The Corsair HS50 is a good headset for its budget-friendly price point. It doesn’t have the richest sound quality of the bunch, but for about $50, it’s a solid gaming headset that gets the job done.

There isn’t much to complain about with the Corsair headset. But then again, nothing about it is particularly exciting either. The headset is black and nondescript with a quilted leatherette headband and cushioned ear cups made with the same material. It has the classic gaming headset look—and some models even have bright blue or green accents.

The on-ear volume and mute controls are easy to find and use, and we liked how easy it is to position the detachable mic. The biggest downside to this headset is that its leatherette ear cups trap heat, so it can get a little toasty after a while.

Though not the best overall, the Corsair HS50 is a standout headset for the price. It’s perfect for fledgling gamers or those on a tighter budget who still want clear communication during Call of Duty matches.

Serious gamers and streamers should consider investing in the ASTRO A50 wireless headset. It’s the most expensive headset on this list, but it proved its worth in our audio tests. Its sound is full and dynamic, and you can customize equalizer modes and audio settings using the included ASTRO Command Center software for finer-tuned input and output.

We love the on-ear audio controls that let you adjust volume, game/chat priority, surround sound, and EQ modes—especially because all the controls are on the right side (and our testers were righties). There was a bit of a learning curve for adjusting the settings mid-game, but it was worth it for the extra level of control.

The main downside to the ASTRO A50 is the price. It’s a pretty expensive headset, and it has more compatibility limitations than any other product on this list. It’s compatible with PC, Mac, and either PS4 or Xbox One unless you drop an additional $100 on a second base station for compatibility with both consoles.

That might be worth it if you divide your time equally between the two consoles and want the same top-tier audio experience, but the price is high compared to every other headset on this list, which all work (though not wirelessly) with both consoles.

The base stations also necessitate an at least semipermanent setup. The required connections and extra accessories aren’t ideal for portability. So it’s not the best option for a gaming laptop setup.

But the A50’s customization options for both audio input and output are excellent, and it’s a great wireless gaming headset if you want that level of control over your sound. It’s an investment, but the high price tag gets you the best wireless sound quality.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset is our top pick for audiophiles. It has a rich and dynamic sound (for better appreciation of the Celeste soundtrack), and it came out on top of our back-to-back audio comparisons.

We tested the Cloud Alpha with the HyperX Amp USB Sound Card. The accessory costs about $25 and adds better in-line controls and virtual surround sound.

Without the sound card, the headset still has great audio quality and in-line controls for audio volume and mute. But the extra option is nice if you want more control over your mic sound, a slightly more immersive listening experience, or simply want to connect to your PC via USB instead of dual input and output 3.5mm jacks.

Our testers had a hard time agreeing on how comfortable the headset was over long periods of time. One person wore it for hours without issue, but another tester found that it put too much pressure on their glasses, which caused pretty immediate discomfort.

The headset’s sturdy aluminum frame should survive daily gaming and the occasional rage quit. But the ear cups and headband are covered in a soft, padded leatherette (to protect your head from that sturdy aluminum frame).

We like that its mic and braided cable are both detachable, which help maintain the durability of the headset over time because they’re not getting bent at weird angles during storage. And it makes them easily replaceable if they break.

Overall, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset is a sturdy headset with beautiful sound, perfect for gamers who don’t want to skimp on sound quality.

This headset has a neutral sound quality, retractable mic, leatherette ear cushions with cooling gel to prevent overheating, and optional kitty ear accessories for when you want to annihilate your enemies and look kawaii while doing it.

We found this headset to be the most fun, partially because it comes in bright colors like pink and bright green. It’s a refreshing break from the headsets that follow the usual gamer aesthetic (black with a pop of red, blue, or neon green).

But besides its quirky style options, the Razer Kraken headset is a good gaming headset. It has a neutral sound profile, and while it doesn’t have the audio depth or specialized controls that some of the other headsets on this list achieve, it’s great for less than $100.

The one thing that bugs us about this headset is that its in-line audio controls are a little loose, which makes it very easy to bump with your arm and drastically change the volume. We fixed this by looping the cord to tie the controls up a little higher.

Other than that, it’s a great headset. We love the ear cushion design. It’s leatherette but doesn’t trap heat, thanks to the cooling gel inside the cushions. And the front of the cushions have indents specifically designed to relieve pressure on glasses (this doesn’t interfere with people who don’t wear glasses at all).

So if you’re looking for something that breaks from the usual gamer style without sacrificing too much quality or cash, the Razer Kraken is a great option.