Every self-respecting multiplayer gamer needs a decent headset to communicate with his or her buddies. Thus, what are the best gaming headsets of 2021?
We've already looked at the best gaming mice and the best gaming keyboards on the market in 2021, but what are the best gaming headsets? Anyone who wants to experience real immersion when playing video games needs a good headset, in fact, anyone who plays competitively needs the right hardware in general. With a seemingly infinite number of headsets out there, we need to help you pick out the right one for your needs. Thus, we're here to introduce you to some of the best headsets currently available in 2021.
Since we don't want to go into too much detail in this article, we have selected what are - in our opinion - the five best gaming headsets on the market right now. Now, this is not a "top five" list in the traditional sense. Instead, we have selected these based on various different characteristics. In this, whether you need a cabled or a wireless headset, there is something here for everyone. We do want to mention one thing in advance, though: we are looking for the best headsets here, not the cheapest or the best value for money. Be prepared for some pretty juicy prices.
What Makes a Good Gaming Headset?
In general, high sound quality, a clear and precise microphone, a comfortable fit, and adaptability are the factors that make a headset good. Those who only play single player games are probably satisfied with good stereo sound, but those who play competitively (i.e. shooter fans) need high-quality surround sound. Whether the headset is, or is not wireless, is simply a matter of taste. Of course, a cable can be a pain in the backside, but on the other hand, the battery in a wireless headset increases the weight and requires recharging. In the end, everyone has to find what's best for themselves, and we are simply here to help you narrow down that selection.
Since the choice of "best gaming headset" is unbelievably subjective and, for example, not everyone attaches importance to surround sound or wireless, we would like to introduce you to the following five headsets without any specific ranking.
The All-Rounder: Razer Blackshark V2
The Razer Blackshark V2 is, of course, also available without a cable as the Blackshark V2 Pro, but the wired version is of particular value, with a good price of just $99.99 USD. Believe us, that price is most-certainly worth it!
The headset comes with a USB sound card, passive noise cancellation, and a detachable microphone. At just 262 grams, it is also damn light, which means that it is not uncomfortable even during longer gaming sessions. If you don't believe us that the Blackshark really delivers, you should ask Karrigan, Scout, or Fly - this particular headset is insanely popular within the esports scene, especially for its relatively low price, you get an excellent headset if you don't mind dealing with a cable.
The King of Sound: Asus ROG Theta 7.1
The Asus ROG Theta 7.1 is probably the most comfortable headset ever, and offers incredible sound. Unsurprisingly, it comes at a pretty high price, especially for a wired headset. The Theta 7.1's $299.99 USD price point is a little high, but it certainly offers a lot for that cash.
We have already mentioned the high level of comfort, which is particularly beneficial for people who wear glasses. The main feature of the headset is the incredibly good 7.1 Surround Sound. A total of eight neodymium magnet drivers are built into the Asus ROG Theta 7.1, four on each side. There is also a virtual bass driver for each earpiece. The only disadvantage of this particular headset is the slightly higher weight due to the many drivers, and the cable. Overall, it can be said here that if you have no problem with cables and value extremely good sound quality, you should take a closer look at the Asus ROG Theta 7.1.
Good Performance, Good Price: HyperX Cloud II Wireless
The HyperX Cloud II Wireless is damn good value for money. At around $149.99 USD, it is significantly cheaper than the Astro A50 or the Steelseries Arctis Pro, but still offers all the important features.
The wireless headset connects via WLAN and delivers lossless sound transmission in 7.1 Surround Sound. The sturdy aluminium frame is not too heavy, and with 30 hours of battery life, nothing stands in the way of longer gaming sessions. If you want, you can also remove the microphone, which is not a matter of course. So if you are looking for a solid gaming headset that performs well in every situation and whose price is not driven up by unnecessary fancy features, you should be more than satisfied with the HyperX Cloud II Wireless.
The Esports Classic: Astro A50 Wireless
The Astro A50 Wireless is the top product of the Logitech sub-brand, and is otherwise known as one of the best gaming headsets on the market. At $299.99 USD from the manufacturer, it is damn expensive, and depending on the version, can only be used on PC and PlayStation, or PC and Xbox.
The Astro A50 scores with excellent sound, interference-free transmission, and high wearing-comfort. Also, it doesn't need a good sound card as it acts as a USB sound card with game chat balance and streaming. If you like to play around, you can also equip the A50 with mod kits and, for example, replace the ear pads or headband. If you have a bit of money to spare, and are looking for a really good gaming headset, you definitely won't go wrong here.
Expensive But Good: Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless
The Steelseries Arctic Pro Wireless costs, well... a lot! At $329.99 USD from the manufacturer itself, it is our most expensive headset to date! Whether the price is a little excessive or not is an open question, but the Arctis Pro Wireless actually offers a lot, and is definitely one of the best, if not the best gaming headset in 2021.
There are no compromises with this headset. It delivers lossless wireless sound via the 2.4G WiFi connection, while at the same time, it can be connected to mobile devices via Bluetooth. Yes, that's right, you can play on your PC or console and listen to music on your mobile phone at the same time. In addition, there is the unique double battery system that makes charging pauses unnecessary. The separate transmitter station always charges one battery while the other is in the headset - as soon as the headset battery is empty, you can swap it out with the one in the transmitter station and continue to play.
The transmitter station can not only set the general volume, but also regulate the balance between chat and game volume or use an equalizer. In addition, the display also shows you information about incoming calls, etc. It goes without saying that the sound, the microphone, and the wearing comfort are also damn good. If you are looking for the best of the best and have enough cash, get the Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless!
These were our top five gaming headsets for 2021. We hope that there was something for you, and that we could help you with your purchasing decision. If you still need a gaming mouse or a new keyboard, you know where to look:
This article was originally written by Lukas Ballat.