A PC gaming headset isn't just an essential buy if you want to play competitively – it's also a great investment if you want to indulge in a little late-night gaming without waking the whole neighbourhood. You don't need to spend a fortune, either: regardless of whether your budget is £15 or £150, there are plenty of great quality headsets to choose from. We know this because we've hunted high and low for the very best PC gaming headsets, tested them to destruction and taken our pick of the very finest.
Read on and our buying guide will answer all the key questions, and further down the page you'll find our pick of the best PC gaming headsets to buy.
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How to buy the best gaming headset for you
How important is sound quality for a gaming headset?
A headset's frequency response and overall clarity will affect your ability to hear enemies coming - and that's why we pay close attention to a headset's sub-bass, mid-bass, mids, highs and soundstage (which is how far sounds spread left and right) when we're testing. Headsets that provide the clearest, most spacious soundstage will aid you in locating the enemies you can't see, and those with the best microphones will ensure that your teammates will hear you loud and clear in the heat of battle.
As headsets have to pack in a bundled microphone and gaming-friendly features, you can end up paying a premium over a bog-standard pair of headphones. But while headsets might not provide the audio refinement of a comparably-priced pair of dedicated headphones, you can expect the best ones to perform well for both games and music.
How do I connect my headset and do I need a soundcard?
PC headsets have three ways of communicating with your PC: digitally via USB, through a 3.5mm audio jack (and sometimes two), or a wireless connection.
If you're looking at using a headset which connects via a 3.5mm jack (some also use two 3.5mm connections, one for the headphones and one for the microphone), you might want to look into purchasing a dedicated soundcard. Onboard soundcards found on either PC desktops or laptops can potentially pick up static noise due to poor shielding or dodgy power supplies, which will negatively affect the sound quality.
To bypass your onboard soundcard, you can purchase a £6 USB soundcard from Amazon. This will completely eliminate static noise from your 3.5mm-connected headset. If you want the absolute best performance from a headset used via an analogue connection, however, then it may be worth investing in a pricier external or internal soundcard.
Do I need a wireless headset?
Wireless technology works well in headsets as there's no perceived audio delay. However, it's worth remembering that you may lose a little audio fidelity via a wireless connection. It all depends on the headset and its specifications. Of course, if you're going to go wireless, there are other issues to consider: you'll pay a premium for the privilege and will have to remember to charge your headset.
Should I worry about build quality or weight?
A well-built headset should last you several years. It all depends on how often you use it, how you treat it (and its hinges) and of course, how well it was manufactured. Pricier headsets often add sturdier-feeling hinges and materials in addition to improved sound quality and fancy features.
Weight is another key consideration, as the heavier the headset, the less comfortable it will be for epic gaming sessions. Another comfort factor is the size of the earpieces. As not everyone's ears are the same, the earpieces on some models may potentially press on the earlobe or around the ear and cause pain. What might be comfortable for a few minutes may be extremely uncomfortable after an hour or so.
Is software important for gaming headsets?
There isn't much in the way of essential software when it comes to headsets. Unlike PC gaming mice and keyboards, a headset doesn't need to be configured. However, some manufacturers will bundle software, which will allow you to change microphone characteristics, EQs, lighting and even programmable buttons on wireless headsets.
What about LED lights?
Lighting is a feature that's a little more recent, with even cheaper headsets now offering basic lighting capabilities. As the headset will be on your head for a vast majority of the time, though, there isn't the same benefit as you'll get with some LED lighting on gaming keyboards or mice - you won't be able to utilise its lighting capabilities to provide you with visual prompts, for instance.
The best gaming headset to buy
1. Antlion Audio ModMic: Turn any headphone into a headset
Price when reviewed: £45
It might seem quite odd to see a standalone microphone in a headset round-up, but the ModMic is a detachable boom microphone that will attach to any headphone. This means you attach it to an old pair of headphones or partner it with a high quality set of headphones for the ultimate in audio quality.
The ModMic is one of the best boom microphones out there in the market, and competes with standalone USB microphones for quality. Compared to the mics in most £200+ headsets, it blows the competition out of the water. If you're looking for a headset, you could choose one of the best over-the-ear or on-ear headphones within your budget, and attach the ModMic 4.0 or 5.0 to it. If you choose to go down this path, though, it may be worth purchasing a cheap USB soundcard to get hiss-free sound quality.
2. Sumvision Akuma: The best gaming headset under £20
Price when reviewed: £16
Finding a headset that costs less than £20 and provides acceptable sound quality might seem like an impossible mission, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised. The £16 Sumvision Akuma is a wired USB headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound, a detachable microphone, lighting and large 40mm audio drivers.
The Sumvision Akuma's sound quality gives some strong clues as to its budget price. It doesn't dig up the deepest sub-bass, its midrange is a touch recessed, the strong mid-bass is flabby and it struggles to produce the really high frequencies, too. Given its price point, that's to be expected, but somehow the Akuma still manage to sound good overall - they punch well above their weight. The biggest flaw is that they sound don't sound as airy and spacious as pricier models; the soundstage is tiny.
Recording quality is surprisingly good for a budget headset, though, and while speech comes through with a rather boomy quality, it remains clear and intelligible.
Build quality is a highlight. They feel solid, and there's sufficient padding at the top of the headband and around the ear pads to make them comfy for long gaming sessions. There's a non-customisable red light to the side of the headset that activates when the headset is connected, and it's a nice touch that the microphone is detachable too. This allows you to use the headset as a headphone without having to worry about a mic getting in the way. For the money, the Akuma are a steal.
Key specs – Drivers: 40mm; Wireless: No; Illumination: Yes (static red); Connection: USB; Cable length: Unknown; Weight: Unknown
3. HyperX Cloud Stinger: The best gaming headset under £50
Price when reviewed: £48
If you're looking for a headset that punches above its weight and combines good audio with a quality microphone for under £50, the HyperX Cloud Stinger should be your go-to headset.
These are a significant step up from the Sumvision Akuma. Sub-bass reaches deeper, the mid-bass is more controlled, and the Stinger reaches further up into the high frequencies. Its mid-range is still a touch recessed, but this doesn't come at the expense of realism, and while there isn't the wide open soundstage of the best headsets, it's possible to pinpoint sounds and instruments more precisely than on cheaper models.
The microphone provides clear, good-quality recordings, although you may need to grab a USB soundcard to get the best results.
Despite being made entirely out of plastic, build quality is up to scratch and the design is sensible, too. The microphone flips up so that you can quickly mute yourself, and the volume slider by the ear cup makes it quick and easy to adjust the headphones' volume. Comfort is impressive thanks to the memory foam ear pads and padded headband, and the headphone cups rotate around 90-degrees to make them more comfortable to wear around your neck, and much less likely to break in transit.
Key specs – Drivers: 50mm; Wireless: No; Illumination: No; Connection: 3.5mm; Cable length: 1.3m (+1.7 extension); Weight: 275g
4. HyperX Cloud II: The best gaming headset
Price when reviewed: £70
The HyperX Cloud II is highly respected among audiophiles and gamers. It's arguably one of the best headsets on the market and one of the most capable for both recording and sound quality.
The headset comes with a detachable mic, aeroplane adapter, USB soundcard, a set of velour earpads and a carrying pouch - the Cloud II's are the complete package. The sturdy build impresses from the off, and the metallic headband construction and attractive-looking stitching make it easy on the eye. It's also comfortable to wear, and the velour pads give you the option to choose which ear pads suit you the best.
The headset comes bundled with a miniature 7.1-channel USB soundcard that also serves as a 2m extension cable. You'll get the best results using the using the headset via USB, but it can also be used while connected through a standard 3.5mm connection if you prefer.
The sound quality is very impressive, with an expansive soundstage that easily trumps its cheaper sibling, the HyperX Stinger. Sub-bass goes fairly deep, mid-bass is controlled yet punchy, the mid-range is forceful and the highs only fall short at the extreme end of the frequency scale. Thanks to the noise-cancelling microphone, the Cloud II's microphone is very good, too, and picks up voices with a clear, natural sound.
Key specs – Drivers: 53mm; Wireless: No; Illumination: No; Connection: 3.5mm and USB; Cable length: 1m (+2m extension); Weight: 350g
5. Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum: The most customisable gaming headset
Price when reviewed:£130
Customising a headset might seem like a step too far, but Logitech has two headsets that can be personalised to your liking. Both the Logitech G933 and G633 have the exact same features, but it should be noted that the G933 uses 2.4Ghz wireless to communicate with your PC, whereas the G633 connects through USB.
On either side of the headset's ear cups, Logitech has added an RGB LED strip that can be customised with the supplied software. Through the software, you can also program the buttons found on the left-hand side of the headset. There are three programmable buttons which you can use to open specific programs, control media playback or even cycle through the G933's colour profiles. There's also a dedicated microphone mute button, a wireless on/off switch and headphone volume wheel.
The microphone on the left earcup can be flipped up when not in use. That earcup also houses the headset's battery, which can be removed. On the right cup, there's a compartment for the wireless USB dongle, so you don't lose it en route to your next gaming appointment.
Wireless range is very impressive, and the comfort levels are superb thanks to the soft ear pads and comfortable headband.
Sound quality is a cut above. The mic's recording quality is superb, and the headphones provide generous amounts of sub-bass, a controlled mid-bass slam, an accurate midrange and sparkly high frequencies. Best of all, the expansive soundstage spreads music and audio effects far and wide, making it easy to pinpoint where instruments or enemies are located.
Key specs – Drivers: 40mm; Wireless: Yes; Illumination: Yes, RGB; Connection: Wireless or 3.5mm; Cable length: N/A; Weight: 374g
6. SteelSeries Siberia 800: The best wireless gaming headset
Price when reviewed:£225
If you've been shopping for wireless headsets before, you might remember the SteelSeries H Wireless - this model has been renamed to the Siberia 800. There's also the Siberia 840 which adds software customisation and Bluetooth for an additional £55 (£280).
The Siberia 800 is the ultimate wireless headset experience. Its receiver boasts digital optical and analogue 3.5mm inputs and outputs in addition to a USB connection for PCs. It also doubles up as an active charger for the two removable batteries: sensibly, SteelSeries provides two lithium batteries, which means that you can charge one in the receiver while you game wirelessly on the other.
Comfort levels are high thanks to the soft ear pads and headband, and you can flip the microphone up out of the way when it's not in use. You'll find a volume dial on the right earcup, whilst the left earcup provides inputs for another headset to be daisy chained and a wired 3.5mm connection (in case both the batteries run dry).
Unlike the Siberia 840, the 800 doesn't require any software, as all your EQ settings and controls can be tweaked directly through the small receiver - which is handy if you game on multiple platforms.
The final coup comes courtesy of the Siberia 800's sound quality. There's a stunning level of detail from the deepest bass to the highest highs, and sounds are positioned deftly across an expansive, detailed soundstage. Want the best? Then you'll need to pay for the privilege.
Key specs – Drivers: 40mm; Wireless: Yes; Illumination: No; Connection: Wireless; Cable length: N/A; Weight: 318g
