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Best gaming headsets with good microphones
Published onApril 7, 2025
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Gaming headsets bring a lot of value to the table. They’re simple solutions to a problem often more complicated than it should be: the need to talk and hear clearly in a video game. Many of them come with all sorts of doodads and perks, like surround sound, customizable LEDs, and multiple input options. However, oddly enough, something many of them often just can’t quite nail is the microphone. Truly great gaming headset microphones are genuinely pretty hard to find, and there aren’t really any good indicators of quality for them — outside of, you know, actually using them.
We’ve reviewed many great gaming headsets, and more than a few of them have excellent microphones. Read on for our picks of the best gaming headsets with good microphones with sample recordings in a variety of conditions for you to listen to yourself.
If you prefer to keep your headsets and microphones separate, like one of the SoundGuys here, check out our list of the best gaming mics.
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) has the best microphone for most people
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) stands out as a top-tier gaming headset, particularly excelling in microphone performance. Its detachable boom mic delivers exceptional clarity, ensuring your voice comes through naturally and distinctly during intense gaming sessions or work calls. Even in shared spaces, the microphone effectively prioritizes your voice while minimizing background noise, making it an ideal choice for both gamers and remote workers.
Take a listen to our microphone samples below:
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) microphone demo (Office conditions):
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) microphone demo (Reverberant space):
Beyond its stellar microphone, the BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) impresses with its versatility and longevity. The headset boasts a remarkable battery life of over 55 hours, more than doubling its predecessor’s endurance. Comfort is also a priority, with memory foam ear cups providing a snug fit for extended gaming sessions. The addition of Bluetooth connectivity and a USB-C port brings welcome modern touches, enhancing its compatibility across various devices. While it lacks Xbox support, PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch users will find the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) to be a reliable, high-quality audio companion that seamlessly blends excellent sound, comfort, and crystal-clear communication.
Wired pick: Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro microphone demo (Office conditions):
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro microphone demo (Reverberant space):
Comfort is a key strength of the MMX 300 Pro. The plush velour ear pads and well-padded headband allow for hours of comfortable wear, though some heat buildup can occur during extended sessions. The headset’s build quality is impressive, with replaceable ear pads and headband cover enhancing its longevity. While it lacks wireless functionality and isn’t particularly portable, the MMX 300 Pro shines as a dedicated gaming audio solution. For serious gamers who prioritize audio fidelity and clear communication over bass-heavy tuning or wireless convenience, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro represents a top-tier choice in the gaming headset market.
Open-back pick: Drop + EPOS PC38X
The Drop + EPOS PC38X emerges as the top choice for open-back gaming headsets, particularly impressive with its exceptional microphone quality. The non-detachable boom mic delivers clear, detailed voice transmission, effectively separating the user’s voice from ambient noise even in bustling environments. This makes it an excellent option for both competitive gaming and professional communication.
Take a listen to our standardized mic samples below:
Drop + EPOS PC38X microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Drop + EPOS PC38X microphone demo (Office conditions):
Drop + EPOS PC38X microphone demo (Reverberant space):
As an open-back headset, the PC38X creates a wide soundstage with impressive spatial depth, enhancing immersion in games. The excellent mid-range accuracy ensures that in-game dialogue and environmental sounds are crisp and detailed. While it lacks the deep bass rumble some gamers might prefer, it excels in audio positioning, allowing players to locate sound sources accurately in-game.
Comfort is a key feature, with two types of ear pads included (microfiber and velour) to suit different preferences. The open-back design also provides breathability during long gaming sessions. However, the strong clamping force may require an adjustment period for some users.
Despite its lack of wireless capabilities and limited onboard controls, the Drop + EPOS PC38X delivers where it counts for open-back enthusiasts: superb audio quality, excellent microphone performance, and an immersive gaming experience. For those who prioritize sound stage, clarity, and mic quality in a wired setup, the PC38X stands out as the premier open-back gaming headset option.
Best headset for any and all platforms: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X stands out as a versatile gaming headset, particularly impressive with its microphone quality. The retractable boom mic delivers clear voice transmission, performing admirably in ideal conditions and remaining intelligible even in noisier environments. During multiplayer gaming sessions, teammates reported clear and distortion-free voice communication, a crucial factor for cooperative play.
Take a listen to our standardized mic samples below:
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Office conditions):
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Reverberant space):
Beyond its excellent microphone, the Arctis Nova 5X offers exceptional cross-platform compatibility thanks to its innovative USB dongle design that switches between Xbox and any other consoles for 2.4GHz connectivity. Comfort is another strong suit, with breathable fabric ear pads and a suspension band allowing for extended gaming sessions without discomfort.
The headset’s audio can be fine-tuned through a companion app offering over 100 game-specific EQ presets, allowing users to optimize their audio experience for each game. With a battery life exceeding 42 hours and a sleek, low-profile design, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X presents a compelling package for gamers seeking a headset with superior microphone quality and versatile functionality across multiple gaming platforms.
The Razer Barracuda X (2022) is an excellent affordable gaming headset
The Razer Barracuda X (2022) stands out as an excellent budget-friendly gaming headset, particularly impressive with its microphone quality. The detachable boom mic performs admirably, delivering clear voice transmission and effectively quieting background noises. This makes it more than adequate for both gaming communication and professional video calls.
Take a listen to our standardized mic samples below:
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Ideal):
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Office):
Beyond its stellar microphone, the Barracuda X (2022) offers exceptional value with its versatility and comfort. The headset’s multiple connectivity options, including 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.2, and wired connections, make it compatible with a wide range of gaming platforms. Its lightweight design (250g) and comfortable ear pads allow for extended gaming sessions without discomfort.
Sound quality is well-suited for gaming, with a slight bass boost that enhances the impact of in-game effects without overwhelming more delicate sounds. The impressive battery life of nearly 60 hours ensures long, uninterrupted gameplay. While it may lack premium features like RGB lighting or virtual surround sound, the Razer Barracuda X (2022) delivers where it counts, providing a reliable, high-quality audio experience and clear communication at an accessible price point. For gamers seeking a versatile, comfortable headset with excellent microphone performance on a budget, the Razer Barracuda X (2022) is a compelling choice.
Is the Logitech G Pro X a good gaming headset?
The Logitech G Pro X is overall a great gaming headset, with good sound quality, multiple connectivity options, and comfort standing out as key features. The headset does, however, rely a lot on software, making it less ideal for console gamers. The Logitech G Hub app is only available on PC, but it helps you by giving you a surround sound feature and letting you change the EQ of the headphones, as well as modifying the microphone with Blue VO!CE.
The microphone, by default, deemphasizes bass frequencies, making lower voices sound “tinny” as a result. You can modify this with Blue VO!CE in the G Hub app to make it sound better for your individual voice, but this only works on PC.
Logitech G Pro X microphone demo (Ideal):
Logitech G Pro X microphone demo (Office):
Should you get the HyperX Cloud III Wired or Wireless headset?
If you like the look and build of the HyperX Cloud III headset, we suggest getting the wired version over the wireless one ($99 at Amazon). Though you lose wireless capability with this headset, the sound quality over a TRS connection is better. It doesn’t introduce any headaches associated with a battery (like not turning on again after draining all the way).
Both versions of the headset are pretty basic; neither has noise canceling or any other differentiating features. But it gets the basics right and is priced accordingly. Unfortunately, while it succeeds with comfort and design, it falls short in sound quality when compared to some of the other options on this list. It’s still a decent, serviceable headset and will be great for many hours of online games with friends. It’s just not where it needs to be to get a top recommendation.
The best gaming headsets with good microphones: Notable mentions
- Audio-Technica ATH G1: The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 mimics the design of the company’s other famed headphones. It reproduces brilliantly clear audio even with heavy bass emphasis. Gamers who want a comfortable pair of headphones that won’t make their ears too hot will enjoy these.
- Audeze Mobius ($279 at Amazon): This premium gaming headset is quite expensive, but it offers features such as 3D audio, 7.1, and stereo audio settings, and its sound quality is unmatched. The microphone accurately relays vocals all along the frequency spectrum.
- Audeze LCD-GX ($899 at Amazon): Though incredibly expensive, this headset boasts one of the best mics out there for gamers.
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset ($279 at Amazon): Not only does this headset have a great microphone, but it is a true luxury pair of headphones equipped with active noise canceling and a super comfortable fit. If you have money to spare, this is a great choice.
- Corsair HS65 Surround: The Corsair HS65 Surround’s best feature is its wonderful microphone, but the rest of the headset and its features leave something to be desired. The software is just okay, the headset doesn’t quite fit right, and nothing really makes this headset stand out from the rest.
- HyperX Cloud Flight S ($279 at Amazon): This wireless headset is compatible with PC and PS4. Its microphone quality is pretty good, but only for people with relatively high voices. It offers surround sound technology, has a great battery life, and the sound quality is very good.
- Logitech G733 Lightspeed ($139 at Amazon): Just like the Logitech G Pro X, the microphone’s hardware by itself on this headset is only average, but it comes with the Blue VO!CE app, which can dramatically improve the sound quality. If you don’t need Blue’s software, you can save a few bucks with the G435 Lightspeed.
- Razer Kraken V3 ($63 at Amazon): For gamers wanting a wired headset at a reasonable price point, the Razer Kraken V3 is an excellent option. Featuring the same Razer Synapse features as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, the Razer Kraken V3 includes THX Spatial Audio and EQ settings. A solid detachable microphone combined with good sound quality makes for an excellent choice. If you want the same headset with haptic feedback, check out the Kraken V3 HyperSense.
- Turtle Beach Stealth Pro ($329 at Amazon): This is an excellent headset, but it narrowly misses our “best” title because of somewhat less-decent audio quality. The mic is quite good, however.
- HyperX Cloud Core ($69 at Amazon): This is a great affordable gaming headset option. The sound profile is pretty close to our consumer curve, except for some deviation in the sub-bass and the highs, but the frequency response is great for gaming. The headset is also super simple to use since it only connects via 3.5mm, so there’s no extra software or setup required. You can just plug it in and play. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use headset, this is it.
What you should know about gaming headset microphones
There are some things to bear in mind when you’re shopping for a gaming headset with a good microphone. The first is mic type. Different kinds of mics have different pick-up patterns. Most gaming headsets use cardioid and hyper-cardioid microphones, which primarily pick up sound coming from in front of the microphone. Gaming headset microphones are pretty much all meant to pick up one source of audio (you) from about three inches away, so this makes sense — picking up sound from the room you’re sitting in can negatively impact call quality.
Some headsets come with an omnidirectional microphone, which probably isn’t ideal if you’re just looking for something to wear sitting on your couch or at your computer. If you’re having problems with getting enough level, there are ways to boost your mic audio on every platform.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
When it comes down to it, we don’t just review gaming headsets because we’re passionate about good audio. Pretty much everybody at SoundGuys has been a gamer our whole lives. You name it, we’ve probably played it. We know what kind of audio features are important for different kinds of games and, maybe more importantly, which ones aren’t.
The gaming headset space, much like many other parts of the audio industry, is rife with exaggerated language and gimmicky features that often don’t add much of anything to your experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the flashy lights and promises of immersive audio and bass so intense it’ll rupture your eardrums (in a good way, somehow), but most of that stuff flat-out doesn’t matter. When we’re talking about gaming headset mics in particular, there’s a lot of guff out there. Too many gaming headsets run into the same problems and pitfalls, all while boasting clear, undistorted audio. That’s why we review headsets and why we have lists like this.
Frequently asked questions
If you’re serious about recording high-quality audio, a detached microphone will probably suit your needs a little bit better. However, suppose only a gaming headset will do. In that case, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE offers the raw mic quality you need, and the Logitech G Pro X (and its wireless option) offers the best software improvements you’ll find.
If your keyboard is anywhere near as loud as the average desktop keyboard, there’s only so much gaming headset mic hardware can do to filter it out. However, this is the kind of thing you can help with software by adjusting your mic sensitivity in programs like Discord. The Logitech G Pro X has enough software options to kill some additional noise, but getting a quieter keyboard is always going to be the best solution. Keep in mind that if you want to use a gaming headset for your conference calls, you should get one with a 3.5mm wired connection because wireless gaming headsets typically require a USB connection to operate over the 2.4GHz radio frequency band rather than use Bluetooth.
If you choose a wired gaming headset with a 3.5mm cable, it will be compatible with your smartphone, given your smartphone has a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, a wireless gaming headset will not be compatible with a smartphone because smartphones connect wirelessly to headphones through Bluetooth, whereas gaming headsets typically use 2.4GHz radio frequency connections.
If you’re looking to produce a gaming voiceover or just really want your voice to come out crystal clear when talking to your teammates, you might want to consider one of our best gaming microphones or even one of our best podcasting mics. An external mic will almost always give you a better sound simply because they’re designed to produce high-quality audio and reproduce a natural frequency response. Depending on the type of microphone you buy, you may need to purchase additional equipment in order to power it. If you just need the mic to do the job of administering communication between you and your teammates and don’t want to spend too much, a headset with a mic will do the trick. Additionally, because a headset mic is often physically closer to your mouth than an external mic, it can be better for canceling out keyboard-clicking sounds.
Gaming headsets are generally okay for basic communication and in-game chat but fall short of dedicated microphones in terms of audio quality. For professional voice recording, opt for an external microphone specifically designed for high-quality audio capture.
The Puro Sound Labs PuroGamer headset is probably your best bet. This gaming headset is designed to prevent hearing loss in children by limiting volume to 85dB, and it also happens to have a very accurate microphone — though a detached mic will always sound better for recording. YouTube’s terms of service don’t allow content creators younger than 13 without parental permission, so nine is quite young to start putting videos on the internet. However, this is a solid and affordable option for starting out.