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Best gaming headsets with good microphones
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, using them, at least.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We’ve reviewed a lot of 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.
Editor’s note: this post was updated on June 26, 2023 to adjust Notable Mentions entries, repair broken links, edit style.
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is a fantastic multipurpose headset
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is a high-quality gaming headset with a versatile set of features. The detachable microphone and relatively accurate sound make it ideal both for gaming and for daily wear, while the variety of connection options make it ready for anything.
The H3PRO delivers excellent playback sound quality, hitting very close to what we consider the ideal frequency response curve. The bass and low-mids are slightly emphasized, with some minor roll-off to notes below 40Hz (nearly inaudible). This makes it great for both gaming and music listening. It also works with different surround sound solutions, including the PlayStation 5’s new 3D Audio and Windows Sonic in wired mode. The microphone is quite good too as you can here in this standardized sample.
This headset also features active noise canceling (ANC), making it a standout option for people playing games in louder environments or shared living spaces, as well as on the go. To complement this, you can adjust the microphone’s noise gate using the app. It sports a wide array of connectivity options including wired and wireless USB options, a 3.5mm cable, and Bluetooth 5.2.
Considering EPOS’ previous effort, the H3 Hybrid, the H3PRO is an exciting step up in quality that performs admirably in nearly any instance. If the price isn’t a deterrent to you, this is one of the best options on the market.
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid has a very good microphone for a gaming headset. The mic is loud and voices come through clearly. The noise gate turned on by default in the app is pretty noticeable, but you can turn that down or deactivate it easily. The noise suppression is handy for incidental noises like in an office.
EPOS H3Pro Hybrid microphone demo (Ideal):
EPOS H3Pro Hybrid microphone demo (Office):
If you want a great mic without stretching a cord across the room, look to the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE
The Virtuoso Wireless SE is the most premium gaming headset Corsair has ever released. Featuring aluminum construction, comfortable ear pads, RGB lighting, and a generous selection of included accessories, the product aims to deliver a high-end gaming experience for people willing to spend nearly $200 USD on a headset.
As its name implies, this gaming headset supports wireless connections via its included 2.4GHz USB dongle, which is compatible with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PCs. Plus, it has a 20-hour battery life which means that you’ll never have to worry about this headset dying out on you mid-game.
In regards to playback sound quality, the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE won’t please everyone. Under-emphasized bass notes like kick drums and bass synth lines, will come across as too quiet for EDM and hip-hop fans. However, it handles sound effects, dialogue, and musical scores with ease, delivering a listening experience that is ideal for gaming.
Of course, the main attraction of this headset is its microphone. Our tests showed that the microphone has a relatively neutral frequency response, meaning that all voices — high or low pitched — are reproduced loud and clear. While higher frequencies sound slightly quiet, there’s no denying that the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE has one of the best microphones in a gaming headset.
Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE microphone demo (Old):
Looking for something you can just plug in and play with? Consider the Audio-Technica ATH G1
The Audio-Technica ATH G1 gaming headset brings the straightforward build and stellar sound this company’s become known for to the gaming space. It lacks the bells and whistles of a lot of the other headsets on this lists, but that’s a small price to pay for raw audio quality.
This 3.5mm gaming headset works well with anything that supports TRRS plugs, which is basically everything in the gaming space. You’ll need to use its included splitter if you want to use the microphone for games other than Fortnite and Warframe on Nintendo Switch, though. The headset’s 45mm dynamic drivers output very good sound, though they’re definitely tuned to match an Olive-Welti curve, rather than the neutral frequency response you’d find with Audio-Technica’s studio headphones.
The Audio-Technica ATH G1 microphone puts out very accurate sound, with only a slight under-emphasis around 2,500Hz. However, this is definitely a headset where it’s worth increasing the gain, as the mic can be awfully quiet. It’s an easy fix, and it shouldn’t detract from the appeal of the headset, but it’s something you’ll need to deal with.
Audio-Technica ATH-G1 microphone demo (Old):
The Razer Barracuda X (2022) is an excellent affordable gaming headset
Razer took its already good Razer Barracuda X made it even better. For only $99 USD, the Razer Barracuda X (2022) features Bluetooth, 2.4gHz, and wired connectivity options, good sound quality, long battery life, and a great microphone. You can use the Barracuda X (2022) with pretty much any device you can play a game on, and its light at only 250g, so you can comfortably game anywhere you want. In our testing at a consistent audio output peaking at 75dB(SPL), we found that the battery lasts 59 hours, 53 minutes, so you can reliably game throughout the week without charging the headset.
The frequency response varies from ours in the highs and lows quite a bit, with the mids being quite close to our consumer curve. This might not be ideal for some music, but for gaming it’s perfectly fine. The isolation isn’t the best either, but it’s pretty typical for closed-back headsets. Don’t expect this headset to block out noise roommates or vacuums, but it should at least dampen some higher pitched sounds like a fan running.
The microphone on the Razer Barracuda X (2022) sounds pretty great. Voices come through very clearly, and not too much background noise is detected by the mic, nor do they make my voice cut out. This microphone is great for Discord calls and Zoom meetings alike.
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Ideal):
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Office):
For a great-sounding no-frills headset, check out the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is a comfortable, straightforward wireless gaming headset that connects to PC and consoles alike via a 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle. The dongle has a switch on the side for alternating between Xbox and USB modes. It has rock-solid audio output, comfortable memory foam ear pads, and a great mic that can fold into the headset. The battery life of the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is also fantastic, lasting 78 hours, 23 minutes in our testing.
The frequency response of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX does deviate from our consumer curve in the lows, as well as some areas of the highs. You can EQ the sound a bit via the controls built into the headset. The isolation isn’t the best, but higher pitched sounds should be reasonably quieted. And the microphone’s response is just as accurate as you could hope to get from a gaming headset.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX, like most Turtle Beach gaming headsets, has a great microphone. It captures bass sounds in voices well, so people with deep voices shouldn’t sound “tinny.”
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX microphone demo (Ideal):
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX microphone demo (Office):
How is the Corsair HS65 Surround for gaming?
The Corsair HS65 Surround is a good gaming headset overall, though most of what it offers isn’t that special or notable. The microphone is the absolute best part about it, with very clear audio and great noise suppression. It even quiets echo and reverberation from room reflections well. Whether you’re chatting on Discord, in-game chat, or doing a video call for work, everyone will hear you perfectly well with this headset.
Other aspects of the headset include 7.1 virtual surround sound capability through Corsair’s iCue software, and lots of sound profile customization as well. The base sound profile is a bit wonky, with a big boost in the bass and high frequencies. But for gaming this isn’t bad, and iCue has sound profile options for different types of games that help a ton. The headset connects using a 3.5mm TRRS connection, but it also comes with a USB-A dongle for PC, which is needed for the software to work with the headphones.
The Corsair HS65 Surround has an excellent microphone. Voices come through loud and clear with no issues, and incidental noises and echo are rendered very quiet. If you’re trying to chat with others using this headset, they’ll hear you well regardless of noises around you.
Corsair HS65 Surround microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Corsair HS65 Surround microphone demo (Office conditions):
Corsair HS65 Surround microphone demo (Reverberant conditions):
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 Razer BlackShark V2 Pro?
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a great wireless gaming headset, with a good sound profile, great microphone, and lag-free wireless connectivity through a 2.4GHz USB dongle. The headset is also compatible with Razer Synapse 3, so you have access to THX virtual surround sound, and EQ settings for the mic and headphones. The headset is very comfortable too, with memory foam ear pads wrapped in leatherette for a good seal and long-term comfort. It’s one of the best gaming headsets out there, and for $179 USD, it’s definitely worth it for the great features.
The microphone on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is great, a big improvement from the BlackShark V2. There’s a bit of a deemphasis in the bass range, but voices are still very audible and accurate. You can also adjust the mic EQ in Razer Synapse to get the perfect sound for your voice so you can sound as good as possible on Discord calls and Zoom calls.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro microphone demo (Old):
The best gaming headsets with good microphones: Notable mentions
- Audeze Mobius: 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: Though incredibly expensive, this headset boasts one of the best mics out there for gamers.
- Beyerdynamic Team Tygr 300 R: Though this is one of the pricier gaming headsets out there, its mic quality bridges the gap between gaming and podcasting because it’s just that darn good. It also has great sound quality, is easy to use, and has comfortable velour padding on its ear pads.
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset: 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 Void RGB Elite: If something wireless is what you’re after, but the Thresher Ultimate is just too steep, have a look at the Corsair Void RGB Elite. It’s a little bit looser than I’d like and it over-emphasizes the bass like nobody’s business, but this headset is a very solid choice for anyone aiming for under $100.
- HyperX Cloud Flight S: 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: 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: 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.
- Roccat Syn Pro Air: A wireless gaming headset with a great microphone, solid audio, and a comfortable, lightweight build for $150 — What’s not to like? The only thing really keeping this headset out of the main picks of this list is that its software is still in beta and only partially functional right now, which puts a bit of a damper on the whole experience (At least on PC).
- Turtle Beach Recon 70: Turtle Beach has made something of a habit of putting accurate microphones in just about all its gaming headsets. The Recon 70 sports a microphone that sounds great, plus it’s comfortable and runs for about $40 — pretty much any Recon headset will scratch this itch just as well, but this one’s the cheapest.
- Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: 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: This is a great affordable gaming headset option. The sound profile is pretty close to our consumer curve, except for some deviation in 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 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 omni-directional 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, if only a gaming headset will do, 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 for 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.
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, but this is a solid and affordable option for starting out.