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Best PlayStation 5 headsets
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Read full review...
Read full review...
Read full review...
Read full review...
The PlayStation 5 is here at long last, even if it is almost impossible to get your hands on one. If you’re lucky enough to have one or plan to get one at some point, investing in a good gaming headset is a great way to enhance the gaming experience. If you’re wondering what some of the best PlayStation 5 headsets are that you can pick up right now, then this list is for you.
Editor’s note: this best list was updated on February 24, 2022, to include the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless and include a contents menu.
Why is the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ the best PlayStation 5 gaming headset?
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 and 7P are really great gaming headsets, with fantastic build and good sound. But what if you could get a headset just like those with a hugely improved battery. That’s the fundamental difference between the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless and its predecessors. This wireless gaming headset has a near-identical build to previous Arctis headsets, with a ski goggle-style suspension band, airweave ear pad cushions, and a retractable microphone—it even has the same USB-C dongle as the Arctis 7P.
Where the Arctis 7+ Wireless really stands out is its battery life. In our testing, we found it surpassed 70 hours of playback on a single charge. This is by far the best battery test result we’ve gotten since we started testing headphone batteries—at least as of March 2022.
The Arctis 7+ Wireless features on-ear controls for volume, game/chat mix, and mic muting, and they’re all spaced out well enough that you won’t have to wonder what you’re touching when your game gets quieter. The game/chat mix function is the main reason we included this over the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless, which is essentially the same gaming headset but the dial controls sidetone intensity instead. Oh, and the Arctis 7P+ has a slightly shorter (but still exceptionally long) battery life that’s just shy of 66 hours.
The headset’s USB-C dongle widens its compatibility considerably—Now you can game wirelessly using the Arctis 7+ with the Nintendo Switch (docked and undocked) and even connect to mobile devices that use USB-C ports. The PlayStation 5’s front-facing USB-C port means you won’t need to use an adapter cable, though the headset still comes with one for when you want to connect to the PC or PlayStation 4. Additionally, the Arctis 7+ comes with a 3.5mm cable so you can game when the battery runs out, and even connect to an Xbox.
Basically, the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ is comfortable, sounds great, works almost everywhere, and will last almost three days straight. What’s not to love?
People who hate wires should get the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
If you want the best wireless headset around, then go with the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. The original BlackShark gaming headset was already one of our favorites and the second iteration makes it an even better buy. Complete with an improved microphone and wireless functionality, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro impressed our resident gaming expert Sam Moore in his full review.
All you need to do to connect your Razer’s headset to your PlayStation 5 is plug the RF dongle into the USB input. Of course, this also means that this is compatible with PCs and the PS4. The headset houses a 3.5mm input and features an impressive 24-hour battery life. Pair that with the ear pad’s superior comfort, and you’re ready for a day and night of adventure. The surround sound compatibility means these are compatible with the 3D Audio built into the PlayStation 5.
The most comfortable option is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset
If you tend to have hours-long gaming sessions, then chances are you want something that’s going to be comfortable. You might know Bose for its plush padding and noise cancelling headphones, and the QuietComfort series is likely the reason why. The standard Bose QC 35 II remains frequent flyers’ go-to noise cancelling headset, and now you can enjoy it while gaming.
Everything good about the original QuietComfort 35 II headphones is still here, but now these have a dedicated 3.5mm boom mic that you can plug into the headset. The improved quality of the microphone is easy to hear with the internal mic sample and boom mic sample.
The noise cancelling here is top-notch and does a great job cancelling out the whirr of computer fans and loud consoles. There’s also a large volume puck that comes with the headphones for when you’re connected to a PC. If you’re looking for accurate sound quality, this is one of the best headsets we’ve tested. In other words, the frequency response leans more neutral, rather than egregiously amplifying bass notes. This makes in-game dialogue sound clear, as well as more subtle sounds like crunching leaves. Of course, Bose is priced like a pair of high-end noise cancelling headphones, so if you have money to blow, this is a good choice.
Mic quality is maxed out with the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE
When it comes to picking the best PlayStation 5 headsets, sound and microphone quality are often overlooked in favor of other features. If you don’t want to sacrifice one for the other, then check out the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE.
Corsair’s plush ear pads provide great isolation and are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time, despite the heft. Corsair’s headband architecture evenly distributes weight, avoiding common pain points. One of the best things about this headset is the mic which sounds spectacular. Just take a listen here.
As the name implies, these are also wireless, so you won’t have to deal with annoying wires. The 2.4 GHz USB RF dongle can plug right into the USB input of your PlayStation 5, and you’re good to go. To get a more comprehensive understanding of this headset, check out our video review.
Our bang for your buck pick is the HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset
The HyperX Cloud Alpha could have been our best overall pick, but you can usually find it on sale, making it a great choice for anyone looking to save a few bucks. This wired headset left a good impression on Executive Editor Chris Thomas and our entire staff, earning an Editor’s Choice award in the process.
You don’t get all the newest bells and whistles (like LED lights) that you might find in other headsets, but this is a very well-built headset with great sound quality. HyperX paid great attention to detail, which is clear from the headband stitching alone.
Learn more: HyperX gaming headset buying guide
The headset has a sturdy metal construction with comfortable padding for long gaming sessions. The ear cups also do a good job with isolation because they surround your ear and block outside noise from reaching your eardrums. Since this is a wired gaming headset, you have to plug these into the DualShock controller for your PlayStation 5.
Are there any eco-friendly gaming headsets?
The Logitech G733 Lightspeed is one of a few eco-friendly headsets for gamers as Logitech is a member of the Amazon Climate Pledge and merits Natural Capital Partners’ CarbonNeutral certification. Its battery life is pretty good at around 28 hours, so you should be able to go quite a few gaming sessions before you need to top the battery back up. This saves those precious li-ion battery cells from quick degradation. The headset has other qualifications too, like its lightweight build, great sound, and solid microphone.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 has a wealth of connectivity options
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a great gaming headset with consistently accurate microphone quality and Bluetooth connectivity. Its desktop app is simple, which may leave some gamers wanting more, but at least it doesn’t overcomplicate the setup process. Few wireless gaming headsets also connect over Bluetooth, or if you want Bluetooth connectivity, you need to pay a small fortune. We like the Stealth 700 Gen 2 because it’s a fairly affordable headset with plenty of ways to connect. It sounds quite good and has an above-average mic all rolled in too.
The best PlayStation 5 gaming headsets: Notable mentions
- Sennheiser GSP 300: You’ll stay well below a $100 USD budget with this wired gaming headset, which is compatible with any 3.5mm connection and even works with macOS.
- SteelSeries Arctis 3: Versatility is the name of the game with this wired headset, which works with any 3.5mm connection. The Arctis 3 shares much of the same DNA as the SteelSeries Arctis 7.
- Razer Barracuda X: This wireless gaming headset checks off pretty much all the same boxes as the SteelSeries Arctis 7P and Arctis 1 Wireless. It’s not quite as comfortable as the Arctis 7P, but it sounds great, connects using a USB-C dongle, and it’s very lightweight—all for only $99 USD.
- EPOS H3PRO Hybrid: The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is an insanely good gaming headset, but it will cost you. The dongle connection is a bit shorter than you’ve got cash to burn. The battery life leaves a bit to be desired, but other than that, this is really the entire package.
Cut the cord: The best wireless PlayStation 5 gaming headsets
Hold up! Something’s different:
Some of our picks’ frequency response and isolation charts were measured with our old testing system. We have since purchased a Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test fixture (and the appropriate support equipment) to update our testing and data collection. We also have new standardized microphone demos, but it will take a while to update our backlog of old test results. We will update this list (and many others!) once we’re able with improved sound quality measurements and isolation performance plots. These will be made obvious with our new chart aesthetic (black background instead of white). Each new mic sample begins with the phrase, “This is a SoundGuys standardized microphone demonstration …”
Thank you for bearing with us, and we hope to see you again once we’ve sorted everything out.
What should you know about PlayStation 5 gaming headsets?
What we’ve selected as the best PlayStation 5 gaming headsets all operate similarly to other gaming headsets, meaning they we still prioritize things like sound and microphone quality, batter life (when applicable), comfort, and compatibility. Let’s dive into everything you should know before buying.
What is 3D audio on Sony PlayStation 5?
Sony’s 3D audio uses an object-based system to place sound objects in 3D space around the user’s head. We’ve seen other companies do this, even with non-gaming headsets like Samsung 360 Audio and Apple’s spatial audio for its AirPods and other compatible products. What’s so cool about 3D audio on the PlayStation 5 is that it works with any headset. That’s right, you don’t specifically need to buy a proprietary headset to use it.
Become an expert: Sony PlayStation 5: What is 3D Audio?
How to connect a gaming headset to the Sony PlayStation 5
There are multiple ways to connect a headset to the PlayStation 5, and perhaps the easiest way is to do so directly through the controller’s 3.5mm input. Alternatively, you can use your headset’s 2.4GHz USB dongle to connect to either the USB-A or USB-C input on the PS5.
If you want to connect a Bluetooth headset to your PlayStation 5, you’ll need to purchase a USB-A or USB-C Bluetooth transmitter. Once you connect the transmitter to your PS5 and put it into pairing mode, you can then turn your headset on (and into pairing mode). The two devices will “find” each other and establish a connection. Be aware that Bluetooth connectivity, while convenient, may introduce audio-visual lag, which is bad for gaming.
How should a PS5 gaming headset sound?
Gaming headset manufacturers tend to boost bass notes more than companies that create general consumer headsets. This kind of frequency response with extra-loud bass can be good for people because it makes action sounds seem that much more impactful, but the fact of the matter is that audio engineers who work on games typically mix explosions and gunfire to be the loudest sound regardless of a headset’s response. While you may still want booms to sound extra, well, boomy, you shouldn’t be all too worried if a gaming headset appears to under-emphasize bass relative to either our house curve or the headset’s midrange and treble response.
How much noise should a PlayStation 5 gaming headset block out?
Seeing how most gaming headsets don’t feature active noise cancelling (ANC), don’t expect any headset to block out much low-frequency noise. Passive isolation is more effective for blocking out high-frequency, incidental sounds anyway and is ideal if you live with roommates who do the dishes while you game. A good seal between the ear pads and your head will do more to affect these unpredictable sounds (above 1kHz) than ANC would.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
Not only does the team at SoundGuys have years of experience with audio products in general, but we also have a secret weapon that we call Sam Moore. He’s our gaming expert who has put dozens (if not hundreds) of gaming headsets through an intense review process. Not to mention that every item that made this list got here only because we vouch for it. You can check out our entire ethics policy for our entire stance, but we don’t accept payments of any kind from companies to include their products on this list. The first time they learn about making one of our lists is when we hit publish.
Frequently asked questions about the best PlayStation 5 gaming headsets
Yes, there are plenty of gaming earbuds around and we even have a list of the best gaming earbuds for you to peruse.
Yes, you can use any headset here on PlayStation 4, whether that means plugging the headset into the PS4 controller’s 3.5mm input or connecting via USB.