The Best Gaming Headsets

After a combined 160 hours of testing over the course of nearly two years, including listening to 11 new models this winter, we still think Kingston’s original HyperX Cloud is the best gaming headset for most people, though the competition is getting stiffer. The HyperX Cloud, despite its age, still offers the best mix of audio performance and comfort for the money. It’s beautifully built and comfortable on a wide variety of heads, and in sound quality it holds its own against some of the best dedicated headphones in its price range. You won’t find a more neutral-sounding and versatile gaming headset unless you’re willing to spend at least $40 or $50 more.

Perhaps most important, the HyperX Cloud is impressively comfortable—you can wear it for hours on end without cranial distress. That comfort, plus the headset’s great audio performance, made it a clear winner in our tests. Although you can find headsets that sound a lot better for a lot more money, the HyperX Cloud features a nice balance of atmosphere-enhancing high-frequency sounds, a clear sense of the direction that sounds are coming from, and good low-end rumble. It puts a slight emphasis on the bass to give a little extra kick to action games, but not so much that it sounds bloated or sloppy the way so many of its competitors do. It sounds great with movies and music, too, which isn’t a given with most gaming headsets.

Solid aluminum construction makes the HyperX Cloud feel durable and rigid but surprisingly lightweight. Features such as a removable boom microphone, interchangeable leatherette and velour earpads, and in-line volume and microphone mute controls are really just icing on an already-delicious cake. For the vast majority of gamers, there’s little reason to spend more than the HyperX Cloud’s current price.

If our pick is out of stock or too expensive, if you want a headset whose sound is tailored more toward action, or if you find many headsets too tight for your tastes, consider Kingston’s HyperX Cloud Revolver. It’s a newer design with a better microphone, but it’s more expensive than the original, doesn’t sound quite as neutral, and isn’t quite as universally comfortable as the HyperX Cloud. Its auto-adjusting headband does make it a better fit for people with larger heads.

If you’re seeking even better audio performance, a far better microphone, a more engrossing gaming experience, and superior long-term comfort, all of our testers agreed that the Sennheiser Game One remains the best pick for audiophiles and hardcore marathon gamers alike. Unlike most gaming headsets, the Game One has an open-back design, meaning that the earcups surrounding its drivers are vented, not solid shells. This design not only makes the Game One sound more open and spacious but also makes the headset lighter and cooler to wear for extended periods of time, even if it does mean that other people sitting next to you may be distracted by the sound of your games. Also, the headset really doesn’t reach its full sonic potential without a bit of extra amplification, so you should be prepared to spend at least $35 extra for a good dedicated sound card, or more for a headset amp.

We run the risk of appearing to be in the tank for Kingston, but even before I pointed out the brand of the HyperX Cloud Stinger, all of our testers agreed that it was the new budget gaming headset to beat. Unlike the company’s previous low-cost headsets, the Cloud Stinger isn’t just a neutered version of the original Cloud. This model includes a fantastic new lift-to-mute mic that sounds great, and it’s big enough to fit the largest of noggins comfortably for hours on end. Despite its all-plastic construction, the Cloud Stinger feels more solid and durable than many of its high-priced competitors. And while its sound isn’t as neutral or impactful as our pick’s, the results are far better than you might expect, with good detail, solid bass, and midrange that doesn’t sound nasal or quacky.