Game developers put a huge amount of effort into curating the perfect sound environment to accompany the visual experience. To experience your favorite video game at its peak, you need a PC gaming headset.
There are a lot of PC gaming headsets out there. Options such as surround sound, RGB lighting, Bluetooth, and spatial sound make selecting the best PC gaming headset tricky. Worry no more; here are five of the best wired PC gaming headsets you can get your hands on.
What Is a PC Gaming Headset?
A PC gaming headset is your audio connection to the video game. It is how you hear the experience, but it also how you communicate with your teammates and opposition, using the built-in microphone.
A common question regards the differences between a gaming headset for a PC and a console gaming headset. Is there any difference between the two?
Truthfully, in the modern era, there isn’t much difference between a wired PC gaming headset and a console gaming headset. Gaming headsets for all platforms retail for similar prices, while manufacturers realize the requirements of all gamers, regardless of platform, are similar.
A wired PC gaming headset might have a few tricks up its sleeve, however. For instance, some PC gaming headsets pay closer attention to audio quality. The PC gaming headset will frequently see use during work hours to listen to music or to watch a film or show in the evening. Some PC gaming headsets (but not all!) have the audio-edge over their console-focused counterparts.
Another PC gaming headset consideration goes to integrated microphones. Most wired PC gaming headsets come with a flexible, retractable integrated microphone. In the age where becoming a professional gamer is a feasible career option, microphone quality matters. PC gaming headset manufacturers know PC gamers demand quality but are aware that streamers and content producers may well opt for a separate high-quality microphone option instead.
The Best Wired PC Gaming Headsets
Without further ado, here are the best-wired headsets for PC gaming, covering a wide range of budgets and styles.
1. Razer Kraken Tournament Edition
Razer Kraken Tournament Edition Razer Kraken Tournament Edition Buy Now On Amazon $74.54Kicking off the PC gaming headset list is the stylish Razer Kraken Tournament Edition, available in eye-catching luminous green or sleek and professional black. The Tournament Edition is a wired headset, using either a USB or a standard 3.5mm connection with in-line volume and microphone controller.
The Razer Kraken Tournament Edition has some excellent audio features that should catch your eye (or ear, as it were). You can switch on THX Spatial 7.1 surround sound to create incredible in-game immersion. The inclusion of the THX Spatial sound is perfect for PC gamers who can use the spatial sound to react quicker and gain an edge over their competitors.
There are two other Razer Kraken Tournament Edition features to consider. First, Razer includes a USB DAC (digital-to-analog controller) that you can keep on your desk while gaming for easy volume control and audio tweaking as a really handy extra. Second is the microphone, which retracts into the bottom of the headset. You can slip the microphone away when not gaming, but you won’t lose it in the meantime.
The green color isn’t too everyone’s taste, that’s for sure (there is an all-black version, too). But the 50mm drivers, gel-infusion ear cushions, and spatial surround sound make the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition a great wired PC gaming headset.
2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC
SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC Buy Now On Amazon $207.38The SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC is an award-winning PC gaming headset, combining outstanding audio quality with RGB lighting, surround sound gaming, and a retractable microphone. It also comes with a powerful dedicated DAC and amp for additional volume and audio quality control.
Under the hood, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC packs an impressive frequency range that works in conjunction with the DTS Headphone: X v2.0 spatial sound technology. The result is an immersive PC gaming experience where you can lose yourself in the sounds or use positional cues to beat out your opponents.
SteelSeries headsets carry a serious reputation for quality and comfort, and the Arctis Pro fully lives up to that name. However, there are a couple of things to note. For one, the use of premium materials means the Arctis Pro is one of the heaviest PC gaming headsets around, coming in at 0.52kg. Half a kilogram doesn’t sound much, but it is something to consider for long gaming sessions.
The second consideration is the slightly short USB connection cable. For PC gaming at a desk, you’ll be fine, but other setups may have to find a workaround (or opt for the SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless version).
3. HyperX Cloud Revolver S
HyperX Cloud Revolver S HyperX Cloud Revolver S Buy Now On Amazon $127.13Next up is another option from a classic PC gaming audio manufacturer, the HyperX Cloud Revolver S. Most HyperX gaming headsets follow a similar design. The HyperX Cloud Revolver S is no different, sticking within HyperX’s formula of incredibly comfy earphones, crisp sound quality, and a bunch of handy audio control options.
The HyperX Cloud Revolver S comes with 50mm drivers equipped with Plug N Play Dolby Virtual Surround 7.1 audio. What does that mean, exactly? Well, in basic terms, it means you’ll experience all of the joy of virtual surround sound without the hassle of installing and configuring software on your PC. And less time installing software means more time gaming!
On top of that, the HyperX Cloud Revolver S offers you exceptional audio control. The clippable USB audio controller give you easy-to-access audio controls, while there are several equalizer modes designed with specific game types in mind.
Comfort-wise, the Cloud Revolver S line continues HyperX’s long history of lightweight, high-quality earphones, complete with a wider headband for added stability and protection during long PC gaming sessions.
4. Corsair HS50 Pro
Corsair HS50 Pro Corsair HS50 Pro Buy Now On Amazon $49.99The Corsair HS50 Pro is a great option for kids looking for their first PC gaming headset. You won’t find flashy features, like Bluetooth or surround sound, with the Corsair HS50 Pro.
What you will find, however, is a great set of wired PC gaming headphones that you can use for hours on end. And after all, isn’t that precisely what you want—no, need—from a PC gaming headset?
The Discord-Certified HS50 Pro PC gaming headset packs in custom-tuned 50mm drivers, memory-foam earphones, and a lightweight design. The microphone is fully detachable and noise-canceling—just make sure you keep an eye on it when you take it off.
Amazon customers review the Corsair HS50 Pro well, but many mention a “narrow hinge between the metal core of the band and the earpiece” that can break easily. That’s something worth bearing in mind!
5. Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X
Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X Buy Now On Amazon $179.99The Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X brings Audio-Technica’s reputation for audio quality to wired PC gaming headsets—and the result is brilliant. They pack 53mm drivers—larger than any other headset on the list—into an open-air headset design.
The open-air take on the PC gaming headset keeps you cool without compromising on sound quality. It looks really cool, too. Among all of the PC gaming headsets you can find, wired or not, the Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X provides some of the best in-game sound quality you can hope to find.
Although it isn’t spatial sound, the high-fidelity audio more than makes up for it. Also, the microphone is of excellent recording quality. Streamers and content producers could use the integrated microphone to produce quality content without worrying about the final product. Finally, the Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X comes with a decent 1.2m cable, complete with in-line audio controls.
The Best PC Gaming Headset for You
When it comes to choosing a PC gaming headset, you must choose between wired or wireless. The choice often comes down to your personal preference, as well as your budget at the time of purchase.
I’ve had the same PC gaming headset for years. But I do use it with a separate microphone because people constantly tell me I sound like Darth Vader when I use the integrated option.
If you want to give the separate headphones and microphones option a try, first check out the best microphones for podcasters. The top-quality podcast microphones are perfect for streaming, recording, and communicating clearly with your in-game teammates.
Read the full article: The 5 Best PC Gaming Headsets With Wires
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