DON'T Buy a Gaming Headset Before Watching This!
Choosing the best gaming headset for either your PC, XBox or PS5 can be difficult since there are so many choices out there. And a lot of them come down to personal preference. So let's talk about how to choose the best gaming headset for YOU based on things like earcup size, wireless vs wired, open vs closed back, microphones, overall comfort and more.
Some of the best Gaming Headsets:
WIRELESS
Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed - geni.us/GPROX2
Steelseries Nova Pro Wireless - geni.us/ARCTISNOVAPRO
Audeze Maxwell - geni.us/AudezeMaxwell
Corsair HS80 Max - geni.us/HS80MAX
WIRED
EPOS H6 Pro (Open / Closed) - geni.us/H6PRO
Corsair HS55 Stereo - geni.us/HS55STEREO
DROP PC-38X - geni.us/PC38XDROP
Corsair HS80 RGB USB - geni.us/HS80USBWHITE
Razer BlackShark V2 - geni.us/BLACKSHARKV2PRO
be quiet! Shadow Base 800 (sponsor) - geni.us/SHADOWBASE800
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Buying Guide BEGINS!
0:23 - Stereo vs Surround! [Big one]
2:05 - Plastic is OK....
3:23 - Headset Specs Don't Matter
5:54 - Closed vs Open Back for Games
7:20 - Sponsor Spot
7:54 - Cross Platform Compatibility
8:41 - COMFORT is KING!
16:53 - Wireless OR Wired or Both?
19:32 - Does Microphone Quality Even Matter?
21:32 - Audio Quality is Subjective
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This video is sponsored by be quiet!. As per Hardware Canucks guidelines, no review direction was received from manufacturer. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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#hardwarecanucks
I love you Chris Pratt
Mario loves you
This one is Crisp Rat, don't you know.
Gotta shoot my own videos by day :) -D.
Soft like an ear piece
You can expect Star Lord to know a thing or two about sound
Very helpful guide, covering many considerations which i had never even thought of. I would LOVE to hear what your go to set for playing battlefield would be.
You guys always do a fabulous job of delivering information that is easy to digest and helps us make good consumer decisions.
Awesome to hear :) -D.
Dont be afraid to mess with EQ either. A youtuber helped me tune steelseries nova pro wireless to sound better.
Amazing video, covered so much and for anyone looking to isolate what they should be focused on this will undoubtedly help
This is a great video! I'd love to see an updated gaming headset Vs Headphone video though. just to compare some of the headsets to headphones.
This guide was super helpful. There are many headsets out there and there are a lot of gimmicks out there, I’m happy I can now pick out a new pair and know what to specially look for. You the best D
No kidding. I just bought a pair of Astro a50s and the headband that’s held together by straws of hay popped off, constant buzzing from shitty Bluetooth, and it cost an arm and a leg
This was helpful, thank you. Ive never bought a headset before and don't know anything about them. So I was having a bit of anxiety. Then I heard about the Maxwells and thought I'll just get them. Then I heard about how heavy they are as I have trouble with my neck while gaming due to my terrible posture. This video helped ameliorate my concerns somewhat. I think I'm just going to have to get them so I can see, or I'll never know. Thanks for the video.
This video brings up great points when evaluating different brands (clamping head force, ear cushions, swivel points, etc). Well done and informative.
One of the MOST helpful reviews I've seen. This channel has always been my favourite
5:31 Actually, you want to set bit depth as high as possible while leaving sample rate at 44.1 or 48 KHz. Having the sample rate at insane numbers can cause issues in certain games and it will resample the audio, which might even lower the quality slightly. It doesn't work like upscaling resolution: the more you upscale audio, the worse it might sound.
i've heard most games support up to 96khz already tho
I will push back and say neither matter. Your higher bit depth and rate matter a lot more for editing and producing, even then I think it is questionable past sample rates, but not really for consumption. It is suppose to increase you dynamic range and that is more placebo tbh (just like Atmos and the rest of the audio woo). If you really want to change it, then match the source.
most people recommend 24bit 48khz and it's windows default aswell.
@@zakur0978 That is probably the safer option (DVD quality), and actually what I do. Win 11 is selects higher if iirc. Sometimes having weird sound settings can cause issues to boot. Some older Unreal engine games won't even boot if Windows sound settings aren't set correctly. Many games now change your bit rate when you select TV, Sound System, Headphones, etc. for your dynamic range (mostly just ceiling), but other than getting a little louder it won't actually change much.
I can't even find that window or settings in my copy of Windows 10. I remember seeing on my old, old laptop running Windows XP. Is this something microshit removed from Windows 10 in order to push people to the spyware/advertising platform that is Windows 11?
Thank you very much 🙏🏽❤. I appreciate this video because now I have a better perspective on buying a headset for long term use as an online student that will be teaching online once I'm done with my course this year.
CHAT VOLUME: I so appreciate how you break down details and not just manufacturer selling points. I always feel that chat volume vs. game volume does need discussion because it's a big feature for many like me who have lost some of their hearing. It is a such a disappointment to buy what I think is a great headset but then I find out features are negated when I realize I can't adequately adjust that mix.
Amazing Analysis Incredible Work Good Breakdown Thank You Great Man
2.4 GHz TWS with dedicated dongles for gaming seem to be a fast growing segment. I just bought the Sony inzone buds, compared them before to several others, but they came out on top. The mic of these is not the best, but I use a separate mic. All together a super comfy setup and no lag sound. Wearing big headsets over a long period always caused an indentation on top of my head. Also, in ears look more profess for meetings
This is a great option for casual gamers, but IEMs have a very limited ability to properly image, hurting positional awareness in competitive games
@@TheMstwntdLMSV123 That's just not true... professional FPS players pretty much only use IEMs. Look at any CS2 tournament and you'll see they wear IEMs under the headsets (and the headsets are pretty much only used for their mics and noise cancelation).
Great video 👍 Still rockin hyper x cloud 2 and recently bought cloud 3 they don’t disappoint. And I Never used surround sound on headset cuz in most of the games I play there’s already build in quality surround sound . So if u use surround sound on the headset that means you put a filter sound on top of another and you will get confused in gun fights
some audio/electronic stores have a possibility to try on and test headphones, it is realy good to try out and feel before buying, especially if going high end
This was a great video with lots of information. Well done and thank you.
Great video. Well done. I'm still sat on my wired headset with a mod-mic but do think about wireless.
that's a fantastic video to further increase your indecision on which headset to get
Loved that video. So much useful info. One note is when you mentioned that steelseries nova pro and the stealth pro have hotswap batteries that let you swap without losing connection, the stealth pro loses connection. I love them and wouldn't trade them for any other headset but the one major con is how long they take to connect when you start them and reconnect after battery swap. I have made the swap within a few seconds and it doesn't matter. They disconnect as soon as you remove the battery.
I went to you guys before I stuck with my G533 based on all your reviews, and now I'm back here after looking for my next one. Thanks for the work you do!
Did you choose your next one already? I was looking for G733
Great Review as usual. May I know what your top 3 suggestion would be for mobile gaming (mostly play FPS w Battle Royale and Multiplayer)?
Closed vs Open also had an impact on your relationship with your SO. The fact that I can hear my SO when they call for help or just try to talk to me saved my relationship countless times. Gaming is important to me but not the most important thing, I couldn't go back to closed design. Also open design gives audio feedback so it's much easier to control the volume of my voice. My cs2 duo partner tend to shout extremely loud late at night when gaming and it's causing issue with their SO
Let this man cook! With closed backs and iem's I was always shouting and talking at a very high volume haha When I finally got a open back, I was finally able to hear how loud I was with having my girlfriend throw a pillow at me. Also being able to hear her the first time around instead of saying "what?" Then her getting mad as result of it saved me too.
what headset you use for cs2? Im new to to the game
Whats SO?? 'Senior Officer" ??
Thought I was the only one not aware SO is short for significant other.
this is one of the unseen benefits of the nova pro wireless anc/hearthrough. I have very young kids, and so being able to hear my wife and them is a blessing - sometimes. when the infant is screaming and you're trying to rock them back to sleep, your patience is MUCH higher when they aren't blowing your eardrums. being able to choose between those modes has been a godsend for my and my wife's patience.
Personally I just bought the HS80 MAX from Corsair and I'd say overall it's pretty good but I did buy the leather ear cups for the better seal/bass and I absolutely had to tune the EQ. It isn't very good on default settings. The battery life is amazing though! It's rated for like 60 hours. I haven't actually checked how long they last, but it's definitely a long time. Multiple game sessions and still plenty of battery left.
On a scale from 1-10, how loud would you say they are? I have the wired version of them, and they sound too low for my liking. What about the wireless version
Most complete guide I've found so far. Great job.
This is a great guide and breakdown of various things. Ty.
Godlike guide! Thank you so much!
Wow. Thank you so much. Your videos always Rock!
You did a good job sir. Thank you for sharing
thanks bro for the detailed guide
Hey Dmitry, great content! i writting from Spain and just wanted to know what do you think about the Sennheiser's HD 560S? i have the them + V-moda boom but willing to know if i can improve a little bit now that gaming headsets have been growing in quality, what would you recomend? tks mate!
I hope if you posted this earlier, I spent the entirety of Black Friday confused lol. Thanks though, this is the most helpful video I found regarding this topic
Got the EPOS H6 Pro Closed a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier!
How are they?
@@dannyexpo5740 no complaints here, they sound great on Series X especially using Dolby Atmos/DTS apps to boost sound quality. I got them on sale on Amazon for $90, they retail for $180
Since i found Audeze Maxwell, the end game journey for finding "Gaming headset" is at its time. Simply no delay & can be EQ'ed for mobile game/music (No noticeable delay on Online game), audio on PC with usb dongles is just 😳
Very complete video. Thanks man!
Awesome video, really appricated the depth, gangsta
May I suggest doing a guide on setting up a headset for gaming, things like OS settings, game settings, to get the right audio for the right game?
Good video answered questions I didnt realize I valued having answered
Bravo My Good Man! Excellent video explaining the ins and outs of modern gaming headsets. Believe me I appreciate the detailed analysis since I have bought plenty of headsets, both good and bad in 40+ years of PC gaming. I think you have the salient points figured out.
Which is the best u ever used.?
Really good vid. Tons of info. 👍
Love this video man!
Superb Video just amazing everything is covered.
I still reach for my Maxwell's over my other high end headphones, just for the convenience.
Very informative video, thank you. I need a headset to use with Xbox but also be able to connect to the TV. Any recommendations for low latency bluetooth headset for TV use.
I always default to the V-Moda headsets. They are built like a tank, and sound great especially when paired with a sound card (external or internal). For the best mic quality, get the boom attachment or some 3rd party one (these are not expensive and will sound better than most gaming headset mics).
This wasn't short but packed with non-obvious content so, thank you. I need to get a new headset and I'm down the rabbit hole. One thing I want to add is how dumb it seems to me there isn't pause/play/next/prev buttons, even at least a multifunction one. I don't think it is so weird of me to use my headset for wirelessly listening to music/podcasts.
I'm still using the original HyperX Cloud 2 from the day 1 launch. Best 100€ I ever spent and it was a great investment, still is!
Good video but I disagree about the joints. Ears are not "flat" against the head and are slightly angled forward, the swivel makes headphones sit better on them without added pressure (which is a huge game changer for prolonged use), that's where the "marketed comfort" aspect comes from. I understand why people do that, but headphones are not designed to be wrapped/stored/carried around your neck.
Yeah very good addition! It's true, pairs with full swivel joints have awesome fit on my head. -D.
Totally agree and exactly my thoughts as well when looking at that section. It's one of the main criterias I have when looking at an headset/headphone. If it can't swiwel, it won't be comfortable for me unfortunately. Have been through that experience before.
Dear Dimitri , awesome thanks for this content I’m about to switch from my old Razer Nari Ultimate i do not use the mic on the headset anyways so I decided to go with Logitech G Pro X2 , all the Best and keep the content coming ♥️♥️
Oh , i'm so excited for you to experience the PRO X 2! One of my favorite headsets of the year. Hope you like it :) -D.
Surround sound in these headsets is mostly marketing. What they really want is "sound stage" or "separation" which I doubt you are getting in a head "set". You're gonna need a dedicated pair of cans most likely which might get into dac amp setups depending on how high you go. But for me, paired with a modmic, it's well worth it since I listen to a lot of music while working too.
My headset battery is dying, and I basically have to use it like a wired headset right now. I always know that when I'm shopping for a headset, to go to you! Thanks for all these videos, tests, and research that you put into these.
This is a very good guide for people. I'd like to say also be aware on which pair you can change 1) (and most important) - ear cushions and 2) head-rest; no1 will wear and tear fast on daily drivers. From my experience sadly from expensive brands Audeze Mobius fell apart really fast and I had to buy new ones TWICE in a bit over 2y time. Some much cheaper brands lasted longer. Don't know about Maxwell yet so not talking about that successor to Mobius.
While it's easy to tell left from right in stereo, surround sound makes it clearer whether the sound is coming from the front, back, above, or below. Of course, the software matters, and I think Dolby Atmos is a great example.
This is a really informative video. I would love one like this for motherboards. It could really help cut through the mountain of bullshit in the marketing materials.
Just some feedback cause, you asked for it at the end. Um, just probably a Tip 2-3 round up for PC, Console and Mobile Gaming respectively. Otherwise. Love your presentation. You're the guy that gives the most personal opinion, rather than seemingly pushing one headphone over the other. Great stuff.
Maybe, could do a: High Mid Low Budget Top Three. Using Logitech Pro X now. Pretty solid. Thinking of switching to the Maxwell, ASTRO or Blackshark V2. Or, upgrade to the LIGHTSPEED.
I tried a few gaming headsets but i didnt liked any of them so i went and bought a studio headphones (beyerdynamic DT 770pro) which cost almost the same but sound so much better. Using them since 2021 and i love them.
How good is tracking the location of sounds in games? Like being able to locate where footsteps are coming from etc?
@@Centurio_Romae Its pretty good if the game have good 3D audio
I currently have the turtle beach 600 gen 2s and I hate it as I feel too much pressure on my head, too much noise isolation, etc. I just purchased a Steelers nova pro wireless and looking fwd to transparency sound, Bluetooth from second audio device, less clamping force, etc. Can’t wait to see how it goes.
What are the odds, I just nabbed some headsets for my brother and I a few days ago based on your vids and others. Soundspace, good music/ movie audio capability, comfortability, breathability and mic quality were big importances. Essentially trying to find something that covers most of the bases. Settled on HS80 and TB 700 Gen 2 Max. The included cooling pads are seriously no joke for the Turtle beaches.
Comfort is king is so important. My expensive steelseries headset just died after 6-7 months. I put with the huge weight, need to restart headset / replug usb to connect, randomly turning off, random static etc. I went back to my extremely light weight logitech headset that has gone through a lot of rough use and still works. Plus instantly connects when turned on. It's plug and play.
This video was great thank you
i am still happy with my hyper x II gun metal 😁 plug and play, enable suround sounds when gaming have it for years
I appreciate the clamping comments. I have chronic TMJ and often experience pain in my jaw near where the muffs would sit. Circles for me!
Ok i need advice after watching this video. I m as now using Cloud II as main headset for most of games on PC ( 5 years uasge) At PS5 i m using Arctis 7P+. So what you recommend to buy as new headset that can surpass Cloud II? This days i m looking between Maxwell and Razer blackshark v2 pro 2023 ( did some research on reviews both of them are my style of usage) Mostly for FPS games and some games of World of Warships. As always any advice or help is welcomed. Thank you.
The price of flagship wireless headsets is starting to push so high that you might as well get headphones and a dedicated mic for the PC folks. Some of them are so expensive that you might be able to squeeze an XLR mic with an audio interface paired and respectable headphones at near the same cost. If you can forgo wireless i'd consider it. The upgrade in mic and audio quality is something you don't want to give up once you have it.
00:50 Perfect surround sound comes from binaural rendering of audio. If games did that, you'd have perfect surround sound over a stereo pair of headphones. No need for DTS, Dolby, etc. Just need two channels unless you're doing surround sound with speakers, in which case an object oriented format would work better. I wonder with the game settings in many games asking about headphones vs speakers and such if they are subtly doing binaural focused audio for the headphones option, regular stereo for speakers, and I don't know what for multi-speaker surround sound that seems very niche.
Would you be able to give me a recommendation on headsets? So I’ve always had my Astro a40 tr,s and for me if always been happy with them. I’ve been looking around but just a bit overwhelmed on what to get. I wouldn’t mind getting a wireless headset but if I could get one that is wired also so I can use it when the battery starts to die I’d be happy with that. Also great vid, it’s been helpful but would like an opinion still if you can. I should add sorry that I’m on Xbox also, plan to get a pc some point when I have the room to put it in😂
Im use Creative soundblaster Jam 2, they sounds very good, in case sponges will wear out I bought for 3 dollars 50 sponges. They are light, do not put pressure on the head, sound very good, you can amplify the lower tones with one button on the headphones, there is nothing to break except the battery, but it is very easy to replace , just like the sponges on them.
I've always wondered why you have not tested the JBL Quantum 910 (or its predecessors) so far - since you show so much dedication towards headset reviews. Is there any chance we will see this in a review?
It chaps me, too. Been using JBL speakers in my vehicles for DECADES. I was hyped when I learned about the Quantums, but never had the $$ to spare for them. My Turtle Beach PX22s have been goos to me for years, too. But dammit, I want JBL!
This helped as I stayed away from anything stereo and would only buy wireless surround.
The DT 700/900 Pro X have the BEST earpads I've ever had the pleasure of having around my ears. And I have big, difficult ears. Even bigger pads bother the top and bottom of my ears. But not the DT ones, due to their inner shape. Somehow my ears rest PERFECTLY inside them in a way I had not felt before. Just wanted to talk about that, because I've been using the DT 700 Pro X daily since quite literally the day after they were made available in the global market (only other pair of headphones I use are the Tygr 300r or Hifiman 4xx to play Squad due to their fantastic soundstage) and I still feel amazed by how they feel everytime I put them on. Even my the original, now worn pads that I've since changed feel much more comfortable than any other. And I've had A LOT of headphones/headsets. Still do. But used to as well. Anyway. Just sharing. If you need a fantastic pair of headphones with great sound, look no further. Just keep in mind they may feel too tight at first. Give it time and stretch them a bit.
I got both of the open back siennheisers after your videos on them. Great headsets never get hot ears, the open back gives perfect direction audio. But yeah if you have noisy neighbours it's a draw back
I love nova pro wired, sound is insane and have great confort, amazing gaming Headset.
Fantastic video!
Usually the wireless is compressed and doesn't sound as great as 3.5mm pole straight plugged in the input/output for sound quality
Would you recommend the hyperx cloud 2 or another pair of gaming headsets for around 60€?
I've been using the Sennheiser pc37x for 5 years now and it's been great.
Very helpful.
I used to use dolby 7.1 and I miss it. Honestly would pin point way better. I think you dont quite understand how it works. Yes Stereo is still fine and gives 360 audio but with 7.1 surround you can notice that you can tell the depth of where an enemy is. You should do a video about this with the "depth" aspect in ur mind so you can understand the difference.
You got it backwards, open construction is better for positioning in games, bc they have larger sound stage and better spatial audio thanks to being able to "spread" not being contain in small space.
Am having a difficult time choosing headsets for mobile gaming. Please recommend me a good headset for competitive gameplay and hearing footsteps from the proper direction. Thank you 🙏🏻
i bought the arctis 7 wireless in january 2017 and they are still going strong after using them every single day.
great video dmitry :)
I just got the Corsair HS80 RGB USB (wired), its so good for the price. Top tier microphone quality and High res audio. The comfort is amazing. One thing to note is that you need to tune the EQ in the ICue software as it sounds flat out of the box.
Good call on the EQ 👍 -D.
I'd love a round up of wireless headsets at each price point.
Thank you kindly for your service.
Can you recommend a headset with a great wireless range? I want to be able to talk to people in discord while doing stuff in the kitchen. I'm currently using a logitech g935 and while it has a good range, that think breaks like once every year. (I've got it with a 4 year extended warrenty that runs out soon, and already had 3 replacements in that time, and now the latest replacement starts to fail again :-/ )
On top of the ModMic there is the whole world of just using your favourite headphones with a desk mic. Can't beat the quality of the mic and the longevity and like the ModMic it opens up the world of headphones you can use.
For sure, what are you people using for headphones in daily gaming? I love the DT 700 Pro X right now, with a Wave:3 mic on an arm. -D.
@@HardwareCanucks OneOdio 10 Studio Professional DJ Headphones. Built on the cheaper side as they have failure points I am SHOCKED at how good they are for the 30 bucks I spent on them as a holdover until I could get a good set of wireless cans. I am going to try a pair of the same brand before spending $100 on something else first I am so surprised.
@@HardwareCanucksPhilips SHP-9500S, they sound fantastic, far better than any "gaming headset" I've used.
@@HardwareCanucks I rock a good ol' pair of PC38x
@@HardwareCanucks As someone that owns a lot of studio mics and just a few headset mics.... A lot of mics are just a bunch of bs honestly. I think a pair of used 380 pros with new pads and a mod mic with proper technique is the best.
im running nzbwi g06 wireless... im on my 2nd part cos my jack broke on wired pair so i just went wireless for convenience and after 2 years i see no problems with headset...its budget headset that works well for long time in my experience and quality is good enough to where i have no problems with any type of game i play.
I’ve been rocking the same set of Sennheiser Game Ones hooked up to an Astro mixamp with my PlayStation for like 6 years now. Don’t think I could ever go back to closed back.
if i have a 7.1 surround sound headset, can i still use stereo sound for it, so should i activate stereo sound on it for competive games?
thinking about corsair hs80 rgb wireless, i know that it is not best out of the box, but after eq it should be really good (as i heard)
i got the h6pro open for 99 at blackfriday so if so canuks if you caan tell me if there's something better for that range of price I would be happy with it
I mean unless absolutely necessary I’d always recommend IEMs or HiFi headphones over gaming headsets. The only advantage I see with headsets is the convenience of wireless or the integrated microphone. Other than that there’s a TON of better options at every price point. Zero:red (55$), 770 pro / 560 s / Tygr (~120$), 700/900 pro x (250$), Zeus elite (350$), 1990 pro (~400-500$) and so on. They sound better and have better imaging (where do sound clues come from). A clip on lavalier mic is also ~10$ and you can EQ it to sound like some high end mics
Big downside is, good luck finding those niche brands in a store.
@@ghoulbuster1 you can order them online no problem
I’ve been rocking my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Wireless since they came out and I love them, the only thing I don’t like about them is the noise canceling nub inside so I had to get wicked cushions
I have a question since im on a smaller budget and want a wireless headset will the Logitech G pro x be enough or should i save up and wait till i can get the g pro x2 (bc i want a all logitech setup)
I've never not returned a headset. 6 years later still nothing beats my HD579 + modmic. And kicking myself for not learning to EQ all those years ago. Harmon EQ on them made them 3 times better. I'm still trying out new and more expensive headphones and in terms of detail and information headphones 3 times more expensive than what HD579 were when new still do not best them. I will always recommend good headphones + mic and amp if needed to all my friends over a headset
In general, will a wireless headphone or a wired headphone conmected to the ps or xbox controller sound better?
One thing to address would be software vs no software and what features are really important.
Gotta mention IEMS I recently switched from over a decade of being a headset wearer to using iems and its been amazing I can play for way longer without getting a headache from either the weight on my head and neck or the clamping force around my ears. I got the Truthear Hexa and the Simgot EM6Ls and ended up choosing to keep the EM6Ls
that's funny because for me it's the other way around. I don't like IEMS they never seem to fit well in my ears and just get painful ears after an hour or so. So yeah just saying there is no perfect solution for everyone, because I know others can wear them happily all day long just not me :(
@@fs9553Same for me. Can't wear IEMS at all. Never fits no matter what I do and those times it does fit it starts to hurt within an hour.
I just moved to iems the other week lmao
ngl i'm jealous of people who are comfortable with IN the Ear headphones, i haven't found any size or shape in that category that's comfortable for me , mostly the earbuds. So i use Bluetooth headphones, thinking of buying moondrop chu 2 to give it another shot since i only tried these commercial brands like Samsung , sony, Realme etc so far.
I just want a great wireless gaming headset that sounds amazing with gaming specially for fps and great when listening to music idc about the mic I brought a separate mic so I would never use the mic on the headset so what would you recommend for me?