Best PC Gaming Headsets: Bring Your Gaming to the Next Level
When it comes to competitive gaming, sound and hearing play a major role in determining which team will win. This is because with the help of proper sound and hearing a player can gain some important intel about the enemy team, thereby getting a competitive edge over the enemy team.
However, the in-game sound system of enemy footsteps alone is not sufficient to help players gain precise and accurate info about where the sound is coming from. For that, competitive players need a headset that is designed for gaming.
If you are looking for the best PC gaming headset, then you are in the right place. Here is our take on everything you need to know about how to find the best PC gaming headset and how it takes your gaming to the next level.
How Sound & Hearing Became a Major Part of Competitive Gaming
Over the years, video games have been getting better and better. If you pick any video game from only about five years ago and a video game released this year, you can see a massive difference. Video games have made massive improvements with insanely better graphics while being much more optimized than older games.
In-Game Sound Improvements Over The Years
When it comes to competitive games, one area that has seen the most improvement is the sound system. Video games these days have much better sound, with competitive video games having much more precise sound for enemy footsteps.
Not only footsteps but other sounds like an enemy switching a weapon or planting a bomb or even defusing a bomb are also much better these days. Players have no trouble analyzing precisely where the sound is coming from while playing a competitive video game.
Sound, Hearing, and Competitive Gaming
With these improvements in the sound department, sound and hearing have become a huge part of competitive video games. The main reason for this is that sound provides key information about the enemy team. In competitive video games, information about the enemy team is one of the most powerful assets that a team has against the enemy team.
With the help of proper hearing and sound, you can get crucial intel about the enemy like where they are coming from, where they are headed, and if they are behind you or not. Having this intel helps players analyze their next moves way before it's too late.
For example, let's assume that you are playing a match of Rainbow Six Siege and are currently at the attacker's side. The defuser has been planted and now you must wait for the enemy to try to either kill you or disable the defuser. You are holding an angle in the hallway, but do not have a line of sight of the bomb. Suddenly you hear the defuser being deactivated by the defenders. You react quickly to this and immediately take out the enemy trying to deactivate the defuser.
How Will The Best PC Gaming Headset Improve Your In-Game Performance
Now you know why sound and hearing are crucial in competitive gaming and gaming in general. However, no matter how great the sound and hearing system of a video game is, if you are using a poor-quality headset, you will not be able to employ precise and accurate hearing. It is for this reason that you definitely need a gaming headset.
A gaming headset is designed while keeping the priorities of competitive gamers in mind. For example, normal headsets will have much more bass than gaming headsets, which makes it very difficult to hear enemy footsteps.
If you want to improve your in-game performance by using your hearing to its maximum potential, you will need a gaming headset for that. It is because a gaming headset will help you make much more accurate estimations about where the sound is coming from. For this reason, here we have laid down all the information that you need to choose the best PC gaming headset.
Choosing The Best PC Gaming Headset
Here is a list of what to look for when trying to find the best PC gaming headset.
Comfort
You will probably be using your new gaming headset for long gaming sessions. If you get a headset that is not comfortable enough, you won't be able to use it for long hours. No matter how great a gaming headset is, there is no point in wasting money on it if you can't even use it. To check how comfortable a headset is, you can look at customer reviews.
Microphone
With a PC gaming headset, the drivers are not the only things you will be using. For competitive online gaming, you will also need a microphone. So make sure that you get a headset with a microphone. Also, the sound quality of the microphone should be good enough that your teammates can clearly hear what you are trying to say. This way they can get precise intel from you.
Noise Isolation
While playing a competitive video game, you don't want to deal with any kind of distractions. We are not saying that you should keep on playing even if something in your house is on fire. Rather, the noise from neighbors and other house members is not ideal for competitive gaming. For this reason, the gaming headset that you are planning on getting must have good noise isolation.
Wired vs Wireless
When it comes to choosing between a wireless headset and a wired one, it all boils down to preference. With a wireless headset, you won't have to deal with all the wires, and it also looks super clean. However, a wireless gaming headset will cost much more. You can get a super high-end wired gaming headset with tons of features at the same price as a mid-range to a budget wireless gaming headset.
Reviews
To get a better understanding of how a gaming headset will actually perform once you start using it for competitive gaming, you will need to check out some reviews for it. You can go on YouTube, Facebook groups, or internet forums for that.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics of a gaming headset are also important. If your gaming headset looks good to you, you won't be thinking about it while gaming. However, you should never prioritize the aesthetics of a gaming headset over essential features like good quality drivers.
Our Top Picks For The Best PC Gaming Headset
Not everyone has tons of time they can spend trying to find the best PC gaming headset for themselves. To help make this decision easier for you, here are our top picks for the best PC gaming headsets. Take a look to see which one best meets your requirements.
Razer Kraken X
If you are on a budget, then you can't go wrong with the Razer Kraken X. You can easily find this headset on sale for 40 to 50 USD. While it is a budget option, the Razer Kraken X does not lack any main features. The Razer Kraken X has 40mm drivers, with neodymium magnets. Its frequency response is 12Hz to 8,000Hz. All that makes it the best PC gaming headset when it comes to budget options.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless
If you are a veteran gamer, you probably have heard the name "HyperX Cloud". The HyperX Cloud is the name of a series of headsets that are known for their excellence in providing precise and accurate in-game audio. If you are looking for a wireless PC gaming headset, then you will surely like the HyperX Cloud II Wireless gaming headset.
With a frequency response of 15Hz to 20,000Hz and 53mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless is certainly one of the best wireless PC gaming headsets you can buy right now. However, it will set you back about 200 USD if you do decide to get it.
Razer Blackshark V2
If you don't really care about your pc gaming headset being wireless and are willing to spend a bit more on it, then you should definitely take a look at the Razer Blackshark V2. When it comes to the best bang for your buck, the Razer Blackshark V2 becomes the best PC gaming headset.
Employing the Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers, a frequency response of 12Hz to 28,000Hz, and a detachable noise-canceling mic, there are not many gaming headsets out there that compete with the Razer Blackshark V2. And you can easily find one for around 100 USD.
Final Words
We have included a great mix of gaming headsets for you. Most gamers will be able to find one of them to be in line with their priorities. However, if you don't like any one of our recommendations, you can take a look at the "Choosing The Best PC Gaming Headset" section. It will help you get a better idea about what to look for when buying a PC gaming headset.
With the headset now out of the way, it’s time to select the other important peripherals, most importantly, the mouse. Here is our guide on the best gaming mice of 2022. Hopefully, with the combinations of all of these new, premium gaming peripherals, you’ll be pawning enemies left, right, and center.
