Gadget

One of the key ways in which game universes are perceived is through sound. With the help of hearing, you can detect an enemy that you cannot see. Preparing for a meeting with the enemy at times increases the chances of a successful outcome of the game. The best way to hear everything that’s going on around you is to get some gaming headphones.

It is very important to choose the right model with excellent assembly, high-quality sound and find the right type of ear cushions. This review collects recommendations for choosing and considers the 8 best models of gaming headphones.

Key Features of Gaming Headphones

The technical parameters of the headset reflect the “stuffing” of the device and its capabilities for comfortable use and high-quality sound transmission. The correct approach to choosing a model consists of 2 steps: determining the appropriate design and studying the digital characteristics. Both stages are equivalent. It is impossible to sacrifice comfort in favor of high-quality sound. At the same time, the good shape and wearing comfort do not compensate for the poor sound.

Design

You should not focus on trendy design and a well-known brand. Also, you do not need to look for a model with gilding or a large set of LEDs. The main thing is to choose the right design. If the shape is made correctly, the headset sits easily and does not create discomfort during prolonged use. Without trying on, it is difficult to determine how comfortable the headphones will sit on your head. If there is an opportunity to try on the device in the store, it should not be neglected.

Important! All the smallest inconveniences identified during the fitting should be multiplied by 100. After 4, 6 or 8 hours of play, a slight inconvenience turns into an unbearable feeling of constriction. All kinds of roughness rub the skin and greatly distract from the process.

Build quality

You need to carefully take the device and feel the quality of the material. In places of contact with the head, the elements of the structure connection should be slightly pressed to check how comfortable and reliable the fasteners are. During the study, squeaks, play, rattling and other defects should not appear.

Device types

There are 2 types of headphones:

• Open. Provides a richer, richer sound. Another positive feature is its better positioning. It is much easier to determine the place where they stomp or shoot. The disadvantages include partial noise isolation, which does not allow you to fully concentrate on the game. The interlocutor may sometimes complain that he hears himself.
• Closed. These headphones completely isolate from the rest of the world and help you fully immerse yourself in the game. However, this leads to a slight compression of the sound, and it becomes more difficult to determine the position of the enemy. Closed-back headphones are more likely to produce inappropriately large bass.

Ear pad type

The ear pads are the pads for the speakers. They are of 2 types:

1. Covering. They go around the user’s ears, blocking all extraneous sounds.
2. Overhead. The support is located directly on the ear. Such devices do not completely envelop the ear, but leave a small gap for the penetration of sounds from the outside world.

Each type has its own disadvantages and advantages, so it cannot be said that one of them is better. However, most users opt for wrap-around ear pads. They provide complete immersion and do not create pressure on the ear, they are held solely by the headband.

Connection method

There are 2 connection methods: wired and wireless. Headphones for the average user are best taken without any wires. However, the freedom of action of the gamer fades into the background. Wireless models have several disadvantages.

First, audio delay. Initially, the audio signal is formed, then encoded and sent. The headset should receive the compressed data and decode it. Only after all the manipulations, the sound enters the speakers.

Secondly, the need to monitor the battery charge. Headphones can sit down at any time. Even if you have a spare battery, it is not always possible to switch to it. Yes, and there is no need for wireless models, anyway, the player sits in front of the computer.

Top Producers

Decent headphones for the gaming industry do:

• Razer. This US company is a leader in the production of gaming devices. It is the sponsor of most tournaments and esports teams. During the development of peripherals, he always consults with professional gamers. Thanks to close cooperation with users, it produces high-quality headsets.
• steel series. The company has been on the market for 18 years. During this time, she gained high prestige among cybersportsmen. The advantage of the company’s products is unique developments in sound improvement and a non-standard approach.
• Sony. A company whose products are superior in sound quality to most competitors. The Japanese manufacturer is actively introducing new technologies, but is trying to produce relatively budget products. Among the latest achievements of the company are Hi-Res sound quality via Bluetooth and digital noise reduction system right on the cups.
• Sennheiser. Over 70 years of active work in the field of audio technology, this company has been able to significantly improve the quality of sound processing in all audio equipment. Many music lovers consider Sennheiser to be the benchmark for deep and rich sound. The reasons lie in the perfect balance of frequencies and sound coverage up to 40 kHz.

How to decipher digital parameters when choosing headphones?

• Frequency. Sounds have different frequencies, from ultra-low to very high. The emitted frequency range, which is indicated on almost all models, reflects the sound quality. When unsupported frequencies are fed into the headphones, they are simply ignored. For comfortable use of audio devices, 20-20,000 Hz is sufficient. Even better — from 16 Hz. According to scientists, a person can perceive the range of 16-20,000 Hz. Everything above or below is simply not caught by the ear.
• Volume (sensitivity). If the choice is between full-fledged gaming headphones, then this parameter is not particularly relevant. All models produce quite a loud sound. If you need to choose loud devices, you should look at devices with a sensitivity of 90 to 120 dB.
• Resistance. Increasing this value increases the sound quality but reduces the volume.

Top 8 Best Gaming Headphones

To compile the rating, an independent live test of the devices was carried out. Models that could not be obtained were tested by serious gamers in practice.

Logitech G233 Prodigy

The solution is from the middle price category, made in blue-black colors. The materials are exceptionally high quality, they look more expensive than they really are. The special fabric at the base of the ear cushions prevents fogging of the ears. The sound is balanced, well suited for any application. It has a pre-installed microphone on a movable leg, which has a built-in noise reduction system. Supplied with 2 cables: 2 m for PC with microphone control and 1 m with built-in microphone for smartphone.

Pros:

• pleasant sound;
• the microphone is easy to adjust to your needs with a flexible leg;
• premium design;
• 2 cables of different lengths and purposes.

Minuses:

• materials with a memory effect should adapt to the user’s head, although at first they can crush;
• no 7.1 audio support;
• 3D sound requires a special sound card.

Price: 4,000 rubles.

Logitech G233 Prodigy

Sennheiser GSP 300

Sennheiser products are valued not only for their high-quality sound aimed at music lovers, but also for their affordable price. According to professional gamers, 5,000 rubles for acoustics is a small fee. However, the model is ideal for both games and music. Headphones should not be purchased by lovers of huge bass, as their number is small here. In general, the headset has an attractive design, is comfortable to wear and provides the listener with a balanced sound of all frequencies.

Pros:

• pleasant sound;
• a microphone that clearly transmits the voice;
• good sound insulation, outside noise is not heard;
• high-quality materials, so the headphones are pleasant to use even after 4-6 hours.

Minuses:

• you need a good sound card, otherwise the audibility will be at the level of Chinese models for 1,000 rubles;
• can crush people with a big head.

Price: 4 920 rubles.

Sennheiser GSP 300

Razer Kraken Pro

The advanced version of the Kraken series is still expensive, sounds good, but lacks any additional features. The appearance is eye-catching, which is facilitated by bright green inserts. The model has high-quality «ears», which are based on solid plastic. They sit well on the head. Supplied with a microphone on a retractable mount.

Pros:

• high-quality sound;
• long cable length;
• there is an adapter for use with a smartphone;
• soft and ergonomic ear pads.

Minuses:

• exclusively gaming device that is not suitable for listening to music;
• the microphone is of low quality, the interlocutors complain of a dull sound;
• high cost, a similar device from another company is 50% cheaper.

Price: 6,000 rubles.

Razer Kraken Pro

Hyperx Cloud Alpha

Full-size model with wired connection and microphone. It is made in an aggressive design with black eco-leather and red inserts. Aluminum adjuster. The memory foam is soft, comfortable and adapts easily to your head. It can produce clear sound in all 3D games with a high-quality sound card. The sound is loud, clear and distinct. Headphones are pleasant to use.

Pros:

• detachable cable that is easy to change;
• soft ear pads sit comfortably on the head in most cases;
• game design;
• first-class assembly;
• clear 3D sound.

Minuses:

• a low-quality control unit breaks down for many users during the first year of operation;
• the shape is not suitable for everyone, some buyers complain of a feeling of constriction.

Price: 9,000 rubles.

Hyperx Cloud Alpha

Sony Platinum

A good model designed to connect to the PlayStation 4, but can also work with a personal computer. Supports 3D sound, which is important for positioning in games. The new surround sound system Horizon Zero Dawn will make all games sound completely different, in a good way of this expression. The model does a good job of scoring movies and playing music. However, the bias in the gaming style is noticeable, music lovers are better off choosing something else.

Pros:

• absolute integration with PlayStation 4;
• clear sound;
• about 10 additional buttons (for voice chat).

Minuses:

• low autonomy, up to 8 hours of operation on a single charge;
• connection to the phone is possible only through a wire;
• unattractive design and poor quality materials;
• high price.

Price: 9,500 rubles.

Sony Platinum

Corsair VOID PRO RGB

Custom and predatory design with RGB backlighting that supports 16 million colors. To adjust the strength of the glow and color, the original application of the manufacturer is used. Inside the program there are options for adjusting the volume, equalizer, microphone. There is also an option to sync the backlight between multiple devices. Headphones work with sound in 7.1 format and are equipped with a highly directional microphone. The ear pads are large and soft, do not press, very flexible and deep.

Pros:

• expensive appearance;
• exact fit of all elements, no creaking, backlash and other features of Chinese brands;
• do not lead to fatigue during operation;
• rich 3D sound.

Minuses:

• glossy body elements turned out to be very easily soiled and easily damaged;
• minimal sound insulation;
• USB connection required to power the backlight.

Price: 9 990 rubles.

Corsair VOID PRO RGB

Logitech G930 with 7.1 Surround Sound

Despite the high price, the model is the leader in the 7.1 segment. The headset turned out to be universal, suitable not only for games, but also for listening to music. Wireless headphones give maximum freedom of movement and do not have to constantly cling to the wire. They have a roller volume control that is easy to find and adjust. There are 3 buttons on the left side that you can program yourself. It is possible to use headphones on all current versions of Windows and PS 4.

Pros:

• macro support;
• good sound, real 7.1;
• Works without recharging up to 10 hours.

Minuses:

• if there is a microwave oven nearby, then the signal periodically disappears;
• the high cost of the model.

Price: 13,000 rubles.

Logitech G930 with 7.1 Surround Sound

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Stylish headphones for professional players, as indicated by the price of 13,000 rubles. Fully support surround sound, which is important in games. They allow you to accurately determine where the enemy is coming from and how far away he is now. The high-capacity battery allows the model to work autonomously throughout the day. On the cup there are buttons for controlling the player, adjusting the volume and adjusting the sound between the sounds from the game and from the chat. The earbuds feature a retractable, dual-array microphone with noise-canceling technology.

Pros:

• complete soundproofing;
• movable speaker design;
• supported range up to 40 kHz;
• the ability to connect to any device.

Minuses:

• to get a balanced sound, you will have to deal with the equalizer;
• you need to connect to a personal computer through a special base.

Price: 14,900 rubles.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Comparison of the characteristics of the best models

Here is a short list of the basic parameters of the best headphones.

Model	Frequencies, Hz	Connection	Resistance, Ohm	Sensitivity, Hz	Weight, g	price, rub.
Logitech G233 Prodigy	20 – 20 000	Wired	32	90	267	4000
Sennheiser GSP 300	15 – 26 000	Wired	19	113	630	4 920
Razer Kraken Pro	12 — 28 000	Wired	32	118	322	6000
Hyperx Cloud Alpha	13 – 27 000	Wired	65	98	336	9000
Sony Platinum	20 – 20 000	Wireless	60	100	320	9 500
Corsair VOID PRO RGB	20 – 20 000	Wired	32	107	390	9990
Logitech G930 with 7.1 Surround Sound	20 – 20 000	Wireless	32	107	326	13 000
SteelSeries Arctis Pro	10 — 40 000	Wired	32	102	520	14 900

Conclusion

The most worthy budget gaming headset is Logitech G233 Prodigy. It is compact and capable of reproducing good sound at medium volume. In the mid-price line, the favorite is Corsair VOID PRO RGB. It has a game design, high volume and 7.1 sound. The best model available on the market ─ SteelSeries Arctis Pro. It supports modern technologies, is characterized by high autonomy and versatility of connection.

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