6 Top Gaming Headsets of 2024 Ranked

This is a strange test because it relies on subjective input. In this case, we derived this rating from the testing data provided by RTings and Soundguys, who subjectively rate microphone quality, and have their readers subjectively rate it, respectively. From there, we can average out the ratings and create an overall idea of how good a microphone sounds.

Generally speaking, you want this to be higher than 6.0, as it means you’ll have acceptable sound quality when communicating. There’s no upper limit to sound quality – if you can find a headset that has a 10/10 and suits you and your budget, go for it. Low sound quality mics, however, will distort or blow out your voice, and that will make you hard to hear and understand.

Speech to noise ratio is a bit complex. In the simplest terms, it’s how you measure how good of a job a microphone is going to do with transmitting your voice in a noisy environment without also transmitting all of the background noise.

You’ll want a mic that has a speech-to-noise ratio greater than 24 dB. By looking for microphones that hit at least this ratio, you’re in a much better position to use your microphone in noisier environments without having to worry about tons of background noise filtering in. If the ratio is too low, expect to transmit dogs barking, air conditioners and fans, and people talking in the background every time you start talking – and if it’s bad enough, even when you’re not.

Many gaming headsets feature Bluetooth, which means that you have to deal with Bluetooth latency if you’re using that to connect to a console or to a computer. This latency can create issues if the delay between what is being processed over the Bluetooth frequency doesn’t align with what is being shown on screen, which leads to frustration during gameplay and mismatches in visuals and dialogue when watching videos.

That’s why we recommend a delay under 150 ms, in order to reduce the perceived delay between what you see and what you hear. Lower is, of course, always better, as it further tightens up the gap between visuals and sound. If a headset you like has a very high delay, however, you’re going to notice it. You can compensate for this by using a non-Bluetooth connection standard or by using a wired connection instead, but non-Bluetooth standards require their own dongle, and a wired connection might create unacceptable restrictions in movement around your computer.

It’s common for many gaming headsets to feature a non-Bluetooth connection standard, either in addition to Bluetooth or instead of it. Generally speaking, non-Bluetooth standards are going to be superior to Bluetooth, offering reduced latency and increased sound quality.

Because non-Bluetooth connections are naturally lower in latency, we recommend using headsets with a latency of 50 ms or less. This is significantly better than Bluetooth and guarantees that the latency you experience is low enough that you’ll be hard pressed to identify the delay the headset is experiencing. If a connection standard produces a latency greater than 50 ms, it has more “time” to create issues with noticeable differences between audio and visuals (up to around 100 ms), but it will eventually begin to introduce a frustrating mismatch between the audio you hear and the visuals you see.

Deep bass is essential for an immersive gaming experience and adds punch to common sounds, like gunfire and explosions. Low-end roll-off is one of the major factors that help determine how punchy this bass will sound. If the bass begins to roll off (or fade) too early in the audio spectrum, the result is a less impactful sound, which flattens out music and robs much of the sound you hear in the game of depth and rumble.

Ideally, a gaming headset should maintain a robust bass response without a significant drop-off of at least 45 Hz, ensuring the bass feels full and present. Some headsets are capable of managing roll-offs that start in the low 20s or even the teens, which commonly indicates that the bass will be especially strong. Looking for roll-offs that start in the low teens or single digits is unnecessary, however. Not only do these headsets not really exist, but once you’re under 20 Hz, the sound stops being audible, though you can still “feel” these frequencies in some cases.

In gaming headsets, treble plays a pivotal role in delivering the crispness and detail that add dimension to audio. It’s the treble frequencies that give game environments their “airiness” and soundtracks their “sparkle,” making actions like the clash of swords or the distant chime of game-world ambiance truly stand out. The point at which treble begins to diminish, known as high-end roll-off, is crucial; it determines when these high-frequency sounds start to lose their presence, potentially muffling the detailed audio cues essential for immersive gaming experiences.

To ensure a gaming headset captures the full breadth of these treble details, it’s advisable to select a model with roll-off starting beyond 10,000 Hz. Beyond this threshold, treble frequencies become increasingly difficult for the human ear to discern, gradually losing their distinctiveness. However, frequencies just below this point are vital for rendering the full texture and atmosphere of game soundscapes and soundtracks.