The SteelSeries brand is trusted by many gamers. These reliable gaming headsets deliver low latency, excellent sound and amazing microphone performance. We evaluated over 57 SteelSeries headsets, verifying products through extensive testing and analyzing 502,405 reviews.
Six top-rated gaming headsets earned a spot on our buying guide. Our unique A.I. powered True Score system filters out fake and low quality reviews, ensuring the winning products performed exceptionally well in real-world scenarios.
How Did We Rank the Best SteelSeries Gaming Headsets?
To determine the best SteelSeries gaming headsets, we rigorously examined testing methods and analyzed expert and customer reviews from over 200 sites. Our thorough research identified critical pain points and essential criteria, allowing us to pinpoint 2 required test results, 1 nice-to-have features, and 1 must-have specifications. By leveraging our true score system, we confidently present a buying guide that reflects a well-rounded analysis of what truly matters in a top-tier SteelSeries headset.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must be SteelSeries.
? Test Criteria
- Low-End Roll-Off: Implementing a low-frequency roll-off below 45 Hz ensures the presence of subtle rumble in the bass, enhancing the immersive quality of your gaming or music experience.
- Microphone Sound Quality Rating: The microphone on the headset must meet or exceed a subjective evaluation rating of 6 in terms of sound quality.
? “Nice To Haves”
- Speech To Noise Ratio: The headset’s microphone effectively isolates the user’s voice in noisy environments, providing noise reduction of over 24 dB.
Latest Updates
- 05/05/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest SteelSeries gaming headset.
Top SteelSeries Gaming Headsets For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best SteelSeries Gaming Headsets?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 1 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these gaming headsets and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a SteelSeries gaming headset that meets your needs.
CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
---|---|---|---|
Low End Roll Off (Hz) | < 45 Hz | Yes | The point at which bass response starts to fall sharply, causing it to rapidly become inaudible. |
Microphone Sound Quality Rating | > 6 | Yes | A subjective measure of how good the microphone on a headset sounds. |
Speech to Noise Ratio (dB) | > 24 dB | No (Nice to have) | How effectively the headset’s microphone isolates the user’s voice in a noisy environment. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 110+ gaming headset reviewers and found that 31 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for computer monitors.
- Theresa Ketterling – Rtings, MuckRack
- Reece Bithrey – Trusted Reviews, MuckRack
- Andrei Frumusanu – AnandTech, MuckRack
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every gaming headset review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Gaming Headset Test Data & Results
1. Microphone Sound Quality Rating (out of 10.0) Test Results
Microphone Sound Quality
> 6
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: The subjective recording quality of a microphone.
Units of Measurement: N/A
Tools to Measure: N/A
Why It’s Important:
If you use your headset to communicate often, be it in games or just chatting, you want it to make you as clear as possible, so people actually understand what you’re saying.
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.
Microphone Sound Quality Rating (higher is better)
2. Speech To Noise Ratio (dB) Test Results
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.
Speech To Noise Ratio (dB)
> 24 dB
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How well the microphone does at preventing noise that isn’t you talking directly into the mic from being transmitted.
Units of Measurement: dB
Tools to Measure: Dummy head, test microphone, speaker
Why It’s Important:
Battery life is what keeps your speaker going when you’re out and about, otherwise your speaker can’t survive heavy usage in a day or a weekend.
Speech To Noise Ratio (in dB; higher is better)
3. Low End Roll Off (Hz) Test Results
Low End Roll Off
< 45 Hz
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: The point at which response from the headphones starts to rapidly fall away from the target response in the bass end of the spectrum.
Units of Measurement: Hz (Hertz)
Tools to Measure: Frequency response software
Why It’s Important:
Roll off that starts later often indicates that a headset is able to produce deeper bass and still have it be audible, so if you love bass, you want the roll off to start later.
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 helps 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 game of depth and rumble.
Ideally, a gaming headset should maintain a robust bass response without significant drop-off at least down to 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, once you’re under 20 Hz, sound stops being audible, though you can still “feel” these frequencies in some cases.
Low End Roll Off (in Hz; lower is better)
Best SteelSeries Gaming Headsets: Mistakes To Avoid
- Ignoring Compatibility: Ensure the headset you choose is compatible with your gaming platform (PC, console, mobile). Some models are specifically designed for certain platforms.
- Not Researching Specific Models: SteelSeries offers various headset models with different features and price points. Don’t assume all SteelSeries headsets are the same. Research each model to find one that suits your needs.
- Overlooking Comfort: Comfort is crucial for extended gaming sessions. Don’t sacrifice comfort for features or aesthetics. Look for ergonomic designs, plush ear cushions, and adjustable headbands. Understanding gaming headset clamp force is important so you can avoid discomfort during long use. Also be aware of other factors that might make your gaming headset cause ear pain and how to mitigate them for a better experience.
- Neglecting Sound Quality: Sound quality is essential for immersive gaming experiences. Look for headsets with clear and accurate audio, as well as good spatial awareness for directional sound cues in games like CS:GO.
The Best SteelSeries Gaming Headsets Tests Compared
Product | True Score
|
Max Vol
|
Mic Quality
|
Speech To Noise
|
BT Latency
|
Non-BT Latency
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless For Xbox
| 84 |
|
|
|
| $263.99 $350 $86 |
| 84 |
|
|
|
| $65.99 $100 $34 |
| 82 |
|
|
|
| $134.99 $180 $45 |
Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed Wireless
| 81 |
|
|
|
| $189.52 $249 $59 |
| 79 |
|
|
|
| $224.64 $250 $25 |
| 78 |
|
|
|
| $198.00 $300 $102 |