A great headset can highlight important noises, play rich music, allow you to customize your sound environment for different applications and communicate with your colleagues. But how do you get a good one? Follow our buying guide as we help you make the right choice for the best headset.
Here is our commitment, to make sure that we provide the best user experience and content quality:
You can support us by using our links to make your purchases (at no extra cost to you)! This sometimes earns us a commission which allows us to remain independent. More about us
Our selection
"When it comes to streaming, having a good microphone can be more important than audio quality. However, if you don't want to go to the…"
"Listen to your music all day long without interruption. The WH-CH510 are wireless with a built-in mic, lightweight and have enough battery life to keep…"
"The Astro A50 Gen 4 are high-end wireless gaming headsets. Compared to its design, they have some improvements like a more compact base station and…"
"The Asus ROG Delta S manages to be a truly outstanding headset, and much of its excellence is actually achieved through its wired connection. It…"
When it comes to streaming, having a good microphone can be more important than audio quality. However, if you don't want to go to the trouble of finding the best microphone, the Logitech G Pro X is a great all-in-one solution with a microphone.
152 £ on AmazonIf you're looking for an even more comfortable headset, try the Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED gaming headset. The Logitech have a very comfortable fit, with one pair of roomy cloth ear cups and another covered in leatherette, so it's easy to help you get the best fit. These well-built headphones have a well-balanced sound profile with a touch of extra boom that can help bring out the sound effects while you play.
However, if you prefer a different sound, their companion software offers a graphic equalizer and presets to help you customize their sound. Their detachable boom mic also records your voice very well and can separate your voice from moderately loud environments. They also have low wireless latency and last just under 24 hours on a single charge.
Listen to your music all day long without interruption. The WH-CH510 are wireless with a built-in mic, lightweight and have enough battery life to keep up with you. Plus, this Sony headset is very affordable for its design.
28,80 £ on AmazonLooking at the Sony WH-CH510, it's frankly insane that wireless headphones can cost so little, let alonea pair that has decent Bluetooth-enabled sound, a USB-C port, and 35 hours of battery life. These are on-ear headphones, which means their shells won't surround your ears, but rather rest on them. This makes them considerably more compact. It has a plastic headband, the swivel joints and the headband seems to have some flexibility, so it may be more forgiving than we think.
Of course, the result of all this is that they are incredibly light, which, coupled with their small size, makes them ultra portable. For a control interface, these boxes have a spartan set of three large buttons that are easy to locate, differentiate and interact with. They're responsible for the usual array of play/pause, volume and skip forward/backward options, but they also let you activate your device's voice assistant. There is a built-in microphone next to these buttons for this purpose and for taking calls.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 are high-end wireless gaming headsets. Compared to its design, they have some improvements like a more compact base station and superior battery performance. Not to mention its excellent microphone.
256 £ on AmazonAs previously mentioned, the Astro A50 featuresa more compact base station, the earphones themselves are wireless, the design is now more subtle and refined, and the same great sound is available via these cans whether you're using PC, PlayStation or Xbox One. The Astro A50 is comfortable on the head and brings rich, vibrant sound to your ears at any volume, with bass, treble and midrange coming through clearly. The ear cushions are actually removable.
The Astro A50's control scheme is acceptable, though it's better suited to the needs of gamers than casual users, as they don't have built-in controls for music playback or call management. Their microphone is rocker while also benefiting from very good noise cancellation, you have a volume dial, an EQ preset cycle button and a button to turn Dolby Digital Surround sound on or off.
The Asus ROG Delta S manages to be a truly outstanding headset, and much of its excellence is actually achieved through its wired connection. It uses a USB-C cable that offers a lot of Hi-Fi potential. It is an accurate headset with a superior level.
151 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
Your guide :
Rate this buying guide :By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!
| Editor's Choice | Inexpensive | Top of the line | Excellent selection | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
9/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Logitech G PRO X
|
Sony WH-CH510
|
ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 4
|
ASUS ROG Delta S
|
|
When it comes to streaming, having a good microphone can be more important than audio quality. However, if you don't want to go to the trouble of finding the best microphone, the Logitech G Pro X is a great all-in-one solution with a microphone.
|
Listen to your music all day long without interruption. The WH-CH510 are wireless with a built-in mic, lightweight and have enough battery life to keep up with you. Plus, this Sony headset is very affordable for its design.
|
The Astro A50 Gen 4 are high-end wireless gaming headsets. Compared to its design, they have some improvements like a more compact base station and superior battery performance. Not to mention its excellent microphone.
|
The Asus ROG Delta S manages to be a truly outstanding headset, and much of its excellence is actually achieved through its wired connection. It uses a USB-C cable that offers a lot of Hi-Fi potential. It is an accurate headset with a superior level.
|
|
|
Sound Profile
|
Well-balanced sound profile
|
Decent sound
|
Rich, vibrant sound
|
Solid sound and software-activated virtual surround sound
|
|
Design
|
Very comfortable fit
|
Ultra portable
|
More compact, comfortable base station
|
High-end triangular design with light bars and an RGB logo
|
|
Technology
|
Companion software
|
Voice assistant
|
EQ and Dolby Digital Surround presets.
|
Hi-Fi quality ESS 9281 technology with QUAD DAC technology
|
|
Microphone
|
Detachable boom mic + Noise suppression
|
Built-in microphone
|
Rocking microphone + very good noise cancellation
|
ASUS AI noise-canceling microphone
|
|
Compatibility
|
PC and gaming consoles
|
Bluetooth
|
PC and game consoles
|
PC, mobile and gaming consoles
|
Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!
We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.
We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.
To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!
In any case, the headset should be comfortable and sound good. In fact, the former is arguably more important than the latter. Even if your headset produces mediocre sound, you'll still be able to hear what's going on. But if it's even a little uncomfortable, you'll want to rip it off your head after half an hour or so, and that's not conducive to wearing for any kind of use.
The next thing you need to think about is whether you want a wired or wireless model. On the one hand, wireless models are almost always more expensive, but the convenience of living wirelessly may well be worth the cost. On the other hand, wired headsets are generally much lighter than wireless headsets. So, it's up to you to choose the model that's right for you.
You have to pay attention to the drivers and the sound reproduction. For example, a stereo headset picks it up relatively simply by distributing the sound over only 2 audio channels. Stereo headsets have a simple 3.5mm connection in 99% of cases and almost all games and multimedia can be set to stereo headphones. And a headset with 7.1 virtual surround sound uses software and algorithms to simulate 7 channels of sound. That means you hear much more accurately which direction the sound is coming from. In addition to stereo and virtual surround sound, dimensional sound also makes an appearance. Techniques such as Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic use, among other things, volume and frequency to place sound in the room with supported games and multimedia.
Naturally, you also use a headset to communicate clearly with friends and teammates. So the following features are almost indispensable:Noise Cancelling, this makes your voice loud and clear, but your callers won't get anything from your mechanical keystrokes. Mute features, with a button on the earpiece or by lifting your mic, you turn off the mic to, for example, pick up your phone or have a real conversation.
The very first thing you need to ask yourself when buying a headset is what platform you are using. Headsets with a 3.5mm connection are almost always suitable for all consoles and your PC. Please note that not all consoles support all functions, as this software is dependent.
Hardware
A headset should be comfortable for long listening sessions. Material also plays a role in the comfort of your headset. Headsets are often covered in cloth or leather. The advantage of cloth earpads is that they breathe better, while leather earpads are more insulating and less likely to wear out. In more expensive models, the ear cups are often filled with memory foam, so they fit snugly around the head.
Circumaural headsets, also known as full size headphones, are headsets that completely surround the ears. Circumaural headphones, which literally means "around the ears", allow the user's ears to be completely closed and are designed to close completely against the head, providing great isolation from the outside world, which serves to attenuate unwanted external noise.
Because of its great enclosing characteristic and, therefore, the isolation it provides, circumaural headsets are the main type of headphones used for noise-canceling. Since they completely envelop the ear with their ear cushions, they provide very little sound absorption of sound from the outside, thus providing passive noise cancellation for noise cancelling headphones.
Over-the-ear headphones are not as large as circumaural headphones, unlike circumaural headphones, they do not completely cover the ears, but simply rest on the ears. Because they are not as large, on-ear headphones are easier to carry and are a more portable design than around-ear headphones because they are smaller in size and lighter in weight.
However, because they rest on the ear instead of completely enveloping it, they allow much more outside noise into the earpiece. They don't block outside noise as effectively, because they are more exposed to outside ambient noise. So while on-ear headphones are advantageous in terms of portability, they are disadvantageous in terms of noise cancellation ability, as they attenuate outside noise much less.
As the name suggests, in-ear headphones stay on the ear. Instead of covering the ears completely, they sit on the surface of the ears. They are available in closed or open designs. They are also called full size headphones. Instead of resting on the ears, the large ear cushions of in-ear headphones rest beautifully on the ear and prevent sound leakage.
In simple terms, these headphones are for listeners who want superior sound quality. They eliminate external noise and prevent sound leakage. They are also ideal for studio use. Not to mention that they can also be equipped with an original design, wired or wireless.
In their simplest form, a pair of headsets consists of two single speakers attached to a band. This then passes over the top of the user's head. This means that the speakers are placed directly over the ears. This provides a personal and immersive listening experience where the sound source delivers its brilliant sound payload directly into the ears. The headset microphone can be a boom microphone, with the microphone attached to a boom that can be moved at will and positioned at will. Alternatively, it may include an in-line microphone. Headsets are ideal for a wide range of uses. With a headset, listeners are immersed in their listening experience. In contrast, headphones move only a relatively small amount of air around the listener's ear.
By dispensing with the grand design of padded "boxes" or earmuffs in which the headphones' speakers nestle, the earpiece is effectively an in-ear speaker. Inserted into the ear canal, headphones with built-in microphones offer an even more direct connection to the sound source. They displace even less air than earbuds. That's because they only need to vibrate the small amount of air in the listeners' ear canal. Earbuds definitely reduce the volume of traditional headphones. This makes them the ideal choice for people on the go. However, some people find them uncomfortable to wear because they sit in the ear canal.
When considering whether you should get a good old-fashioned headset or a pair of headphones with a built-in mic, you first need to determine what you need most, then how much you can spend. Are you going to use them mainly for work, movies and a little gaming without VoIP? Or mainly for games with VoIP and maybe music and movies on the side? To get the best experience possible. It's best to let you know that there are some really decent headsets you could consider, and you really don't have to break the bank to get one of the best.
Freedom and productivity
Headsets free up both of your hands to use a computer, manage documents, take notes, etc., making you more productive. Not only is it beneficial to have your hands free to take notes, but being able to move freely and perform hand gestures can be a great confidence booster while communicating via VoIP. Wireless headsets give you the added freedom to leave your desk and move around during phone calls for example.
Superior sound quality
A headset offers superior, crisp, clear sound over traditional speakers, which is essential to being on top. Headsets in general offer accurate highs and deep, rich bass. That's not to say that sound from a set of speakers is bad, but when sound is delivered directly to your ears from a headset, it sounds better.
Communication
As the name suggests, headsets come with a built-in microphone that allows you to communicate with friends, colleagues or teammates while working or playing online. This is important when working in a team, it is crucial to be in constant communication. Typically, headsets are equipped with an adjustable microphone that makes it easy to talk.
Blocking external noise
Many headsets offer a noise cancellation feature, which uses tiny microphones that listen for external noise around you. These noises are then analyzed by microchips in the headset, and a counter signal that cancels out the noise is produced.
Customizable
Some headsets allow for a fully customizable experience. You can swap out components such as ear cushions, speaker labels and even your microphone.
In our opinion, the best brands of headsets in 2022 are :
Sony Corporation is one of the most recognizable names in consumer electronics. Since its inception shortly after World War II, Sony has released a series of groundbreaking products, including the transistor radio, the Trinitron television, the Betamax VCR, the CD player, the Walkman portable cassette player, and the PlayStation game console. Sony is ranked among the best in sound enhancement in all of their designs.
For years, ASTRO Gaming has been involved in the design of many forms of the video game arena. Their products are specifically designed for the underserved hardcore gaming professional and gaming enthusiast. For years, this brand was on the top of the list, not only to be included in the assortment, but also to have at home, as it is among the best gaming headsets.
This brand is a Taiwanese computer company specializing in the manufacture of 2-in-1 hybrid laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones. It's sure that ASUS is in the top 5 computer manufacturers in the world and the first motherboard manufacturer in the world. It is one of the best laptop brands.
Founded in Switzerland in 1981. Logitech is a computer accessories company known for producing mice. It is one of the world's largest hardware companies and distributes products, including keyboards, remote controls, speakers, and smart home devices, in more than 100 countries.
The path to this achievement was paved by our pioneering ideas. Since electrical engineer Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser founded the company in 1945, Sennheiser has been setting trends in the audio industry ever since. The Sennheiser KLEER technology solves one of the biggest problems encountered by wireless devices, interference with other wireless devices or devices transmitting at 2.4 GHz. In addition to hassle-free automatic pairing, KLEER technology also allows for multiple connections, up to 4 connections per station with a compatible Sennheiser KLEER headset, to share your experience with your friends or family.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Adjust the positioning, sensitivity and volume of the microphone
Microphone positioning refers to the location of the microphone in your headset, i.e. how close it is to your mouth. This has a significant impact on the overall audio quality of the microphone. It is best to move the microphone a little further away. When different microphones are exposed to the same sound source, their output levels (volume) will not be the same. This is because different microphones have different levels of microphone sensitivity. Microphone sensitivity, as the term implies, refers to the amount of sound absorbed by your microphone. An optimized level of mic sensitivity is essential for high-quality audio input.
Examine the plug on the headset
Examine the jack on the headset to determine where to plug it in. This is especially a necessity if the headset is to be used on a computer, where some headsets may have traditional stereo jacks and others may have a USB port. If your headset is powered by a USB connection, plug it into an available USB port. If it uses stereo plugs, plug the green plug into the speaker port and the pink/red plug into the microphone port.
Limit sound leakage
Normally, a quality headset limits sound leakage so that you can enjoy your use even in close proximity to other people without worrying about disturbing them.
Avoid back or neck pain
Holding a phone handset up to one ear leads to poor posture, which over time causes many people to develop neck and back discomfort. It can even lead to repetitive strain injuries. Other than that, the radiation emitted should be a concern, so wireless headsets or wired headsets are a great alternative to lightly frying your brain. This is why many doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists recommend using headsets.
Opt for Aesthetics/Practicality
Once you have decided to use a headset, it is then essential that you get the right type of headset that fits you and makes you feel comfortable. In addition, there are many models that can meet your expectations.
The wireless headphones give you a lot of freedomno need to worry about removing your headphones or rerouting their cables. If you tend to sit in different positions while you play or just hate being tied to your desk, wireless is a great choice.
That depends largely on your personal preferences, but it's best to turn off audio "enhancements" like surround sound and aggressive equalizer settings. From there, you can use a DAC, which removes the audio processing tasks from your PC or console and instead hands it over to dedicated hardware that tends to do a better job, removing jitter and tweaking the sound characteristics for the better.
If you notice distortion or disrupted mic sound, try turning down the microphone levels. You can also try adjusting the gain inside the application you're having problems with. Finally, you can try using another USB port for your headset connection if you continue to have problems.
Noise-canceling headsets suppress up to 75% of the background noise around youNoise-canceling headsets are ideal for open-plan work areas.
Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.
Copyright © 2022 - Made with ♥ by buyingbetter.co.uk
Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!
