The best open-back gaming headset we’ve tested so far is the Astro A40 TR with MixAmp. These high-quality wired headphones are comfortable with soft memory foam earcups and a lightweight design, so they can be worn for hours – even for eyeglass wearers.
- 7 Best Xbox One Headsets for 2022
- These Are the Best Xbox One Headsets for Sale in 2022
- TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Headsets:
- Best Xbox Headset
- Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
- Best Wireless Xbox Headset
- Our Top Pick: Xbox Headsets
- Against
- Fnatic React
- Audeze Penrose X
- What you should know about Xbox One headsets
- The best wireless Xbox One gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis 9x
- Best Xbox One Headset Compared
- #1 Astro A50 Wireless Headset
- Top Xbox One Headsets Compared
- Why You Should Buy a New Xbox One Headset
- How We Choose the Best Xbox One Headsets
- Best wired Xbox headset: Razer Blackshark V2
- Best earbuds for Xbox: Razer Hammerhead Pro V2
7 Best Xbox One Headsets for 2022
If you play online games without a headset, you’re doing it wrong. Half the fun of playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is trolling other players in the lobby with your awesome chops while singing “Let it Go” from Frozen.
But apart from that, using a headset allows you to communicate with your team and hear the game better, which gives you a tactical advantage, especially in a game like Overwatch. Unfortunately, the less than impressive standard headset that comes with the Xbox One only translates the voice chat and doesn’t throw any game audio into your ears. You are lucky though; other good Xbox One gaming headsets are available.
We’ve rounded up the best Xbox One headsets currently available:
These Are the Best Xbox One Headsets for Sale in 2022
- Shields instead of buttons
- Three EQ settings
- Strong
- 50mm speakers
- Completely wireless
- Equalizer settings
- 15-hour rechargeable battery
- Microphone monitoring
- Amplified stereo sound, no surround sound
- Simple appearance
- Expensive
Turtle Beach headsets are basically the default gaming headsets on the market, and for good reason: they are the best bang for your buck. The Turtle Beach Stealth 420X + Xbox One headphones are a fully wireless gaming solution for the latest Microsoft console. Provide crystal clear audio for games and calls, giving you “superhuman” hearing so you can hear every sound around you.
You can also hear your own voice through the headset as it has a microphone monitoring. Plus, it has an impressive 15-hour battery meaning they’ll always last up to long gaming sessions.
SteelSeries ranks first on our list because it combines the comfort and quality that we are looking for when it comes to a console headset. It’s a brilliant version of the manufacturer’s best headset, adding the Xbox Wireless standard for great connectivity.
TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Headsets:
Best Xbox Headset
Interface: wireless | Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth 4.2 | Surround sound: Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone: X | Battery life: up to 15 hours | Weight: 312g
The Xbox Wireless Headset is an affordable gaming headset specifically designed to enhance any gamer’s gaming experience on Xbox Series X / S. It connects wirelessly to the console (no wireless USB adapter needed), provides amazing sound quality, and is packed with features – Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone: X.
Intuitive controls, including pivoting earcup knobs for volume and game / chat balance, make it easy to use during gaming sessions as well. The price is not too cheap at $ 100, which makes it affordable for most people, including players on a budget. Battery life could be better, but overall it’s the best headset for the Xbox X / S.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
Best Wireless Xbox Headset
Interface: wireless | Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth | Surround sound: Windows Sonic, superhuman hearing (PC) | Battery life: up to 20 hours | Weight: 453g
The versatile and convenient Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 connects wirelessly to the X / S series without the need for a wireless USB transmitter, and to other devices via Bluetooth. It also offers Windows Sonic support for Xbox and Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing for PC, ensuring immersive gaming audio no matter what platform you’re using.
For extreme comfort, it ensures a perfect fit, even with glasses on, and comes with a pair of ear cushions with Aerofit Cooling Gel to keep you wearing it for hours. Plus, its battery life of up to 20 hours is a boon for those who hate charging their devices. It doesn’t come with Dolby Atmos for Headphones out of the box, but you can activate it using the Xbox app or the Microsoft Store (for a fee, of course).
The Audeze Penrose X is the best premium wireless headset we’ve tested, with flat magnetic drivers that deliver great sound quality at the expense of weight.
Our Top Pick: Xbox Headsets
- Extremely comfortable
- great sound
- One-touch connection
Against
SteelSeries ranks first on our list because it combines the comfort and quality that we are looking for when it comes to a console headset. It’s a brilliant version of the manufacturer’s best headset, adding the Xbox Wireless standard for great connectivity.
This means it connects directly to the console just like a controller would (and that it will be able to do the same for the Xbox Series X when released), for solid connections and no noticeable lag.
Moreover, the headphones are really nicely constructed and extremely comfortable to wear, and what’s more, they easily have the most subtle design we encountered in our testing (only Logitech’s effort comes close). Even when you play solo, keep the microphone.
Lastly, the sound quality is superb, especially if you turn on Windows Sonic or, better still, Dolby Atmos for headphones. You’ll get a real advantage in reaction-based multiplayer games and completely immerse yourself in single-player adventures. Honestly, we cannot recommend this headset enough.
Of course, one of the biggest advantages of the SteelSeries headphones is their comfortable design. The Arctis 9X is no exception to this rule, and the air-weave earpieces are breathable and light in the ears. This means you can play for hours without worrying about ear fatigue or sweat build-up.
Fnatic React
Professional excellence at an affordable price
In addition to being a long-standing esports team, Fnatic also produces a solid line of branded gaming peripherals – including excellent mechanical keyboards. Now Fnatic React has joined a truly top-notch headset, designed specifically for competitive gaming.
Fnatic used the design of the popular HyperX Cloud gaming headset line as a starting point in the design of the React, with a durable metal frame and comfortable plush earpieces. While the design is very familiar, the sound quality is a bit more novel. Fnatic has chosen to emphasize the highs and mids while flattening the tones, providing a bright sonic signature with great clarity that makes it easy to hear that single misstep that can give you an edge in competing games like CS: GO or PUBG. The good sealing provided by the plush earcups also provides excellent passive noise isolation, making them the perfect choice for playing competitive or engaging games where you don’t want to be disturbed by the world around you.
React is perfectly suited to competitive multiplayer gaming thanks to its transparency and convenience, especially considering its lethal price tag of £ 60 / $ 70.
Audeze Penrose X
High-end planar magnetic sound
The Audeze Penrose X is the best premium wireless headset we’ve tested, with flat magnetic drivers that deliver great sound quality at the expense of weight.
Penrose has excellent clarity and separation, which makes it easy to capture details even in chaotic soundscapes, with an overall slightly warm sound. Coupled with a good low-latency audio connection via a 2.4GHz wireless dongle and a good mic, you get one of the best sounding headsets for the X series. The headset also offers Bluetooth and 3.5mm connectivity, allowing you to use a wide variety of other devices.
I found Penrose quite uncomfortable at first, but after a week of use, its high downforce has eased and is now one of the most comfortable options I have tried, despite its weight. Battery life is approximately 15 hours on average and charging via USB-C takes several hours; you will get an audible low battery warning when you have an hour or less left.
Despite the initial discomfort and a few bugs I experienced with the Windows companion software, Penrose X’s excellent sound and wide cross-compatibility mean it’s easy to recommend.
The versatile and convenient Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 connects wirelessly to the X / S series without the need for a wireless USB transmitter, and to other devices via Bluetooth. It also offers Windows Sonic support for Xbox and Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing for PC, ensuring immersive gaming audio no matter what platform you’re using.
What you should know about Xbox One headsets
Playing on Xbox One introduces the audio complications typical of any game console. Here, the main limitation concerns the connection options. The Xbox One has many USB ports and hardware to handle Bluetooth connections, but it doesn’t support either Bluetooth headsets or most USB headsets.
Wireless audio on Xbox One requires a USB dongle, with a few notable exceptions (some of which are on this list). However, only headsets made specifically for the Xbox One will work over a USB connection, both wired and wireless. Microsoft has introduced something like a closed ecosystem for its peripherals, so the Xbox One wireless gaming headsets won’t work on other consoles like the Playstation 4 and the Nintendo Switch.
The Microsoft XBox has gone through a lot of iterations, but has always been a great buy for gamers.
Additionally, some wireless headsets use the Xbox Wireless feature to connect to the console. This wireless connection is typically reserved for Xbox One controllers and offers a dongle less solution where the headsets connect directly to the Xbox One. These headsets are often a bit more expensive, but are quickly becoming a common option.
With all that being said, here are some of the best Xbox One wireless gaming headsets.
The best wireless Xbox One gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis 9x
If you’re looking for a premium end-to-end experience on Xbox One, look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis 9x. Built on the same frame as great headsets like the Arctis 7 and Arctis Pro, the 9x variation is one of the first Xbox One wireless gaming headsets to be truly wireless.
This headset uses Xbox wireless connectivity previously reserved for controllers only to connect to Xbox One. Just pair the Arctis 9x with the console and you’re ready to go – no dongles or base stations required.
This Xbox One headset has a durable aluminum frame with a comfortable suspension modeled on the rubber of a pair of ski goggles. The headphones are equipped with overlays made of SteelSeries material called Airweave, which breathes very well and provides a pleasant balance between the plush of a velor pad and the stiffness of artificial leather. It also provides up to 20 hours of use on a single charge.
The Arctis 9x bidirectional microphone is flexible and can even tuck back into the left earbuds when not needed. Surround sound is also supported by Windows Sonic Spatial Audio, so you should be able to clearly hear the direction of enemies trying to sneak up on you in Fortnite.
Interface: wireless | Connectivity: Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 | Surround sound: Windows Sonic | Battery life: up to 15 hours (with RGB backlight) | Weight: 330g
Best Xbox One Headset Compared
Award | Product name | Characteristics | |
---|---|---|---|
The best wireless headset | Astro A50 Wireless | battery Life: 15+ hours USB sound card functionality Ready set of mods Astro Audio V2 Game: voice balance |
Check the price |
The best headset | LucidSound LS35X | Warranty: 12 months Compatible with many platforms One-button sync Dual microphone system Compatible with many games |
Check the price |
The best competitive gaming headset | Turtle Beach Elite Pro | Frequency: 12Hz – 22kHz Speakers: 50mm Nanoclear Aerofit ear cushion Ear cup design: over-ear Professional gaming microphone |
Check the price |
The most durable Xbox headset | Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Premium | 100% wireless bluetooth connectivity Active noise reduction DTS headphones Glasses-friendly comfort |
Check the price |
The best surround sound | SteelSeries Arctis 9X | battery life: more than 20 hours bluetooth connectivity Integrated Xbox wireless connectivity Clearcast microphone Includes batteries |
Check the price |
#1 Astro A50 Wireless Headset
The Astro Headset has fully wireless features, an extremely useful charging dock, and some of the most amazing audio qualities we’ve heard. What not to love?
Pros | Cons |
√ Wireless surround sound | ⊗ On the expensive side |
√High quality audio transfer | ⊗ The charging station is fun but difficult to use |
√ Light and very comfortable | ⊗ Solid, but not quite durable |
√ Comes with alternative ear pad material | ⊗ Wireless connection intermittently intermittent |
√ Reliable battery life | ⊗ Microphone performance is good but not great |
Bottom Line: If you can afford it, the newest A50 is surely one of the best gaming headsets, especially on the console. The A50 gaming headsets (as before the Astro A40) have amazing sound quality compared to their competitors and can be worn almost effortlessly with the large but light earpieces. Astro Audio V2 provides the best in-game audio quality. In addition, these headsets have the functionality of a USB sound card, which means you don’t need optical cables to use your computer for in-game voice balance or for voice and gaming.
Top Xbox One Headsets Compared
Why is it worth buying it | Wireless | 7.1 surround sound | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Astro A50 | Incredible surround sound. | Check the price | ||
LucidSound LS40 | Amazing sound at a lower price. | Check the price | ||
Turtle Beach Elite Pro | great for professional gamers. | Check the price | ||
Turtle Beach Stealth 420X+ | This headset can withstand abuse. | Check the price | ||
Microsoft Xbox Stereo Headset | Cheap and works well. | Check the price | ||
Mad Catz Tritton Arka 100 | Good sound and battery life. | Check the price |
Why You Should Buy a New Xbox One Headset
If you’re serious about gaming, especially online gaming or competitive gaming, you deserve a headset that can keep up. It’s really that simple. The surround sound offered by the best headsets (and even the boosted EQ settings others offer) can help improve your game by letting you know where steps, shots, ambient sounds, and input animations are coming from, giving you a new edge when playing. Advanced microphone settings eliminate any distortion while allowing easier than ever communication with your teammates. Even ear muffs can often help block out outside noise and allow you to concentrate more on your game.
If you are not interested in online gaming, you can consider investing in one of these RPG headsets or other in-depth games with a lot of ambient sound effects that can be greatly enhanced with one of these headphone models.
Finally, let’s not forget the wireless features that many of our top picks have on offer. If you hate the cables plugged into the controller, or worse, the Xbox One itself, you’ll love the latest Xbox compatible wireless headsets that route audio through their base stations, completely eliminating the need for cables.
Note for changes: Multiple Xbox One headsets are designed to run on multiple platforms simultaneously: compatibility is a big consideration! However, this also has a downside – many headsets aren’t specifically designed to work with the Xbox One.
We know it’s very tempting to get a new headset out of the box, plug it in and drop it off, expecting it to work. However, we encourage you to think about it only as the first part of the work. You should also take the time to check your microphone, volume, and audio source settings, and make sure they match the headset you’re currently using. Otherwise, some sounds or functions may not work. We have a guide to help you set up your Xbox One console and explore how these settings work. Bottom line: If your headset isn’t working properly the first time, don’t panic! This is normal and it is likely that you just need to adjust a few settings and check all connections. When in doubt, always try a full restart.
How We Choose the Best Xbox One Headsets
First, we take a look at the overall design of the headset. This includes weight, how it sits on the head, how the headband works, and its noteworthy features such as pivoting ear cups or the increasingly popular dual band design for a more comfortable headrest.
We also look at the materials used for the crafting (more on this in the Features to Look for section), the types of materials the earpieces are made of, and how durable the structure is. More specifically, we look at how well a microphone is designed and working: picking versus flexible is a common debate, but we generally like microphones that have a little bit of both.
Best wired Xbox headset: Razer Blackshark V2
Pros: 3D sound support, comfortable ear cups
Cons: No Xbox profile support
It should come as no surprise that Razer’s name is on this list, especially if you’ve spent some time researching the number of headsets available for Xbox. While it’s not specifically designed for the Xbox console, the wired capabilities of the Razer Blackshark V2 make it one of the best Xbox headsets.
There are many things to love about this Razer headset, including chunky 50mm drivers. These drivers provide fantastic audio quality, no matter what kind of game you’re playing. If you’re someone who spends a lot of time playing games, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Blackshark V2 comes with extra-comfortable ear cups. They are made of extra-soft memory foam and are comfortable for long playing sessions. Since they are memory foam, they can get a little warm.
One of the best things about the Blackshark V2 is its compatibility. You can use it not only with the Xbox console, but also with any other platform thanks to the 3.5mm cable. The included microphone is also completely removable, so if you just want to enjoy a single player game, you can always remove it and reinstall it later.
Best earbuds for Xbox: Razer Hammerhead Pro V2
Pros: Flat cable design, fantastic sound quality
Cons: The jagged design of the earbuds can be uncomfortable for some
Finding a great set of gaming earbuds isn’t hard. After all, many earbuds plug directly into the Xbox controller, and then they’re ready to go. What makes the Razer Hammerhead Pro V2 truly stand out is its overall design and audio quality.
The audio displayed here is exceptional, especially with the 10mm drivers Razer has included here. The Razer also includes passive noise isolation from the Hammerhead Pro V2. This means you won’t have to worry so much about leaking sound during these intense action sequences. It’s a nice touch that many earbuds grapple with, especially when playing audio at higher levels.
The Hammerhead Pro V2 also has a ribbed earbud design. While it may look a little weird, it does help to stick in the ear. This means you don’t have to worry about them dropping out during intense gaming sessions. If you move around a lot while gaming on your Xbox console, having a pair of headphones that hold up well is essential. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep putting them on, which can be annoying. The downside to this design is that they can be a bit uncomfortable for smaller ears, especially after longer gaming sessions.