Best Gaming Headset for Directional Sound & Position

Specs:

• Surround Sound: 7.1
• Driver: 40mm Neodymium
• Impedance: 32Ω
• SPL: 109dBmW
• THD: Unspecified
• Frequency Range: 12Hz-28,000Hz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -45dBV/Pa (@1KHz)
• I/O: Fixed 3.5mm TRRS
• Battery: None
• Weight: 0.55lbs

Also featured in our list of the best gaming headsets under $100, the Kraken X looks like a regular pair of headphones with an adjustable boom mic. As a result, it features circular ear cups and a ratcheted headband with ample padding.

The controls are on the left earcup and provide the usual setup of a volume wheel and mute button.

The noise-canceling microphone has a cardioid pickup pattern and does a great job of cutting out background noise — voices will be clear and crisp without ever picking up on case fans, air conditioners, or distant conversations.

Unfortunately, the frequency response of the speakers is all over the place, especially the treble ranges. Bass and mids are okay but could be better. We can’t blame Razer because this is an entry-level gaming headset, and they can’t do much at such a low price tag.

One thing you should note, however, is that the directional sound feature is native to PC (using dedicated audio settings provided through the Razer app); hence, it won’t work for console gamers.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: Yes, Dolby Atmos
• Driver: 50mm Neodymium
• Impedance: 32Ω
• SPL: 116dBmW
• THD: <0.5%
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-40,000Hz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -40dB (+/-3dB)
• I/O: Detachable USB or Wireless
• Battery: 20 hours
• Weight: 0.81lbs

The Corsair HS80 is a great mid-range option for serious gamers. At a glance, this device features angled (and somewhat) rectangular-looking ear cups, a comfortable fabric-lined headband with an elastic ski band, and a flip-up noise-canceling microphone.

The unusual headband design is surprisingly comfortable and can fit most heads securely. The wireless headphone can feel a little heavy or tight, but it’s mostly snug and breathable thanks to the memory foam earpads with a velour-fabric cover.

The controls are on the left earcup and contain a volume wheel and power button. There is no mute button; instead, the mic mutes/unmutes whenever you flip the microphone. Also, there’s an LED indicator (on the tip of the mic) and audio cues letting you know when muted.

The default sound profile is a bit tame since it’s missing most of the treble and some detail in the mids. Nonetheless, these have acceptable performance for gaming.

On a more positive note, the microphone is top-notch. Voices are crisp, clear, and accurate, and the omnidirectional mic does a remarkable job of filtering out external noise; CORSAIR definitely outdid the microphone.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: Yes, JBL QuantumSPHERE 360 audio positioning and DTS X 2.0
• Driver: 50mm Dynamic
• Impedance: 32Ω
• SPL: 95dB/mW
• THD: Unspecified
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-40,000Hz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -41dB (+/-3dB)
• I/O: Detachable USB or 3.5mm TRRS
• Battery: None
• Weight: 0.81lbs

The JBL Quantum One has that distinct gamer aesthetic (with jagged edges and RGB lights) but still uses oval-shaped earcups and ratcheted headbands. The Ear cups are padded with memory foam cushions and covered with a protein leather material.

As a result, users won’t have issues with discomfort as long as their ears don’t get too hot. (Something that happens more frequently when you wear over-ear headphones incorrectly or for too long.)

Unlike other gaming headsets, this device features an extensive control panel on the left ear cup. These include a volume scroll wheel, buttons for managing power, ANC/talk-through, and a microphone.

The I/O panel features a 3.5mm port, USB-C, and a port for the boom microphone. Unfortunately, this is not a wireless headset, so these wired options are mandatory.

The audio quality is satisfying since the bass and mids are immaculate. The highs can be a bit spotty, but with headphones and headsets, that is to be expected. The surround sound mode offers noticeable benefits to gaming and is right up there with THX 7.1 or Dolby Atmos.

Noise isolation and ANC are acceptable, and they run a tight ship blocking out most mid-high frequency noises. Consequently, case fans and air conditions will distract you no further.

The noise canceling mic’s recording quality is excellent since your voice comes out very clearly — none of that TikTok AI voice or jet engines. Also, its noise handling capabilities are admirable since it can clear background noise in a relatively quiet environment.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: Embody’s Immerse technology
• Driver: 53mm Dynamic
• Impedance: 48Ω
• SPL: 99dB/mW
• THD: Unspecified
• Frequency Range: 5Hz-35,000Hz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -41dB (+/-3dB)
• I/O: Fixed gold-plated stereo mini plug (3.5mm)
• Battery: None
• Weight: 0.63lbs

The headset is bulky, and the over-ear cans are massive. Nonetheless, the entire headset is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to wear because of the open-headphone design and automatically adjusting split headband (which Audio Technica has dubbed “the 3D wing support system.”)

The ear cups are adequately cushioned and lined with a velour fabric material. Since this open-back gaming headset is elaborately breathable and lightweight, you will feel like a pampered prince while wearing them. However, note that sound will escape, and outside noise will invade, so you mostly have to limit yourself to the gaming room.

The controls and I/O are very straightforward: you’ve got a 3.5mm aux cable with an inline volume controller that also houses the mute button. The virtual surround sound is managed via PC software, and the super-cardioid microphone handles itself without external processing.

Sound quality is top-notch as the bass, mids, and highs all manage to stay afloat on the target curve. The soundstage is impressive, and even without the virtual surround sound, it delivers more detail to the stereo imaging. These open-backed gaming headphones will work wonders for many audio and video devices such as Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: Virtual 7.1
• Driver: 40mm Neodymium
• Impedance: 26Ω
• SPL: 97dB/mW
• THD: Unspecified
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20,000Hz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -42dB (+/-3dB)
• I/O: 3.5mm TRRS (4-pole jack) and USB
• Battery: None
• Weight: 0.75lbs

Let me start by admiring the controls, which feature an in-line audio control that houses the DAC and a handful of buttons. These buttons include volume control for the speakers, a button to toggle the surround sound feature, two buttons to handle the microphone volume, and a mute switch.

The controller feels nice, and you can clip it onto your shirt while gaming. However, the controller only works when plugged in via USB; hence, you bypass the controller via 3.5mm (through a different aux cord).

In terms of build quality and comfort, I’d say that it’s “satisfactory.” The earcups are comfortable, but they don’t have lots of padding, and the clamping force is pretty loose; it manages to stay on but doesn’t create a tight seal around your ears.

The sound quality is good enough for gaming. Everything from the bass to the mids and highs is neutral and stays ahead of most gaming headsets at that price point. The treble has some fluctuations, especially in its middle ranges, but overall: very well done.

The imaging and soundstage capabilities (even when the 7.1 surround sound feature is disabled) are pretty admirable, even though this is a closed-back gaming headset.

The microphone recording quality is sufficient but tends to be overly sensitive; luckily, the microphone volume controls help mitigate this.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: Yes, Arctis Sonar
• Driver: 40mm Neodymium
• Impedance: 32Ω
• SPL: 98dBmW
• THD: <3%
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20,000kHz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -38dB
• I/O: 3.5mm via the included cable, USB-C wired, and 2.4GHz wireless via a transmitter
• Battery: 30 hours
• Weight: 0.93lb

The 2.4GHz wireless network might not be as versatile as Bluetooth, especially since you need to use the wireless dongle all the time, but it’s more efficient and less likely to cause dropouts thanks to a wireless range of 40ft (12m).

The headset features a thin adjustable headband (ski-band design) that is surprisingly comfortable and stretches automatically. The ear cups have lots of cushioning and are lined with a breathable cotton/velour material. Sadly, the entire headset is very bulky, and some users will have trouble finding a secure fit because of its lower clamping force.

The on-ear controls include a volume wheel and mute button on the left ear cup, while on the right, it has a power/multifunction button and channel mixing wheel. The setup is very straightforward, and the multifunction button allows you to answer calls and skip tracks.

The sound quality is a bit disappointing compared to its price tag since the bass is unnaturally loud and overly stressed. Also, the mids and highs are somewhat inconsistent.

The ear cups (albeit breathable) are loose and invite a lot of noise inside; hence, gamers won’t be able to drown out their case fans or AC machines compared to other closed-back alternatives on this list. Also, the virtual directional sound technology is not up to the hype. But overall, the audio quality is good enough for gaming.

Luckily, the noise canceling retractable microphone is a definite plus and one of its saving graces. Recorded voices have good clarity, and the boom mic has decent sound isolation compared to high-end alternatives.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: 7.1
• Driver: 42mm dynamic
• Impedance: 28Ω
• SPL: 117dB (@1kHz)
• THD: <0.7% (@1kHz)
• Frequency Range: 20Hz-20kHz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -35dBV/Pa (@1KHz)
• I/O: Detachable 3.5mm combo jack
• Battery: None
• Weight: 2.01lbs

The headset comes with a noise-canceling detachable mic and removable aux cord. The cord that comes with the device is a TRS splitter cable which you can easily connect to the external DAC/soundcard (The GSX 300), and the DAC takes the input of your PC or console via USB.

The external DAC is a neat little device. It includes a mute button and volume control knob. The housing on the DAC is pretty sturdy but compact enough to fit beside your monitor. The headset has a cool-looking aesthetic, with a well-designed yoke and sturdy ear cups. Both the headband and ear cups are well-padded and lined with a protein leather material.

The control scheme includes a flip-to-mute microphone with a volume control wheel on the right ear cup. It is “easy to use,” and the design is “very human.”

From a gamer’s perspective: these sound pretty good. The bass is a bit overpowering, but the rest is accurate. Noise isolation is ridiculously impressive and, despite getting a little hot inside your ears: muffles 50% of background noise.

The virtual 7.1 surround sound does an okay job recreating the environment. However, since these are stereo headphones (with a somewhat limited spatial sound technology), you won’t be able to get that verticality and that “fullness” you feel in Dolby Atmos or DTS.

As always, the detachable mic does a laudable job of capturing voices clearly and reducing background noise.

Specs:

• Surround Sound: 7.1 THX
• Driver: 500mm TriForce
• Impedance: 32Ω
• SPL: 100dB (@1kHz)
• THD: Unspecified
• Frequency Range: 12Hz-28000kHz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -42dBV/Pa (@1KHz)
• I/O: Fixed 3.5mm combo jack
• Battery: None
• Weight: 0.52lbs

The headset looks pretty sturdy and is made out of plastic within an aluminum frame. The adjustable headband and earcups are well padded with memory foam cushions and covered with a breathable fabric-like material.

The earcups don’t move much and cannot fold to fit inside a smaller case. So most often, you’ll have to limit yourself to the gaming room. Thankfully, you’ll be spending a lot of time there since this is a very comfortable headset with just enough clamping force to stay on your head without ever coming loose.

The controls include a volume knob and a mute button located on the left earcup. It’s a simple setup and pretty much nails it when it comes to the controls. The I/O is a fixed 3.5mm TRRS combo jack (right-angled), and the removable microphone includes a simple TS 3.5mm jack as well.

There’s a USB DAC included, so you can plug it into your computer (via USB) and connect the 3.5mm headphone jack to this DAC/soundcard.

The sound profile is relatively average, with clear bass, neutral mids, and little wobbly highs, which is good enough for game sound. The breathable ear cups do a poor job of isolating noise and sealing in audio, but they are somewhat open and perform surprisingly well in soundstage and imaging aspects.

Also, with THX spatial audio, you get an even more immersive experience, but unfortunately, you have to use the USB connection for this to work.

The removable mic includes a 3.5mm interface (TS) and has average quality in terms of sound recording and noise isolation. Overall, it will make do as long as you’re gaming in a closed room by yourself.