The 6 Best PS4 Gaming Headsets - Black Friday 2024

The best PS4 headset we've tested is the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. These premium gaming headphones are available in PlayStation and Xbox variants, so be sure to get the right model for your console. They're among the few gaming headphones that use planar magnetic drivers, which helps them produce more low-bass than headsets with dynamic drivers, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The Audeze have very low latency via Bluetooth and their USB dongle, ensuring your game audio and video stay in sync. They also have a very balanced default sound profile that accurately reproduces sound effects, dialogue, and soundtracks.

If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a few EQ presets to help change it to your liking. Their battery lasts nearly 78 hours of continuous use, so you don't have to recharge them daily. Their impressive boom mic makes your voice sound clear and natural over team chat, even in environments with loud background noise. You can also take the boom mic off and use their integrated mic, which makes them versatile as an everyday casual-use option. However, they're quite bulky, and their ski-band headband design doesn't distribute their weight comfortably across your head during long gaming sessions. These headphones can be difficult to find in stock, but the manufacturer's website sometimes has them available when other online retailers don't.

If your priority is comfort and your gaming setup would benefit from a headset with HDMI 2.1 passthrough, it's also worth looking at the Astro A50 X Wireless. They have excellent ear cup padding, and their headband distributes weight evenly across your head. Unfortunately, they can't be used wired, and their battery life isn't quite as impressive as the Audeze's.

Although they were designed with PC gamers in mind, the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are still worth checking out if you want a premium gaming experience on PS4. These slightly more affordable headphones have a USB receiver to keep your audio and visuals in sync. They also support Bluetooth, although you can't use it and the wireless dongle (or analog cable) simultaneously. Their long-lasting continuous playback time means you don't have to constantly recharge them either, and they're equipped with an auto-off timer to conserve battery life when not in use.

Their sound isn't quite as flat out of the box as the Audeze Maxwell Wireless'. However, you can save EQ settings from the PC software and apply those settings when gaming with your PS4—a feature that was added after launch. They deliver satisfying thump and punch to sound effects like explosions. Dialogue and instruments also sound present but are a bit lacking in detail. While their mic does a fair job of recording your voice so that you sound clear, it's even better at separating speech from noise, so you're heard clearly, even if a lot is going on around you. These well-built headphones are also very comfortable for most people and come with two different sets of ear pads to suit your preferences.

Check out the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro if you prefer a wired design. They come with a GameDAC, which puts controls like channel mixing and EQs within easy reach. However, due to their ski-band headband design, they aren't quite as comfortable and are prone to more bass and treble delivery inconsistencies, which might be an issue if you have thick hair or wear glasses.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless is the best wireless headset for PS4 that we've tested at this price point. While they aren't as comfortable or well-built as the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, they support Bluetooth and multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected with your PS4 and computer or smartphone simultaneously, which is nice if you want to stream music or chat and hear your game audio as well. Out of the box, their sound is rich in bass, which helps emphasize sound effects like footsteps. That said, if you prefer a different sound, their app has an EQ and presets to fine-tune them to your liking.

Their boom mic offers a very good overall performance, keeping your voice sounds clear and easy to understand. Their low-latency wireless dongle ensures you don't miss a beat of the action, and the headphones have over 33 hours of continuous battery life to last through long gaming marathons. However, it's worth noting that their headband design makes them prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit accordingly.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless are the best budget PS4 gaming headphones we've tested. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless, you don't have the option of using them wired, so if they run out of power, you'll have to wait for them to charge to use them again. The good news is their battery lasts for a mammoth 85 hours of continuous use, so you only need to plug them in every few days. Their boom mic is also very good and does a great job separating your voice from any noise around you. They come with a USB dongle that provides a low latency connection for gaming, and they have a comfortable fit for most people. These headphones come in a few variants. The PlayStation variant is the obvious choice for PS4 users, but the Xbox variant is the one to go for if you game on multiple platforms, as neither the PC nor PlayStation variants work with Xbox.

Their sound profile lacks a little thump, so explosions are robbed of some rumble, but it's reasonably well-balanced overall, so your audio has plenty of body and warmth, and voices sound clear and detailed. That said, a big peak in the mid-treble renders sibilants piercing, so you'll be happy to learn they have a great companion app that includes a graphic EQ and presets for you to customize the sound to your preferences. Their build quality is okay, but the plastic used feels cheap. If you'd prefer a sturdier option, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S are another good, budget-friendly option. They're better built overall, and their cable, mic, and ear cup padding are detachable, so it's easy to replace anything that gets damaged. However, they don't have sound customization features and create a less natural, open-seeming passive soundstage.

The Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are the best cheap PS4 gaming headphones we've tested. Headphones at this price range don't usually come with many extra features or customization options, like a graphic EQ or channel mixing, and these are no exception. These lightweight over-ears are mainly designed for younger users and people with small heads, so if you've often found most headphones fit too big, these are worth considering. They also have an adjustable volume limiter, which can help anyone trying to habitually lower their average listening volume. Some users have noticed issues with their wireless dongle being able to update to recent firmware, but we found that hard resetting the headphones solved this problem.

They have a warm sound profile that gives extra boom to sound effects. Dialogue and instruments also sound clear and detailed if a bit recessed. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound bright and clear but unnatural and lacking fullness. They only last around 20 hours compared to the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless' 85 hours, but they'll still get you through several playing sessions before needing a top-up. If you don't want to worry about battery life, the Logitech G432 have a wired-only connection and a mic that transmits your voice more clearly than the G435. However, their wired connection makes them less versatile for casual use while away from your PS4.

The Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X is the best PS4 headset with an open-back design we've tested. If you're looking for a more immersive gaming experience, it's important to consider open-back headphones. The listening experience is different but far more engaging as the design lets environmental noise blend with your game's audio. Naturally, these headphones don't isolate you from external audio; they leak sound, meaning people nearby will hear your game at high volumes. However, if you're looking for headphones that can create a spacious, out-of-head soundstage, you're in the right category.

They're among the best open-back headphones we've tested, with good comfort and build quality to help avoid head fatigue during a long gaming session. Due to their open-back design, they don't produce much low-bass, but the rest of the range is relatively flat, meaning that dialogue and sound effects are well-balanced, detailed, and present. The mic also performs well, and your voice sounds clear and full over the team chat. That said, these headphones can only be used wired. If you like the sound of open-backs but prefer to game wirelessly, consider the Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless. The Turtle Beach have a great microphone and come with a companion app for customizing their sound to your liking. However, they have a less balanced sound of the box than the Drop + Sennheiser, and they're not quite as comfortable.