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The best PS4 headsets

Gabe Gurwin
Leijah Petelka
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A good headset is a staple of online gaming — after all, the only thing that can really destroy a good team battle is someone’s mic going out. To avoid tragedies such as these, it’s important to use the right headset. That way, you’ll be able to hear enemies sneak up on you and directions from other players — and, most importantly, other players will be able to hear you. However, since there are so many good headsets on the market, it can be hard to narrow down which ones will work within your budget and still fit your needs.

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To make things easier, we’ve combed the market for PlayStation 4 headsets and selected the best, including the SteelSeries Arctis Pro, a headset known for its excellent design and high-quality audio. We based our list on a headset’s sound quality, comfort, design, and cost so you can find the perfect fit for your gaming needs. If you’re looking for Xbox One headsets, we’ve found those, too.

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The best PS4 headsets at a glance

The best Ps4 headset: SteelSeries Arctis Pro

SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why should you buy this? It’s the best gaming headset for virtually any system.

Who’s it for? Those who want high fidelity audio and a premium feel.

Why we picked the SteelSeries Arctis Pro:

The Arctis Pro excels in so many categories that it’s hard to know where to start. Regardless of your preferred setup, you’ll be able to find a version of the Pro that works for you, as both wired and wireless models exist. Both versions include plug-and-play peripherals that support hi-res sound and enable users to fine-tune EQ settings and surround sound at a much more granular scale than the competition. For multiplayer communication, the headset includes a highly flexible, crystal-clear mic that rivals even some professional-grade audio equipment. Best of all, it does all this without the need for extra software or downloads, which is something that kept previous Arctis headsets from reaching their full potential when connected to a PS4.

If you’re a multiplatform player with either multiple consoles or a gaming PC in addition to your PS4, you’ll be able to enjoy the Arctis Pro on all of those systems as well. Though the optional hi-res GameDAC and the 2.4G Bluetooth receiver box are only compatible with PC and PS4, the Arctis Pro is compatible with virtually every console right out of the box, either through wireless USB or 3.5mm wired connection. All players, regardless of platform, can take advantage of the headset’s excellent stereo mix and super-clear microphone. As a bonus, the package available on the official website even comes with a carrying bag, leather ear cushions, and three months of Tidal HiFi, so you can really test out their sound quality.

Finally, unlike many bulky headsets with gaudy designs, the Arctis Pro’s design looks mature and professional. Its aesthetic mimics stylish audiophile headphones, with a novel, one-size-fits-all headband that is incredibly comfortable and can be customized with different earpad fabrics and headband styles to fit your taste.

Read our full Arctis Pro review

The best premium wired headset: Logitech G Pro X

Logitech

Why should you buy this? Wired performance is excellent for high-quality, competitive connections.

Who’s it for? Gamers who want a headset made for the pros.

Why we picked the Logitech G Pro X:

If you’re looking for a wired headset, you’re probably interested in audio quality and accuracy above all — there’s a reason competitive pro players tend to rely on wired headsets, especially for team play. This model was made with just that in mind, featuring an excellent detachable mic with real-time technology for reducing noise, compressing audio streams, and limiting sudden static and bursts of sound for maximum clarity.

The 50mm drivers offer high-quality sound all on their own, but Logitech has made sure to support 7.1 surround sound and object-based surround sound for careful pinpointing of where a noise is coming from (the external sound card included with the headset helps with this. there’s even enough onboard memory to save specific EQ settings for a game if you want to create profiles.

The only real downside to the Logitech G Pro X is that you get every benefit unless you are on a PC to tweak software settings, but it’s still a top-notch choice for PS4 play and a great option if you play on both console and PC.

The best premium wireless headset: Astro Gaming A50

Astro A50 PS4 Headset
Why should you buy this? It’s one of the most full-featured wireless headsets available for the PS4.

Who’s it for? PlayStation gamers who want a powerful wireless headset (and don’t mind paying for it).

Why we picked the Astro Gaming A50:

The latest iterations of Astro’s A50 sport offer all the same hallmarks of their last-gen brethren, and to be honest, we couldn’t be happier with that. The phenomenal headset remains among the best choices on our list — if you can justify the exorbitant price tag — granting you 5.8GHz wireless technology and virtual 7.1 surround sound within a solid, over-the-ear design. The uni-directional mic helps isolate your voice from surrounding background noise, while a built-in feature allows you to engage the mute function by simply flipping the boom upward. The three distinct EQ modes, terrific sound reproduction, and cross-platform support grant it even more appeal.

This headset also nails all the feature points you’d expect from high-quality gear, such as auto shutoff, a hassle-free wireless connection, and long battery life. But most importantly, the Astro Gaming A50 makes games more engrossing and entertaining, and it’s also compatible with PC and Mac. For the serious gamer seeking an incredible wireless experience, the A50 is a great choice — provided you’re willing and able to shell out the cash.

Read our full Astro Gaming A50 review

The best budget wired headset: Turtle Beach Recon 200

Turtle Beach Recon 200
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why should you buy this? It’s an affordable headset with great audio and chat functionality.

Who’s it for? The budget-minded gamer.

Why we picked the Turtle Beach Recon 200

You can pick up something like the PlayStation Gold wireless headset if you’re willing to spend $100 or more, but for sound quality, comfort, and handy chat features on a budget, Turtle Beach has you covered with its Recon 200 wired headset. Equipped with a 3.5mm jack to easily switch between systems to go from Xbox One to PlayStation 4 to Nintendo Switch in a hurry, the Recon 200 has the audio quality you’re looking for in a dedicated gaming headset. Its always-on Bass Boost feature brings extra immersion to your favorite games. Kratos’ “Boy!” cries have never sounded so real.

The Turtle Beach Recon 200 is incredibly affordable for what you’re getting, and it offers much more than just sound quality. The microphone built into the headset is omnidirectional, and it features a flip-to-mute feature, so you don’t have to hit any buttons after turning it to its vertical position. It also has microphone monitoring built-in, so you can hear your own voice levels while you’re chatting with your gaming friends online, and there’s a monitoring wheel on the control panel so you can adjust it on the fly.

Read our full Turtle Beach Recon 200 review

The best budget wireless headset: Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why should you buy this? You’ll get a comfortable, great-sounding headset without going broke.

Who’s it for? Those on a tighter budget who still want the convenience of a wireless model.

Why we picked the Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset:

While wireless support is excellent for gaming with the PS4, many wireless models are expensive beasts that not everyone has the budget for, especially gamers that are looking for something a little simpler that lets them save some money.

The Corsairs HS70 fits the bill by focusing on core components and quality: The result is high-end audio in a more affordable package. These headphones include custom-tuned 50mm neodymium drivers, memory foam ear cups with full adjustability, and an omnidirectional, flexible mic that still has a flip-to-mute option to help save time (and can be detached entirely if you prefer). The frequency response range of 20Hz-20kHz and the 32 Ohms impedance rating are what you would expect from any major gaming headset, so you’re not really giving up any sound quality by saving money.

The cut cost is easier to notice with the design, a simplified model with basic memory that skips out on extensive adjustment options for a streamlined design. But since you still get rich audio and support for virtual 7.1 surround sound, we’re certainly not complaining.

How we test

Like we do for all the products we test, we put gaming headsets through the wringer. We judge based on a headset’s audio performance, mic performance, and wearability. Evaluating battery life and wireless connectivity, as applicable, is also part of the rundown.

The best way to judge these aspects is by testing a variety of different mediums and genres, from team-focused shooters to more environmental exploration. Our checklist of audio items to explore helps ensure the headsets will sound great during both action-heavy gameplay and in quieter sections. We listen to non-gaming audio and videos, too, including a selection of music from various genres at differing bit rates. By checking the headsets’ specs with a range of audio types, we can discern whether the headsets perform well outside of a gaming context.

To test mics, we record clips of ourselves speaking in quiet and loud environments, both with any noise canceling or enhancements toggled on and off. We use the headsets over multiple days, wearing them while gaming, watching videos, or listening to music to test the veracity of battery life claims.

Ultimately, we want to appraise their long-term wearability and comfort, too, and we keep our list updated for any concerns or new evaluations we may have. Since the PS4 headsets are often compatible with the PS5 (including the picks on our list), we also hop over to the new console when possible and make sure everything is still working according to expectations so you don’t have to worry about updating your headset until you’re ready.

If you’re in the market for a new PS4 headset, our recommendations are your best bet!

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Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
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