A gaming headset is far more than a means of communicating with your friends online. A quality headset can also give you an advantage in competitive situations and increase the immersive experience with your favorite open-world video games. After several hours of research, we’ve dubbed the Astro Gaming A50 the best Xbox One headset you can get. It has all the features you look for in a quality gaming headset, such as 7.1 surround sound and a unidirectional microphone. But, if you’re looking for something more specialized or affordable, we have some other incredible options to consider.
Astro Gaming A50
The best Xbox One headset overall
Why should you buy this? It’s the best headset available for Xbox One, and offers wireless connection to boot.
Who’s it for? Xbox gamers who want a headset with everything.
Why we picked the Astro Gaming A50:
The refreshed A50 lives up to the Astro name, and then some. Showcasing a futuristic design imbued with wireless 5.8ghz technology, this high-end headset delivers some of the best audio out of anything in our roundup. The A50 boasts Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound that provides an immersive soundscape, no matter what you play. To further enhance your gameplay, three varied EQ modes allow you to adjust the sound — giving you a quick way to boost the bass or treble — while the unidirectional microphone helps isolate your voice from ambient noise.
The A50 also includes all the extra perks you’d expect from a high-quality headset, including auto shutoff, hassle-free wireless connection, and long battery life. But most importantly, the A50 makes games more engrossing and entertaining by dropping you into the game world itself with its immersive audio quality. For the serious gamer, the audiophile, or those who just love great sound, it’s a must-have. For Xbox gamers, Astro offers an Xbox One-specific version, which includes a wireless adapter for the console to get the most from the headset.
Why we love it:
- Excellent audio quality that is made to last
- Long battery life and seamless wireless connectivity
- Durable construction that will survive all the bumps and scrapes of regular use
Astro A40 Gaming Headsets
The best premium wired headset for Xbox One
Why should you buy this? It’s the best sounding wired headset for virtual surround available for the Xbox One.
Who’s it for? The audiophile gamer who doesn’t need a wireless connection.
Why we picked the Astro A40:
The A40 isn’t just the slightly more affordable, wired sibling of the A50, it’s also packed with tons of features that are hard to come by on other headsets. In terms of audio and mic quality, the A40 TR rivals the A50, which easily makes it one of the best-sounding headsets for any system at any price. But it’s the Mixamp Pro that’s the real standout.
The Mixamp Pro gives you immediate and intuitive control of everything, including volume, game/mic chat mix, and EQ presets. It connects to your console with a USB connection, but also includes a 3.5mm Aux port, digital optical out, and a dedicated “stream out” port that’s great for Twitch streamers. There are also two “digital daisy chain” ports that enable multiple Mixamp Pros to be chained together using Astro’s proprietary daisy chain cables so all of their audio can be captured while streaming
For those who aren’t interested in the Mixamp’s functionality, you can also purchase the A40 TR sans Mixamp for less. While we still recommend the Mixamp Pro, the A40 TR can hold its own against the competition without it. Aside from the excellent sound and mic performance, the headset itself sports some cool features, including Dolby 7.1 virtual surround and a unidirectional noise-canceling mic. You can even transform the open-backed headset into a closed-backed model with noise-canceling.
Why we love it:
- Mixamp Pro technology for additional audio control
- Virtual surround sound, and noise-canceling mic
- Adjustability ensures comfort even for long gaming sessions
Turtle Beach Stealth 600
The best value headset for Xbox One
Why should you buy this? The Stealth 600 is a high-quality headset from one of the market’s most well-respected brands.
Who’s it for? Those who want a hassle-free wireless experience.
Why we picked the Turtle Beach Stealth 600:
Despite the inclusion of multiple wireless headsets on this list, the number of worthwhile wireless Xbox One headsets is relatively small. This is primarily due to the console’s lack of Bluetooth support. Instead, the Xbox One uses Microsoft’s proprietary Xbox Wireless technology to sync up wireless controllers and other peripherals. Most Xbox One wireless headsets use various workarounds to get the headset and the console to speak to each other. The Stealth 600 is different in that it’s equipped with Xbox Wireless tech, making it wirelessly accessible straight away.
While the word “Stealth” is in the name, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 makes its presence known. The large, durable headset boasts powerful 50mm over-ear drivers to immerse players in the action, as well as the company’s Superhuman Hearing setting, which boosts subtle sounds in the mix, making it easier to pick up minor audio cues or distant sound effects. The big ear cups are designed for comfort, and feature Turtle Beach’s ProSpecs, offering padding designed for the glasses wearer. Finally, to ensure you’ll have the best possible communication with your fellow players, a high-sensitivity microphone sits on the left ear cup, and can be flipped up for quick muting.
Why we love it:
- Superhuman Hearing mode to pick up any and every sound
- Designed for comfort, even for those with glasses
- Extensive, 15-hour battery life for long gaming sessions
Corsair HS60
The best budget wired headset for Xbox One
Why should you buy this? It’s more versatile and features better performance than headsets that are twice as expensive.
Who’s it for? The budget-minded gamer.
Why we picked the Corsair HS60:
The Corsair HS60 is one of the most affordable Xbox One picks, and while that’s great news for anyone on a tight budget, even big spenders will want to consider this model.
The Corsair HS60 uses a 3.5mm wired connection, which means not only does it easily plug into your Xbox One controller, it’s also compatible with the PlayStation 4, PCs, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices — you won’t find that kind of versatility in a wireless model.
Even at its affordable price point, this headset provides exceptional 7.1 surround sound. You can fully immerse yourself in your favorite RPGs like The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, or give yourself an advantage when you play games like Call of Duty. The high-quality 50mm drivers provide great audio that can fully make use of the 7.1 surround sound. The microphone itself is fully detachable, plus the on-ear audio controls give you full command over volume and mute functions.
We won’t pretend there aren’t benefits to opting for a more expensive pick, including the luxury of wireless freedom, but the Corsair HS60 makes a strong case that even a modestly priced, entry-level headset can work for just about everyone.
Why we love it:
- Compatible with multiple consoles for an immersive gaming experience
- Excellent sound quality
- Attractive, minimalist design that will only enhance your gameplay
SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox
The best budget wireless for Xbox One
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 seeking a wireless option.
Why we picked the SteelSeries Arctis 1:
SteelSeries Arctis 1 is a great wireless headset, and best of all, it manages to make a strong impression despite being in a lower price range. The primary reason for this is a solid audio performance. While the mix can be a bit top-heavy at times — favoring the treble and midrange over the bass — it’s still a great audio device overall. Unlike some wireless headsets, there’s practically no wireless hum, which becomes especially welcome during quieter listening moments. No one wants to be exploring The Witcher 3’s Island of Skellige with an annoying buzz along for the ride. While the aesthetics are less than subtle (something that afflicts many gaming headsets, to be fair), the build quality is top-notch, providing heft and sturdiness that is often woefully absent from other headsets in this price range.
Why we love it:
- Great wireless performance at an affordable price
- Prime audio quality that won’t break down
- Connects directly to your Xbox so you can play immediately
Why should I buy a dedicated gaming headset?
While you can game well enough with more casual headsets, gaming headsets offer more than just a sleek aesthetic. First of all, most gaming headsets allow you to hear subtle details like footsteps and in-game audio feedback. The former is especially important for FPS and horror games. Having exceptional location-based sound will help you place your enemies to give you a competitive edge. Most gaming headsets also offer a microphone that picks up your voice without too much interference. This precision pickup ensures a clear line of communication between you and your teammates to allow for better team coordination. An often overlooked feature that most gaming headsets provide is the soft and comfy over-ear padding. These soft cushions enable you to play for hours on end without feeling any strain on your ears.
What factors should I look for in a gaming headset?
First things first, good sound quality. A well-crafted headset with all the RGB lighting in the world won’t hold a candle if it produces a sound that will bleed out your ears. Ideally, you want a headset that provides good surround sound to help you identify game objects like other players and NPCs to help you in your gaming.
Another factor that you should consider is comfort, especially if you get glued to your seat when you play your games. A good pair of over-ear headsets with some luxuriously soft padding will do you good for hours. An ill-fitting pair won’t only be distracting, but it will be painful, meaning you focus less on your games and more on keeping yourself comfy while you play. When a solid pair of earphones presses up against your ears’ delicate cartilage for long periods, it can even be detrimental.
While you won’t be thrashing your headsets around, a pair should still be durable enough to weather through constant donning and doffing, plus the accidental sitting-on-to. A pair should have solid components and be well-assembled. Screws should be tight but not over-torqued, Headbands should be flexible but firm; and, the material that covers the cushion shouldn’t flake after a week. Also, check if the wires are thin and lanky if you’re opting for a wired variant. Robust cords tend to last longer if you’re a bit more energetic when you play.
The last vital feature to consider is microphone quality. If you spend a lot of time playing team-based games or just like to kick it in the lobby with your mates, a mic that provides clear audio should be second only to sound quality. A microphone that is a permanent fixture is better most of the time compared to detachable ones. The connectors won’t degrade as easily due to constant plugging and unplugging, and you’re guaranteed a faster connection between the system and mic. A detachable microphone is fine as well if you want to use your headset outside your living room, but be prepared to have lower-quality voice projection over time. A bendable mic is also a good choice, as is one that you can mute with a press of a button. Anything that gives you a bit more control is always welcome.
No matter what sort of headset you are in the market for, from the highest of quality, to the more affordable, to the multifunctional tools, there is sure to be a headset on this list that will help to make those gaming moments even more enjoyable. Check out our top picks now.
About the Author
Rusty Davis has been a tech lover for as long as he can remember. From the early days of gaming consoles to the introduction of the smartphone, portable computers, and more, he’s always wanted to get his hands on the latest and greatest. He has years upon years of experience reviewing and testing everything from phone cases to smartwatches, the latest phones and tablets to gaming computers, and even desks. If it’s a piece of tech or tech-adjacent, he’s interested in how it works and who it works best for. He’s now here sharing all of his knowledge with you to help you make the best decision for yourself.
Trust Statement
The Digital Trends team prides itself in offering expert product recommendations in ways that everyone can understand. Our team of experts is constantly using and reviewing the latest and greatest consumer tech, smart home gadgets, televisions, and so much more to offer insights to help guide your purchasing decision. We have vigorously tested thousands of different products across these categories, and we’ve distilled our lists to bring you the best of the best. If we feel a product does not live up to our expectations, it doesn’t make the list. We are humans though, and realize that not every recommended product will be perfect for everyone, so we do our best to call out important features that may impact your choices. Below our top picks we’ve included additional product information to ensure that you are making the right choice for your unique needs. The products in this guide have been carefully curated by our team of experts and enthusiasts who understand the value and quality needed for the best options.
