retrogames: Best PS5 Headset 2022

If you’re lucky enough to have snagged a PlayStation 5, you’re not only going to want a great gaming TV to take advantage of the gorgeous graphics, but also a gaming headset to be fully immersed in the console’s impressive audio. A high-quality headset greatly improves your experience by eliminating noisy distractions while also helping you hear the minute in-game sound cues of your competition can’t.

There are loads of gaming headsets compatible with the PS5, so we’ve helped you narrow down your search. Some of our picks were designed with Sony’s spatial Tempest 3D Audio in mind. But, all of our options offer up excellent sound quality, a clear mic, great features, and a comfy fit to make your gaming experience all the better. We’ve even included a few options that can easily double as your everyday headphones. Take a look and see which headset suits you best.

TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best PS5 Headsets:

1. Sony Pulse 3D

Best PS5 Headset

You’ve finally gotten your hands on a PS5, and now you’re going to want a great headset to pair with it. The Sony Pulse 3D takes advantage of the console's next-gen positional audio. Your games will sound not only crisp and clear, but you’ll also be able to tell where sounds are coming from, making it easier for you to place where your enemies are in a game and take ‘em out. Even without the Tempest 3D Audio, these cans still sound great.

There’s a lot more we love about the Sony Pulse 3D including its lightweight and comfortable design. You’ll be happy wearing this headset for hours. Plus, the round, heavily padded earcups house 40mm neodymium drivers, several controls, and dual noise-canceling mics–all of which work decently well for such a low-cost headset. There is limited battery life, and Bluetooth support would’ve been a nice add-on. But even with these faults, the Pulse 3D and PS5 are a match made in sonic heaven.

2. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX

Best PS5 Headset for Multiplayer

If you’re looking for a headset that’ll bring you and your team a W, look no further than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX. This headset takes the already solid Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 and amps it up further. This version still totes Turtle Beach’s SuperHuman Hearing tech to enhance critical sound cues in games, giving you a leg-up on the competition. There’s also a convenient flip-to-mute mic that folds up almost completely flush with the frame. You’ll come across sounding crisp and clear for easy communication with your teammates. However, this latest version is compatible with several surround sound modes for deeper immersion into the action, including Dolby Atmos, Sony 3D Audio, and Windows Sonic.

Turtle Beach has really stepped it up with the 600 Gen 2 MAX in connectivity and battery life. This headset may be officially licensed for Xbox, but with the flip of a switch, it’ll be ready to take on your PS5. That’s thanks to the lag-free 2.4GHz wireless dongle. And after you’re connected, you’ll be good to game for even the longest marathons with the 48+ hour battery life. A fast charging feature is also included, so 15 minutes of charge gives you over eight hours of listening time. Just be aware that this headset feels a bit awkward at first, like it's on backwards. You should get used to it though.

3. Arctis Prime

Best Wired PS5 Headset

See it on Best Buy

A more budget-friendly option offered by SteelSeries is the Arctis Prime. Though it might lack all the bells and whistles, you get a great-sounding set of cans that even audiophiles can appreciate. It’s a solidly-constructed, lightweight headset that sits comfortably on your head for hours. And, you don’t have to worry about the battery life, as it connects via a 3.5mm jack that you can easily plug into your gamepad or virtually any device.

This back to basics headset offers incredible sound thanks to its high-resolution drivers. You’ll find that these drivers offer a bigger yet more precise sound. When you’re gaming with friends, there is a retractable ClearCast mic that sounds good and does a decent job at filtering ambient noise to make sure you’re a part of the winning team. What this simple headset may lack in features is more than made up for in its performance and price.

4. SteelSeries Arctis 7+

Best Wireless PS5 Headset

Are you interested in a versatile pair of cans that sound great and can be used with just about any device? Welcome to the SteelSeries Arctis 7+. It works with several gaming consoles, as it’s packed full of wireless connectivity thanks to a USB-C wireless transmitter that includes a USB-A adapter for lossless 2.4 GHz audio. If you're looking for a wired connection, a 3.5mm jack is also included. You’ll have no problem connecting it to your PS5, PC, or Nintendo Switch. And, being an Arctis headset and all means you’re in for a solid build, impressive-sounding, comfortable for hours pair of cans–and with a 30-hour battery life–these will last through even your longest gaming sessions.

The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ comes packing full Tempest 3D Audio compatibility. So, when using it with your PS5, you’re in for some deep audio immersion that’ll transport you into your games. There’s also a bidirectional, retractable noise-canceling mic to keep communication lines clear between you and your teammates. The mic moves around a bit during heated moments in a game and sounds a bit fuzzy at higher frequencies, though. Overall, this is one of the best headsets to use in conjunction with your PS5, but it does come with a steeper price tag than some of our other picks.

5. Razer Barracuda X

Best PS5 Headset With Tempest 3D Audio

The PS5 comes toting Tempest 3D Audio, and there are very few headsets that are full adopters of this immersive sound, but one is the Razer Barracuda X. With this headset, you’re not only getting support for Sony's new audio but also THX Spatial Audio for a 7.1 surround sound experience. There is a paid app to activate the THX Spatial Audio feature, but it's a one-time fee for a lifetime of impressive audio. Once you get listening on your PS5 or PC, you'll be able to detect enemies coming from different directions, giving you a big advantage over your opponents.

The design of the Razer Barracuda X is very toned down and minimalistic, especially by Razer standards. It doesn’t scream “gamer” when you rock them, so you’ll be able to get away with using these as an everyday pair of headphones after you remove the detachable microphone. And, it connects simply via a USB-C dongle, making it the perfect headset to wear with your PS5, but it’ll work great with a Nintendo Switch or Android phone as well.

6. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2

Most Versatile PS5 Headset

If you want a headset that truly has it all in one compact package, look no further than the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2. Now, this headset comes packing both a USB wireless transmitter and Bluetooth, it can connect just about any device for easy listening. And, this pair of cans performs great, boasting 20-hours of battery life. Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing helps you pick up on subtle sound cues essential to keeping you afloat in the game.

Though this headset appears to be a bit bulky, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is surprisingly comfortable. Its ProSpecs feature makes it easy for glasses wearers to enjoy this headset without the usual headache others can cause. Plus, the earcups seemingly conform to your ears with cooling gel-infused memory foam earpads, so you’ll be able to wear these for a long while before your ears start to get hot. And, those earcups also house tons of controls like volume for game/chat mix, a customizable “mode” button, power, and a pairing button.

7. Audeze Penrose

Best Audiophile PS5 Headset

See it on Newegg

Do you find yourself to be a bit of a sound snob, and your average headset just isn’t going to cut it? Enter the Audeze Penrose. The sound on this headset is made for audiophiles, but anyone can appreciate it. It features a massive pair of 100mm planar magnetic drivers that help you hear everything from footsteps to gunfire and helicopters all perfectly clear. And, this headset supports any spatial audio system, as long as it doesn’t require any manual processing, so you can just plug in play. This sound doesn’t come cheap, however, so be prepared to shell out around $300 for this pair of cans.

Aside from the killer sound quality of the Audeze Penrose, you’re also getting a headset packed with features. There is multi-platform connectivity, so you can use it with your PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and phone. Plus, with multiple connectivity options, it’s easy to switch between the devices. Add in the great-sounding mic, and you’re ready to get gaming. It’s important to note that the initial fit of this headset may not be very comfortable, but once you break them in, you’ll be in for audiophile-level sound you don’t often find in gaming headsets.

8. Astro A50

Best High-End PS5 Headset

The Astro A50 may be a bit pricey and complicated to set up, but it’s worth the initial headache for the great sound and features this headset comes packing. With the Astro A50, you’re getting improved drivers that make the sound come through crisp and clear, whether you're gaming or streaming your favorite album. And, the support of Dolby Atmos means a more immersive playing experience. Plus, with Game: Voice Balance, you’ll be able to control how you sound to your teammates or over discord easily as you play.

If you’re in search of a pair of cans that you can wear all day, the Astro A50 has you covered where comfort is concerned, too. There’s even a 15+ hour battery life to boot. And, this versatile headset will work not only with the PS5 but also the latest Xbox, after you purchase an additional charging base designed to use in conjunction with the system.

9. Master & Dynamic MG20

Best Premium PS5 Gaming Headset

If you’re on the search for a gaming headset that’s the epitome of quality and functionality, Master & Dynamic's latest MG20 is a premium pair of cans that may just end up being your next splurge. This headset comes packing an impressive sound stage thanks to the 50mm drivers that will instantly immerse you in your favorite games with their rich, deep audio quality. It even comes loaded with 7.1 surround sound support. Unfortunately, it does not come packing ANC though.

To get listening on the Master & Dynamic MG20 is fairly easy, there is a low latency dongle that plugs directly into the PS5, allowing you to use the headset wirelessly. A wired connection is also an option. Plus, with Bluetooth connectivity that supports aptX codec, you can connect to PCs or do some gaming on the go. On top of that, there’s the simple, classic design with an onboard microphone and a detachable boom mic, so you can get away with using these as your everyday headphones. And, it’ll last all day since it boasts a 22-hour battery life.

Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.

retrogames

Friday, June 24, 2022

Best PS5 Headset 2022