The HyperX Cloud, despite its age, still offers the best mix of audio performance and comfort for the money. Perhaps most important, the HyperX Cloud is impressively comfortable—you can wear it for hours on end without cranial distress. It puts a slight emphasis on the bass to give a little extra kick to action games, but not so much that it sounds bloated or sloppy the way so many of its competitors do.

Solid aluminum construction makes the HyperX Cloud feel durable and rigid but surprisingly lightweight. Features such as a removable boom microphone, interchangeable leatherette and velour earpads, and in-line volume and microphone mute controls are really just icing on an already-delicious cake.

Its auto-adjusting headband does make it a better fit for people with larger heads. Unlike most gaming headsets, the Game One has an open-back design, meaning that the earcups surrounding its drivers are vented, not solid shells.

This design not only makes the Game One sound more open and spacious but also makes the headset lighter and cooler to wear for extended periods of time, even if it does mean that other people sitting next to you may be distracted by the sound of your games. We run the risk of appearing to be in the tank for Kingston, but even before I pointed out the brand of the HyperX Cloud Stingerall of our testers agreed that it was the new budget gaming headset to beat.

Despite its all-plastic construction, the Cloud Stinger feels more solid and durable than many of its high-priced competitors. If you want a wireless gaming headset, we recommend the LucidSound LS30 for its solid performance, intuitive controls, great battery life, sleek design, cross-platform compatibility, and attractive price compared with other wireless gaming headsets.

The mic picks up a lot of environmental noise, especially from ceiling fans, but a cheap third-party windscreen fixes that issue. I write about all manner of audio gear here at The Wirecutter, as well as at Home Theater Review and Residential Systems. Once a solitary hobby, or one shared among friends sitting together in the same room, video games these days are largely played online, with friends and even complete strangers coming together in virtual spaces to share in an adventure or blow one another up.

Not everyone feels that way. Digging through the hundreds of currently available gaming headsets in search of the right model is a daunting task. I know this because it took me more than 40 hours just to compile a list of currently sold gaming headsets and weed out the obvious losers by reading owner reviews on Amazon.

The aforementioned survey of Wirecutter readers helped us narrow down the pack and determine which models we should test based on the following criteria:.

We primarily relied on two PCs for testing: For USB headsets, we relied exclusively on direct back-panel USB connections rather than routing through hubs. One thing that I was careful to account for in our testing was just how contentious a topic gaming headsets can be. So my primary goal for this guide was to find a headset or headsets that no one could reasonably hate. As such, my testers and I agreed on a veto system: If any of us outright loathed a particular model due to comfort, construction, or sound quality, we cut it from the running with no further discussion.

Then I brought in my wife, Bethany, for extensive testing and discussion of the models that remained. By day, she works in video production, audio editing, and communications. After she and I had a chance to cull the herd, we brought in my friend Dave Calhoun, a guitarist with more than 20 years of recording experience, whose hat size is significantly larger than either of ours and whose input on comfort was invaluable.

Clarity of communication was our primary concern, not whether the microphone was broadcast quality or suitable for recording podcasts or other audio material. Once we had our potential top picks in each category, we went on to use them in extended gaming sessions, during which we sometimes wore the same headset for as long as nine hours at a stretch.

Unusual among gaming headsets, the HyperX Cloud relies on a pair of millimeter drivers, rather than the traditional 40 mm or 50 mm size. With large explosions, heavy gunfire, and other hard-hitting action, it never left us underwhelmed, but neither did it distort or egregiously overemphasize such low-frequency sounds.

We found its treble response slightly less even, its midrange a tiny bit less smooth, and its bass a touch fuller. But we liked its sound better with games and even with some music and movies. We also found the HyperX Cloud more comfortable over long periods of time, though not by a lot, and it offered better isolation from external noise. The QH, in turn, is essentially the Takstar Pro 80 Monitor headphones with the addition of a removable boom mic and gaming-oriented connectivity.

If you were to purchase the Takstar Pro 80 and add a decent mic, you would end up paying more than you would for the HyperX Cloud. And you would be missing out on some valuable gaming-centric add-ons, such as the dual 3.

The HyperX Cloud also comes with a short adapter cable dual 3. We also found this model less fatiguing for long gaming sessions than any other headset in its price range. Only the much more expensive Sennheiser Game One seriously outmatched it in that regard.

The HyperX Cloud features genuine viscoelastic memory foam in its earpads both the leatherette and velour optionsnot the cheaper foam found in many other headsets and headphones. Our panel split on which of the earpads we preferred. Dave and I leaned toward the leatherette pads for their better sound isolation and the more bass-rich sonic profile they created. Bethany preferred the enhanced breathability and open sound of the velour pair.

We all agreed that having a choice between the two kinds and the ability to so easily switch them was a nice touch. Even without the benefit of surround sound, the HyperX Cloud did an admirable job of creating a nice sense of space for all of our games.

With shooters such as Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Star Wars BattlefrontDoomand Dishonored 2I always felt like I had a good idea of where my enemies were and in which direction I needed to focus my attention. The addition of Razer Surround software which we discuss in detail below enhanced that effect even more. The headset also did wonderfully with music-rich games. In addition, the HyperX Cloud performed admirably when we fitted it with its mobile adapter cable and paired it with my iPhone 5s.

My regular Magic Duels opponent, who graciously tolerated constant pauses to our matches so that I could swap out headsets, summed it up: Hayden Dingman of PCWorld sums up his impressions of the HyperX Cloud with: Mitch Dyer of IGN writes in his review: It sounds great, too, with 53mm drivers delivering clear mids and highs.

Particularly guttural metal albums or the harsh ballistics of Halo 2: The Kingston HyperX Cloud Revolver features a new, original design with 50 mm drivers, a sturdy steel frame, and an auto-adjusting headband. Despite the smaller drivers, the Cloud Revolver delivers a more open, spacious, detailed sound than the original, which we really appreciated when we played first-person shooters like Doom.

Was it an even match for the Sennheiser Game One in that regard? Not quite, but for a closed-back headset it came surprisingly close. Not all of our testers agreed.

Bethany preferred the manual adjustments that the original Cloud offered. Similarly, not all of our testers were as smitten with its zippier audio performance. The Sennheiser Game One not only boasts stellar sound but is also lightweight, well-ventilated, and comfortable enough to wear for hours on end. While the HyperX Cloud is a great headset for most people, no headset is perfect for everyone.

This headset was by far the favorite of all our testers even our online helpers due to its stellar audio performance, exceptional long-term comfort, and fantastic noise-cancelling microphone.

I said yes, absolutely so. Dave decided to buy one for himself after trying it out. Bethany thought that it cost a little more than she would be willing to spend, though she said she would be thrilled if Santa brought her one—plus a new sound card to drive it.

You can find it on Amazon for a lot less, depending on your timing, but it still costs more than most people are willing to spend on a headset. The Game One truly blew us away. Perhaps the most significant feature that sets it apart from most of its competition is that it sports an open-back design. The earcups of the headset are vented, leaving the back side of its drivers open to the air instead of encasing them in a solid shell of plastic or metal.

But you rarely see the design in headsets in general, primarily because it comes with one disadvantage: I assumed at first that this effect would be a major downer for our testers, but we all ended up loving this aspect of the Game One.

We could, on the other hand, hear the ringing of the phone or a knock at the front door, which both Bethany and I really appreciated.

In other words, the only things that really distracted us from our gaming experience were the things we actually wanted to be distracted by. Keep in mind, however, that your non-gamer housemates may be a little annoyed by the game sounds leaking out of your headset if they prefer absolute silence.

The open-back design of the Game One had several other key impacts on our gaming experience. For one thing, it made everything sound absolutely awesome. One of the reasons audiophiles enjoy open-back headphones is nebraska cattle markets they offer option trading training in mumbai spacious, outside-of-the-head quality.

The sounds they create seem to emanate from out in the room, not from the bits of plastic and metal strapped to your head. Quite frankly, I never found myself inclined to engage any sort of surround-sound processing when gaming with the Game One; its expansive, detailed sound was enough to transport me into the environment of whatever game I was playing, whether that be Guild Wars 2 or Dying Light. With Star Wars Battlefront, in particular, I loved the way the headset generated a genuine sense of aural depth.

Blaster fire and explosions in the distance actually sounded farther away, not merely quieter and more diffuse. Bethany loved the way this headset enriched the expanded soundstage of the music in Civilization V. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the audio performance of the Game One was just how staggering and hard-hitting its low frequencies were when necessary. Dying Light, for instance, is a particularly tactile game that mostly consists of the player thwacking zombies in the head with large metal pipes and other blunt instruments.

Few headsets in our roundup came close to matching the visceral thuds the Game One rendered. Really, the Astro A40 and A50along with the Turtle Beach Elite Prowere its only serious competition in this respect.

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In our Star Wars Battlefront sessions, the thermal imploder bombs that occasionally wreak havoc on the battlefield felt and sounded as if they were cranked out by a good subwoofer. The other big advantage of this headset is that we all found our own voices easy to hear, even without the benefit of mic monitoring.

Instead, its open-back design allowed our voices to reach our own ears with very little encumbrance and no delay. Our online testers also loved the way our voices cut through the sound mix on their end.

But again, clarity of communication was our primary consideration when we were gauging the quality of the microphones, and on those grounds this Sennheiser headset excelled.

Another bonus is the fact that you can activate mic muting by simply rotating the boom mic up and out of the make money 90 woodcutting runescape. Like all other analog headsets, the Game One is compatible with PCs, Macs, and consoles alike, and the newest version comes with both dual and single 3.

In other words, the more power you give the Game One, the better it sounds, so if it seems like the right headset for you, consider adding a dedicated sound card or an external amp to your gaming PC.

The PC D is also a better bet for console gamers: Compared with most budget headsets, the Cloud Stinger is surprisingly well-built position size calculator forex download comfortable thanks to its cushy headband and relaxed fit. In our tests its audio performance was noticeably better than that of anything else in its price range, thanks to forex management and currency derivatives beefy 50 mm drivers and well-balanced sound.

Not only does it sound better, but also you can mute the mic just by raising the boom into the vertical position. The LucidSound LS30 benefits from great wireless sound quality, intuitive controls, simple setup, and a fantastic price windscreen sold separately.

In the previous version of this guide, we offered a wireless pick only because we felt we had to. This time, all of our testers were completely smitten with a new offering: Would we trade any of our wired picks for it? Probably not, except for our budget pick. For a wireless headset, however, the LS30 delivers exceptional sound quality, simple connectivity, intuitive controls, good long-term comfort, great mic monitoring, and—perhaps most surprising—an amazing price.

More concerning is that the microphone is overly sensitive to environmental noise, especially from fans. Unlike with so many other wireless gaming headsets, which come with complicated control boxes or transmitters, setup of the LS30 is simple. Adjusting the volume of each assuming you are using the optical connection is a matter of twisting the rings around each earcup.

Muting either is as simple as tapping the center of the earcup. The headset charges over USB when powered off, but if you run out of juice and need a wired connection, you can also connect it via the included 3. If you turn the volume up past reasonable listening levels, earn money in the internet philippines bass can get a little distorted.

The one aspect in which our experience contrasted sharply with the majority desires of our stock market leading sectors respondents was surround sound. About 70 percent of survey participants expressed a strong preference for surround-sound support in their gaming headset, and because of this result we tried our best best option trade platform find a headset with surround performance that impressed us.

We tested one headset with multiple drivers in each earcup, plus a number of USB headsets with built-in Dolby, DTS, or Creative surround technologies which create a surround-like experience using only two drivers, through a combination of delay and other audio processing.

None of them sounded great.

In fact, most of them sounded appreciably worse than standard stereo sound. Of all the headsets we tried, the Razer Tiamat max uttag forex. For example, when playing first-person shooter games with my daughter, I often found that the sounds of objects moving across the screen would leap, sonically speaking, from left to right without passing in front of me.

In our tests, most of the surround-sound processing technologies included with the virtual-surround-sound headsets fared even worse, coloring or distorting the sound without offering any real advantage in aural positioning.

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The one exception was another Razer product— Razer Surround —a software download that adds surround-sound processing to any stereo headphones or headset. It comes in two versions: None of us were overly fond of the on-ear design of the A30, but I was smitten with the hard-hitting sound of the A40 and A50, especially with games like Dying Light. After we wrapped up our original round of testing, Astro introduced a new digital MixAmp and a new version of the A50 ; we plan on giving them a listen for a future update to this guide.

For most people, though, none of those enhancements justify the extra price. Our previous low-budget pick, the Creative Draco HSis still a great buy if you want to save a few extra dollars, but we like the HyperX Cloud How to make money from stimulus a bit better in pretty much every way.

All of financial heat rate call option testers loved nearly everything about the Fnatic Gear Duelespecially how every piece can be swapped out, including your choice of ear cushions.

But it costs twice as much as our top pick, the HyperX Cloud, and its performance does not warrant that binary options nuance price increase.

Binary ionic compounds stock system our tests the sound was definitely tuned for action gaming, but the emphasis on midrange frequencies cost this headset a few points with atmospheric games like The Witcher 3 and orchestral-music-heavy games like Civilization VI.

All our testers liked the Turtle Beach Elite Pro. The problem is that if you want to get the most from this headset, be prepared to be nickel-and-dimed half to death on accessory upgrades.

On the surface, the Sennheiser PC D is virtually identical to our audiophile pick, the Game One, save for the inclusion of a USB sound card and surround-sound processing.

We concluded that the extra money would probably be better spent on an entry-level sound card, since the Game One sounds better at higher amplification levels. So if you have a larger head, steer clear.

All of our testers adored the fit of the Thermaltake Tt eSports Verto. We loved its self-adjusting headband, and the fold-flat design was a big hit best options strategy course mmx everyone. Sadly, its sound quality was lacking. We brought in the V-Moda BoomPro Microphone to go along with my V-Moda Crossfade M over-ear headphones. We all found the sound performance to be good, although not especially fun with genuine offline data entry jobs from home action-oriented games.

More important, this pair was far less comfortable than much cheaper alternatives after hours of gameplay, and the mic was disappointing. The Audio-Technica Open Air ATH-ADG1X and Isolation ATH-AG1X —functionally the same headset, though the former is an open-back model and the latter is a closed-back version—were without question the most comfortable headsets any of us had ever tested. We brought in both the Beyerdynamic MMX and the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus with Custom Headset Gear as potential upgrade picks.

Although we all loved the comfort of the MMXas well as its neutral, balanced sound and its overall design, we found that it required too much amplification to be a viable recommendation.

The Game One delivered more bang for fewer bucks. The Custom One Pro Plus was a crowd favorite thanks to the ability to tune its bass performance on the fly without resorting to software equalization. Judging from owner reviews, this problem is disturbingly common. It also felt quite fragile for the price. The Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset and G Surround Sound Gaming Headset were among the how much does a valet make in las vegas models best options strategy course mmx researched for this guide, since my wife and I have owned them for years.

The Mad Catz F. We gamers do like to accessorize, after all. Our testers, however, found them to be unbearably uncomfortable in the long run. They also got very hot very quickly. Also from Plantronics, the RIG Flex split us. I adored the sound and loved its build quality, especially for the price, and Average money spent on cosmetics also found it quite comfortable despite its small size.

But Bethany absolutely hated the way the earcups fit on her ears. We felt the same about the RIG stereo gaming headset with mixerbut we all agreed that its connectivity arrangement was more of a fuss than most gamers would willingly put up with. Concerns about cumbersome connectivity and iffy durability kept it out of the running, though. Except for the addition of USB connectivity and surround-sound processing, the RIG HD is quite similar to the RIG The surround was sorely lacking, which made it hard for us to justify the extra expense.

The RIG Ealso a modular design, comes with almost enough pieces to build two complete headsets; you would simply need an additional headband. Like the HD, though, it offers only lackluster surround-sound processing. The SteelSeries H Wireless now known as the SteelSeries Siberia was our previous top pick for cord haters. The SteelSeries 9H proved very similar to our previous wireless pick in many respects, but we all thought it was overpriced for what it delivered especially given the quality of the micand Bethany found the included software package to be a constant source of frustration.

She had similar complaints about the SteelSeries Siberia Elite Prismand we all agreed that this model was far too quiet to provide a satisfying gaming experience. The new SteelSeries Arctis 3 and Arctis 5which were designed to mimic the aesthetic of less flashy headphones, impressed us with their light weight, though not necessarily their build quality and high price. The Arctis 7meanwhile, is priced very attractively for a wireless headset and gives the LucidSound LS30 some stiff competition, but in our tests we found its microphone frustrating, and long-term comfort was an issue.

For in-depth thoughts about the Razer Tiamat 7.

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We also tested the Tiamat 2. I found myself unable to spend much time with the Razer Kraken Pro or Kraken 7. Bethany really enjoyed the Razer BlackSharkat least in terms of its looks and performance, but neither Dave nor I could adjust the headband such that both earcups comfortably covered our ears. Owners report frequently broken headbands, and we have our own worries about that, as well.

The Sennheiser Game Zero is a more gaming-oriented headset than our audiophile pick, the Game Onethanks to its foldable design and flashy accents.

The company promotes the newer Sennheiser PC D as an upgrade to the D, but we preferred the earlier model. The Skullcandy Slyr surprised our testers with its quality, especially for the price. We brought in the Tesoro Kuven Devil as a wild-card pick in light of its shocking number of five-star reviews at the time of our research. We found the Turtle Beach Ear Force Z60 to be lacking in treble, and the headset itself to be a bit uncomfortable. The Ear Force Z Seven turned us off due to its poor build quality and spotty performance.

The Ear Force Recon was unbearably uncomfortable from the moment we put it on our heads. The Ear Force Z left us flat with its lackluster bass performance and poor wireless range. I removed all Sades models from the running despite their popularity. Their distribution in the US is iffy, and a number of counterfeits seem to be flooding stores.

Plus, even the genuine models have poor support from the company, and by all accounts they are not well-constructed. Likewise, I dismissed all Sentey headsets due to the troubling customer-support issues detailed in owner reviews, and I dismissed all Sharkoon models due to distribution and customer-support concerns.

Plus, even the best Speedlink models appear to have poor microphones, according to owner reviews. Aside from those models, the list of headsets that we chose not to test is too long to spell out in much detail. Broadly speaking, we avoided models from Arctic, Asus, CM Storm, Corsair, Gamdias, Klipsch, PDP, Polk, Roccat, Rosewill, and Tritton, as well as other models from companies included in our roundup, due to issues with performance, build quality, and comfort raised in professional reviews, owner reviews, and forum discussions.

It has a noise-cancelling, foldable microphone, as well as volume controls on the left earcup, and it uses Pro-G audio drivers. Logitech claims the headset has a hour battery life and a wireless connectivity range of about 49 feet, but we have to test those things ourselves. The G is available nowand we hope to add it to our next update.

Two other new Logitech headsetsthe G and G Prodigypromise a comfortable, lightweight experience with the support of high-quality Pro G audio drivers. Both headsets offer removable microphones, but only the G headset comes equipped with 7.

X surround-sound processing, and the LucidSound LS20a smaller, non-wireless powered model. We actively moderate the comments section to make it relevant and helpful for our readers, and to stay up to date with our latest picks. You can read our moderation policy FAQ here. We love the things we recommend. We select each pick with the utmost care, relying on expert opinion, research, and testing.

We help support the hundreds of hours that go into our evaluations through affiliate commissions on purchases made through our links. Here's how to support our writers and our work. For more on our ethics, ideas and how we work, read this. We obtain the products we review through a mixture of buying our own and working with companies to borrow review units. Jump to a category The Best Gaming Headsets.

To share this page via email, fill out the fields below:. After adding 12 new models to our roundup of gaming headsets, we still think the original Kingston HyperX Cloud is the best pick for most gamers.

We've learned that the Sennheiser Game One now includes a different collection of cables and adapters than when we tested it, so we've updated our section on that headset. Collapse Most Recent Updates. The best comfort and sound quality for your money. Our top pick boasts great sound quality, comfort for long gaming sessions, a choice of earpads, and better build quality than anything else in its class. A familiar name with a new design.

For audiophiles and marathon gamers. For gamers on a budget. A great wireless option. Finally, a wireless gaming headset done right. Great sound, a terrific price, simple installation, universal platform support, and intuitive controls make it a clear winner. Want a sneak peek at what we're working on? A good gaming headset usually costs a little more than dedicated headphones that deliver equivalent audio performance. We sometimes wore the same headset for as long as nine hours at a stretch.

We found the HyperX Cloud less fatiguing for long gaming sessions than any other headset in its price range. The Sennheiser Game One was by far the favorite headset of all our testers even our online helpers due to its stellar audio performance, exceptional long-term comfort, and fantastic noise-cancelling microphone. For a wireless headset, the LS30 delivers exceptional sound quality, simple connectivity, intuitive controls, good long-term comfort, great mic monitoring, and—perhaps most surprising—an amazing price.

Buy for INR 6, Kingston comes out of nowhere with a fantastic budget headsetPCWorldDecember 15, Mitch DyerHyperX Cloud ReviewIGNFebruary 6, When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we earn affiliate commissions that support our work. We hand-pick and analyze our deals to the point of obsession. Follow us on Twitter at wirecutterdeals to see any updates we make throughout the day. We tested 10 litters with fake cat waste and a panel of cats, and we think the affordable, effective Dr.

You support The Wirecutter by purchasing what we recommend. Two-year, free technical support. Detachable microphone, spare set of velour earpads, control box with cm cable 3.

Weight with microphone and cable: Cable lengths and types: Length of mic boom: When he's not tinkering around with audio and home automation gear, he's likely either exploring some virtual world or another, sipping a Belgian ale, or snuggling with Bruno, his American Staffordshire terrier.

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The Best Canopy Tent for Camping and Picnics The easy-to-set-up REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is our canopy tent pick, with good sun and insect protection and a bright, roomy feel.

We researched 14 canopy tents and tested eight top contenders before deciding. Amazon Prime Day What to Expect and How to Find the Best Deals. The Best Flying Disc Surprise! It Isn't a Frisbee! The Best Cat Litter We tested 10 litters with fake cat waste and a panel of cats, and we think the affordable, effective Dr. The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats The Best Sous Vide Machine and Gear The Best Fan Deal: Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven Deal: Oral-B Pro Electric Toothbrush. The Best Toiletry Bags The Best Canopy Tent for Camping and Picnics Amazon Prime Day What to Expect and How to Find the Best Deals Deal: The North Face Recon Backpack Deal: Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Packing Cubes.

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