If your new to PC gaming or if you have been gaming for a while you know how important a good headset can be. In a first person shooter it could be the difference between winning and losing a round and in other games it could be the difference in a match, allowing you to hear your opponent before they actually arrive.
What are the best gaming headsets?
Plantronics Audio 655 USB: I have used this headset for many years and I can tell you first hand that it is one of the best all-around headsets that I have ever purchased. Plantronics has long been known for its quality and both the United States Air Force and NASA use their headsets on a daily basis. This headset helped improve my hearing in FPS’s like Call of Duty and counterstrike and when listening to music or watching videos the headset always provided me with great and reliable quality of sound. The addition of a cushion around the outside of the headphones themselves; as well as around the top of the headset allows you to wear the headset for hours on end without discomfort. As for the microphone itself I can’t say enough. The quality of the microphone is excellent and even with a fish tank in my background, the noise canceling feature of the headset makes its sound almost none existent. If you hate having to minimize your game to adjust the sound, worry not, this headset has an on ear volume control as well as a microphone mute button and a fully adjustable microphone.
Headphone type: Around ear
Price: $30.00
Audio Input type: USB
Microphone type: Noise canceling
Additional Features: On ear volume control, quick mute button, adjustable and bendable boom microphone
Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Alpha: In the past I have had difficulty with Creative headsets, but this was by far one of the best Creative headsets I have ever used. Unlike the Plantronics Audio 655, this headset gives you the option of using either prong or USB audio input. This isn’t as much of a problem in today’s day and age, but it’s nice to be able to choose which method you would like to use, especially if you have a sound card you would rather use. When it comes to voice quality I would rank this headset vary high on the list, with the noise canceling microphone blocking out any and all background noise, making it great for in game communication. As far as the comfort level, I was able to wear the headset for hours on end without difficulty while enjoying fantastic sound quality.
Headphone type: Around ear
Price: $35.32
Audio Input type: USB/Analog
Microphone type: Noise canceling
Additional Features: Surround sound capability, extendable cables, on cable value control and microphone mute button
Razer Electra Essential Gaming & Music Headset: For a long time I was reluctant to try anything Razer related, because after trying a few of their products I felt they were a bit overpriced for the quality. This headset on the other hand was an exception to that rule. After testing it with music and videos as well as a few games I came away feeling that it was well worth the money for an overall great headset. I will say that as far as FPS’s go, it didn’t seem like the sound was as accurate in terms of helping you determine the direction of sounds, but this could be due to the fact that I wasn’t used to using an over the ear headset. As far as the comfort level I would have to say that this headset is the most comfortable out of the three simply, because of the over the ear design. The only downside to this headset over the other two is that it isn’t as adjustable, but its adjustable enough that it shouldn’t pose a problem.
Headphone type: Over the ear
Price: $49.24
Audio Input type: Analog
Microphone type: Noise canceling
Additional Features: Surround sound capability, extendable cables, on cable value control and microphone mute button, detachable audio cables for transport
Note: When purchasing each of these headsets you should keep your receipt in case they break and if possible pay for an extended warranty. Chances are you will not need it, but a common occurrence in headsets is that their microphone shorts out.
