Where my beloved chonky launch PS5 is concerned, the Arctis Nova 5P is always close by, mainly as I know I can rely on its ultra-lightweight feel and sublime sound. After hearing that the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless takes after the 5P in these areas, I was more than eager to pop the Arctis Nova 3X model I was supplied with for review on my head as soon as possible, and I was not disappointed. The 260g headset is so light, I almost ꦯforgot it was on my noggin e﷽ntirely. But the bright pastel lavender colored microphone in my peripheral vision was quick to remind me otherwise.

Naturally, as someone hellbent on creating the cutest and coziest PC gaming setup possible, SteelSeries's decision to add more options besides all-black and all-white SKUs more typical of its other headsets is one of the many reasons why I've coveted my time with the 3X. But most importantly, it's been the decision to go for a detachable ClearCast mic. The Arctis Nova 5P has a retractable mic, which does stay flush with the edge of the left cup when not in use. But opting for a detachable mic has made the 3X not just an ideal budget headset, but an ideal alternative to my everyday headphones, too.

This inexpensive headset also packs in the same slim wireless dongle as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Game Buds, which is a notable ste🐻p up from its previous budget-friendly headsets. For the 3X, it also comes with a USB-A to USB-C dongle to make up for the lack of a USB-C port, but being able to easily pop the wireless dongle into my PS5 and even my Samsung S24 phone has been appreciated. As has the fast wireless charging, which while it isn't as impressive as the hot-swappable batteries of the 🎃Pro Wireless headset, has meant I've rarely had to worry about keeping the 3X juiced up, especially as about 15 minutes gave me hours upon hours of playback in Marvel Rivals and Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

SteelSeries has dubbed the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless a "cheat code" for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch players, but I wasn't able to fully put that into practice. Like the rest of the Nova headset lineup, the 3X is compatible with the Arctis app and its 200+ audio presets, but unfortunately, the beta version wasn't able to run before launch day.

That being said, I've had plenty of time to get well acquainted with the app in the past alongside the Arctis Nova 5P, and even now, I still swear by some of its audio presets when taking up my DualSense controller. The Dead by Daylight preset, especially, has come in a pinch and let me survive more matches, namely as the QTE audio triggers for the generators sound clearer than ever, and the preset lets you hear every nuance of the atmospheric soundscape of the game.

Now that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless has finally been unveiled to the gaming population, I'll be able to put it and the Arctis app fully to the test. The app has since been updated to include support for the 3X, and I'm eager to see how it comes in handy during my Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 online-gaming escapades, and how it performs alongside the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 (if it's compatible), which is just days away from launch.

If you already have the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:StꦇeelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless at your disposal, you'll have little reason to grab the Arctis Nova 3 with its $109.99 / £99.99 MSRP. Similarly, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless♍ is o𒁏nly $20 more, and constantly sees deals that take it down to the same $100 price range. Yet, if you value a detachable mic, USB-C dongle, improved fast charging, and want the options of colorways that'll match your cute gaming setup, the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is available now straight from SteelSeries.

If the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 wireless headset isn't for you, our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets are full of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets for you to choose from.

Key Specs

Design

The Nacon RIG 900 Max HS may come with that all-black colorway that is pretty common amongst the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets, but its unique headband aesthetic makes it stand out amongst the sea of PS5 headsets I’ve tested throughout the years. Instead of just a plain, curved band, Nacon has designed a futuristic-looking product.

It’s not dripped out in bright colors or RGB lighting, but the main band is a thin steel sheet, with ‘RIG’ proudly plastered on top in a shiny, silver typeface. On either side, there are three cylindrical cutout shapes which can be snapped onto either cup to keep them attached. There are three of these cut-out sections in total, giving you different levels of adjustment. The metal band is also supported by a leather and fabric-coated stretchy second band, which is😼n’t densely padded, yet still manages to provide a light and comfortable f🔥it.

While the headband is missing some extra padding, the cups aren’t. There’s plenty of cushion for the pushing, which, when combined with the reasonable clamping force, never felt uncomfortable even as a glasses wearer. The padding also makes use of both leather and fabric-coated mesh, and its large oval shape even managed to fit nicely around my Dumbo-sized ears.

The outer edge of the left cup is where you’ll find the majority of the headset’s onboard controls. That includes the mode button, multi-function button, volume control dial, power button, and the flip-to-use microphone which sits flush with the 900 Max when not in use. Begrudgingly, each button has the same glossy plastic texture, so it's hard to differentiate them from each other. That can be a pain when you’ve set up the dual wireless and have a phone call coming through, but the volume dial and its soft rubber texture are at least easy to find at a moment’s notice.

Arguably, my favorite aspect of the headset, the charging stand, also sports an all-black, sleek look. During my time with the 900 Max HS, it sat proudly underneath my smart TV, and became not just convenient for charging, but an ideal way to store and display the PS5 headset when I wasn’t racking up my trophies. My typical go-to pair of cups for my Sony pixel pushing beast, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P, sits at the edge of my Star Wars coffee table when charging, which puts them at risk of being attacked by my cat. But the accompanying charging stand helped keep the 900 Max HS safe, charged, and lent its💝elf to its futuristic and funky aesthetic.

Features

Other gaming headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Astro A50 X, which also come with a charging stand (albeit, it’s also an HDMI switcher), don’t include everything you need to get set up, despite its premium price tag - but the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS has you covered. Straight out of the box, you get everything you need, from the headset, charging stand, 2.4GHz dongle, and even the USB-A to USB-C cable required༺ to hook it up to your PS5 console.

Getting set up with the 900 Max was pretty easy. It took a matter of minutes to slot the wireless dongle into the charging stand, and then all I had left was to plug the USB cable into one of the free ports on my PS5. Instead of using one of the ports on the front-facin✤g side of the console (mine lies horizontally), I made sure to use a back port and fed the cable through the back. Not only did this mean my PS5 gaming setup was less busy looking, but it also meant the front ports were free for quick and easy access for accessories like the PDP Riffmaster guitar controller, which I use on a day-to-day basis.

After everything was set up, I was able to make use of one of the headset’s best features, its dual wireless connectivity. With the 900 Max HS, I was able to connect the headset to my PS5 via a 2.4GHz dongle (that’s attached to the stand) and connect to my Samsung S24 phone via Bluetooth simultaneously. This dual-wireless feature means you can talk on the phone to friends in between Marvel Rivals matches, or just switch to your phone’s audio to scroll mindlessly through TikTok (an embarrassingly favorite pastime of mine) while waiting for your friends to pop on Discord. Resentfully, as a millennial, I don’t get too many phone calls on any given day, so I 𒅌did have to ask my partner to give me a quick call to see just how easily I could switch between modes with the onboard controls, and it turned out to be pretty straightforward. Like briefly touched on before, it will just take a moment to remember what button does what, as they all have the same glossy, plastic touch.

Performance

I wasn’t initially blown away by the sound on the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS headset. Don’t get me wrong, the drivers didn’t sound bad by any means, and in the early days of testing the bass, mid, and treble frequencies of the 40mm audio drivers sounded pretty balanced as I took to learning my new main in Marvel Rivals, Scarlet Witch. However, it didn’t quite have that bassy gut-punching drive that the hero shooter needed to make the end of matches feel truly nerve-wracking. That was, until I pulled out the Nacon app.

With the dual wireless connectivity, I was able to connect the headset to my PS5 via the wireless dongle (as it was plugged into the charging stand) and have my Android-based phone connected via Bluetooth. This gave me access to the app, which provides a battery life rundown, access to updates, settings, and the best part, customization. I always appreciate when a gaming brand has an app for their headsets, as it means I don’t have to run back and forth to my PC in order to get the best sound, and the Nacon app lets me do just that.

There are three profiles you can save to the headset, and a range of audio presets from an FPS audio setting, Bass Boost, Voice Boost, clarity, and a custom option. Annoyingly, the ‘Bass Boost’ option actually made the lower frequencies a tad overwhelming, with tracks like ‘Buꦦrning’ by the band Hitsujibungaku (that I’ve had been listening to on repeat) sounding distorted, and not in a good way. However, with some tinkering, I was able to not only get that reverberating bassy sound that you can feel deep in your bones, but the app and the convenience of having all that customization at my fingertips cemented the RIG 900 Max HS as a contender for one of my all-time favorite PS5 headsets.

Much to my chagrin, the 900 Max doesn’t have Dolby Atmos or any other spatial audio support. So it was missing that extra immersive soundscape I’ve grown accustomed to when using headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless. That being said, whether I was returning to my sea-faring pirate adventures or powering up generators in Dead by Daylight, the 900 Max MS gave justice to everything I threw its way - especially with the app in play.

I’m still slowly making my way through Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and its gorgeous, pseudo-classical score by composer Lorien Testard sounded impeccable through these PS5-designated cups. There’s no active noise canceling found with them, yet I was 🍒still able to get totally lost in the game’s hypnotic sound and atmosphere as the large ℱoval padded cups were still able to eclipse my ears and keep everything contained. When not attempting to make my way through the RPG, I was chatting way to friends using the flip-to-use built-in microphone as we grinded through our Marvel Rival daily and weekly challenges.

As you can hear from the above sample, the microphone is the biggest letdown for the 900 Max HS. Any and all outside noise seeps into the mic despite its “noise canceling” claims, making my voice sound crackly and overall unpleasant. I was still audible during Marvel Rivals sessions, but when I got a bit too heated, which is easy to do when you main a healer like Cloak and Dagger, my voice became almost inaudible. This is unfortunate, as there are plenty of headsets with an MSRP half that of the 900 Max HS that manage to give you a high-quality mic, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Wireless V2, which has an MSRP of $119.99 / £99.99.

At least the handy charging stand almost made up for the disappointing mic quality. When I had had enough matching up wi🍬th bizarrely named strangers on Marvel Rivals, I hung up the headset on the stand, and it would conveniently charge overnight. I’m not a fan of just leaving my headsets out in the open, especially when I have a cat that believes everything in its path is a toy, so this was a treat. Not only that, I didn’t have to remember to give it a charge, and so never had to deal with its up to 50 hours worth of battery🐼 as it was constantly ready to go.

Another neat aspect of the charging stand is that you can pop the 2.4GHz dongle out of it, plug that directly into your PS5, and keep the charging stand stored in another room entirely. This made🃏 the PS5 licensed cups extra handy for multi-platform gaming, as I was able to move the stand to my bedroom nightstand or my desk without having to disconnect the low-latency 2.4GHz connection from my Sony console. Setting up the 900 Max HS with my OLED Steam Deck and my OLED Nintendo Switch was easy as pie via Bluetooth, and running through the latest Wonderland Whimsy Disney Dreamlight Valley update on the go sounded exceptional. As did the vibrant scores of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine via Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Should yo🧸u buy the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS gaming heads🍬et?

If you’re fed up of charging your gaming headset and want an alternative battery solution without having to fork out the full cost of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the $249.99 / £209.35 Nacon RIG 900 Max HS is an ideal alternative. Sure, you won’t be getting the crystal clear microphone quality that SteelSeries and its audio tech is known for, or anywhere close, but the accompanying charging stand of the Nacon headset adds an extra level of convenience that almost makes up for its gaps in quality.

Similarly to SteelSeries, Nacon has a free-to-download accompanying app for the 900 Max HS headset, which takes the average sound produced by its 40mm audio drivers and elevates it to new, sub🌳lime-sounding heights. There isn’t a list of dedicated gaming presets to chꩲoose from, but with the app, you can tailor the audio just to your liking and save your settings as profiles to switch between the next time you want to get stuck into your latest PS5 gaming obsession.

Had the built-in mic’s quality been up to scratch, the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS would have easily earned a spot as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 accessories I’ve ever gotten my hands on. Yet, even with its lack of quality, its high-tier sound, transformative customizable audio settings, dual ♒wireless connectivity, and user-friendly charging stand still justify its high-end price, and place as one of the most convenient PS5 gadgets I’ve used to date.

Howꦏ I tested the💮 Nacon RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset

During the over two-week testing period, the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS wireless gaming headset rarely left my side. Whether I was gaming on my PS5, answering phone calls, or chatting to co-workers during important meetings, the 900 Max HS remained on my head. As a headset designed with the PS5 in mind, my main games of choice during the testing process were Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and Marvel Rivals. I also made sure to dig out Dead by Daylight and Sea of Thieves, to see how they measured up on the PS5 and PC versions. The 900 Max HS was also put through its paces on the Steam Deck when playing the brand-new Wonderland Whimsy update in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and to play our Switch testing game of choice, Super Mario 3D All-Stars on a Nintendo Switch OLED handheld.

When not racking up my hours in Marvel Rivals, I used the headset while catching up with the anime series Oshi No Ko, and the last season of You on Netflix. I also tested the headset while listening to Spotify across a wide range of genres, from Irish rappers Kneecap, to the relaxing dance tunes of ODESZA. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS doesn’t sound like the right fit, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming guides are full to the brim with

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless in 2025?

There's a reason why the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码♋历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has managed to remain in our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headset top spot for so long, despite the wealth of high-end releases by other brands. One of the main reasons is down to its superb audio quality. It's sporting 40mm-sized Neodymium audio drivers, which bring a powerful sound to the table, no matter if your securing the MVP in all your Marvel Rival matches on the PS5 and PC, or listening to the nuances of the stunning soundtrack to Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

The very moment I'm typing this, I have my own Arctis Nova Pro pair on my ꧅noggin, as it's the perfect headset to listen to my favorite Spotify playlists to get me through a Friday.

It's not just the audio quality that makes it easy to recommend in 2025. Almost every aspect of this headset is impressive, from its crisp and clear retractable microphone, comfortable plush earcups, and clever battery solution. Instead of having to reach for my charging cable, with these cups I have two hot-swappable batteries at my disposal. That way, I can always have one charging in the accompanying base station unit, while the other sits and powers my headset in the right cup.

Thanks to this setup, I've rarely if ever had to worry about keeping my headset charged. The base station is also what makes it a multi-platform marvel for my gaming ways. I have it plugged into my PC so I can easily switch between listening to music while I work, to clocking into Marvel Rivals right after on the PS5. The only issue that rises with this headset is its weight, which can get a bit painful if you use them for multiple hours at a time. You can adjust the included strap, but if you want something lighter for your Sony console, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets out there, and one of the few I use when the Pro isn't at a🍎rms length.

Of course, the high price point is also one of the main issues of this headset, which is what makes this current saving worth your attention. Plus, if you fancy yourself the white SKU like I have, ﷽it's also down to , and is still compatible with your PS5 and PC.

Our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming guide is full to the brim with some of the best pairs of cups. But if you're after something for your beloved consoles instead, there's plenty of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets to choose from too.

SteelSeries may call these the 'Glorange'🥃 gaming earbuds, but the bright design induces nostalgic flashbacks of the Fire Orange Nintendo 64, which I used to stare at longingly while it sat in all its bright fluorescent glory amongst a childhood friend's ga🍨ming setup.

The brand, known for making some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets I've had the pleasure of popping on my head, isn't the first to bring back this retro-fut🤪uristic look. In f🥃act, right now I own both the Miyoo Mini Plus gaming handheld and CRKD's Atomic controller, which feature an 'Atomic Purple' transparent design, invoking that of the Game Boy Color of the same name. Regardless, I'm glad the brand has tried something new, as the bright-colored buds stand out from not just its basic white predecessor, but also the sea of mostly all-black and all-white designs of its audio tech lineup.

I've been fortunate enough to use the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in their limited edition Glorange design for two weeks now, and they've impressed just as much as my original pair. As I briefly explained before, the same connectivity options, impressive 10-hour battery life, intuitive tap controls, and ANC are all still present. Even the compatibility with the Arctis app, with its over 200+ audio gaming presets, including ones made al🐭ongside games like Dead by Daylight, is st💯ill on full display. Yet now, they look more in keeping with the rest of the 90s-inspired modern tech in my collection.

I still prefer to use my 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P as my headset of choice when playing the PS5, especially due to its high-quality microphone for shouting at friends during heated Marvel Rival ma🎃tches. But these eye-catching buds have replaced my day-to-day current PC headset and headphones, as despite their small 6mm drivers, they still make everything from my latest music obsession, Kneecap, to my favorite Tekken OSTS on Spotify sound crisp and full of life. The included 2.4GHz dongle also makes them as easy as pie to connect to everything from my desktop, PS5, and my Android-based phone.

SteelSeries also hasn't added a new premium cost for this new premium look, and the Glorange buds still come with a $159.99 / £159.99 MSRP, like the original pair. But as they are the same buds as before, they come with the same set of mild grievances, from the wear sensor being unreliable at times, to the mild discomfort after multiple hours of having them popped in your ears. Their bright new colorway also isn't as subtle and easy to hide as the previous white design, so keep that in mind.

Gaming buds🐽 also aren't for everyone, so if you prefer having a headset across your noggin, then this new colorway isn't going to change things. But right now, the Glorange Arctis GameBuds are available to order from the SteelSeries website for a limited time, if you want to bring back more of that bright, transparent tech aesthetic into your gaming setup.

If even the new Glorange look isn't enough to tempt you in giving gaming earbuds a try, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming guide is over-flowing with some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, so you're sure to find the perfect pair of cups for your gaming needs.

Key specs

Design

The Sennheiser HD 550 isn’t sporting a fresh new look. Its wired design takes after the HD 560S, featuring the same all-black colorway and oval-shaped, open-back earcups. In fact, they look so similar, I’d be hard-pressed to tell them apart if they were sitting next to each other. That’s not to say the HD 550 doesn’t look on point. It has that minimalistic and sleek aesthetic that Sennheiser is known for, and its subtle inclusion of its logos at the edge of each side of the headband, and perched upon the open-back silver girls, feels in-keeping with the headphone’s more mature, audiophile target audience.

The most noticeable aspect of the HD 550’s, which I really appreciated, was the velvety padded cushions, which feel like the epitome of luxury. Typically, I prefer a leather-like coating, like the one found on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Ste🌜elSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, as the꧟y tend to be more comfortable and don’t send me into sensory shock, like with some itchy fabric-coated alternatives. However, I was pleasantly surprised by just how cushy the HD 550’s felt after multiple hours pressed against my face. At just 247g, its lightweig๊ht nature will also be a contributing comfort factor, and Sennheiser noted in their briefing that the tightening force has been reduced with this headphone iteration to improve on comfort even further. But I can’t over-emphasize how much I missed the velvet-like feeling the second I had to move on to testing my next headset.

The HD 550 has one major difference between the best gaming headsets, wired or wireless, and that🔥’s the open-back design on either cup. Instead of the audio drivers being relinquished to circulating air (and audio waves) between themselves and your eardrums, with this gaming pair of headphones, the audio travels at the back of each driver, and sounds off from the silver-colored grill on either side. This makes them pretty unusable if you’re recording any audio for a podcast, or want to chat away to friends over Discord. Which was disappointing given the HD 550 comes with a 3.5 to 6.35 mm screw-on jack adapter, which fits perfectly into my go-to audio interface, the Focusrite Scarlet 2i2.

Any microphone you own, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Shure MV7i, is gonna pick up the audi꧟o from the open-back speakers, so using them outside of gaming, or music-listening is pretty much a no-go. This isn't just an issue with the HD 550’s specifically, as it’s a flaw of the open-back design in general, and goes with the territory. But it’s also worth acknowledging that if you happen to game in close quarters with a friend, or your partner like I do, anyone else in the room with you is going to hear what you’re listening to, whether you want them to or not. However, this open-back design comes with a huge plus, as it offers up a more natural soundscape to your games. Or as Sennheiser puts it, they allow you “hear details you’d never noticed before.”

Features

I went in originally expecting the Sennheiser HD 550s to rival all the wired headsets I’ve used in the past, at least in features alone. But the HD 550 isn’t really a gaming headset. There’s no RGB lighting options, no audio customizability or presets, and naturally, no Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connectivity options as found on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets, so you can’t chat away to your pals via Discord without being at the mercy of wireless. In fact, there’s no microphone at all.

The HD 550 is instead a beginner audiophile headset, which can be used with the PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or any gaming platform with a 3.5mm jack compatibility, which can offer up audio playback, and that’s pretty much all you get. If you only play single-player games, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Lost Records, then this will suit you fine, as you don’t need much else besides being able to hear the complexities of a great soundtrack, character dialogue, and the directions of footsteps, and that sort of thing. But I’d argue that a gaming headset (even of the wired variety) is always going to be a more ideal pick up than an average pair of audiophile headphones due to the conjoined wealth of features at play, which can get you far more value out of your pricey pixel-pusher.

At least for your $229.95 / £249.99, you do get the wired Sennheiser HD 550 headphones, a carrying bag, and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm jack adaptor, which is better than nothing. I always prefer anything that starts to 🍷delve into the higher range of pricing for gam🧸ing accessories to come with some storage, whether that be a draw-string carrying case like this pair, or a hardened zip-up alternative.

Performance

When I was sitting in on the brief for the HD 550, the Sennheiser rep noted that they were not in the business of making gaming headsets, but that this pair of cups was great for gaming, “why any audiophile headset is good for gaming.” Naturally, that should mean that as audiophile headphones make everything sound more grandiose and detailed, they should do the same for games on consoles like the PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and anything in between.

After multiple weeks with the HD 550s as my headphones of choice, they definitely made everything sound incredible, that’s for sure. Like with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 gaming headsets, I first chose to see how the headphones dealt with Marvel Rivals, a game where hearing dialogue and the frenzied calls of characters’ Ultimate moves was a necessity to ensure a victorious match. The wide 6 Hz – 39.5 kHz frequency response made everything from Squirrel Girl’s “squirrel stampede” shouting to the charming dialogue interactions before every match sound as if they were happening right next to me, and that’s without any spatial audio tech support to be found.

On the PC version of the game, everything sounded just as clear, and I had the added bonus of being able to adjust the volume on my desktop, as there are zero onboard controls with the HD 550s. Not so much as a volume wheel. On the PS5, you can adjust the volume through the console’s settings, but even when set to full, it still felt a bit on the quiet side. With no voice chat to test, as there’s also no microphone, I then sought to see how these dealt with a game that features music pretty prominently, with Don’t Nod’s Lost Records. The second part of the game was released during those weeks of testing the HD 550s, and felt like an ideal modern game to take the headphones for a rest drive, due to its importance placed on music from the 90s era, like the Cocteau Twins’ ‘Cherry-coloured Funk.’

In the end, I much preferred using the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Wireless V2 for Lost R🍷ecords, if I have to be honest. Namely, due to its compatibility with Dolby Atmos and surround sound, which brought areas like the dusty old bar, the Blue Spruce, to life. That being said, the natural sound of the open-back design added a bit of depth to the original score of the game, which made tracks like ‘The Abyss’ sound more unnerving, which suited the supernatural elements of the game’s narrative. There wasn’t a loud, boomi𝔉ng bass like with headsets with larger 50mm drivers, but everything from the low, mid, and high frequencies sounded balanced, with no audible distortion even at its loudest on the Sony console.

April was pretty stacked with new releases perfect for testing, as Clair Obscur Expedition 33 also dropped during my time with Sennheiser’s latest headphones. The score by composer Lorien Testard evoked the same wistful feeling I had when discovering Nobuo Uematsu’s music for the first time, and so it felt incredibly appropriate to see how it fared on tech intended for audiophiles. When exploring the bizarre underwater depths of the Flying Waters area, the dance-like beats came through nicely and balanced through the speaker drivers. I was missing that punchy bass quality, which I heard on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P, but every important audio queue in battles was as audible a🍃nd clear as day. This didn’t mean I was any better at dodging or parrying than with my go-to gaming headset, of course, but that’s unfortunately a skill issue, and not an audio one.

Lastly, I made sure to make them my headphones of choice when not just gaming, but catching up with shows on streaming services like Netflix and Crunchyroll. For some reason, I hadn’t yet finished season two of the anime Spy X Family, but the HD 550’s were easily plugged into the 3.5 jack into my DualSense controller, and made Anya’s adorable cries sound as charming as ever. I also made sure to plug the headphones into my turntable, and give it a listen while popping on game soundtracks.

Normally, I’d stick with my fancy Edifier speakers, but as I know a lot of audiophiles prefer a wired setup when listening to vinyl, it felt like the right thing to do. I’m not a fan of being at the mercy of wires, especially as my soda is on the other side of the room from my music and gaming setup, but the OST to games like Vib Ribbon, or Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon sounded bright and full. Again, I just missed that overtly-loud booming bass that makes headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max one of my favorite PS5 headsets.

Should you buy the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones for gaming?

At $229.95 / £249.99, the Sennheiser HD 550 feels awkward to recommend. By all means, it’s a high-quality wired pair of headphones, and its wider frequency range brings out the extra nuances of soundscapes of games from Marvel Rivals to Clair Obscur Expedition 33. However, I’m hard pressed to recommend it for anyone for gaming, unless you’re looking to start your audiophile journey and also want something to use for your PC, PS5 or Nintendo Switch on the side, and have the cash to spare.

Gaming headsets and headphones are entirely different entities, with their own set of features and design choices that lend themselves to what you’re actually planning to use them for. While I entirely appreciate looking at gaming headsets through an almost purely audio quality lens, especially as someone who comes from a background of studying music, gaming headsets should have a certain number of features that make them ideal, for, well, gaming. As of typing, there is a plethora of headsets, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X, that bring not just a wired connection to the table, but Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and a detachable microphone, and despite its age, it still sounds utterly fantastic even in 2025.

With the HD 550, I don’t see the value in spending more for less, unless you’re a hardened audiophile, or want to be one, and value sound quality above all else. Otherwise, alternatives like Razer’s Barracuda X are available for under $100, which is especially important at a time when gaming tech is getting more expensiv🅠e by the day. If you’re a music nerd and want a pair of headphones that you can pop into your record player and also into your DualSense, then I can see the HD 550’s being an entirely valid choice. But the general gaming public is not going to notice a drastic difference in sound quality, which makes the $229.95 price feel a little hard to justify.

Even just as far as open-back options go, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro also produces a natural and balanced sound, but has an MSRP of $199.99. It’s also wired but provides a “broadcast quality” omnidirectional microphone, and its audio can be customized through iCue, with various presets available, designed with gaming and streaming in mind. Of course, if money isn’t an issue, and you want an alternative to Sennheiser’s HD560S that’s more optimized f✅or comfort and sound, then by all means add this to your gaming and music listening setup. I’m just not entirely convinced there’s enough value to gain from the HD 550 when there’s plenty more affordable, and feature-heavy wired headsets out there today.

How I tested the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones

For over two weeks, I tested the Sennheiser HD 550 headphones for gaming by making them my new go-to pair of cups for my PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and every device imaginable. During that time, when not completing Tape 2 of Lost Records on the PS5, or playing through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I was using the headphones to complete my daily tasks in Marvel Rivals, and rack up as many MVP matches as Cloak and Dagger as I could on the PS5 and PC.

During times when I actually put both the DualSense controller and my Steam Deck down, the HD 550 became my go-to pair of headphones to catch up with anime like season two of Spy X Family, and get through the last season of You on Netflix. I also used them to listen to game soundtracks I had on vinyl on my AudioTechnica record player, to get that full audiophile experience. Additionally, I used the wired headphones with my PC to listen to Irish rappers Kneecap on Spotify, alongside the OST to the game, Lost Records, which became a running theme of this review. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming are full to the brim with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best headsets for Nintendo Switch, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, if you’re after a pair of cups with one of your beloved gaming headsets in mind.

What are gaming headset audio drivers?

Before I get into the real meat of comparing 40mm to 50 mm-sized drivers, it's worthwhile explaining what they are to begin with. Audio drivers are the little speakers found within your headsets, and they're found in everything from the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wire𓃲less, to the plethora of cheap, off-brand pairs of cups clogging up popular online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. These compact speakers are an integral part of your gaming audio tech, as they convert electrical signals from your device into sound waves, so you can hear all the action from your favorite games - and all the Netflix TV bingeing in between.

Theꦜ quality of soun🅠d produced by each audio driver can be affected by a number of factors, including how and what the diaphragm, magnet, and voice coils are made from, the type of driver, and, as you might have guessed, its size.

40mm vs 50mm: What's the difference?

To put it frankly, the larger the size of the audio driver, the more space there is for air (and the sound vibrations that travel within it) to move around. This means that gaming headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Blackshark V2 Pro have richer, more powerful-sounding lower frequencies thanks to their larger 50mm drivers.

This can make gaming headsets with larger drivers ideal for everyday use, as they can keep up with any powerful bass found in a lot of different genres of music. However, that doesn't mean they're of a better quality, just that they tend to handle bass a lot better than headsets with 40mm audio drivers. Most recently, I tested the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Wireless V2 headset, and I was taken aback by how its 50mm drivers handled the spooky low-pitched sounds of games like Dead by Daylight, and that's all because that size of driver is better equipped to handle the 20Hz and 250Hz range of lower frequencies.

There are far more important factors that go into the quality of a headset's audio. But how bass is handled is the main difference that sets 40mm and 50mm audio drivers apart. While 50mm drivers may handle bass better, it comes at a caveat that headsets with larger drivers may themselves be larger in size, and may not be as well-equipped to produce the best-sounding treble and mid frequencies, like the澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: Logitech Astro A50 X with its 40mm drivers.

40mm remains the most commonly sized driver you'll find in most modern gaming headsets, and that's because it can not only produce a great sound, but it handles higher and mid frequencies well, like where the dialogue of spoken characters in games may be placed. My go-to PS5 headset, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless uses a 40mm driver, so I can hear high-pitched announcements from Galactica in Marvel Rivals as clear as day, which has helped me claim that MVP status at the end of a match more than once.

If you prioritize a clear-sounding audio for your headset, pi💜ckiꦆng out pairs with 40mm is ideal. However, those who want that extra bit of power and punchy bass are better off sticking with headsets with 50mm drivers instead. Neither is better than the other, it's all about preference in the end.

Bigger is not always better

The size of your gaming headset's audio driver does not instantly mean that it's of better sound quality than other headsets out there. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the best in the game right now and is still sporting 40mm-sized drivers. Bigger does not always mean better.

In the context of gaming headsets, bigger drivers mean there's more space for the sound waves to travel, which can increase the quality and power of your bass. But not everyone is going to prefer their soundstages to be deep and bassy like that of the Corsair Virtuoso Max - and so sticking with a 40mm option, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X Chroma, which can handle trebles, and character dialogue will make more sense.

No matter if you're looking for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset or a pair you can use to switch between platforms, the biggest brands in gaming audio🍌 tech are releasing pairs with 40mm and 5♋0 mm-sized audio drivers each day, so there's plenty to choose from.

Just remember that this is one piece of the puzzle when it comes to finding the right headset for you. Connectivity, battery life, comfort levels, design, compatibility, and price all play vital role꧟s as well. It's not just the size and quality of the drivers that matter, but whether its combination of features suits your needs the most.

We're rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets right here, but if you're after something better suited for your desktop, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming instead.

Today, Amazon Gaming Week has the Razer Barracuda X in its sights, as the budget headset is down to just , right now. At its full MSRP of $99.99, Razer's flagship pair of cups is already pretty affordable, but any time the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset ne💎ars its lowest ever price, it's worth making a fuss 💯about.

There's still $10 separating its current deal price from the savings I last spotted over last year's Black Friday and holiday sales. However, thanks to Amazon's gaming sales, today you can still save $20 that you can keep in your pocket for a rainy day, while getting yourself a wireless headset that🅘's decked out with Razer's sublime-sounding 40mm Razer TriForce audio drivers, a detachable high-quality mic, and the lightweight comfort the Barracuda line is known for.

Should you buy the Razer Barracuda X?

The Razer Barracuda X may be a bit older than the brand's more premium headsets, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 Pro, but this 2022 headset still packs a punch. Even with the plethora of sub $100 cups that have come and gone in the years since. If you want a high-quality wireless option for your Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, or even your mobile phone, the Barracuda X is one of your best options.

For one, it's incredibly lightweight at 250g, which is w🅺hat you want if you spend a bit longer than is healthy on your platform of choice. Or, if ꧑you happen to have a sensitive noggin' like myself. Personally, I love nothing more than an ultra-weight pair of cups that, over time, I begin to forget is on my head in the first place if it weren't for the microphone dangling in my peripheral vision, and the Barracuda X is perfect for just that.

More importantly, despite being cheaper than a brand-new pair of Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers (yes, I went there), this headset still packs in the brand's 40mm TriForce audio drivers. I've tested a lot of Razer headsets in my time, and these are the kind of drivers you'll even find on a pricier pair, like upgraded 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X Chroma, which I regularly use to play my current Switch OLED. Every game I tested with these drivers, from Marvel Rivals on the PS5, to Counter-St♏rike 2 on my gaming PC, sounded utterly heavenly, and I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker stated in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X review that she was " impress🌳ed by the balance and power" the drivers managed to conjure. Better yet, she went as far as to state it was the best audio quality she's heard in a "headset under $100 / £100", which is a pretty glowing recommendation. If that's not enough, with this 2022 model, you also get a high-quality detachable microphone, up to 50 hours of batter𝓀y life, and some comfortable foam cushioning across the cups and headband.

If you're able to spend a little bit more on your newest gaming headset and fancy a more recent model, the Razer Barracuda X Chroma is a worthy alternative. It does lose out on the wired connectivity, which is a bit of a bummer, especially as it's better to have more features and not less when it comes to an upgraded version of an existing headset.

That being said, it does add some fabulous customizable RGB lighting into the mix. Along with an improved up to 70-hour battery, which feels almost worth its / inflated price. If you prefer to keep things li🙈ghtweight and don't need any flashy extras, the Barracuda X is still worth your time, especially while it's down to $✤79 for Amazon Gaming Week. If you have your eye on it this week, just be sure not to take too long, as the juicy gaming sales all come to an end on May 4.

If you have extra cash to spare, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headset guide is full to the brim with some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best Xbox Series X headsets out there, perfect for your gaming needs, no matter your preferred platform of choice.

Thanks to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Amazon Gaming Week, it's harder than ever to ignore now that it's down to just . Around $200 for a wired-only pair of cups would normally big a big ask, but its current 30% saving seems entirely justified for one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming that not only br🍸ings a more immersive and impressive audio quality to your games, but that has booming 50mm graphene drivers packed in to boot.

If you're looking for a headset to complete your streaming setup, in particular, you're in luck. The Virtuoso Pro is not only $60 off, but it's also compatible with Elgato's Wave XLR USB interface, and its open-back nature means you can better hear your voice over whatever game you're streaming.

Even without one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gear for streaming at your disposal, this headset is still compatible with your gaming PC, PS5, and eve𓆏n the original Nintendo Switch. But incorporating it into your live-streaming setup will get you the most out of one of the most iconic headsets to come froꦅm the Virtuoso line.

Should you buy the Corsair Virtuoso Pro?

Not everyone is going to get a kick out of an open-back headset, so the Virtuoso Pro is definitely a more niche pick than a lot of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets you might be more familiar with. But these can come in real handy, whether you want a richer, more immersive sound or a headset designed with streaming in mind.

Each cup of the Virtuoso Pro comes with triangular-shaped grills, which allow the sound from the 50mm graphene drivers to flow from. This is the basic principle of any open-back headset, as the lack of an enclosed design gives the audio vibrations of your favorite games more space to breathe. Our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker explained in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro review that this makes it "sound fantastic" as it allowed for a wider soundscape and an "incredibly natural" listening experience.

Whether it was exploring the neon-lit world of Cyberpunk 2077 or playing through Starfield, Tabitha explained that the Pro provides a "solid level of directional audio" which is also heightened by the 50mm graphene drivers. While they can bring your PC, PS5, or even Nintendo Switch game worlds to life, they also come in handy for streaming as the universal 3.5mm jack can be popped into gear like Elgato's Wave XLR USB interface.

The open-back design also means you can not only hear your friends chatting away more clearly, but you can also hear yourself speak. Sure, a lot of high-powered headsets come with audio monitoring for that very reason. But being able to hear the natural cadence of your voice, without the audio becoming too busy and overbearing with the extra audio sources, can go a long way in making your chatting sound natural, and therefore more pleasant, to your li🤪ve-streaming audience.

Open-back headsets do have their faults. With audio spilling out of either cup, high-powered external microphones may pick up your audio. Plus, just like general audio spillage, they might be a bit annoying to any friends or anyone you live with in tight quarters with.

If, like me, you like the robust built quality of Corsair tech, but prefer a wireless alternative, there is always the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max. This is the latest in the entirely line, and switches things up entirely as it's not only closed-back, but also has Bluetooth and 2.4GHz options available. Just like its Pro headset brethren, it's also one of the most impressive PC headsets out there, producing some of the finest audio that's ever befallen my ears.

The Virtuoso Max also has a detachable mic, so you can easily pair it with one 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best microphones for streaming, to create the ultimate Twitch setup. Of course, even with its current , it's a lot more exp𓄧ensive. If you've already spent a small fortune carefully upgrading your streaming tech, the current Amazon Gaming Week deal on th🐈e Virtuoso Pro makes a lot more sense - just be sure to grab it before this week of sales ends on May 4.

If the Corsair Virtuoso Pro doesn't sound like the right fit for you, our澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best wireless gaming headsets guide is full to the brim with some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, so you're bound to find the perfect pair for your console of choice.

Right now, you can grab the Corsair Virtuoso Max for , saving you 24% off its MSRP of $329.99. Not only is this a limited time deal, but it's also a return to a lowest ever price for one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets I've ever had the p🌺leasure of popping on my head.

Sure, earlier last month, I also spotted the wireless headset drop to its record low, so this discount isn't exactly a rarity. That being said, if one of my favorite bits of gaming tech (for both the PC and the PS5) gets a considerable amount of cash sliced off, I'm gonna want to make a fuss about it. Especially when you save $80 off and get🔯 one of the best-sounding and best-looking, headsets out there today.

Should you buy the Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless headset?

I review gaming headsets for a living, so right now my PC desk is just a sea of boxes, cables, and 2.4GHz dongles left over from the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming available today. Yet, even though I barely have time to return to my preferred bits of gaming tech between testing the latest pair of cups, I've been returning to the Corsair Virtuoso Max whenever I can.

Whether I'm clocking in more hours on Disney Dreamlight Valley on the PC or completing my dailies on Marvel Rivals on the PS5, it's Corsair's premium headset I want to use. But as one of the priciest headsets available with an MSRP of $329.99, it's not always the easiest to recommend. It's not that its price doesn't feel justified, as you're getting its 50mm Custom Graphene audio drivers, which sound absolutely sublime, one of the best detachable headset mics I've talked into, Dolby Atmos spatial audio support, compatibility with the PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, mobile platforms, and ANC to boot. But getting all that for $249.99 today, a price more typical of the best mid-range headsets, is even better.

Not only does the headset sound impressive, especially when you're playing a Dolby Atmos compatible game like Sea of Thieves, and it feels like you're really sailing the seven seas, but it looks great too. In fact, I'd argue it's one of the best-looking gaming headset designs out there, especially due to its shiny metal cups, which also double up as scrollable on-board wheel controls. By twisting the left cup, you can adjust the volume of your games, and you remap the right cup to control whatever you see fit.

Its customizable lighting around each cup are so bright and eye-catching that they look like something straight out of a Kubrick film. These rings can be customized, just like the audio, through iC𝓰ue. And if you happen to already own a Corsair gaming keyboard, or mouse, you can sync up your Corsair-branded tech ecosystem and turn your PC setup into a synchronized light show.

If the Virtuoso Max is a little out of your price range but you don't want to deviate away from the brand, there's always the Corsair Void Wireless V2. The headset may be on the polar opposite side, as far as price goes, but the / (at Amazon) budget pair of cups still manages to provide that robust Corsair quality, a high-quality mic and impressive custom 50mm Neodymium audio drivers, despite the low cost.

It's also still got some customizable RGB lighting, which you can play around with via iCue. Sure, the strips of lighting are a bit more subtle than on the Virtuoso Max, and definitely not as bright, but if you're gaming headset must have that gamerfied look, then at least you aren't missing out. But if you're yearning for something that's premium in just about every aspect, this current Corsair Virtuoso Max discounౠt is a no-brainer.

If the Corsair Virtuoso Max doesn't sound like the right fit, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headset guide is full to the brim with some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, so you're bound to find the perfect pair for your platform of choice.

When I finally popped the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds in and discovered not just the remarkable sound quality they could muster, but that a pair of high-quality buds out there existed, and felt comfortable to wear, it was music to my ears. At $159.99 / £159.99, these compact little buds don't come cheap, and are up there with Apple AirPod pricing, which would rightfully be a deal-breaker for many. Yet, when compared to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets, they sit within the mid-range price range, and are undoubtedly more convenient due to t🥂heir com𝐆pact size, and sound almost on par with their mid-range rivals.

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds come with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity (via the dongle, which sits inside the case), making them compatible with just about every console I threw their way - from the PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck. They're also decked out with noise-canceling to boot, which has come in a pinch when I want to get lost in my latest game obsession, or some tunes on the go. If that's not enough, the included case ca𝄹n be charged via its USB-C port or with a supported wireless charger, which is just the cherry on top of 🐬this already high-quality gaming earbud cake.

Whether I'm curled up in bed with my Steam Deck, in the living room with my big TV and PS5 at the ready, or even if I'm just out and about listening to my favorite Spotify playlist, the Game Buds are with me. They've become as much of a necessity as my phone, something I didn't quite think would ever be the case. When playing my beloved Sony console, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset I reach for time and time again is the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. That's thanks in part to its astoundingly great-sounding 40mm Neodymium drivers, which lend themselves to everything I play, from Marvel Rivals to Sea of Thieves, to my favorite game as of typing, Master Detective Archives Rain Code.

Never did I think that the brand could take its booming audio and fit it in a petite pair of buds, and I'm half right. The 6mm drivers of the Game Buds aren't anything on those of the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, and definitely not the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but nevertheless, their quality is still pretty remarkable. Other earbuds I've tested tend to sound like I'm hearing over-spill from a stranger's audio on public transport, not that they're an inch away from my eardrum. But, each time I had the Game Buds nice and snug in my ears, my favorite games sounded almost as great as they do on my favorite headsets.

They aren't the first earbuds I've ever tested, but the quality that oozes from every inch of these little buds is still impressing me. It's not just the sound that continues to blow me away, but I'm still taken aback but how comfortable they are. There's been several instances where I've popped them in to c🌊atch up on some YouTube video essays, only to wake up the next day and realise I've had them in all night. I totally don't recommend that, especially to keep your ear health intact, but it's not hard to forget they're in your ears in the first place.

The Game Bud's convivence is like music to my ears

One of the biggest factors that made me take out my everyday pair of headphones in exchange for the Game Buds was its case. Not only is its design pretty sleek, with its softened rounded edges, but it can be charged wirelessly, which in turn changes the buds. Each night, I can pop the buds on a wireless mat or the wireless pad of my phone charger, and that's enough to keep them full for the day ahead. With the Qi wireless case, you get a bout 10 hours of charge, which isn't the 60 hours I'm used to with the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, but it does the job.

On top of all that, the buds themselves actually have physical buttons, instead of tap-sensitive controls. This could be a negative for anyone used to other earbuds on the market, but I'm always an advocate for something tangible to press, and they work as intended. If you're considering making the change from wearing a gaming headset every day, they can still take getting used to. Especially as there's a range of combinations which will do different things - from turning on and off ANC, to switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz. They can even be remapped to your liking, too, if you have the SteelSeries Arctis software at hand.

That leads into one of the best aspects of these little buds, which has made them a key part of my gaming setup, no matter the platform - the Arctis app. I get that having to make space for it sounds like a pain, but it's become of of the most highly used apps on my Samsung S24, as it's full of audio presets for just about every game I play. SteelSeries has worked alongside developers to create finely tuned audio settings that you can toggle through in seconds, and the Dead by Daylight one is easily my favorite from the lot.

Without it, the buds bring out the creepy atmosphere of my favorite modern horror game, regardless. But with it turned on, I can better hear every footsteps killer mains take. I swear it's even 𝓡contributed to me escaping more matches than normal, and I'm not the best DBD player. Popping on ANC on top of that can make the game utterly terrifying, even ༺in the middle of the day.

While I've truly fallen in love with the Arctis Game Buds, they're wear sensors can get a little annoying. These are built-in to register when you've actually placed them in your ears, and for the most part, they work fine. But if I'm laying back in bed, watching YouTube or Disney Plus on my iPad, I expect the sensors to trigger at least a a few times despite the fact I haven't moved an inch, which can start to get frustrating.

The only other issue for me, was that multiple people in my life regularly try to steal my Game Buds for themselves😼. I mistakenly let both my fiancé and my🍌 mom give them a try, especially as they both also come from a lifetime of preferring headsets and headphones, above all else. Now, it looks like I may need to invest in multiple pairs come this year's holidays.

Fortunately fo😼r me, SteelSeries drops the price of the Arctis audio tech throughout the year, so I might be able to save some cash in the proce😼ss. Better yet, SteelSeries has engraving options for the gaming earbuds straight from their website, which I wish I had known before finally receiving my own pair.

If you aren't quite convinced the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds are for you, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, and even the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets to find the perfect pair for the console of your choice.

What makes the Corsair Void Wireless V2 stand out the most is undoubtedly its powerful custom 50mm Neodymium drivers. Typically, I'd expect to see 50mm drivers on some of the most premium headsets, like that of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max. Despite being almost three times the price of the Void V2, it has custom 50mm drivers of its own, but the brand still managed to pack in a high-quality sound in a more affordable and lightweight form factor.

The Void V2 is also a noticeable step-up from previou🐓s headsets in the Void line, featuring up to 60 hours of battery life compared to the 16 hours of the Corsair Void Elite. The next significant change comes with its RGB placement, as the flashy logos have now been exchanged for subtle strips of RGB-lighting on each front-facing edge of the headset. Just like with most Corsair gaming tech, these can be customized on iCue, along w𝔍ith the sound, making these ideal if your PC is your preferred platform of choice.

I was fortunate enough to take a look at this headset, and as per my 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Wireless V2 review, I was incredibly impressed by the sound this headset could produce. After recently testing other budget pairs, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:OXS Storm G2, I was expecting sub-par audio and other sub-par features to match, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The quality of the Virtuoso Max, which has cemented itself as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming I've had across my testing bench so far, and that top-of-the-ꦯline Corsair quality was all over the Void V2. At 303g, they were so lightweight I could play Marvel Rivals for hours and almost forgot they were on my head. Even the microphone, although not detachable and without a mute button, received compliments from friends while we started the brand-🍬new season in the hero shooter.

Despite being a budget headset, unlike that of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X, there are no wired options there, which could be a deal-breaker for some. However, if you're happy using Bluetooth or have a spare port for the accompanying 2.4GHz dongle, the Corsair Void Wireless V2 is an ideal choice for your PC, PS5, or your Nintenꦺdo Switch, and it's available right now for / at Amazon and selected retailers

If the Corsair Void Wireless V2 doesn't sound like the right pair for you, our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets is full of some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets that are worth checking out.

Key specs

Design

The Corsar Void V2 gaming headset’s design is pretty familiar if you’ve already spent time with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Elite. The Void V2 comes with the same diamond-shaped cups, coated in a matt-black plastic finish. Both the densely padded foam cushions and the padded headband also come with a fabric mesh coating, which, while it is a bit of a cat-hair magnet, managed to keep its cool even af♎ter hours upon hours of sweat-induced sessions pla🧸ying Marvel Rivals on the PS5 and PC.

The onboard buttons are minimal, with🉐 all being regulated to the left cup. There, you can find the power button, which can also be pressed again to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz mode. Below that is a custom button, which can be remapped via iCue. Along the bottom edge of the same cup, you can find the USB-C port, along with a plastic volume switch that can be flicked back and forth.

The yokes also keep their design from their predecessor, attaching just to the back of each cup. This gives the headset a little more give, especially at the front-facing side, which is great in theory. Yet in practice, it meant cups were alw𒆙ays putting extra pressure on either side of my glasses. If you aren▨’t a glasses wearer (lucky you), then this won't factor into your comfort levels. But for me, it meant that my frames were pushed against my headset, making them sit at a weird angle.

Not only did my glasses get in the way, but the new placement of the RGBs also made me start looking for my contact lenses. For the Void Wireless V2, Corsair opted to swap the RGB-lip of logos of the Void Elite with two RGB strips. These strips sit at the front-facing edges of the headset, which, in low-lighting scenarios, bounced off the edges of my lenses. It’s worth noting that I don’t have that fancy green coating to my glasses, so that may help put a stop to seeing a rainbow lightshow in your peripheral vision when gaming in the dark. Fortunately, you can also pop up iCue and turn off the RGBs, but it does mean having your PC ready, as there’s no app equivalent for now.

Despite this extra pressure on my glasses, they weren’t entirely uncomfortable by any means. Their 303g chassis meant they felt light as a cloud on top of my head, which was a relief after recently spending time with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless and their 417g of added weight. Some light-weight budget headsets have the tendency to feel cheap, but Corsair brought along the high-quality I’ve come to expect from their premium headsets to this budget-friendly pair, and overall, the plastic form f🍎actor felt incredibly robust and held up even after being in my clumsy grasp for multiple weeks.

Unlike the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, this budget headset doesn’t have a detachable microphone. Instead, the omnidirectional mic sits flush with the left cup until f🎃lipped down🤡 for when you want to chat to your bff’s on Discord, or during phone calls and video chatting. In the past, I’ve noticed headsets with a similar $119.99 / £99.99 price range can have cheap mics that flop around every time you move an inch, but thankfully, that’s not the case here. The Void Wireless V2 mic has a really rigid boom arm, and the mic itself features a textured grip to make it easier to grasp at a moment's notice. While unfortunately there’s no mic mute button, that grip at least made it easy to quickly grab and push the mic away so my friends didn’t have to hear my nasty eating noises when I wanted to have a quick bite during rounds of Marvel Rivals.

Features

The Void Wireless V2 isn’t bursting at the seams with features, but it does have pretty much all you’d really want if you’re spending a little above $100, with some exceptions. Just like the Corsair Void RG꧃B Elite, this is a wireless headset, and that means it has Bluetooth and 2.4GHz support via its accompanying dongle, and that’s it. That still means you can connect it up to your PS5, Nintendo Switch (and upcoming Nintendo Switch 2), PC, and Steam Deck, so it’s not a huge loss. Yet, it can be a bit of a bummer to hear if you prefer your budget cups to have a 3.5mm connection and hate messing around with Bluetooth with your Ninty hardware.

I was quick to forget it lacked any wired connectivity options when it came to its audio features. The headset comes with custom 50mm Neodymium drivers, which I’d expect to find on Corsair’s high-end headsets, and not a budget pair like the Void Wireless V2. Not to mention, it also features Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which can be turned on through the audio settings of the PS5 or via the Dolby Atmos app on PC. So long as you're playing a compatible game, like Sea of Thieves, this unlocks the full potential of the powerful audio drivers, and pops the sound all around you in a 3D space, which is an impressive level of immersion to be found on such an affordable pair of cups.

Of course, as a Corsair accessory, with the Void Wireless V2 in tow, you can use iCue to tweak the audio settings and the updated RGB lighting. As briefly mentioned above, the Void Wireless V2 opts for two strips of lighting at the front-facing edge of either cup, instead of flashy lit-up logos of its predecessor. Through iCue’s built-in lighting effects, these can be changed to static colors, or you can pick through pre-made lighting types from a wave of rainbow colors, to a raindrop effect, which cycles through different blue hues. The customizability for such a small surface area of RGB lighting is appreciated, however, iCue is still just as frustrating to use as ever before, so I pretty much left them as is.

Having the RGB on by default will drain the battery faster than normal. But with up to 70 hours, you shouldn’t really notice a huge difference. The 70 hours of juice seems pretty accurate, as other than the full charge I gave the 🐼Void Wireless V2 right out the box, I꧃ only had to charge it once in over two weeks, and that was after multiple hours of Marvel Rivals, Dead by Daylight, my current-gaming obsession known as ‘Master Detective Archives Rain Code’ and listening to hours upon hours of music while working.

Performance

With custom 50mm Neodymium drivers in its midst, you can bet the Void Wireless V2 sounds the part. Not too long ago, I was taken aback by the Corair Virtuoso Max Wireless headset and the quality of sound that its 50mm Graphene audio drivers could muster, so it shouldn’t come as no surprise that the custom 50mm Neodymium impressed me, even in this more budget-friendly form factor.

With the brand-new season of Marvel Rivals around the corner, I used the Corsair pair of cups as I got in some valuable practice with the hero shooter, on both PS5 and PC. Racking up my kills as Starlord, and charging forth stampede after stampede of squirrels as Squirrel Girl were easy to do on the headset, which gave a nice balance to everything on screen. Whether it was the cheeky dialogue at the start of every match, Galacta’s high-pitched announcements, or the energetic and empowering score, the low, mids, and high ranges sounded clear as day. On PC, I could get the headset a little louder, and use one of the many audio pre-sets which helped get that booming bass I prefer, but it still sounded just as detailed and balanced on the PS5, even without any customization at my fingertips.

It was playing Dead by Daylight where the sound quality truly blew me away. During my two weeks of testing, the Blood Moon event was running, which changed the logo at start-up. The instant the updated DBD logo changed to blood red, this creepy sound effect was triggered, which made me jump off the edge of the sofa. The high-quality headset made the squelching audio sound so clear I had to take a moment to realise it was coming from the game, and that someone wasn’t sitting right next to me trying to give me a scare. Of course, this headset features Dolby Atmos support, which also helped make Dead by Daylight, and games like Sea of Thieves sound all the more immersive.

When running about my 2-manned sloop, the spatial audio made the creeks and sounds of the waves splashing against my ship sound like I was truly there. At this point, I can’t quite imagine taking to the seven seas without Dolby Atmos, and the Void Wireless V2 really helped bring Rare’s game to life. As did the quality of the omnidirectional microphone, which flips down from the left cup of the headset. Sure, for a mic on a $119.99 / £99.99 headset, it wasn’t going to give streaming microphones like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Shure MV7i a run for its money, but I regularly got compliments from friends on how clear, and easi♛ly I came through, even against the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro mic my partner was using during the same Marvel Rival gaming sessions on the PS5.

As an omnidirectional mic, it will pick up sounds other than your speaking voice, which did become a bit of an issue. If your PC, PS5, or Nintendo Switch is tucked away in a separate room from loud noises, then it won’t be quite noticeable. However, I had to turn down the gain of the mic through the Discord app at its lowest possible setting to e🔯nsure it picked up my voice, and my voice only, especially as my partner’s PC is in the same room as my beloved PS5.

The only other issue that really affected the headset’s performance in any way was the cup's tendency𝔍 to lean forward. There’s no noise canceling to be found with the Void Wireless V2, but each time the headset decided it wanted to lean slightly forward, it meant my ears weren’t completely covered, so I wasn’t able to hear the full power that the 50mm drivers can muster. A tighter clamping force may have sorted this, but honestly, I'm not a fan of its oblong-shaped ear cups. I know this headset is a step up from the Void Elite, and so it makes sense to have it carry on the same shaped cups from its predecessor, but had they included the large glasses-friendly circular cups of the Virtuoso Max, I’m wilꦯling to bet it’d have rectified the issue.

With the mic stuck to the headset, this isn’t one you can take with you out and about, though it might be tempting with its lightweight design. However, it still lent itself to listening to music, no matter if it was pop, or even nu-metal. I listened to a ton of Charlie XCX to see how the bass could handle the drops in🌃 tracks like ‘Von Dutch’, and there was no distortion, no matter how loud it got. The Void Wireless V2 also came in handy when 🌄catching up with season two of the anime, Solo Leveling, and brought the action scenes, and catchy opening and ending tracks, to life thanks to its trusty 50mm drivers.

Should you buy the Corsair Void Wireless V2 gaming headset?

If you don’t want to splash out hundreds of dollars on your gaming headset, Corsair’s Void Wireless V2 is up there with some of the best-sounding headsets out there right now. The brand has managed to produce a low-cost headset at $119.99 / £99.99, which still manages to pile on some powerful 50mm Neodymium audio drivers, spatial audio, and a great-sounding mic that I’d expect from their flagship headsets instead.

No matter if I was playing the PC, PS5, Steam Deck, or the original Nintendo Switch, the Void Wireless V2 made everything sound its best, and it was incredibly easy to set up to boot. I would recommend this more to PC players, however, due to its dependence on iCue for audio and lighting customization. Plus, if you’re already in the Corsair ecosystem, adding this headset into the mix will mean you can sync up all your lighting to your Corsair-branded gaming keyboard, and gaming mouse, while only having to rely on one software (outside of the Dolby Atmos app).

That being said, it is missing any wired connectivity options, making other low-cost headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X a valid alternative. Sure, the Barracuda X is missing the booming quality of 50mm audio drivers, but its 40mm Razer ཧTriForce drivers can still pack a punch. Better yet, you can regularly find it far cheaper than $100 during big sales events, due to its age. If you want a little more firepower, that RGB lighting, prefer oblong-shaped cups, and want the sound quality that rivals even the best Corsair headsets on the market, the Corsair Void Wireless V2 ticks all those boxes - just maybe give it a skip if you wear glasses every single day.

How I tested the Corsair Void Wireless V2 gaming headset

In the over two weeks that I had the Corsair Void V2 gaming headset, I racked up the hours in Marvel Rivals (especially as season two finally debuted), Dead by Daylight, Sea of Thieves, and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code on the PS5. As I lived and breathed the budget headset, I also played Marvel Rivals on the PC so I could accurately compare the sound across different platforms, and tested games like Counter-Strike 2. On the original Nintendo Switch, I played Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy (via Super Mario 3D All-Stars) and played Spiritfarer with the headset on the Steam Deck.

Outside of gaming, I also watched a ton of TV streaming apps, using the headset to catch up on the second season of Solo Leveling on Crunchyroll, and listened to a plethora of different music genres via Spotify - from Djo’s new album ‘The Crux’ to Charlie XCX. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If the Corsair Void Wireless V2 gaming headset isn’t for you, check out our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets to find the perfect pair of cups for your favorite console.

If you were lucky enough to catch it in last year's Black Friday sales, you'd have seen it drop as low as $79.99, a record for the wireless headset. At 23% off, that's not as impressive, but any time it drops below that sweet $100 spot, I can't help but sing its praises. Especially as it doesn't like to stay at 𝄹this price for long.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset?

Every single time I clock that the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless gaming headset has any kind of significant discount, I feel the urge to sing its praises. Currently, I have the Arctis Nova 5P (the PlayStation version), and it single-handedly remains one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets I've had the pleasure of placing on my noggin - and that's coming from someone who tests at least 2-3 brand-new headsets every month.

The first thing that'll instantly grab you, whether you have the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, the PlayStation, or Xbox model, is just how lightweight it is. If you're fed up with a bulky pair of cups digging into your skull, or are prone to migraines like me, then you'll be happy to know I never have any issues even a🃏fter hours upon hours playing Dead by Daylight on the PS5, or embrassingly racking up my hours in zero-build Fortnite matches.

At ‎266.7g, I even regularly find myself forgetting I'm using it at all - though the booming sound from its 40mm custom-designed Neodymium Magnetic Drivers is a pretty stark reminder. SteelSeries's long list of gaming audio tech is known for its impressive sound, and the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless doesn't disappoint. If and when I'm testing out a pretty sub-par audio device, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:OXS Storm G2, it's a relief to switch back to this headset. Not to mention, this headset deals with the🍃 same drivers as its premium counterpart, the Arctis Nova Pro꧋ Wireless, so you're pretty much dealing with the best your games can sound.

If you care about sound, out of the box, this headset is an easy one to recommend. But the free-to-download SteelSeries app opens a realm of easy-to-select audio pre-sets, which just makes things even better. Hooking up to your smartphone to use them is easy, too, thanks to the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle that comes with the headset. From there on out, you have loads of custom audio profiles, some made officially in collaboration with developers and Esports personalities. If you love your Dead by Daylight as much as me, that pre-set is to die for (hopefully not literally if you're a survivor main). I swear, I was able to escape the killer's clutches far more with it turned on than I was without it.

Additionally, the mic on this headset is one of the best I've ever used on a gaming headset. In fact, it's a little too good as over Discord, my friend could hear my quiet whimpering, which let them know exactly where I was hiding during our 'friendly' co-op DBD matches. It's not detachable, which could be a deal-breaker for some. But it is retractable and is so flush with the edge of the cup when fully in the headset that you can take the Arctis Nova 5 out with you for listening to music, and you won't look silly - trust me, I do that on the regular!

If you have a bit more cash to spend than $99.90, you could grab the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arct💛is Nova Pro Wireless, and I wouldn't judge you. In fact, I'd recommend it more as not only are you getting that same high-end audio and mic quality, but a better battery too. The hot-swappable battery feature of the Pro Wireless outdoes the up to 60 hours of the 5 Wireless easily, and it's even more suited for multi-platform players. Alternatively, there's also the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which is a step-up from the 5 Wireless and bring simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz to the table, alongside the option for a wired connection too.

Yet, if the "under $100" part of my headline is what caught your attention, I have a feeling that the over $300 price tag of the premium option might not be your jam. Just don't ⛄blame me if picking up this current Arctis Nova 5 Wireꦅless deal gets you curious about other SteelSeries headsets - as it's a slippery (albeit fantastic-sounding) slope.

If your Xbox is feeling envious, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox X headset list is full to the brim of the best gaming headsets for the Microsoft machine, and we've got plenty of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets gathered, too, if you're more of a fan of Ninty's older handheld. Our guide for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming is also overflowing with our alternative top picks, which would also sound the part alongside Sony's current-gen pixel-pusher.

Naturally, this premium quality comes with a premium price. The Virtuoso Max Wireless costs $329.99 / £280, which is pricier than nearly all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets I’ve come across so far. For console players, particularly those that stick to the PS5 or Nintendo Switch, this price could be a big ask - as while it will bring o𓄧ut the rich and nuanced sounds of any game you through its way, all its customization, including its sound and lighting, relies on having access to software like iCue and the Dolby Atmos which are 🙈unique to PC and Mac platforms.

If you’re mainly in the market for a P🎉C headset, and you don’t mind giving up tailoring your audio and lighting setup when switching to consoles, this is one of nicest that will grace your head. Sure, it’s also one of the heaviest, and the lackluster foam padding doesn’t do much to combat that. But the mild aches and pains are easy to forget when you ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhear and see all that the Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless headset has to offer.

Key specs

Design

It’s difficult not to get carried away when yapping on about the design of the Virtuoso Max Wireless headset. For this review, I was provided with the White SKU, and as soon as I got my hands on it, I couldn’t help but grin at the sight of its sleek, sophisticated appearance. This is mostly due to its hard-to-miss shining metal cups and yoke, which make this headset stand out from the plastic chassis of other PC headsets I’ve had across my testing bench.

Even the top of the yoke looks monumentally classy thanks to its Corsair embossed logo, which is almost as reflective as its LEDs are bright. The sleek design continues as the yoke attaches to the light gray leather headband, which features the Corsair text logo subtly engraved across it. It feels a bit silly getting this worked up over the look of a gaming headset, but it was refreshing to only test a White headset, but one that has such a robust chassis.

The high-quality build of the Virtuoso Max impressed me down to the gleaming metal cups, patterned control wheels, USB-C detachable microphone, and the matching light gray cushioned headband and ear cushions. Even the onboard controls don’t feel intrusive and contribute to the professional appearance by remaining tucked✅ away on the bottom of either cup - which in꧒cludes the wireless mode switch, USB-C mic port, action switch, custom button, and USB-C port for charging.

All of this fanning over the headset’s look was before 🌊I even flicked it on, which only cemented it as one of my favorite gaming headsets in looks alone. The six individual rings of both cups light up white one by one, simulating the initial flickering of an overhead office light. Even without customizing them through iCue, these rings felt like a monumental step up from the Corsair Virutuoso RGB Wireless headset, which instead opts for customizable Corsai🎀r logos. The Virtuoso Max did take away one thing from its RGB counterpart, and that was the small LED ring on the detachable microphone, which adds an extra bit of flashy flair to an already great-looking bit of tech.

The LED on the microphone will light up red if you’ve purposefully (or accidentally) pressed the mute mic button. This LED-lit classy aesthetic is even represented on the accompanying 2.4GHz wireless dongle. The dongle has a Corsair logo, which will light up white when in use and light up red when it’s connected but the headset isn’t turned on, in case you need a little reminder.

This high-end premium design does come at a cost, and I’m not just meaning it’s brow-raising $330 MSPR. This is a heavy headset, and its tight clamping force doesn’t help in making it a more comfortable experience. I found myself rꦆegularly moving it across different areas of my head every half hour to help with blood flow and give my skull some relief. For me, it’s array of high-quality features make it a small price to pay, but if you have an especially sensitive head or are prone to migraines, you may want to stick to a lighter headset alternative.

Features

The features of the Virtuoso Max are vast, but one of the first things I noticed during my early time testing the headset was its unique onboard controls. It has all you would expect of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets, including a ‘wireless mode switch’ that also acts as the power button. With simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, pushing this forward will not only turn the headset on but have you instantly connected should the 2.4GHz dongle be plugged into your PC or PS5. Holding the switch further another notch will activate Bluetooth pairing mode, and it is one of the fastest I’ve ever witnessed. Whether it was hooking the headset up to my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, both handhelds recognized the Bluetooth in seconds. Yet, it was the volume control wheel that really drew my attention.

Just to the side of the wireless mode switch, there’s an engraved metal pattern along the entire outer cup. This isn’t just for show and is there to give you a bit of grit as you turn the makeshift ear-wheel to control the volume. This volume wheel is one of my favorite aspects of the headset, as it feels far more convenient than feeling for any volume controls, which can often be small and hard to find on other headsets. It’s also incredibly smooth and satisfying to turn, and even after my two weeks of testing, I still feel like I’m on the set of a Kubrick sci-fi film whenever I use it to control my PS5 or PC’s system volume.

The rest of the left ear cup is home to a USB-C port for the detachable microphone. Cleverly, Corsair opted out of busying up the left side of the headset with more buttons and instead placed the mute mic on the bottom edge of the mic itself. This is noticeable the second you connect the two, as is the strong wired boom arm, which is one of the most robust I’ve used. Rather than the mic flopping around in your peripheral vision, which I experienced with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:OXS Storm G2 wireless headset, the Virutoso Max mic❀ stays exactly w꧃here you put it.

On the opposite cup, you can find the custom button, which is used to turn on (and off) ANC if you hold it down for a few seconds, along with the action switch. The action switch ended up becoming one of my favorite controls on the headset, namely as it lets you skip music tracks in apps like Spotify - something I do far too often. Now, instead of begrudgingly having to make the effort to open Spotify on my phone or on my PC to skip a few tracks, I could just flick it back and forth and save myself some valuable time. The USB-C port for charging sits just under this button on the right cup, and its wheel can also be used to adjust your microphone’s audio monitoring.

The features of the Virtuoso Max don’t just shine where its onboard controls are concerned, but it’s also decked out with customization in both sound and lighting. By downloading Corsair’s iCue software, you can make some little tweaks to the headset’s lighting brightness, turn on and off its ANC, assign whether each wheel adjusts the system or Bluetooth volume when turned, enable or disable voice prompts, disable the mic’s LED, turn up the mic’s gain or just glance at the remaining battery of the headset instead.

iCue is typically a bit of a tedious and frustrating-to-use bit of proprietary software, and that doesn’t change with the Virtuoso Max. But the fact I was able to actually change the image of the headset to the white SKU I was testing in the review was a nice added detail that made me appreciate iCue more this time around. Fortunately, changing the headset’s lighting was also straightforward, and just like with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair K65𓂃 P🔯ro Mini RGB gaming keyboard, you have a range of lighting effects to utilize, from the bright blues of the “watercolor” lighting type to the more gamerified-looking “spiral rainbow.” For a nice added touch, you can set both cups to use the🌊 same effects or assign them individually, but for the most part, I stuck with the default white as they kept up the professional office look of white headset.

More importantly, it’s via iCue that you’re introduced to the first set of audio features. Through the app, you can use an equalizer to switch between different audio presets, create your own, or adjust your mic sidet🌳one. iCue also contains a ‘SoundID Personalization’ feature, which provides you with an audio test to create a more personalized sound for your games. The next set of audio features comes through the Dolby Atmos app, which you have to download separately. You can select from a similar range of audio presets, which include game, movie, music, and voice modes, along with three custom slots to create your own personalised audio. Each mode comes with a range of audio settings to choose from, ranging from a detailed, balanced, or warm pre-sets. Naturally, as a gaming headset, the game mode also has an extra performance setting that is designed for competitive games in particular.

Performance

This headset is, by large, a PC gaming headset. It’s compatible with the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles (if you have the Xbox designed version), but its performance lends itself to the platform. This is primarily due to the fact that if you want to customize the sound, you need to use Corsair’s iCue software or the Dolby Atmos app - neither of which you can access while playing your PS5, Nintendo Switch, or Steam Deck, which I also used for testing.

That’s not to say it doesn’t sound great when paired with Sony’s current-gen console. I tested the Virutuoso Max wireless gaming headset while playing hours upon hours of Marvel Rivals, Sea of Thieves, Phasmahobia, and my still ongoing adventures with Unicorn Overlord. At first, even at full volume, the headset was pretty quiet on the PS5, but this was easily remedied by ensuring I had downloaded the latest firmware update through iCue. Afterwards, the low, mid and high range levels of each game’s soundscape sounded more full and pulled forward, which was ideal as I like my game audio loud and in-your-face.

Galacta’s high-energy narration in Marvel Rivals sounded as clear as day through the cups, and the triumphant score of the competitive hero shooter sounded fairly balanced. It was missing that boomy bass, but without an app version of iCue at my disposal, there wasn’t much I could do to fix that. This would be a common theme no m൩atter what PS5 game I played - and while nothing ever sounded bad in any way, I can’t help but wish there was an easy way to play around with iCue’s audio features on my Sony console. Fortunately, at least, with the Dolby Atmos options turned on through the PS5’s audio settings, I was able to witness the headset’s spatial audio through Sea of Thieves for the first time - which does wonders for Raꦑre’s swashbuckling masterpiece.

Again, I didn’t have the full options as per the PC Dolby Atmos app, but I could still feel like I was truly below deck in my 2-manned sloop, as the creaking of the ship sounded like it was permeating all around me. This was even better on the PC, where not only I still had access to my pirate and my ship thanks to Rare’s cross-progression, but I also had access to the various audio presets through the Dolby Atmos app which made the Sea of Thieves audio design, and stunning ost by Robin Beanland sound more full-bodied.

Of course, on PC I also had the iCue audio settings to play around with. But no matter if I tried out ‘Bass Boost’ or ‘FPS Competition, they never sounded like they lifted the audio in any positive way. The audio presets in the Dolby Atmos app, however, were fun to play around with - and I got a lot of use out of the ‘detailed’ and ‘balanced’ options found within the movie mode despite it being designed with watching media in mind. These options also lend themselves to shooters like Counter-Strike 2, which I tested out primarily when it came to putting the Virutuoxo Max through its paces on PC.

Keep in mind, I’m alright at hero shooters. When testing on the PS5, the headset’s clear and detailed soundscape made it easier to hide away from any approaching rival team members while I lurked around as Cloak and Dagger, my new Marvel Rivals main character. However, it’s been a while since I had the edge in a competitive FPS like Counter-Strike 2. That being said, being able to place the enemy team around me and hear their footsteps, which were easy to make out through the high-quality custom 50mm graphene audio drivers, made me actually enjoy an online FPS. In fact, I even alluded to the fact that I want to play even more CS2 to the delight of my partner, when it’s not typically my online game of choice.

I also used the headset when playing the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, and the higher-end of the Virtuoso Max’s sound lent itself to games like Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine, which I played via Super Mario 3D Allstars. On the Steam Deck, I tested the headset while playing A Highland Song and was able to mater the music rhythm segments thanks to not just the high-quality Bluetooth connection but also the audio excellence coming from the cups - even without iCue or the Dolby Atmos app by my side.

The audio of the Virtuoxo Max, and its various audio customizations isn’t the only thing it has going for it. The detachable microphone was also a joy to use and is one of the best microphones I’ve used in a headset to date. Just like the high-quality mic of headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the mic of this headset made my voice sound crystal clear. That’s even when fr💫antically shouting as I was left behind in a derelict spooky house in Phasmophobia, the quality of the mic remained intact.

Where the headset didn’t dazzle and amaze me, however, was when I got down to its weight. Even after the first 30 minutes of using the Virtuoso Max I had to adjust where the 417g headband was sitting on my head to relieve some pressure. Sure, it’s padded, but it’s not the softest foam, and it feels pret𝓀ty rigid compared to what you want in a premium headset, especially one of the most expensive heads🦂ets at that. Luckily, I never experienced any pain around my ears despite the equally rigid feeling of the padded foam cups. I put this down to the fact they’re large enough that even my huge ears always felt enclosed and tucked away, and actually this was a benefit when the ANC was turned on as I truly couldn’t hear anything else going on around me.

Should you buy the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless?

The Corsair Virtuoxo Max wireless high-fidelity gaming headset is not a budget-friendly pair of cups, and I firmly believe any gaming big of tech that isn’t a console should be given extra scrutiny when it sits above the $300 price threshold. That being said, its high-end price feels almost entirely justified given the full magnitude of features and quality on display with this headset - from its robust metal chassis, its high-quality audio and multi-platform compatibility.

For PC and multi-platform players, this headset is an easy recommendation. Sure, PC players will get the most out of it as it relies on software like iCue and Dolby Atmos for audio and lighting customization. Yet, even without bringing out the extra booming qualities of the headsets bass, and turning its cups into a dazzling light show, it’ll still make your PS5, Nintendo Switch, and even Steam Deck games sound sublime.

For those who prioritize battery life, and want access to audio customization without just having to use your PC, an alternative like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headse♔t would better suit your needs. It also has a similar MSRP of over $300, but if you’re lucky, you can find it discounted during Black Friday, and other big sales events. Unlike Corsair, SteelSeries’s free app means you can tailor the audio with your phone, and it’s hot swappable batteries will go further than the up to 60 hours of🦂 the Virtuoso Max wireless headset.

How I tested the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless

I spent over two weeks testing Corsair Virtuoso Max Wirelesཧs where it became my go-to device day in and day out. During that time, I ran the premium pair of cups through a gaming gauntlet of hours upon hours of Sea of Thieves, Marvel Rivals, Counter-Strike 2, and some Fortnite and Stardew Valley for good measure. I also tested it out with the Nintendo Switch to play games like Super Mario Galaxy and 💎Super Mario Sunshine through Super Mario 3D All-Stars and while playing A Highland Song on the Steam Deck.

When not gaming, I used the Virtuoso Max Wireless to watch the finale of Severance season two, along with a plethora of TV shows on streaming platforms from Apple TV to Netflix. I also listened to playlist upon playlist on Spotify, testing it with the 90s alt stylings of the Lost Records game soundtrack, a bit too much Fleetwood Mac and a range of bands and artists to see hope it coped with a range of different genres. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If the Corsair Virtuoso Max isn’t the right fit, check out our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets to find the perfect pair of cups for your favorite console.

The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless vs the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023)

If you're in the market for a brand new gaming headset but don't want to break the bank, I'd wholly recommend the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless even without its current spring deal. At full price, it's still decked out with a ton of features that I've spotted on more high-end headsets, and yet it doesn't have a higher-end price to match.

This is even the case amongst other Razer headsets. For example, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Proshares a lꦏot in common with the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed. Both sport Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity options, a 12Hz - 28kHz frequency response, and the brand's 50mm TriForce Titanium audio drivers, which are what makes the audio quality so high-tier.

Don't just take my word for it, as our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker explained in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless r🐈eview that the headset sounds excellent due to these drivers and t💃hat she was impressed by the "clarity across the mid-ranges" and its attention to detail. Yet, despite the fact that both headsets have these high-powered drivers, the Pro headset has an MSRP of $199.99, a whole $70 higher than the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed. With this current spring sale, that makes the difference in price even more substantial, with $101 now seperating the two.

It's not just the audio drivers that they have in common, either. Both headsets have the same HyperClear Super Wideband Unidirectional microphone, which is one of the best microphones I've ever used in my time as a hardware writer. No matter if I was shouting frantically in Marvel Rival as I was being torn to pieces by the rival team's Hulk or chatting away to fellow sailors in Sea of Thieves, the mic always made my voice sound crystal clear. The only real difference at play is that you can detach the mic of the Pro (2023) model, whereas you're stuck with it with this headset. That might not mean much if you're just looking for a gaming headset, but it does mean that only the Pro model can double up as a great pair of everyday headphones for music and TV streaming. That is, unless you're okay with a mic bouncing in your face as you listen to music in public.

Even the battery life is similar, with each headset able to provide up to 70 hours of playtime. The differences are there, but they're pretty nuanced and will ultimately whether or not you have a strict budget in mind. If you're desperate for a detachable mic and want the option of a sleek white colorway I'd wholly recommend the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) instead - especially as it's current deals adds a $30 saving on top of everything else.

Yet, if you like to keep your gaming accessory budget low, want the a🥂dded option of a wired connection, and aren't too bothered about the mic then the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless headset would be ideal for your PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch or even your mobile gaming needs. The fact it's now under $100 is just a nice added bonus.

If the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed wireless headset doesn't do it for you, our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets are full of more budget-friendly alternatives.

Eight-time Counter-Strike world champion, Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, stated that the headset is "perfect for FPS games", with the Esports Hall of Fame inductee further explaining that "its directional audio really stands out, making it easier to pinpoint enemies" when playing games like Counter-Strike 2. This could be down to its chonky 54mm audio drivers, which Cherry stated can "amplify key in-game sounds."

The brand has stated that the headset is available today, bu𒆙t we're still waiting for Amazon to pull through at the time of writing.

The larger the audio drivers, the better and more bassy a sound any gaming headset can produce, so it's more than impressive Cherry has crammed them into a $99.99/ £129.99 pair of cups. The wireless headset looks to be suited not just for those who love their first-person shooters, but for multi-platform players too.

The head isn't designed with Xbox players in mind, so it's multi-platform to a point. But anyone who regularly plays games on their PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and even their smartphone will be able to use it. Like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets, there's more than one wireless option at play here, with the XTRFY H3 giving you the option of using Bluetooth or its accompanying wireless dongle for a low-latency connection.

The Cherry XTRFY H3 Wireless is available is available right now, howeve🎃r, it's still listed as "currently unavailable" on Amazon. Anyone based in the UK and Europe can grab the headset f༺or , and it should be available as soon as possible for just .

The Cherry XTRFY H3 Wireless doesn't have the largest battery life you can find in any headset. As of now, that award goes to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, which can last up to 300 hours. While impressive, it does have an MSRP of $199.99 / £189.99 so it's not the most budget-friendly of options, which is what makes the Cherry XTRFY H3 Wireless that more impressive. A wireless gaming headset that lasts up to 100 hours, yet still doesn't break through that $100 price barrier, definitely makes it a headset worth keeping an eye on.

Right now, you can grab the Cherry XTRFY H3 Wireless for / £129 from Amazonꦦ, and directly from the if you're based in the UK and Europe.

If the Cherry XTRFY doesn't do it for you, check out our guides for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets to find the perfect pair of cups for your console of choice.

Earlier this year, the wireless headset saw a brief discount to $274.99, which was the cheapest I had seen it in a long time, other than during last year's Black Friday sales. But this early spring sale even beats out Black Friday (where the headset dropped to $268 for a brief time) as one of the best deals I've ever spotted for the premium pair of cups. It's even just a few dollars off its lowest ever price, which is unheard of. If you wan🌳t to prepare for a summer of gaming ahead, this rare and refreshing Pro Wireless deal is a no-brainer.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset in 2025?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is may be one of, and arguable the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset available today, but that doesn't mean it's what's best for your gaming needs. For one, it's not the most affordable headset out there, even without this incredible early spring sale. Whether it's fully priced at $349.99, or discounted down to $250, that's a considerable amount to spent on pair of cups. From the get-go you'll first need to make sure that's within your budget, before you look at it's plethora of premium features.

If your funds aren't too fussed, then the Pro Wireless is definitely worth your time. It comes with a base station, and this little device can let you simultaneously connect (via Bluetooth and 2.4GHz) to multiple consoles at a time. Instead of that tedious and monotonous process of re-connecting your headset to whatever you want to play, at a touch of a button (on the base station itself) you can switch between your console of choice. This base station is the heart and soul of the Pro Wireless, as it also opens your headset up to a ton of audio EQ settings, and offers🎀 up one of the best charging solutions found on any modern headset.

The Pro Wireless comes with two hot-swappable battery packs, and these packs can be charged using the handy base station. Instead of ensuring you have a USB-C cable to spare, you can pop one of the batteries in the device, while the other is being used by the headset itself. If and when you've used up the up to 22 hours of battery life, all it takes is swapping the batteries, and you're golden. This way, you shouldn't have to spend any time waiting around for your headset to charge - which is an absolute game changer.

The Pro Wireless isn't just a convenient headset thanks to its multi-platform compatibility and unique charging, but it has that top-tier SteelSeries quality in just about every area. The headset sports the brand's 40mm Neodymium audio drivers, which brings on a beefy and booming bass sound. Don't just take my word for it, as our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker stated in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis No🌸va Pro Wireless review that the sound is "rich and detailed and well-rounded" even right out of the box. It's also equipped with retractable ClearCast Gen 2 microphone that makes you sound crisp and clear, and still provides a comfortable, lightweight feel on the head - ideal if you see a lot of 3 AM gaming sessions coming your way this spring and you want to avoid any unwanted pain on your noggin'.

Overall though, this headset is one for the multi-platform players. If you regularly switch things up between your PS5, PC, and even the Nintendo Switch, then this early Amazon spring sale is worth checking out. If you're instead indebted to just your PS5 or Xbox Series X, then the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (with either it's PS5 or Xbox designed version) would be a bet༒ter, and cheaper fit with its $129.99 / £129.99 MSRP. Plus, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless still provides that high-end audio, build and mic quality 🌳that SteelSeries is known for.

If the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless isn't quite for you, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets to find the perfect pair of cups.

Finding a budget-friendly headset that would match most cute and cozy gaming setups, on the other hand, isn't as straightforward. Luckily, the Quartz Pink Razer Barracuda X is just right now, saving you over $30 off its MSRP of $99.99. This headset not only looks the part with its pretty pink colorway, but as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets it doesn't skimp out on the features either.

At full price, this cute pair of cups is already a bargain. It sports Razer's iconic sounding 40mm Triforce audio drivers, clear-sounding Hyperclear detachable mic, and multiple wireless options, all for under $100. Now it's a full $30 cheaper than that $99.99 MSRP - a rate ☂I've seen a few times in the last couple of years, but almost never recently. It was hard to find the Razer Barracuda X for less than $79.99 even over Black Friday, so today's return to form is very much appreciated. It has been $10 cheaper in the past, but only once - for a very brie🔯f moment back in December last year. I'm still counting this as a win considering it's been tough to find for under $80 this year so far.

Should you buy the Quartz Pink Razer Barracuda X gaming headset?

Last year, the Razer launched the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X Chroma which introduced customizable RGB lighting to the Barracuda X lineup. This was the next step in Razer's ongoing steps to upgrade the iconic headset lineup, but its flashy new makeover came at a price. Sometimes though, all you need is a refreshing colorway, especially if it keeps prices low, which is where the quartz pink Razer Barracuda X headset comes in.

While it's not decked in multiple zones of rainbow lighting, the Razer Barracuda X is the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset cash can buy. The budget headset can connect to your Switch, or even your PS4, PS5, Steam Deck, and more via its Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connection options - so if you're a multi-platform player, this is one for you. Budget headsets with these wireless options aren't exactly rare, but they are difficult to find in a high-quality package like this.

Not only can you hook this headset up to multiple consoles, but it also sports Razer's 40mm Triforce audio drivers. If you've never had the pleasure of hearing them in action, our hardware's own Tabitha Baker explains in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X review that she was " impressed by the balance and power" behind these cups. For under $100 (and now, even better, just $69), this headset produces a "surprisingly sophisticated soundscape" and makes everything from Super Mario Galaxy to Doom Eternal sound the party with its "punchy bass, delicate mid-range, and detailed treble".

Not only does it sound great, but you can sound great using it. Its detachable Hyperclear microphone will make you sound clear and precise, whether you're chatting directly through your favorite games, or through Discord. Budget headsets tend to have low-quality mics, so this is just another cherry on top of the great headset cake.

Alternatively, you could grab the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, if money is no option and you strive for a longer batꦕtery life, and want to put the brand's mighty 50mm audio drivers to the test. That being said, if you want Bluetooth, 2.4GHz connectivity, up to 50 hours battery life, a🐠 high-quality detachable mic, and great audio quality all in one cheap package, picking up the Razer Barracuda X is a no-brainer. Its charming, pink colorway is just an added bonus.

Our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets is bursting with alternatives if a pink pair of cups just isn't your thing. We've also gathered all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets in one place if you're looking for something for your Xbox and Sony consoles instead.

The premium headset has taken a nice chunky discount down to , 24% off its hefty MSRP of $329.99. At its typical price, it's not that far off the price of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which comes in at just $20 more without any savings, but with $80 off this high-end price is down to a reasonable mid-range point position.

This record-low price feels more fitting for the premium headset, especially as it isn't as feature-full as other high-end alternativ💝es. But even without a fancy base station and hot-swappable batteries, its high-quality sound, flashy sleek premium metal build, ANC, and simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio do enough to make this worthy of any gaming setup - this current discount just sweetens the deal.

Should you buy the Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless headset?

Despite its $329.99 / £279.99 MSRP, the Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless is missing out on the features you may expect of a high-end gaming headset. To begin with, this isn't designed with Xbox consoles in mind, so this is more for PC, PS5, Switch, and smartphone fans. There's also no base station to be found here, so you can't easily switch to the platforms it is compatible with, and charging has to be done the simple way, through the USB-C port on the right cup.

That doesn't mean the Corsair isn't a qualifier for one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming I've come across. To begin with, it's one of the sleekest-looking headsets that's popped across my testing bench. Its metal form factor feels premium and robust, especially if you happen to pick up the white version. Not to mention, the LED rings on either cup are some of the most subtle uses of lighting on any headset. With every turn of the right cup, also the volume control, the rings of LEDs actually change, which only adds to its classy aesthetic.

It doesn't just look the part, but in my short time with the headset, every game I've thrown its way sounds crisp and mighty through its custom 50mm graphene audio drivers. While I've predominantly been using it for my PS5, this headset shines the most on the PC, where you can try out its immersive Dolby Atlmos spatial audio, and tweak not just its audio, but its lighting via iCue. It's also jam-packed with simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, and ANC.

The ANC is a battery drain🌌, like it is on any headset, but I have had to charge it a fair few times already despite Corsair's boasting it can last up to 60 hours. Its gleaming LED lighting, which also features 🧔at the tip of its detachable high-quality mic, is also likely also behind its sub-par battery.

With a headset as flashy as the Virtuoso Max, its premium metal form factor does come at a price - a heavy one at that. At 431g it's one of the most lumbering headsets I've ever tested. It's pretty noticeable right out of the box, and worse after you've spent far too much time playing Sea of Thieves. Don't get me wrong, its fabric-coated padded cups do enough to prevent any pressure against the ears. But on multiple occasions, I had to adjust the headband and move it further back on my head to relieve the pressure the weight had built up over time.

If having an overtly heavy headset is a dealbreaker, then Corsair itself does have some lighter alternatives like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair HS80 Max. At 352g it's still on the heavier side, but its plastic design makes it less of a strain on the noggin. Alternatively, there's also the Corsair Virtuoso Pro. Our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker remarked in her 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro review that the headset was "nice and lightweight" at 338g, and it didn🔥't "feel flimsy" either.

If the Corsair Corsair Virtuoso Max Wireless gaming headset isn't doing it for you, check out our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset which are full to the brim with other high-end pairs of cups to choose from.

The new white model comes with adorable pink accents on the side of each main cup, with the inside of each ear colored with the same bright color. That pink looks a little more vivid than the brand's own Quartz option, which opts for a more muted coloring overall. Everything else has been recolored in that crisp white finish, from the insides of the main earcups to the microphone and cable. It's not giving any of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets a run any time soon, but it certainly look🌱s great.

Sure, the b𝐆lack and quartz versions were nice and all, but with so many cozy setups running with white and pastel ae🦹sthetics Razer knows exactly what it's doing here, and I'm loving it.

I naturally prefer my peripherals in white - it just feels like a more polished experience considering everything was black, silver, or gray for so long. This isn't the most expensive gaming headse🐠t in the world, but with a clean coat of paint it certainly looks more premium than it ever did before.

This isn't the first time the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT has had a wardrobe change. Last month, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kuromi collection gave the headset a full purple makeover and there's a similar Hello Kitty and Friends edition available as well (for $40 more). This seems to be Razer's go-to for cutesy li🐬mited edition runs, so I can't believe it took them so long to give it a full permanent color update.

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT features the brand's TriForce 40mm drivers, a functional set of grills that provide fantastic audio for their price point (they're the same as you'll find in the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X, one ꦕof my favorite devices). While there's no 2.4GHz connection, Razer does include a wireless option with its low-lat🍸ency Bluetooth (you can still plug in if you run out of charge as well).

Where to buy the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT

We're also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets on the market. Or, for more Windows shenanigans, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets available.

Key Specs

Design

• Unique off-white space age colorway
• Subtle RGB lighting
• Comfortable soft-to-the-touch cushion cups & incredibly lightweight

The design of the OXS Storm G2 wireless gaming is a double-edged sword - on the one hand, it’s one of the best-looking budget headsets I’ve come across. Its decision to go with an off-white, almost cream-colored form factor (for the white version I was provided) makes it look unique and almost space-age in its design. But the actual quality of the build leaves a lot to be desired and reminds me of one of the many off-brand, lower-end headsets clogging up big retailers’ search results.

If I wasn’t any wiser, I’d think that the Storm G2 wireless headset was a licensed piece of Starfiend tech. Its colorway and unique printed markings on each cup make it look like it would fit right in the cockpit of an X-Wing. It even reminds me slightly of my favorite budget headset, the Turtle Beach X-Wing Pilot headset, which featured its own printed markings to tie in with the Star Wars franchise.

When you get up close and personal with the build quality, you start to see past its distracting, albeit, funky design pretty quickly. To put it mildly, it feels cheap. The metal attachments connecting each cup to the leather-bound headband feel flimsy and almost sharp to the touch. This wouldn’t be too bad if it was the only issue I had, but after spending close time with the Storm G2, I noticed you can get a clear look at its internal specs through every port on the left cup. This isn’t something I’ve experienced with other budget-friendly headsets, or even headphones for that matter.

Each port on the left cup is illuminated once you turn on the headset, and the RGB lighting does its thing. With that, you can get an in-depth look at what makes the headset tick, which upon my initial discovery, didn’t instill a lot of confidence. It’s unfortunate that that’s the first thing I noticed with the RGB lighting on, as the St𓆏orm G2 actually features one of the most stunning uses of lighting on a headset I’ve come across. Rather than the harsh, saturated rainbow lighting that adorns many pieces of gaming tech I own, the RGB back-lit OXS branded logos, and ring of lighting on each cup, are subdued and almost pastel colored.

The RGB lighting is nice, but I was even more impressed by how lightweight and comfortable the Storm G2 was to wear, even after hours upon hours of Marvel Rivals and Sea of Thieves. It only weighs 250g, which is monumentally lighter than the 408.2g of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3, which Iꦚ just had across my testing bench. This comfort is aided by the nicely cushioned leather foam pads on the cups and the leather padded cushion on the headband. I’m also super glad that OXS opted to avoid a fabric coating for the cups, as it means I don’t have to squirm thinking about the sensory issues they fuel within me. But also, the soft-to-the-touch headband with its finely done red stitching gives the headset a more professional edge. Just enough to distract me from its more flimsy elements.

Features

• Limited wired, Bluetooth & 2.4GHz connectivity
• Easily identifiable and awkward to press onboard controls
• Up to 40 hours battery life (RGB lighting off)

As an under $100 headset, the OXS Storm G2 isn’t swimming in features. But it does at least offer up a wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz connection via a dongle for most consoles. I say most, as despite advertising its “multi-platform compatibility”, you cannot connect via Bluetooth to the PS4 or PS5, and there’s no Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One support to be found here at all. (Though they do mention that in the small print.)

That isn’t too much of a deal-breaker, especially as I prefer to use a 2.4GHz connection with my PS5 anyway, and would always recommend that to anyone looking to avoid any annoying audio lag and latency issues. But it’s a little disappointing given not just OXS’s boasting of multi-platform capabilities, but that other budget headsets not that more expensive, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X, have wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz support, and Bl🌊uetooth for Sony’s con🍨soles is still on the cards.

With the Storm G2, you do get all you need to connect to the PS5 or PC via the included 2.4GHz dongle. 🍬The OXS Storm G2 even included a 3.5mm AUX cable and a sleek-looking gray draw-string bag to keep everything in, which I always appreciate. But just as I’ve come to expect with this headset, every time I find something I like, it’s followed up by something that raised many an eyebrow.

To alternate between Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, you have to use the switch on the right ear cup. While it’s easily identifiable, with “BT” and “2.4G” written at either end, it’s not fun to use. You have to put a lot of gumption into moving this switch, to the point where it actually hurt my thumb the first time I used it. If you’re a Sony fan, you can’t use Bluetooth anyway, so it’ll always be in the 2.4GHz position, but the cheap and hard-to-use switch is another reminder of the overall cheap feeling of the wireless headset.

At least, it’s the only switch you’ll find. The Storm G2 opts to use easy-to-press black buttons for the power, EQ (also the RGB off button), and the mic mute button found on the left ear cup. These buttons are joined by a volume dial, 3.5mm port, USB-C charging port, and a port for the detachable microphone. Each of these buttons is also labeled, which means you’ll spend less time frantically pressing buttons in a myriad of ways when figuring out how to change the EQ, of which there are three modes, surround, game, and music.

You’ll also want to know exactly where this button is in the future. While I absolutely adore the look of the almost pastel-colored RGB lighting, having it on will seriously drain your headsetဣs' juice. OXS even states that with the RGB on, you’ll get about 24 hours of battery life, which was pretty much my experience after weeks of testing. If you have these off, however, you can push it to provid꧒e up to 40 hours, which is more what I’d want from a headset that costs $79.99 / £79.99.

Performance

• Hollow and sub-par sound quality
• Surprisingly clear detachable mic
• Average battery life

When we get into the nitty and gritty sound quality of the OXS Storm G2, it truly shows just how much it falls behind other budget-friendly alternatives. Setting up Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz w♉as at least super straightforward, and the typically mesmerizing music of composer Robin Beanland instantly came out of the cups seconds after I loaded up Sea of Thieves with the dongle securely in place within my PS5. But, to put it bluntly, everything in the game sounded pretty lifeless.

Whether I was sailing the seven seas, or keeping my team healed and in good working order as my new main Cloak and Dagger in Marvel Rivals, there was a tinny hollowness to the sound. It was almost like I was listening to the game’s audio from a distance rather than right up close to both of my ears. I wasn’t expecting anything too dramatic but as any headset that comes decked out with 50mm audio drivers, like that of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, I was at l least expecting some form of justice to be paid to at least, any game I threw its way.

The Storm G2, on the other hand just sounds lackluster. Its faint output did at least make games with a more top-resonating soundscape sound okay. Most notably the OST from Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine were passable. So, if you needed a sub-par sounding headset for the kids to use with their Nintendo Switch, this could do the job. But for a Super Mario die-hard fan, I couldn’t help but wish I had more oomph.

For dialogue, it definitely had an easier time of things. Other than the usual roundtable of games we use to test headsets with, I picked up the brand-new Lost Records Bloom and Rage, which dropped for PS Plus Premium members during the testing period. The Don’t Nod developed game centers around the mid-90s, and not only has a killer OST, but is full of dialogue. The latter sounded pretty okay on the headset and was an ideal way to put the 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound to the test. As protagonist Swann, I was able to hear characters in a dimly bar exactly how they were placed in the scene, which really upped the immersion factor.

The OST itself, as 🍌I expected, didn’t sound too grand, which is actually why I’m eager to replay the first half of the game with my favorite mid-range headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P, to see how the wonderfully thrashy riot grrrl tracks sound when they have the right support. Yet, at least the dialogue sounded a-okay on the Storm G2, and not as distant and sterile as the OST.

When not gaming, I used the Storm G2 to listen to a magnitud🐽e of bands. As the 90s mood of Lost Records had me hooked, this meant listening to some Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Nirvana, and a dab of My Bloody Valentine. As you can probably guess, anything of the grunge and shoegaze persuasion didn’t have the deep, bone-shattering bass they needed. Yet, after ꧅hearing how it coped with Marvel Rivals, Sea of Thieves, and later hours upon hours of Dead by Daylight, this was unfortunately unsurprising.

What did take me aback was the quality of the microphone. It’s detachable, which was a nice addition as I don’t always like having a mic dangling in my face, especially if I’m playing a single-player game like Lost Records. But when turned on, it made me sound crystal clear, to the point where I was having full-on conversations with random players through Sea of Thieves' proximity chat.

The mic itself still feels pretty flimsy. The wire of it, which you can move around, doesn’t stay in place, making the bulbous foam tip flop around. With that being my first experience with the mic, I was expecting a distorted, barely understandable quality, but I was pleasantly surprised. Honestly, the mic is almost the saving grace of this entire headset and even sounded on par with the mic of the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, which is one of the best mics I’ve ever used.

Streaming services like Disney+ or Prime sounded fine through the headset, which I used while catching up with the latest episodes of High Potential or Invincible. Although, I did have to charge the battery on a couple ▨of occasions, mainly as I liked to have the RGB lighting on which as OXS states, only means you have around 25 hours of juice at your disposal. I also had to have the volume up pretty loud, to make up for the hollow sound even when listening to TV ꦿshows, which also helped whittle away at the battery life.

Should you buy the OXS Storm G2 wireless gaming headset?

I went in really wanting to like the OXS Storm G2 wireless gaming headset, especially as the more budget headsets out there, the better. I grew up loving gaming tech, but not always having the budget to be able to pair my second-hand consoles with the very best in accessories, and so any time there’s a gaming headset especially, that can still provide the flashy RGB and multiple connection options without breaking that $100 barrier, I🙈’m more than on-༺board. Yet, even at its actual price of $79.99 / £79.99, this gaming headset feels hard to recommend, especially when there’s a ton of similarly priced headsets doing all it can and more.

Primarily, with a gaming headset, you want your favorite games, whether they’re on the PC, PS5, Steam Deck or Switch, to sound good. From the get-go, the OXS Storm G2 fails to do this basic requirement, and even with its 50mm audio drivers, everything sounds hollow and tinny. If you’ve ever listened to the overspill from someone’s headphones on the bus, that’s exactly how I’d describe the audio coming from either cup.

On the plus side, dialogue in games like Lost Records Bloom, and Rage sounds fine - and the 7.1 virtual surround sound did exactly what it’s meant to. But whether I playing a brand-new release like Lost Records, or Marvel Rivals and Sea of Thieves, any game I through the headset’s way sounded lifeless. It’s not just the audio quality that has me reluctant to recommend the Storm G2 over similarly priced alternatives like the Corsair HS55 Wire💯less Core, or the Razer Barracuda X, but the build quality is iffy to say the least. Areas like the metal attachments feel sharp and flimsy, and the RGB lighting, though one of my favorite aspects of this headset, illuminates every port giving you a glimpse at the rattling internals inside.

In the short amount of time since the OXS Storm G2 launched in this new white colorway, I’ve already seen some discounts floating around on retailers Amazon. With $20 knocked off this wireless headset, I can see it being an ideal entry point for those looking for a 2.4HZ wireless hook up for their PC or PS5, that still has a high-quality mic, and some dazzling RGB lighting. However, even though its MSRP may seem budget for some, it feels like a hard sell at $79.99 / £79.99 wﷺhen it can’t get the one fundamental thing anyone wants out of any gaming headset done right - making sure your games sound great.

Ratings

How I tested the OXS Storm G2 wireless gaming headset

I spent over two weeks with the OXS Storm G2 wireless gaming headset. In that time frame, I lived and breathed the the budget pair of cups and put it through its paces through plenty of hours of the competitive hero shooter, Marvel Rivals to see how it coped with a full and busy soundscape. As per our testing games of choice, I also played plenty of Dead by Daylight, and Sea of Thieves, to change things up with a more atmospheric audio environment. Additionally, I also tested to see how the Storm G2 dealt with a dialogue-heavy Lost Records, which launched on PS Plus during the time the headset was on my testing bench. The wireless headset was also hooked up to a Nintendo Switch OLED, where it was tested alongside Super Mario Galaxy (via Super Mario 3D All-Stars) and Super Mario Sunshine.

Any time not spent gaming was used to see how the Strom G2 dealt with streaming music. Through apps like Spotify, I throw multiple genres its way, from Carpenter Bruit to the bustling tunes of Bombay Bicycle Club. With the latest season of TV shows like Invincible currently ongoing, I also used the headset when watching streaming platforms, including services like Prime and Disney Plus. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If the OXS Storm G2 doesn't sound like the right fit for you, we've gathered all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Steam Deck headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets in one place to make it easier to find the perfect peripheral for your gaming setup.

Despite this new sleek purple aesthetic, the headset retains not just the same price, but the same premium features that impressed us the first time around. Most notably, for under $100 you're still getting that impressive up to 80 hours of battery life, which is notable more than other headsets of its price range. Normally you can expect to get anywhere from 50 - to 70 hours of juice on a sub $100 pair of cups. Even alternatives in the Stealth line, like the Stealth 700 Gen 3, share the same battery limits despite costing double.

This purple version of the headset is designed with the Xbox in mind, but its Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4GHz connectivity options make it compatible with pretty much anything you throw at it - from the Xbox Series X/S, PC to the PS5 and your everyday mobile phone. While your gaming setup gets a splash of color, its 50mm Nanoclear audio drivers offer up a rich, robust sound profile, which through our hardware team's own testing, gave justice to games from The Last of Us to Doom Eternal.

This purple Stealth 600 Gen 3 is also decked out with a flip-to-use microphone, re-mappable wheel & mode buttons, built-in EQ modes including the brand's branded 'Superhuman' hearing feature, and memory foam padding with the brand's own "Glasses-Friendly" techno꧂logy. For all intents and purposes, this is the same Stealth 600 Gen 3 headset released last year, but in purple form. Fortunately, the pretty purple design also hasn't jacked up the price - which is good news for those looking for a better fit for their cute and co🃏zy gaming setups. Or anyone just as bored as I am with the sea of all-black or all-white peripherals.

One of the stand-out aspects of the purple Stealth 500 Gen 3 gaming headset is arguably its price. This is a sub-$100 headset, and even its brand-new flashy makeover doesn't deviate it away from its more budget-friendly price point. The Turtle Beach headset is just $99.99 / £99.99, marginally cheaper than other headsets in the Stealth line, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 which is double that of this new purple pair. By sticking with its budget pricing, that pits the Stealth 600 Gen 3 still up against other budget rivals like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark Hyperspeed, or the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X.

Where to buy the purple Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 headset

Purple Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 FAQ

If the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 didn't impress you the first time around, check out our澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best Xbox Series X headset guide for a huge list of alternatives. We've also gathered all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Steam Deck headsets in one place if you're after a pair of cups for your PC instead.

Should you buy the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed?

If you've ever wanted to have a headset from Razer's BlackShark line but couldn't make your budget stretch far enough, the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed was made for you. It takes the lightweight comfort, sleek rounded design, and high-quality features of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackShark V2 Pro and condenses it into a more affordable, but still high-tier, package.

Just like the BlackShark V2 Pro (my favorite PC gaming headset to date), the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed has one of the best microphones a headset can have. The Razer branded HyperClear Super Wideband Unidirectional mic doesn't include the same internal pop filter as the Pro model, but packs a punch with its clear high quality, making this one for the online gaming fans. Unfortunately, the mic isn't detachable this time around. However, if you were thinking about using this for listening to music and podcasts out and about, I'd recommend the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X or even the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless instead. Yet, just the mere fact this more budget-friendly alternative still has mic quality to rival its Pro-counterpart is worthy of it being part of anyone's setup.

If you aren't into online gaming, there's still a lot to love. The BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed is integrated with Razer's TriForce Titanium 50mm audio drivers, which do justice to competitive shooters to the best single-player experiences. Don't just take my word for it, our hardware team's own Tabitha Baker shared in her 澳洲幸运5开奖💦号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed review that the headset "sounds excellent." - which isn't surprising given it's rocking the same drivers as the Pro version.

If you were at all worried that this more condensed headset would skimp out on other features, like compatibility, then prepare to be surprised. This Razer pair of cups has support for Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and even a wired connection - the latter of which is sometimes left out entirely where higher-end headsets are concerned. Its battery life is pretty impressive too, allowing for up to 70 hours of playback which is enough to fuel those 3 am gaming sessions I know you have.

Razer has been in the gaming headset biz for a long time - so there's plenty of alternatives out there depending on your gaming needs. If you're desperate to have all the advantages of the Pro mod🅘el, that option is there. But the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed still manages to pack on the high-end features despite its very low price - which is💯 even lower right now thanks to President's Day.

If the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed isn't doing it for you, check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headset for gaming, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headset guides which are full to t🥃he brim with other high-quality alternatives.

Sadly there is no noise cancelling to be found, which is a bit disappointing given the headset is priced at $199.99 / £179.99 - a lot more than its mid-range rival. Additionally, its heavy, bulky design prevents it from being the ultimate mid-range powerhouse. Regardless, there’s still a lot at play here, and Turtle Beach has proven again it can ဣadd an extra bit of pizazz to an already impressive piece of tech.

Key Specs

Design

• Sleek black and metal silver accented colorway
• Subtle branding
• Imbued with easily accessible onboard controls

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3, for all intents and purposes, could have been named the Bulky 700. The wireless gaming headset is one of the largest pairs that’s ever crossed my desk for testing, with densely packed leather-covered foam cushions and overly large D-shaped cups. I get why they’re there, as they’re large enough to cup right around even the biggest of human ears. I also always prefer a leather, or fake leather, coating to my headset foam cushion over a fabric one as traditionally they’re softer and attract fewer cat hairs. However, they contribute to one of the most uncomfortable experiences with a headset I’ve come across.

It’s always worth noting that I do have a more sensitive head than most and am prone to migraine triggers of any kind. This headset also never gave me one, but even after adjusting the height on the cups, there was always an unnecessary tightness on the underside of each of my ears. Fortunately, this extra force (caused by the massive foam cushions) didn’t dig into the bands on my glasses. I’ve experienced that in the past with similarly heavy headsets, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Astro A50 X, but the Stealth 700 didn’t leave any imprints of my glasses on my head. In fact, the headset is designed to be “glasses friendly”, which is a nice accessibility win for those of us who need it.

The bulk isn’t just relegated to the leather-coated foam cushions. Each cup itself is pretty huge, likely to encase the booming 60mm dual audio drivers inside. If you’re after a more subtle headset to take ꦡout and about for music and podcasts, the Stealth 700 is not for you. The overall look is at least pretty sleek despite this, featuring a black colorway with some metal silver accents. There’s no garish cheap-looking lighting, and even the branding has a sleek sense of professionalism. The Turtle Beach logo is subtly located on either side of the cups, and the headband features an embossed logo that nicely catches any RGB lighting you might have around your gaming setup.

The silv🅘er accents to the Stealth 700 are also a nice distraction from the unsightly bulk of the whole t🌌hing. For the most part, the build quality also feels rigid and of high quality, and there’s a nice matte plastic coating, which holds out well against my aptitude for tech wear and tear. My only nitpick is that there are seam lines along each of the silver edges of the headset. They aren’t too noticeable, but any keen eye won’t be able to unsee them after a while as they give a bit of a cheap feel to an otherwise premium headset.

The cups also have a ton of onboard controls, which I’m always a fan of. The left features a small circular power button with a ring of LED lighting, which flashes green when connected to your Xbox Series X, PC or PS5. Above this, you can find the Type-C port for charging, a re-mappable dial with bumps for additional grip, a game/chat mix dial and a small EQ ‘mode button.’ The left cup is also where you can find the hidden microphone, which flips out on the front-facing side. Whereas, on the right cup, you can find the Bl🔯uetooth multi-function button, Bluetooth dial and the cross-play buttons.

Features

• Simultaneous Bluetooth & 2.4GHz connectivity
• ‘Superhuman’ hearing feature
• EQ & customization through the Swarm II app
• Hefty 80 hours battery life

The Stealth 700 Gen 3 has an impressive list of features. Despite the lack of active noise canceling, the D-shaped cups are large enough to entomb your ears, which does all it can to zone out the audio around you. But you won’t quite get that total exclusion of outside noise. Where it may lack in the ANC department, the Stealth 700 does come packed with the option for simultaneous connectivity. This is a new addition that wasn't present on the Stealth 700 Gen 2 model, and the setup just requires the usual Bluetooth pairing process, along with ensuring you’ve slotted one of the accompanying dongles into your Xbox Series X / S or Xbox O🌳ne.

Unlike headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X, the version of the Stealth 700 Gen 3 I tested is designed specifically for Xbox consoles in mind but also comes with two dongles, so you aren’t limited to Xbox platforms. As someone who primarily finds themselves playing the PS5, this was a pleasant surprise. There are now two tiny dong🏅les you need to keep track of, and without an accompanying cloth bag or case to keep them in, they could go missing fast. But, either way, it makes switching to different platforms and setting up simultaneous connectivity an easier process. During testing, I connected the Xbox dongle to my PC tower to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, while the extra dongle was attached via the USB port on the front of my PS5.

Switching between hardware was not only incredibly simple but also pretty impressive. I can’t stand having a headset per-console,having to re-pair and switch out d꧙ongles, so this cuts down ౠa lot of needless prep. When the PS5 was turned on, its audio instantly came through - even if I was initially using the headset with my PC in the other room. This came in tremendously handy when finishing up a day's work as it made switching from listening to Spotify to playing Marvel Rivals in the evening super speedy.

What also came as a tremendous benefit is the Stealth 700’s inclusion of ‘Superhuman’ audio. Also included on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Atlas Air, this EQ audio pre-set allows you to hear your muddled gaming soundscape in a new way, in an effort to help you decipher the position of incoming bullets and footsteps. The audio tech isn’t available out of the box, and requires the downloading of the Swarm 2 app, either on your PC or through your smartphone. But when turned on, it allowed me to take full advantage of the spatial audio integrated into the headset. It’s worth noting that it’ll do absolutely nothing for musﷺic playback other than making audio sound hollow and lifeless as a result. So make sure to turn it off when you want to mellow out to some Chappell Roan over playing a competitive hero shooter.

The Superhuman Hearing mode can be easily switched on and off via a toggle on Swarm II, which also plays host to the test of💛 the EQ customization. On both the PC and the smartphone app (available for iOS and Android-based devices) you can switch between ‘game’ and ‘mic’ modes, which each have their own lists of pre-made audio presets. Alternatively, you can easily create and save your own. As always, I like a beefy bass and so had the ‘bass boost’ preset selected, especially when listening to music. This did create more audio spillage but made my favorite bands from Bombay Bicycle Club to Nirvana sound dreamy. Fortunately, there wasn’t any visible distortion from any of the available presets, from the bass boost to the ‘Turtle Beach signature sound’ setting.

The battery life of the Stealth 700 is also one of the best things the Xbox headset has going for it. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro only has up to 12 hours of battery to contend with (per battery pack), a𒉰nd even the Stealth 700 Gen 2 only has 20 hours, but the Stealth 300 can muster up to 80 hours of playback. From weeks of testing, I only had to charge the headset fully once, and this is after multiple nights of staying up until 3am playing Unicorn Overlord, and catching up on PS Plus’s addition of High on Life. When I did finally give it a charge, it was done within a few hours, and the small LED ring around the power button politely lit up to tell me the job was done.

Performance

• Superb 60mmd dual drivers audio-quality
• Easy to set up crossplay audio system
• Crystal clear flip-to-use microphone

The Stealth 700 Gen 3 headset took the audio of games like Marvel Rivals, Dead by Daylight and Unicorn Overlord and propelled them to levels of immersive bliss. The 60mm dual audio drivers that Turtle Beach integrated this generation are no joke and can not only get very loud but make it difficult to drag myself away from spending too much time on my PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

I broke out Marvel ♚Rivals to see how the headset dealt with a barrage of sounds, from bullets to the roars of the Incredible Hulk. With the out of the box audio settings, the low, mid and highs of the shooter’s soundscape sounded deep and expansive, which is exactly what you want from the world of Marvel. In fact, I actually got in a hefty amount of kills as my main Starlord and climbed up the scoreboard as a result. Not only was this more than my usual measly attempts, but the superhuman EQ setting propelled this further.

Without ANC, especially as I tend to game in the same room as my partner's PC, it was definitely harder to focus entirely on the game. But the ‘gunshots’ Superhuman audio setting in particular made it easier to suss out enemy team members who would try and surround our team. The EQ tech placed the audio in a 3D soundscape, so instead of getting lost in a sea of noise, I could hear Jeff the Shark's rendition of the Jaws theme in time behind me, before the adorable guy did his wo♛rst. Turtle Beach calls its Superhuman Hearing a “cheat code for the ears” which accurately describes the feeling of having it at my disposal. I’m still relatively new to the CS:2, growing up on Quake instead when it came to PC first-person shooters. With that in mind, I'm not the best at the game but the Superhuman pre-sets also went a long way in helping me identify not just where the enemy was, but also where my team members were running off to.

The headset was not just equipped to give me a competitive edge, but its microphone became one of the most stellar things about it. It’s detachable, and can’t be manipulated to place it closer to your mouth, which could be a deal-breaker for most. However, I grew to become a fan of its discreet hidden placement in the left cup as 😼it was faster to fliꦅp it down when Marvel Rival match-making came to an end.

As a uni-directional microphone, also known as a dynamic mic, there’s only one spot where it’s going to best pick up your speaking. This inclusion, as opposed to other po෴lar pickup patterns Turtle Beach could have gone for, makes sense as you can’t actually position the mic in any other way besides up. Regardless, it provided a lovely crisp tone and my friends’ heard me yelling through their own headsets with no issues. It’s worth adding that the mic was a little loud at first. So having the Swarm II app on your phone, or on your PC to adjust it will help not blow out your best friend’s eardrums.

The mic was flipped up and out of the way when testing on the Nintendo Switch, which connected easily through Bluetooth. Every sweeping instrument of the Super Mario Galaxy score sounded almost magical coming through the headset. I also tested the Stealth 700 Gen 3 while playing my latest gamꦅing obsession, Unicorn Overlord, namely as the OST was written primarily by one of my favorite game composers, Mitsuhiro Kaneda. The triumphant medieval fantasy setting felt bustling and full of life thanks to the 60mm drivers yet again, as did the almost Shakespeare-like voice acting found within the game.

Should you buy the Razer Barracuda X Chroma gaming headset?

At a price point of $199.99 / £179.99 the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is one of the more expensive mid-range headsets I’ve had across my testing bench, but its densely packed premium features almost entirely justify its more-than-average cost. No matter if it’s the Xbox, PlayStation, or PC-designed version, this Turtle Beach headset comes with two 2.4GHz dongles to cover your bases. With its simultaneous audio system, you can also switch between using a Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connection across an arr🌟ay of consoles. High-end alternatives, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, allow you to connect to multiple consoles and platforms at once but with costs in the higher echelon of gaming headsets, coming in at $359.99. With the Stealth 700, you are getting a more limited version of this multi-platform support, but at a fraction of the cost.

Additionally, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 produces some of the best audio I’ve ever heard coming from a gaming headset. There’s no muffled gunshots, dis🅺torted highs and hollow lows at play here. Instead, the 60mm dual drivers show their stuff by doing justice to everything from competitive shooters like Marvel Rivals and CS:2, to Super Mario Galaxy on the Nintendo Switch. Every genre of music I threw at the headset, or audio from an array of stre✨aming services also sounded their best.

The only thing preventing this from being an all-around perfect package is the lack of wired audio support, and its outright distracting and almost painful bulky shape and weight. I'd have loved to see ANC included too, however, that'd likely drive up the cost even further, and we tend to see it on more high-end headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Alienware Pro Wireless rather than any mid-range rivals like the Stealth 700 Gen 3.

If you don't quite have the budget for a high-end headset but don't want to skimp out on too many premium features, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is an ideal pickup. While I tested the Xbox version, there's also a PlayStation and PC model available, each with their own slight colorways. But even if you happen to stick with the Xbox Series X version like I tested, its two accompanying dongles make it a match for those who can't stick to one platform for long. Plus, no matter if you're playing the Xbox Series X, or PS5 or just listening to music, the headset's drivers can pack a punch that rivals the audio found on more expensive offerings.

These aren't going to be the comfiest things to pop on your head though. And if like me, you have a more sensitive noggin' than most, I'd recommend a mid-range alternative like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) instead, which is much more lightweight. The Stealth 700 Gen 3 also doesn't h♋ave a detachable mic, and its bulky shape makes it more stuck to use indoors than something you can easily take out to listen to your favorite tunes. Regardless, Xbox and even PS5 and PC owners have a lot at their disposal with the Stealth 700 Gen 3, and again Turtle Beach has proven to me why they’re still one of the best gaming headset brands in the biz.

Ratings

How I tested the Razer Barracuda X Chroma

I spent over two weeks with the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 gaming headset. During that time I ran the mid-range pair of cups through a gaming gauntlet of plenty hours of the competitive hero shooter, Marvel Rivals. I also put the Stealth 700 through its paces by playing Dead by Daylight, Unicorn Overlord and even Nintendo Switch titles like Super Mario Galaxy (via Super Mario 3D All-Stars) and Super Mario Sunshine. When not gaming, I used it alongside streaming platforms like Netflix to watch the mini-series Apple Cider Vinegar and listened multiple music genres and bands, from Bombay Bicycle Club, OK Go and Chappell Roan. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If you're after a headset for your other consoles instead, check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headset for gaming guides which are full of the brim with mid-range, and high-range, alter🌟natives to the Turtle 🗹Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3.

What is spatial audio and how does it work?

The defines spatial audio as “any audio which gives you a sense of space beyond conventional stereo.” Back in the day, stereo sound was utilized to allow sound to pan from left to right. This was later built upon to become ‘surround sound’ which involves the use of multiple directional speakers arranged into 5.1 and 7.1 setups (traditionally five+one or seven+one speakers, or channels, set up in a circle) to produce audio that appears as though it’s happening around you.

Like stereo and spatial audio, 7.1 surround sound is one of the main types of audio tech utilized by gaming headsets. It separates itself by using two additional speakers than the 5.1 setup for a deeper immersive sound experience. There are actually two different types of 7.1 surround sound - virtual and True. True 7.1 surround sound not only involves the use of more drivers than 5.1, but it works through said drivers vibrating along with the intensity of any given sound. Virtual 7.1 surround sound recreates sound via different distances and directions and is almost indistinguishable from spatial sound. In fact, Razer's THX Spatial Audio is itself made of "advanced 7.1 surround sound with Superior Positional Accuracy".

In 2012, one of the most highly recognized forms of spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, was developed in the Dolby Laboratories. Debuted within the Pixar animated film Brave, this new form of immersive audio expanded on 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound by incorporating more precisely placed audio channels to create a 3D soundscape. Instead of the sounds of a film sounding as it was happening around you, the advancement of spatial audio meant you could now pinpoint exactly where any given sound was coming from, enhancing the realism of the film you were watching, and media as a whole.

Spatial audio can be created by the use of speakers, within a movie theatre, music production, or a home theatre setup. It can also be created through the use of one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets, or wired, to offer a more immersive experience.

Current𒁃ly, there are two types of spatial audio, Binaural Audio and Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs). If you’ve ever watched ASMR content on YouTube you’re likely already familiar with Binaural Audio which simulates a 3D sound environment by recording audio from two sources, (think of those head dummies with microphones in either ear.)

Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) refers to spatial audio created through mathematical models that simulate how sound waves interact with our body. The audio we experience around us every day hits our body via sound waves at different times and directions𝓰, and if we were able to physically record this, it would soun🧔d like HRTF spatial audio. Gaming headset spatial audio simulates the way sound behaves, to enhance immersion.

Which gaming headsets have spatial audio and how do you use it?

A ton of brand names synonymous with gaming headsets use different versions of spatial audio tech. Sony has developed their own with ‘Tempest 3D Audio’ which can be found on one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PS5 Pulse 3D and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:INZONE H9. Meanwhile, Razer utilizes THX Spatial Audio for sets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 Pro and one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. Arguably one of the most well-known types of spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, is integrated into headsets from multiple brands, including but not limited to Corsair, Logitech, and Audeze Maxwell.

To experience 3D audio on a headset yourself, not only do you need a pair of cups that can actually utilize the technology to begin with, but each brand will have some extra steps needed to get it set up. For PS5 headphones, you have to enable 3D audio from within the PS5’s console settings. For the best results, the PS5 also has the option to create your own customizable 3D sound profꦅile, which will ask you a bunch of questions and sample audio for you to test in an effort to ▨create the most optimal immersive sound.

Headsets that utilize Dolby Atmos, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Alienware Pro Wireless, may require the addition of the official Dolby Atmos software to work to their fullest. This can be a bit of a downer if you aren't interested in the best 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PC headsets, ♒however, you can still enable Dolby Atmos through Sony's current-gen console’s audio settings for any compatible headset you have at hand.

There are more types of spatial audio out there and most mid to high-range gaming headsets will list some type of it as a premium feature, espeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚcially as it can considerably aid you in online and competitive gaming spaces. Whenever you’re considering buying a brand new headset, be sure to check its specs to see what spatial audio it offers, and whether or not it’ll actually be compatible with the platform of your choice - from the PS5, PC to the Xbox Series X.

Why is spatial audio important for gaming headsets?

With spatial audio integrated into headsets from brands like SteelSeries, Razer, and Asus ROG, you can pinpoint every bullet or footstep of your enemy. In online games like Fortnite or Call of Duty Black Ops 6, this can instantly give you an advantage over your competitors. If you can source where you’re being shot at in Fortnite, you can creep up on the unexpecting rival and take them out to get closer to that sweet Victory Royale.

In games like Dead by Daylight, being able to hear a killer's footsteps is imperative to your success in survivor matches. Sure, some killers have a terror radius, which will sound off a spooky theme whenever they’re near. However, being able to hear and place their movements in a 3D space can make it easier to esc♐ape their clutches and get to powering up those generators. Even in single-player games, it can help create a more immersive experience and help place you within any given fictional environment.

That doesn’t mean you can only find spatial audio within a gaming context. Apple Spatial Audio uses 5.1 and 7.1 setups, along with Dolby Atmos signals, to create its own 3D soundscape for its Apple Music platforms and audio peripherals. While spatial audio is always going to be a benefit for general music listening, it feels more at home when used alongside games. Games by their nature, are an interactive medium, and being able to decipher where any sound is coming from adds to the interactive and immersive nature of them as a whole.

If you have a gaming headset tied to your gaming setup with its own spatial audio tech, try it out for yourself. It may just be that extra s📖ource of immersion you’ve been looking for.

Some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds are also equipped with their own 3D audio features. However, you can check out our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Steam Deck headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets to find a pair of cups best suited for yo✤ur 🧜platform of choice.

These brands produce some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets on the market, and Alienware is finally starting to tread on their toes. The Alienware Pro Wireless headset sits in the upper mid-range of the market, at $229.99 / £221.99 it’s a good deal cheaper than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wi🎃reless and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X that dominate the top shelves. And yet it’s considerably more expensive than the majority of mid-range options, territory of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Atlas Air.

The Alienware Pro Wireless takes some strong steps to distance itself from these cheaper alternatives. Active noise cancellation, a super comfortable set of cups, and a wider 20Hz - 40kHz frequency range makes for a compelling feature set. I’ve spent the last three months using the latest Alienware cups to see where they sit among the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets on the market.

Design

If you thought Alienware only dealt with fantastical designs you can think again. The Pro Wireless is muted compared to the aesthetics of previous releases, with a slimline, low profile design complimented by a soft-touch matte plastic cover and sof💫t, rounded corners. That’s in direct opposition to the chunky, angular frames of yore, and one I prefer for more versatile use. From looks alone, this headset can easily join you through work, commuting, and everyday activities - the detachable microphone might be a pain to keep track of, but without it this looks like any other high-end set of headphones.

The Al🥃ienware logo stamped on each side might give you away to fellow gamers in the know, but it’s in-keeping with the style of the headset as a whole, subtle and classy.

That logo sits on the side of each oval-shaped earcup, on a slightly extended section of the can itself. Designers may have been tempted to slip back into old habits with this ledge, but its smooth rounded corners keep tho💃se angles toned down and instead creates a more dynamic visual effect that keeps the gentle curves of the wider design.

On the inside of those cups are perhaps the most comfortable cup cushions I’ve ever experienced. The Turtle Beach Atlas Air holds onto the top spot ov🦂erall in this category, but if I could combine that headset’s floating mesh headband with these memory foam leatherette pads I’d be a very happy player indeed. The contours of the cushions sit perfectly around my ears, never encroaching on the tip or lobe, and provide a tight enough fit to feel secure while never clamping down particularly hard. It’s as close to a perfect balance I’ve ever felt, and despite this material being known for its warmer qualities I never overheated during longer sessions.

That’s surprising, because the actual amount of padding in here isn’t too substantial. You’ll find much chunkier cushioning on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and Nova 5 models - but the difference is this memory fไoam is much more pliable. That means it sits against the side of the head a little easier, bending to whichever shape it needs to be with less resistance behind it.

At 315g, the Alienware Pro Wireless isn’t the lightest headset on the market, or even in my comparison pool. It’s heavier than the Arctis Nova 5, Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, and Turtle Beach Atlas Air, but brushes just under the 363g weight of the Astro A50 X and 339g Nova Pro Wireless. It’s in the middle of the pack, but still manages to eek towards the top for comfort. While the headband could benefit from a little more padding, it’s easy to adjust and still proves more tolerable than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Delta II.

The Alienware Pro Wireless comes in both black and white (Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light if you’re Dell), with an all-plastic construction save for the aluminum headband. I love the finish on this plastic, though - this is far from your average cheap headset material. Most high-end headsets still keep a plastic frame, it’s lighter and more pliable than a slightly sturdier material, but it’s nice to see the Pro Wireless taking steps to feel as premium as its price ൩tag suggests. I much prefer it to the shiny exterior of the Astro A50 X.

The build is solid underneath that coating as well. The headband can withstand a good amount of flexing without creaking and the cushions are pinned to the side of the cups without a single crinkle. That’s one of the bigger benefits𝓡 over a cheaper headset like the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, whic🃏h - straight out of the box - presented with some joinery issues around the cups. However, I find the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless to be just as flexible (and more) in their durability.

Everything’s looking good for the design of the Alienware Pro Wireless, then, which is why I was so disappointed with one minor design decision. These cups don’t swivel - at all. F🌱or a headset that wants to be taken on the road that feels like a major oversight. I usually put my headsets in a backpack with their cups at a full 180 degree angle to keep everything safe (and preferably in a case, which Alienware doesn’t provide either). Without that flexibility it feels a little too risky to keep the Pro Wireless with me wherever I am. It also means the cups don’t sit well when worn around the neck and don’t shape themselves arou⛎nd the side of your head as much. While it ultimately creates a more durable strut design, pretty much every other headset I’ve tested in the last three years has been able to swivel and they’re all still going in my roster.

Features

There are a couple of features in here that you won’t find in too many other gaming headsets. Active noise can෴cellation, for example, is a particularly rar🦩e offering. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the only other device in my testing pool that carries the feature, and it does so at a much higher price point.

It’s a solid system that works wonders under light and moderate sound loads, though louder, particularly high-frequency noises can still sometimes catch it out. It’s as good as I’ve heard it on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, though. As with many ANC headphones, there is a faint hum to the overall sound profile, so I’d only recommend using it when you really need to. I can say tha൲t fairly easily, though, because even without that extra grunt these cups are particularly impressive in their sound isolation. I🤡 can’t hear my own keyboard clacking away as I type this and listen to some chilled lo-fi, and ANC is firmly off.

ANC is easily controlled via a small button on the left cup, where it’s joined by the volume dial and mic mut😼e button. On the right, you’ll find power and connection switches distributed a sensible distance from each other. There’s no chat🐻 mix or sidetone controls available on the headset itself, but I do appreciate the simplicity of these controls - especially compared to headsets that load one on top of another.

As is to be expec🔯ted at this price point (though many headsets still get away with not off💟ering it), the Alienware Pro Wireless supports both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. You can also connect via the included cable, though note this is a USB-C affair (with a USB-A adapter should you need it) - that means it’s not a particularly console-friendly fallback option. Xbox players need not apply, this is a PC / PlayStation / Nintendo Switch only device.

The included microphone is detachable, which means you won’t have to worry about it when you’re out and about. In previous years that would have been a benefit, but now that SteelSeries and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 have started hiding t𝓡heir mics in retractable pockets it feels a little outdated.

While you’re home, though, that boom mic is one of the Alienware Pro Wireless’s biggest assets. Voice recordings and in-game chat is crystal clear, textured, and robust - in a manner that’s only comparable to the fantastic super wideband mic on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. That’s also complimented by ANC noise canceling working to keep your background✤ noise firmly away from your recording space. This also works well, keeping keyboard and mouse clicks out of chat while also taking on larger background noises.

Battery life officially clocks in at 75 hours on Bluetooth without ANC, only dropping to 70 ho🔯urs over 2.4GHz. That’s a solid runtime🌸 that easily beats cheaper options from SteelSeries and Razer, though both the Nova Pro Wireless and Astro A50 X have their own battery workarounds via charging cradles and hot-swappable batteries. You could argue that the Alienware Pro Wireless has its own trick up its sleeve with its 15 minute fast charging, but it’s still behind more premium models in how it handles power overall.

I found that 70 hour rate to ring true during my own testing. During my full battery run (without ANC), I was able ༺to keep the headset alive𒐪 for around a week and a half, using the headset for music and gaming for between five and eight hours per day. Sporadically switching noise canceling on does drain that charge quicker - the Pro Wireless was dead after five days when using ANC for a couple of hours every now and then.

Everythin🐻g is controlled via Dell’s Alienware Command Center software, but options in this program are limited. This where you can configure power settings including adjusting the sleep time, set the volume of the main cups and microphone, enable or disable ANC or toggle Transparency Mode, and download the Dolby Atmos software. It’s in this latter app that you’ll actually be tinkering with EQ and choosing different presets. That’s a frustrating split, it’s a small nitpick, but having to rely on two separate pieces of software to alter a $200+ headset’s EQ is disappointing. Most gaming brands host their own settings on their software directly, and Alienware is still catching up in this department.

Performance

Underneath those cushions you’ll find a set of 50mm graphene drivers, similar to those found in high-end sets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Pro X 2 and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro. It’s a more stable material that allows for the oscillation of sound waves at h𓃲igher frequencies to be more controlled, resulting in greater detailing and less distortion at high volumes. Alienware hasn’t implemented these drivers quite🌱 as well as other brands.

Unlike the Astro A50 X that benefits from all the above, Dell has tuned these headphones at such a high volume that even a sheet of graphene produces distortion in the upper ranges when pushed to its limit. As a result, I barely made it past 10% volume during my testing - anything much higher simply wasn’t comfortable to listen to and often produced screechy highs and murky lows, with a mid-range that se🦂emed to be caught in the crossfire and lost as a result.

I can’t complain too much, though, with the volume at a reasonable level these things sound ꦛincr💛edible. When the volume is kept under control, there’s a particularly energetic interplay between different ranges at work here, with fantastic balancing between them. A powerful low range can thrum up to deep, resonating pumps of bass while the top-end has plenty of space to include finer details as well. I needed to tweak a few settings before getting the most out of this soundstage, but once I upped the bass a little and levelled out the mid-range, music, movies, and games were represented with equally deft handling and plenty of texture.

Horizon Forbidden West is always a struggle for gaming headsets. The game features a particularly clustered mid-range, eeking slightly into a busy low-end with mach🎉ine sounds. Placing myself squarely in the middle of some roaming beasts, I was impressed with the clarity in the lower-mids - thou✃gh cranking the volume collapsed the soundstage as the headset started to spin out.

There’s a fantastic sense of atmosphere between these cups, though, proven in my testing across The Last of Us Part 2’s The Descent mission. This smaller soundstage provided a good opportunity for the Pro Wireleജss to show oꩵff its directional audio, but also its textural qualities. There’s enough space in the lower ranges for that looming sense of dread to pervade through this mission, with every lurking enemy’s groans and shuffles echoing between the ears beautifully.

That low end is well and truly put to the test in Doom Eternal. With Dolby Atmos on PC I did prefer my experiencꩵe at my desktop in this game - being able to fine-tune the EQ for these metal-heavy runs is a must, and without these individual settings a lot of information was lost on PS5. The bass is slightly💃 weaker by default, and the game didn’t pack the same punch as a result.

Directional imaging and accuracy is impressive, with a clear and distinct sense of placement and mꦚovement in both CS:2 and Apex Legends. Audio information isn’🌸t quite as detailed as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro in this regard, but it’s still impressive.

Should you buy the Alienware Pro Wireless?

The Alienware Pro Wireless occupies a tricky spot in the current headset market. It’s cheaper than the reigning 𝔍premium champions but drops a few of those luxurious features, while being more expensive than the traditional mid-range and adding its own extras into the mix. This isn’t the only device in this spot - I’ve recently finished reviewing the Asus ROG Delta II at the same MSRP. It does, however, work much harder than others to justify its position. Active noise cancellation, a supremely comfortable cup design, fantastic sound performance, and a rich, vibrant microphone make this a must-see for anyone looking to splash a bit more cash than usual on an audio upgrade.

I’d primarily recommend the Alienware Pro Wireless to PC players over those on console. While its comfortable form factor could make it one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets in isolation, tweaks only available in Dolby Atmos, and the USB-C cable required for wired listening, mean PC players are going to see the biggest benefits. If you regularly swap between PC and PS5 you’re still going to hav꧅e a great time here, with the added benefit of ANC and a more versatile form factor.

If you want more flexible microphone integration, the freedom of a hot-swappable battery (no more charging), and stil꧒l excellent audio quality, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is still the better buy, and current sale prices tend to 🧜dip it down to around $279.99 at the moment anyway.

How I tested the Alienware Pro Wireless

I used the Alienware Pro Wireless over a period of three months, testing alongside the Asus ROG Delta II and SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. During that time I spent one month exclusively using the Pro Wireless for all daily work and play, primarily running the headset across Ghostwire Tokyo (PS5, PC), Fallout 4 (PC), Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (PC), Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC), and Oxenfree 2 (PC). I also performed our usual tests across Horizon Forbidden West (PS5), The Last of Us Part 2 (PS5), Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS5), Doom Eternal (PC, PS5), and both CS2 and Apex Legends (PC). For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets - or check out more of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets on the market.

At $229 / £219, the Delta II is punching with some big guns in both performance and value - priced $100 below the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset on the market, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but around $100 more than the SteelSeries and Razer models that occupy the popular $120 price range, this is a headset firmly ༒in the middle of the pack.

The standout feature here comes from just how hard Asus has leaned into its simultaneous connectivity. This is a feature that all♍ows headsets to run audio through a 2.4GHz dongle connection and via Bluetooth at the same time, and it rarely makes its way to headsets below that $350 premium price point. While the extra support for players who want these different channels is unparalleled, and competitive experiences are particularly well catered to through fantastic soundstage positioning, the ROG Delta II doesn’t do enough to separate itself from cheaper options overall.

Design

I liked the triangular step Asus took outside of the mainstream with its original Delta headsets, and I’m glad to see the form factor return in the new release. T🌼he angular lines feel a little softer this time around, with a slightly more squat cup shape overall. That’s a running theme in the Asus ROG Delta II, everything looks and feels more streamlined. Whereas the originals featured chunky plastic yokes reaching around both sides of the earcup, the new model is far more modern in its approach, with anodized metal reaching from the headband to the rear of each cup, allowing for full swivel and a slight angular tilt towards the head.

It doesn’t just look better, the cups themselves sit particularly well on the head. I would ha🌟ve appreciated some extra clamp force (as it stands, the looser fit allows a lot of external nois🙈e to creep into your listening), but the spacious enclosure inside each of these cushions feels more relaxed as a result.

That’s a win for comfort, but it’s a win that might be retracted by the skinnier headband. This harder strap does offer a thin layer of the same memory foam cushioning you’ll find in the main cups, but it’s not enough considering the pressure placed on the crown by the thinner design. There’s only 318g of weight pulling down from this band (slightly less than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 🅠Pro Wireless), but it’s still enough to create an ache right in the center of👍 where the headband sits. This was noticeable from the moment I puꦯt it on, and continued to worsen through longer sessions.

The looser clamp force also feels like it’s compounding this problem - there’s usually a little support from the cups themselves when they’re pressed against the side of the head, but here they feel like they’re hanging directly downwards. It’s a far cry from the extremely comfortable 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Atlas Air, which uses a com🦋paratively huge mesh headband cushion and a floating eജarcup design.

Out of the box, the Asus ROG Delta II comes with leatherette earcups, but these can be swapped for a set of mesh covers (also included). I stuck with the leatherette for most of my testing, though did enjoy the softer feel of the mesh during changes. Sound isolation is already a struggle here, though, so I would recommend sticking to the harder material unless you’re in a particularly warm environment. The sides of these covers are nicely textured to provide a little visual pizazz, while𓃲 the inside of each cup remains matte to ensure those ridges don’t get irritating.

An all-black design (save for the gray yokes) is perfectly complimented by the more outlandi▨sh earcup shape and the additional RGB lighting on both sides. Each earcup features a slightly raised center, with a strip of LEDs around the rim and an illuminated Asus logo in the center. As always, this extra design element is only going to be worth it if you’re a 🐼die-hard RGB fan - even streamers won’t get much use out of it considering it won’t be too visible on camera from the front. It also runs the battery down quite considerably as well.

Features

Asus has put its wireless connection options front and center of its marketing efforts for the Delta II, and so it should. I rarely see simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections available on even the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets, and having enjoyed the feature on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X, it’s certainly something I hunt down.

The ROG Delta II takes things one step further, though, with dedicated volume and playback controls (via a multi-function button on each side) for both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio streams. I’m used to fiddling with volume on individual devices to find the right balance between two connections, and this was a real game-changer. It’s a standout feature on the headset 💮overall, offering immediate access to both connections for quick adjustments and pauses - something I’m going to struggle to work without once I move on to the next device.

The 2.4GHz volume dial also doubles up as a nifty mic-mute function when pressed, while the function buttons on both sides offer additional controls as well. The left 2.4GHz scroller toggles RGB lighting when pressed and held, while the right Bluetooth button can answer and reject calls with a tap. It’s an incredibl🃏y well-designed system of controls that evades the common overcrowding problem in headset clickers 🐭and dials while still providing functionality for both home gaming and on-the-go listening.

It’s clear that Asus doesn’t want its headset tied to your desktop, like its wired predecessor. That Bluetooth support and ample control scheme means this is a device designed to go everywhere with you - and that’s supported by the detachable microphone. I do prefer a retractable model, like those used by the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 or SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova line - it avoids the inevitable loss of the mic arm itself after it’s been stuffed into a different drawer. Still, the flexible gooseneck design makes placement a lo𝄹t more versatile compared to the stiff-arm of the Astro A50 X and it’s easily popped in and out of the side of the cup.

You’ll be using the brand’s Armoury Crate software to tinker with the available 8-band EQ settings, choose between presets,🌸 tinker with your mic noise canceling and sidetone 💛settings, and toggle virtual surround sound. The software doesn’t go quite as deep as Razer’s selection of tools, but does a better job of keeping track of everything than lesser-known brands.

Battery is another winner for Asus. The advertised 110 hours of 2.4GHz battery life rang true in my testing (with RGB off). From a full charge straight out of the box, I was able to run the headset for around three weeks (roughly 3-5 hours a day) before needing to charge up. Bluetooth mode does open you up to a slightly longer runtime as well. Those numbers take a significant hit with RGB enabled - I only managed a week with those LEDs blaring. That’s still one of the sturdiest batteries I’ve tested so far - the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless still retains its top spot with 300 hours on the clock, but the next runner-up is the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless with only 120 hours to its name.

Performance

The Asus ROG Delta II uses 50mm titanium-plated drivers to achieve a crisp, clear sound profile that doesn’t get overwhelmed at either end of the spectrum. That’s not always a good thing. If you’re looking for a slightly warm but ultimately neutral sound this i♑s a fantastic pickup, but most players will find themselves seeking something with a little m⭕ore energy overall.

The audio isn’t bad it’s just not that exciting. If this was a $120 headset I’d be singing its praises, but with an extra $100 added onto that price tag, I’d expect a more dynamic sound quality. ꦜOf courseꦉ, if you prefer a more acoustic-sounding experience you’re going to have a good time here. The lower ranges never threaten to overwhelm higher frequencies, even holding their balance well in trickier scenarios like Doom Eternal.

That flatter out-of-the-box soundscape also means competitive players are particularly well catered to. Footsteps, gunshots, and reloads are all crystal clear in their placement, moreso than in other headsets that place a higher priority on filling the soundstage with environmental ambience. I’d even suggest that this is a better headset for CS:2 than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless due to its deft handling of positional audio. It’s also one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets I’ve tried when it come🃏s to representing Spider-Man Miles Morales’ Time to Rally mission in all its 3D glory.

It’s a clean and accurate experience overall, which works particularly well for lighter Nintendo Switch soundtracks like Super Mario Sunshine and more delicate audio profiles like Oxenfree 2. But I still found myself looking for a little morꦅe power in the lower mids and bass ranges. I didn’t get the same sense of dread ꦬwhen tip-toeing through the hotel in The Last of Us Part 2’s The Descent mission, even if the echoes and screeches of nearby enemies were well translated.

Asus is also proud of its 10mm super-wideband microphone, and it should be - this is a crisp, clean voice capture with enough texture and vibrancy to take on the fantastic 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed. Where it fꦗalls short of these industry darlings, though, is its noise cancellation. I’ve grown pretty used to my headset mic not picking up details like my keyboard and mouse clicking, so I was surprised to find that not even the dedicated Noise Gate setting in Armoury Crate could fully remove ꦰthem from a recording.

Should you buy the Asus ROG Delta II?

I wouldn’t recommend the Asus ROG Delta II to the masses. It’s got a solid set of specs and a respectable sound quality (though you’ll have to truly be after a neutral soundstage to appreciate it), but it doesn’t do enough to truly separate itself in this more obscure market position. There are headsets at just over $100, like the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, that offer a more robust sound quality overall while dropping connectivity features - and they each come with their own benefits as well. Meanwhile, the top end of the price scale manages to nail nearly everything the Asus ROG Delta II gets right while also addressing its comfort and bass r🌃ange shortcomings.

I say nearly everything, because there is one scenario in which I would be thrusting this headset directly into the hands of anyone who raised it with me. If you’re big on simultaneous connection, say you regularly chat with a friend or listen to music while also playing your games, there’s nothing better out there at the moment. Asus has given these specific players a wealth of features to play with, more so than any other device on the market. It’s enough to cancel out the design concerns or low-quality noise isolation by itself. Just note that this simultaneous connection won’t work when wired in, so those after an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series X headset are out in the dark on this one.

How I tested the Asus ROG Delta II

I used the Asus ROG Delta II for a period of six weeks, testing across all the games in my current backlog as well as our benchmarking staples. When connected to my PC I was using the cups for CS:2, Doom Eternal, Fallout 4, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Oxenfree 2. On PS5, I tested across Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Last of Us Part 2, Ghostwire Tokyo, and Doom Eternal (for cross-platform comparison). Meanwhile, on Nintendo Switch, I tested in Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario RPG. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also helping you find the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headset on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset. For more portable options, though, take a look at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds available now.

Now, Razer has given the Barracuda X yet another makeover. This time the brand has added RGB lighting to the mix to create the Razer Barracuda X Chroma . The once subtle design of previous Barracuda headsets has been shakཧen up for so🌜mething more flashy, consisting of a customizable RGB Razer logo and an outline of lighting on each cup.

However, this colorful addition to the Barracuda line-up comes at a price. While the 2022 model was only $99/£99, the X Chroma comes in at $129/£129, which instantly pits itself against some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets I’ve ever used. Yet while this costly upgrade has made the competition more fierce, Razer has yet again managed to double down on what makes the Barracuda line-up so special. After two weeks of testing and multiple games played, I can𒉰 confidently say that, even in its third iteration, the Barracuda X Chroma is the RGB cherry on top of the already impressive Barracuda X headset cake.

Key Specs

Design

• Discreet inclusion of RGB lighting
• High-quality and durable plastic matte finish
• Comfortable light-weight fit

The X Chroma design has mostly stayed true to its 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X (2022) counterpart. The headset features a closed-back form factor with a plastic matte finish throughout and two oblong-shaped ear cups. For the X Chroma, however, Razer included a swivel mechanism in each of the cups for a slightly better fit. This movement not only makes it easier to adjust on your ears, but it also makes it easier to fit in any compatible headphone case you happen to own.

Like before, each of these cups is cushioned with memory foam covered in a ‘breathable mesh fabric’. There’s also a piece sitting below the headband, to provide an extra layer of comfort. Personally, I prefer a leather-like coating to any headset padding, as the texture of a fabric mesh can be a sensory nightmare. That’s definitely a me issue, rather than anything to do with the quality of the fabric being used. And luckily in the X Chroma’s case, it’s incredibly soft to the touch.

The foam cushions may be the same as the rest of the Barracuda headset range, but the X Chroma is the heaviest headset out of the lot. The headset weighs 35g more than the 2022 model, coming in at 285g, likely due to all the extra parts required to power up RGB lighting. Luckily, that added bit of weight isn’t actually noticeable. Even with my extra-sensitive head, which is🎃 prone to aches, pains, and migraines, I felt fine after multiple Marvel Rival gaming sessions over the two weeks' worth of testing. What was pleasantly noticeable was the easy-to-reach controls. Along the left cup a small mute button for the HyperClear Cardioid Mic, a small volume dial, a power button, and a button for switching between a Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connection are located.

Again, these buttons aren’t new, but their layout has been altered with the Type-C port now taking the place of the existing 3.5mm audio jack. I’m glad Razer kept the on-board controls. Other brands are known to do away with them entirely to focus on aesthetics instead. But with the mic button still present it meant I could easily mute myself and have a quick snack without bombarding my friends across the PS5’s built-in Discord chat with my otherworldly eating noises.

The most noticeable inclusion of the X Chroma design is, of course, its added RGB lighting. Where existing models featured the iconic Razer logo engraved in the center of the outfacing cups, this has been given a significant flashy upgrade. Instead of the more subtle approach, the Razer logo is now backlit with colorful RGBs, which is paired with an outline of RGB lighting along the outer edge.

These RGBs were always going to be somewhere, as is the nature of Razer’s Chroma products. But they still feel pretty discreet as far as RGB gaming headsets go. Chroma peripherals, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Seiren V3 Chroma microphone, take full advantage of the branding, and half of the mic lights up my desk on a daily basis. In contrast, a minimal outline of lights and a light-up Razer logo on the headset still make it one of the more subtle headset lines in Razer’s Chroma repertoire.

While the addition of the RGBs may be new, the look of the included Razer Hyperclear Cardioid Mic is just the same as before. The small detachable mic connects to a 3.5mm port found alongside the rest on the onboard controls and can be bent into shape and pointed toward your mouth. To act like a pop shield 🐼and harsh sound dampener, there's a coating of foam around the mic. Within hours of use, this became a magnet to fluff and cat hair, but it is easily removable i﷽f you prefer to go without. You can also go without the mic entirely, as it can be easily removed from the 3.5mm port with just a small tug.

Right next to the microphone port lays the smart switch button. Pressing this is what allows you to quickly switch between the two different connections. Pressing this button will also change the audio preset from game mode, movie mode, and the custom audio setting you can customize within the Razer Synapse soft💦ware. However, quickly pressing it twice is what allows you to change between the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth as you see fit.

Features

• Customizable 6-zone RGB lighting lit up ear cups
• Easy setup across multiple devices
• Razer Audio & Chroma app support
• Lighting pairing with other Chroma compatible Razer tech

It’s hard to continue harping on about previous headsets in the Barracuda line-up but just like the 2022 version, the X Chroma sဣtands out for its multi-platform capabilities. With Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz options at your disposal, you can hook the headset up to just about everything from your PS5, PC, Steam Deck, and your smartphone. There’s a 2.4GHz dongle right in the box, alongside a type-C to type-A adaptor, for those who prefer a latency-free connection. Better yet, if your PC isn’t the most modern, like mine, that adaptor means you can still benefit from 2.4GHz even with no type-C port in sight.

Where the real meat of the X Chroma lies is, of course, with its RGB lighting. Adding the Chroma name to this new headset means it’s now part of Razer’s Chroma RGB ecosystem, able to sync up with other Chroma peripherals and turn your gaming setup into a dazzling light show. Customizing the RGB Razer logo and RGB trim on the cups can be done in two ways, through Razer’s Synapse 4 and Chroma software, or its fr♓ee-to-download Razer Audio smartphone app.

You’re more limited with the app as there’s no way to customize the individual zones of the RGB lighting, but there’s still a lot to tweak at 🐼your fingertips. After connecting to my Samsung S24 smartphone via Bluetooth I was pleasantly surprised that I still had Razer’s Chroma wheel, static, spectrum, and breathing effects to take advantage of. You can also see the remaining battery life, and switch between the different pre-made audio presets, which comes in handy when using the headset with anything other than my PC.

All the proper personalization takes place wi♔th Synapse 4 on desktop. Within the ‘Studio’ tab , you can select the individual zones and pick any color you please - so of course I instantly went with a purple-to-pink gradient to match my cozy office aesthetic. You can also choose between the same lighting effects as the app, but with the in-depth added bonus of choosing extras like brightness, decay, and scale. While having this level of customization is appreciated, as with any Chroma Razer tech, the software can be awkward to navigate.

It took me a while to run through the lighting effects and create the cute pink gradient that I wanted. The effects in the end weren’t very noticeable. Where some Razer Chroma accessories have a large surface area, the subtle nature of the X Chroma’s zones makes the breathing effects pretty lackluster. This will be ideal for those who hate the sometimes garish nature of some RGB-riddled tech but still want some lighting synchronization between their devices. I do, however, wish there were brand-new effects added to the Chroma app specifically with this RGB design in mind. Otꦓherwise, the LEDs are lovely and vivid, especially in dark-lit environments. Plus, the ability to sync up with my Razer Chroma microphone made my PC space feel more unified.

Whether it was testing through a long list of games, or listening to Babymetal’s Ratatata on repeat, the battery life also holds up strong. Razer boasts the X Chroma can last up to 70 hours, and it beat that on a full charge right out of the box. Even with the RGB lighting at full brightness at all times, I never felt the fear of reaching for the accompanying type-C cable to give it a charge. Should you be concerned with how much juice the headset has left, not only is it integrated with fast charging but the app also provides a real💦-time percentage of how long it has to go - perfect for that extra bit of reasܫsurance.

Performance

• Crisp and highly detailed audio quality for gaming
• Clear dynamic detachable microphone
• Lacks the bass support for music playback
• Impressive long battery life

Even as a mid-range pair of cups, the sound the Barracuda X Chroma managed to muster is impressive. The 40mm Razer TriForce drivers pack a punch, and no matter the game I threw its way over during my two-week testing period, the X Chroma did it justice. These are the same drivers found on the 2022 model, so I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed. But the quality still blew me away from game to game. With the PS5 being my main console of choice, I went straight to taking out the brand-new Marvel Rivals for a spin.

I’m notoriously not the best at hero shooters, so ensuring I could hear every important footstep of the rival team, and every booming call out by Galactica was a must. When blasting through the skies as Starlord the audio sounded well-levelled, and this is without any messing with the EQ. The bass wasn’t too overbearing, and the mid and high rang🌠es of the overall soundscape meant everything from the ജcharacters' voice lines to the bullets whizzing past me sounded crystal clear.

I also tried out the PC version of Marvel Rivals and the experience was the same. Just as on the PS5, the sounds of the Marvel worlds were brought to life through the vibrancy and leveled audio quality. I ended up preferring them on the PC as it meant I had Razer Synapse at my disposal and could tu༒rn up t☂he bass at a moment's notice. There are limited EQ audio presets available through the software, but you are given the ability to customize it to your liking. So at the PC, I cranked up the bass as far as I could to give it the rally, heart-pounding sound I adore.

This impressive quality continued when switching to my favorite online horror, Dead by Daylight. In a game where, especially if you’re a survivor main, being wary of what and who’s around you is of the utmost importance, the X Chroma didn’t fail to bring the asymmetrical horror landscape to life. When spending more time trying out Lara Croft’s survivor skills, I was impressed with how crisp her voice lines sounded when permeating through the cups. Equally, it felt easier than ever to decipher the direction of the nearest generator being worked on, which even helped me escape more matches than usual.

Just like we do with all headsets we test, I also played CS:2 with the X Chroma in tow. There, the headset’s quality made getting immersed in a match an easy task, though it sadly didn’t make me any better at the first-person shooter. Playing CS:2 is where the headset's 7.1 surround sou𒁃nd came in handy. After setting it up through Synapse I was able to hear exactly where my teammates were at all times, and the incoming bullets felt accurately placed in the overall soundscape. Going forward, if I were to try and seriously up my FPS skills, I don't think I'd do so without this at my disposal. I also changed things up a bit by seeing how it dealt with the Nintendo Switch. The uplifting sweeping orchestral soundtrack of Super Mario Galaxy flourished through the high-quality cups. As did the high-pitched screams of Captain Toad in-game.

I then put the headset through its paces with hours of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, to see how the X Chroma coped with the high-octane arcade-like sounds. While I felt it was lacking the loud, reverberating bass I prefer, it still produced clear, quality audio. Moving onto the Steam Deck, I tested Little Goody Two Shoe, a horror game with fantastical musical numbers. Whether I was blissfully talking to villagers or traversing through creepy crow-infested forests, the delightful soundscape permeated through the cups in the best kind of way.

Where the X Chroma experience falters slightly is through its detachable Razer Hyperclear Cardioid Mic. The mic attaches through a small port on the left cup and, similar to the mic on my favorite Razer headset, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Blackshark V2 Pro, its bendable nature means you can adjust it to your liking. As a cardioid mic, its directional pickup pattern means it only picks up your voice ideally from the front. However, no matter how I adjusted the foam-covered nub, it always produced a slightly muffleꩲd sound.

During Marvel Rivals matches, this wasn’t notic🐓eable through friends on Discord. At no point did anyone have trouble understanding a word I said. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend streaming with the microphone if you want the utmost clarity - for that, the Blackshark V2 Pro’s Hyperclear Super Wideband mic would definitely suffice. As a mid-range headset, there’s also in audio monitoring present here, so take that in mind if you prefer to hear yourself when chatting away online.

While each one of the games I tested sounded exactly as I’d want them to, listening to music was a slightly different story. It wasn’t a bad experience by any means, and I could listen to my favorite artists like Bombay Bicycle Club with no issue. But any cacophony of guitars on the X Chroma sounded a bit on the tinny side, lacking the gut-punching sound it needed. It was almost like I was listening to sound spillage rather than directly having a headset over my ears. This isn’t entirely a deal breaker, as predominantly you want a gaming headset to lend itself to playing, well, games and it does that very well. I’m just likely going to reach for other mid-range headsets, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 that lend themselves to heavier shoeg💞♏aze and metal genres when I purely want to listen to music in the future.

Should you buy the Razer Barracuda X Chroma?

Just like the Barracuda X headsets before it, the Razer Barracuda X Chroma is an impressive piece of gaming audio tech. The pair of cups is incredibly lightweight, compatible with a huge range o☂f devices with an equally easy setup process for all, the sound quality is well-leveled, and the microphone does the job. Razer made sure to pass on the best qualities of the previous iterations, just this time there’s RGB lighting to add that little extra spice to your gaming setup, all for just £129/$129.

With the previous model being under the $100 mark, the added RGB lighting does come at a cost, a cost of £30/$30 to be exact. But it feels entirely justified. You aren’t just getting lighting effects slammed on t🦋op,. you can tailor the lighting to be static or cycle through a range of pretty pre-made effects. Each zone of lighting can be individually changed to a color (and brightness) of your 🐽choice, so instead of adding more garish rainbow lighting to your setup, you can tailor it to the exact aesthetic you already have going.

A lot of otꦛher mid-range gaming headsets, like🅠 the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5P, which also has an MSRP of $129/£129 don’t have RGB lighting at all. While the Nova 5P may have more of a focus on audio quality, their customization is purely relegated to audio pre-sets. Razer has managed to not only introduce a new mid-range marvel to the scene but a mid-range headset that’s able to include lighting customization without it feeling like an unnecessary gimmick.

If you aren’t a fan of having every one of your gaming accessories li🧜t up like a rainb𓆉ow, I would recommend you stay away from the X Chroma and pick up the Barracuda X (2022) model instead. The driver type, frequency range, microphone, battery life, and impressive compatibility options are all the same, there’s just no lighting to be found. The X Chroma feels like an option for those who would rather have a bit of lighting at their fingertips, or for those who already are part of the Razer Chroma ecosystem and want their gaming accessories to feel as unified as possible.

How I tested the Razer Barracuda X Chroma

I used the Razer Barracuda X for over two weeks, testing it across a wide range of PS5 (Dead by Daylight, Marvel Rivals), Steam Deck (Little Goody Two Shoes, Disney Dreamlight Valley), Nintendo Switch (Super Mario Galaxy, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble) and PC (Marvel Rivals, CS:2) games. When not using it to play games, and chat with friends on Discord, I used it to listen to a wide variety of bands from various art styles. The headset was put through its audio paces as I listened to everything from the whispered dulcet tones of Elliott Smith and Bombay Bicycle Club to the bass-driven Carpenter Brut. I also streamed TV shows and films on Disney Plus and other streaming services. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Check out our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets if you want to see more of what the brand has to offer. We’ve also gathered all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets in one place to decipher what goes best with Sony’s pixel-pushing machine. If you’re looking for options for the Xbox instead, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headset guide is your best bet.

The truth is, I’ve been waiting for this moment. This is the brand behind some of the best audio in gaming - its Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has topped the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset charts since release and even cheaper options beat others in their respective markets. I’m shocked that these in-ear drivers are the brand’s first stab at the world of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds, it feels li💞ke SteelSeries has been making🎃 them all its life.

Design

I received both the white PlayStation and black Xbox versions of the SteelSeries GameBuds - both look great, but the white is just so much cleaner it has to be my 🔥favorite. Coated with a soft-touch matte finish, and stored ins✱ide a compact pill-style case, these buds feel every bit as premium as high-end mainstream offerings from Bose and Sony.

That SteelSeries logo, proudly stamped on the fro🔜nt of the clamshell case and across the large control button on each bud, is the only clue that these might be offering something more than your standard driv🌄ers.

SteelSeries has built these buds to last, with a sturdy outer shell to each side and IP55 water res🍌istance making them viable options for both gameplay and everyday commutes. I’ve used the buds on numerous rainy dog walks, and they’re still as fresh as ever.

Every join is slick, and the charging / case detection contacts have stood the test of time, showing no signs of wear after constant daily use over the last three months. The case is just as sturdy, though the plastic shell feels a little thin around the top. It means this lid does creak a little when manipulated, but the hinge feels strong and snappy (a little too snappy until I discovered an extra notch to keep it open) and is neatly recessed into the design of the case as a whole. Unlike the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeeds, there’s a neat little sl🔴ot for the USB-C 2.4GHz receiver in here, keeping everything safe🏅 and tidy together.

A slightly bulbous form factor means each bud nestles neatly in the ear, with a plug-and-twist approach to ensure stability. They stay in my ear fairly well while out an💟d about, only requiring the odd push back into position once in a blue moon, and feel more secure than Razer’𒁃s alternative overall.

Perhaps more importantly, they’re effortlessly comfortable. I lived through the dark ages of earbuds, regularly suffering from what we called ‘iPod ear’ back in the day. We’ve come a long way, and the soft edges of the Arctis GameBuds meld beautifully in the ear. They plug in neatly, with a reliable seal and lightweight feel. At just 5.3g each, and with a beautifully rounded design, they fade into the background incredibly quickly, and sit flush with the ear. They feature a similar stem-less design to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, but don’t𒅌 stick out nearly as far and feel m💟ore secure as a result.

Features

These are some seriously stacked earbuds. We’re talking ANC, 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, a companion app with over 100 EQ presets baked in, 10 hours of battery life out of the case, Qi charging, transparency mode, in-ear sensors, and compatibil༺ity with every platform under the sun (provided you pick up the Xbox version). That’s the most robust feature set I’ve seen in a set of gaming earbuds, and it’s all available for an incredibly competitive price. You really can’t get much better than that.

I’ll kick things off with the most unique feature - something you won’t find in competitors’ arsenals. I first fell in love with the SteelSeries Arctis mobile app when the brand released the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. At first glance, it’s your standard earbud softw🔯are - providing access to battery levels and ANC controls. Open up that EQ menu, though, and you have one of the best collections of presets outside of the PC space.ꦏ With over 170 options available, all designed by sound engineers, developers, or streamers, this is an incredibly inclusive roster of PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox titles. You’ll find dedicated presets for Apex Legends next to Baldur’s Gate 3, Genshin Impact rubs shoulders with Stray, and there are even dedicated audio profiles for Super Mario Odyssey and Terraria, with a list that’s growing all the time.

Of course, you’ve still got a range o✤f more widely recognized EQ presets available, with settings for movie immersion and bass boost listed alongside these game-specific profiles. You can also set different profiles for 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. I tend to stick to Bluetooth for listening to music on my phone and keep 2.4GHz for gaming, so keeping the bass boost options on the formeꦺr setting came in particularly handy. The app also goes into slightly more detail around mic settings than mainstream buds, with mic volume and sidetone sliders available on the main home screen.

One of my favorite features is the physical buttons on each bud, though. I’ve done my time with fancy swipe and touch gestures - and so far only Apple’s AirPods have proven to work reliably every time. I’ve been crying out for a full button, and SteelSeries’ implementation nails both basic and more sophisticated functionality. You’ve got full access to all media playback and call controls, with the options to remap single and double presses on each side to whatever function suits you. There are a lot of different functions to learn here, with different combinations of presses and holds registering different inputs. I generally stuck to🐻 basic media playback and mic muting which was easy enough to learn over the course of a few hours.

A wear sensor allows the GameBuds to detect when they’re being 💯worn and continue playing your media, or pause when the buds are removed. This works well for the most part, though I did notice some false positives when carrying the buds loose in my pocket. Podcasts regularly continued playing in my pocket while I paused my listening.

That’s really the only frustration I encountered in my testing, the ANC is powerful for a set of buds and works to k🐟eep a range of frequencies clear from my listening. The battery life is also impressive - I was able to run these buds for well around two weeks of gameplay sessions and dog walks before needing to charge the case, and even then the Qi functꦅionality means I just leave it on a charging pad. A 10-hour per bud charge meant I never dropped out of power during day-to-day usage either.

Performance

This is the smooth, velvety SteelSeries audio profile I’ve come to know and love from the brand’s over-ear products, stuffed into a pair of 6mm drivers. Despite their smaller stature, audio is still incredibly powerful, with a wide soundstage behind it and with plenty of room to breathe. That’s impressive, especi🐬ally considering gaming earbuds often prioritize competitive use-cases, artificially boosting the lower mids and putting more tech in speed than driver design, ultimately falling short of textural sophistication. It’s why many opt to use slower but more dynamic mainstream buds from Sony, Bose, or Apple. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds offer the best of both worlds, and I haven’t touched my AirPods Pros since I took them out the case.

Whether it’s the cacophonous arenas of Doom Eternal or the sparse sound effects of Gone Home, the GameBuds bring a sense of breadth and detail that I’ve never heard from a set of gaming buds before. With the volume limiter and ANC switched off and the right game profile selected, these felt unlimited in their handling of everything from quieter moments to major cut-scenes, explosive action set pieces, and frantic firefights. I say switch that ANC off because, while it’s certainly helpful for music or podcasts on the road, it does apply a slightly woolly layer to the audio. Everything still sounds great, but if y🅷ou’re already in a quieter environment there’s a more dynamic output without it.

Directional audio isn’t quite as precise as you’ll find from a larger set of drivers, and does sometimes sound a little blocky in fast-moving CS:2 moments. However, it presents a nicely immersive spatial sound that keeps up with surroundings in Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Time to Rally mission sequence. Lower ranges are punchy and clear, with no distortion at higher volumes. There isn’t as much space between the clustered lows in Doom Eternal as you’ll find in a full set of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pr💦o Wireless headphones, but it’s still an impressively detailed experience considering the portable form factor. That detail is particularly well translated in The Last of Us Part 2’s claustrophobic The Descent mission. The echoes of debris and clickers have a crisp, clear presence against the dread-indu💮cing rolls of the soundtrack underneath.

The smaller drivers do feel a little more restrictive compared to full headphones when it comes to the space these effects take up - they’re by no means flat𝔉 but they can roll a little further in a larger headset🐷. The same is true of Horizon: Forbidden West. Wider environments sound incredible, cut-scenes are rich and booming, and individual effects sound crisp and clean. Larger machine battles do sometimes suffer from blended audio, where all the individual machine sounds roll into one deeper whirr. It’s a tough test for any gaming headset, the only devices I’ve listened to that can push through have been particularly expensive. The Arctis GameBuds perform better in this test than any others in my pool, though.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

If you’re in the market for a set of earbuds that can see you through both gaming and everyday entertainment, there’s nothing better than the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds at this $159.99 / £159.99 price point. In fact, I’m yet to test a more premium set of earbuds that manages to nail all the richness of this audio while still offering a faster 2.4GHz wireless connection. All platforms are catered for, aꦫs long as you pick up the dedicated Xbox version, and audio is well presented across the full range. Razer has its Hammerhead Hyperspeeds at the same price, but they’re harder to find on the shelves these days. Considering you’re picking up a more well-rounded audio, more comfortable bud shape, and all those EQ features, the switch to SteelSeries is a no-brainer.

How I tested the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

I’ve been using the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds for the last two months, running them for all my daily dog walks, journeys, gameplay, music, and streaming. I’ve listened to more true crime podcast episodes than I care to mention and kept these buds hot for sessions in Fallout 4, Hogwarts Legacy, Final Fantasy XVI, and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. I also tested the GameBuds in each of our dedicated comparison games; The Last of Us Part 2, Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Doom Eternal, and Counter Strike 2. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets available.

With updated internals and that RGB blazing as bright as ever, Razer’s $179.99 / £179.99 device wants to be the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset for mid-range PC players. This is a competitive price point, though, with SteelSeries, Turtle 🐟Beach, HyperX, and Logitech all pitching at the same lower-mid rate. The Razer Kraken V3’s biggest competition, though, comes from within the brand’s own roster - the BlackShark V2 Pro. With just $20 more on its price tag (and not even that when recurring sales are factored in), a better set of specs under th൲e hood, and the same PC-focused offering, the Kraken V4 might not be doing enough to step out from the BlackShark’s shadow this time around.

Design

I remember the Krakens of yore, and they were chunky. The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V3 Hypersense was a monster of a headset, with huge, thick cups on each side of its industrial headband. The V4 almost feels lithe compared to these older releases, with a far more streamlined look and feel. Those iconic circular cups have been stretched out for more of an oval shape, which makes ෴for a far more comfortable experience overall - the cushions hug around the natural contours🍬 of the ear rather than pushing against the tops. I never felt any ear-pinching during longer sessions as a result.

It’s not just the shape 💙of those cups that’s been tweaked, the silhouette is ever so slightly slimmer as well. It sits closer to the head during wear, its form factor shaved down so as to not just out from the ears quite so far.

The padding itself is a nicely sturdy memory foam, covered with a mesh fabric that proves more durable and breathable compared to the leatherette you’ll find on previous models and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 Pro. While traditionally considered the cheaper option, I much prefer this material. It’s softer, less irritating over extensive use, and avoids that sticky plasticky feeling when temperatures start to climb. There’s still plenty of sound isolation, though if you’re t♔rying to block out louder noises a leatherette alternative might be better suited. Interestingly, the BlackShark line flips this script, using a softer mesh fabric on its V2 Pro model and a more isolating leatherette on the cheaper Hyperspeed.

Despite its $179.99 / £179.99 MSRP, this is an all-plastic device. Razer has kept things simple in construction, opting against heavier (but sturdier) aluminum materials to try and keep that weight as low as possible. I can see why - at 350g this is heavier than both the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (320g) and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed (280g). It’s got a little more heft than average, but it’s still tip-toeing along the right side of the comfort line. There’s a good amount of cushioning running along the top headband, but it can push a little into the crown with the sheer weight of those cups. As 🌳it is, I can ignore the pressure for around three hours before needing a break. Denser, heavier materials would have easily made this too uncomfortable to use for sessions over an hour.

Plus, the Razer Kraken V4 still feels as durable as I would expect from a more premium build. That plastic never creaks or rattles, even after a few months of daily use, hinges are smooth and hold their position well, and the headband has a good degree of flex to it. It’s not quite as moldable as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, but it’s easy to see why with the thicker design. Each cup swivels beautifully to better adapt to your🌳 head shape, with an eight-level adjustable headband serving larger heads as well.

The 🦩cable running between the strut and main drivers is also nicely coiled to ensure it accommodates this stretch without too much tension. That’s a good amount of ergonomic support, with stretch and swivel allowing for a range of different head shapes and sizes, and a lighter clamp force keeping everything in position without feeling too overbearing.

The microphone is neatly hidden inside the left cup, ready to be extended from its nook whenever required. This is a fantastic design, but Razer hasn’t quite pulled it off as well as SteelSeries. Every implementation of the Arctis Nova’s retractable mic is smooth and slick, whereas this version takes a little too much jimmying to pull out and push back in. The cable seems to feel squished inside, though I did notice this versio🔥n is less sticky than the Kraken V4 Pro.

I’ve left the Razer Kraken V4’s most distinguishing design feature for last because, in the words of Ms Twain, that don’t impress me much. The RGB on the outside of each cup is flashy, and its LEDs are bright enough (if not quite as vivid as the lights on a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer keyboard). But I don’t see it when I’m wearinꦰg it, a Twitch audience won’t see it unless you turn your head to the side, and it drains battery life completely. It’s an unnecessary extra that might appeal to RGB-heads, but is far from a must-see and adds to the price unnecessarily. Yeah, I know, I must be fun at parties.

Features

The Razer Kraken V4 is compatible with PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switﷺch, and mobile devices thanks to a considerable connection portfolio. While its Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle will keep you covered on consoles and handhelds, though, it really does find its home in the PC space. That’s immediately signaled by the USB-A wired connection (via an included USB-C to USB-A braided cable) but cemented in the THX Spatial support and reliance on Synapse features for full value.

You’ll have access to EQ🐟, microphone, and RGB settings via this Windows software, with further profiles for gaming, music, and movies easily accessible via the headset itself. These profiles are a little janky, for want of a better word. I found all to be lacking in the lower end, which meant I generally rolled with my own preset for most games and music scenarios, lifting that bassline a little for movies.

The software itself is easily navigable enough, with menus, settings, and quick access features sitting where one would naturally expect them to be - even that can’t be taken for granted looking at alternative options. While Razer has been quick to state that the new Synapse 4 program is less CPU-intensive, though, that didn’t exactly prove true in my testing. Running the program direct on a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Blade 14 is still pretty demanding. I’ve had to stop it running in the background altogether during day-to-day tasks, to keep everything zippy. The actual experience𝓡 of using Synapse is improved, though, with faster responses where actions were sl🗹uggish at best, and crashing at worst in older iterations.

Under the hood, the Razer Kraken V4 packs a set of 40mm Triforce Titanium drivers and the brand’s Hyperclear Super Wideband microphone. That’s a sma🍌ller driver set compared to the Razer BlackShark range, and this restriction makes itself known in the bass response. That microphone had me excited at the start of testing - its implementation on the BlackShark V2 Pro propelled the headset to stardom, offering super crisp vocals with excellent range, detailing, and a deeply textured tone.

On paper, the Kraken V4 should offer the same response, but here the microphone doesn’t feel quite so substantial. It’s still a solid pickup, but there’s less richness and energy♌ to the voice. There are perhaps some material changes under the hood here, or a disparity in pickup placement or size, because꧑ despite boasting the same name this isn’t quite the same experience.

Controls line both cups, with mic mute, volume, and power on the left and a Bluetooth smart switch and profile-switch / chat-mix button on the right. Everything is placed within easy reach and with a nicely textured surface on th power button it’s easy to quickly hit mic mute or head straight to the othౠer cup for a profile change. The volume dial is a little too easy to hit, though. It’s incredibly loose and positioned just so that even my hood would sometimes roll it all the way up or down. Similarly, the power button doesn’t feel as tense as it should - I can hear it hitting against my hood or shoulder when moving my head to the side, rattling in its casing.

Battery life is rated for up to 50 hours without RGB switched on, and 30 hours with those lights blaring. Starting from a full charge, I made it through four and a half days of use before needing to plug in, using the headset for between five and seven hours per day. That’s still much lower than the BlackShark V2 Pro’s 70 hours and slightly lower than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7’s 38 hours.

Performance

Whereas the BlackShark is focused on speed, the Kraken wants to be the most immersive headset in the room. Straight out of the box there’s a solid balance across ranges, and an impressive soundstage with plenty of space for details. However, I did need to drive up the bassline to suit my own personal preference, as it came across a little weaker on my first few runs. Once I’d tinkered with those Synapse levers, I was able to achieve a nicely rich sound quality with cris🤡p textures and an enjoyable, bouncy audio profile.

Directional audio isn’t quite as pinpoint-precise as that of the BlackShark. I was still able to locate enemies ﷺin Apex Legends, marking the sounds of footsteps and gunshots quite easily on my own mental map. However, the extent of that detail didn’t quite pull through to more dense settings like Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Walking through the Time to Rally scene, louder sounds were treated to far more detail whereas smaller directional cues seemed to be lost in the mix a little easier. Where these cues were of a lower mid-range frequency, the BlackShark V2 Pro picked them out with a little more spark.

This lack of low-range emphasis was most noticeable in Doom Eternal. While there was some excellent texture in the mid-range, I missed the boom of an explosion or the grunt o🍌f a big soundtrack moment. Bass boost certainly helped things along here, and switching over to PC I found THX Spatial Audio gave the 💖whole battle a lot more body. Wiring in rather than relying on a 2.4GHz dongle helped further, allowing for more auditory information that gave me a much more textured soundstage. Demon screeches balanced beautifully with more powerful weapon sounds, and the soundtrack finally had the space it needed.

The lack of natural power in the lower range does mean that the Kraken V4 is able to deal with a clustered environment particularly well, especially if competing effects fall within the same ranges. The Kraken was able to accurately separate overbearing machine sounds from those of the wider environment, balancing the odd piece of dialogue and soundtrack swell impressively. That’s not something I can say about a lot of headsets, which tend to struggle with this gam𝕴e’s cacophonous setting.

It’s in slower, more ambient moments that the Kraken V4 impressed the most, though. Without needing to power too many low-range rumbles and balance mid-range effects, the soundstage and more delicate tonal qualities of these drivers were allowed to shine through. The claustrophobia of The Last of Us Part 2’s The Descent missio𓄧n was translated particularly well even without THX on PS5. Smaller environmental noises were given ample space to ring through with clarity and terrifying ambience.

Should you buy the Razer Kraken V4?

I’ll start with the good here. The Razer K🗹raken V4 features a fantastic build quality that proves you don’t need heavy, high-end materials to make a luxurious gaming headset. It feels more durable in the hand than the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed ($129.99 / £129.99) while offering a set of cool, comfortable mesh earcups that I personally prefer to the BlackShark V2 Pro ($199.99 / £199.99). There’s plenty of clarity and detail in this audio naturally, and with a few tweaks to the lower ranges, it’s easy toꦍ curate a well-textured and full-bodied audio system that’s both energetic and powerful.

Now we’re onto the bad, and this is where that $179.99 / £179.99 MSRP gets the Krak🃏en into trouble. While its design is better than the BlackShark range, its audio, microphone, and battery life all fall short - of even the cheaper Hyperspeed model. Its PC-focus also means console players should be turning to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (also $129.99) for more balancing options across PS5 and Xbox instead.

It’s a solid piece of kit, and doesn’t necessarily do anything wrong (if you don’t mind tweaking EQ settings a little). It just doesn’t do enough to satisfy the Razer tax. If the Kraken V4 had launched at $149.99 / £149.99 - just $30 less - things might be a little different. As it stands, there’s not a lot here to justify the extra cash when cheaper options are not only available, but sometimes performing better. If you’re looking for a well-rounded 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PC headset that concentrates more on immersive atmosphere and less on the speed of your directional audio (and you want to spend on Razer’s THX and Chroma fe🐻ature) I would still recommend it. If you prioritize value for money and don’t want to tinker💙 with EQ too often, there are cheaper options out there.

How I tested the Razer Kraken V4

I used the Razer Kraken V4 for all daily play, music, and streaming sessions across a span of two months, with two weeks of use alongside the Alienware Pro Wireless and Asus ROG Delta 2. Direct, specific testing was completed across Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man Miles Morales, Apex Legends, Doom Eternal, and The Last of Us Part 2, while also comparing results against the Razer Kraken V4 Pro, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, and Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets available. Or, for something more portable, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds available now.

Amazon thankful𝔍ly, has just made that decision easier. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset just received a further $10 off its already discounted price, dropping the cost down to just this Cyber Monday.

Last month the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best in gaming headsets, the Arctis Nova Pro, aಞlready had its price cut in time for the sales kicking off. During Black Friday, the high-end gaming headset had $77 knocked off its MSRP of $349.99. Finding the pair of cups for as little as $272.99 already made it one of the best deals I had come across this year. However, an additional saving of $10 has made it now just $10 more than its lowest-ever price to date, making it easier than ever to recommend the SteelSeries Arctis Nov꧑a Pro wireless this Cyber Monday.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless?

It's pretty understandable that if you want one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets out there, it's going to cost a pretty penny. But the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset isn't just one of the best headsets we've come across, it's the best there is full stop and who can put a price on that?

Well, SteelSeries has, and the high-end headset typically sells for $349.99 in the US when there's not a delightful sale event running. That's a lot to ask for if you already paid a ton for your PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or a ﷺbrand-new top-of-the-line gaming PC, so I can understand any hesitancy. However, now that Cyber Monday is here, the Arctis Nova Pro has arrived with a saving of $87 off its MSRP. If that doesn't make the headset more alluring as ever, I don't know what will.

For just $259.99 you're still getting all the high-end pro features you'd expect for a headset that's topped our best headset list for months on end. The Arcits Nova Pro boasts ജof both a Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connection, as is typical with most modern headsets. However, where it shines is down to its DAC base station. With the base station, you can connect to multiple gaming platforms at once and easily switch between them. This is more than ideal for anyone like myself, who regularly switc🦄hes between the gaming PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch when looking for their next game to play. The little device is also decked out with EQ customization options, so you can tailor the audio for your favorite games exactly how you'd like.

One of my favorite stand-out features of the Arctis Nova Pro is its use of hot-swappable battery packs. You can have one pack hooked up to your headset while you play 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Disney Dreamlight Valley for hours on end while another is charging. That way, you don't have to worry about battery life so long as you remember to charge one at all times. And how do you charge them? Well, with that handy DAC base station of cour♎se.

While you can wear the Arctis Nova Pro for hours upon hours, you don't have to worry about comfort. SteelSeries headsets, like the Arctis Nova 5P which has also seen a further $10 discount to just , are some of the comfiest headsets I've ever put on my head. The additional head strap, found on the Pro and 5P, makes the headset so lightweight that you end up forgetting anything is on your head at all.

The hours are clicking away until Cyber Monday is no more, and deals like this will be a thing of the past. Iꩲf you're determined to get a new gaming headset then I wholeheartedly recommend piꦬcking up the best of the best and grabbing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset for less while you still can.

Time is running out but you can still grab huge savings on everything from gaming headsets, controllers, console bundles, and of course, other gaming headsets this Cyber Monday. Check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Cyber Monday deals hub to find all our top picks for the best deals and discounts inဣ one place.

A good gaming headset mic can go a long way

PC gaming fans usually have the advantage of ample desk space for a fancier-than-average gaming audio s✃etup. In their case, I would occasionally recommend a Rode condenser mic like the NT1A hooked up to a Focusrite audio interface. But if you prefer your beloved living room console, that kind of setup is not realistic. It's the kind of setup you can't keep there overnight, with the amount of cables involved. Nevermind the idea of having to put it all together every time you want to talk to friends, or stream directly from your console. The next best thing is a gaming headset that doesn’t skimp on quality when it comes to the microphone.

This can be an expensive endeavor, which is why keeping an eye out for brands that know the importance of a good mic this Black Friday can help - especially during a time when having a clear audio quality is a necessity for a smoother online gaming experience. For example, the use of Discord has only become more prevalent since the June update this year, so you'll want to be understood if spending a lot of time in voice chats straight from your console and its headset. Additionally, some of the most popular modern games, like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 benefit from you being able to clearly talk amongst your online teammates and talk strategy.

Clarity and being understood is a biggie when it comes to what makes a good headset mic. That should be pretty straightforward. If people can't hear you, there's not really a point to be using in-game voice chat, or talking over Discord in the first place. What can help with that is the sample rate. The higher than sample rate, the less white noise you're likely to hear, and the clearer your voice will come across. As headset mics don't have the room for pop shields, ensuring there's some form of foam cover or worthwhile alternative is also worth looking out for.

Pop shields are regularly used in professional studio settings. The plastic accessories provide a mesh of nylon, or other material, between your mouth and the mic. This way, harsh sounds like 'p' or 's' sound nicer on the ears. Adding these to headsets would look a bit odd, considering their often bigger than headphones generally, and so brands use foam coverings to make up for their loss. Alternatively, some headsets have a range of audio customization settings to play with that you can use to help fight against any harsh vocalizations.

Providing the ability to tinker around with the audio itself is also a great sign that you'll have a good mic at your disposal. This can allow you to create a warm and pleasant tone for your voice, so it won't become grating on the ears after prolonged use. Brands like SteelSeries even have audio monitoring or 'sidetone' in the Nova 5P headset so you can hear your mic as you talk. Being able to hear, and adjust your own mic is one of the best tools to have. That way, you can always keep an eye on how you sound to others, and be more conscious of any issues down the line.

The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone on the 澳洲幸运5开奖ꦓ号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a great contender for exactly that. Not only is it “Discord-certified” but the microphone makes use of a bidirectional pickup pattern. Also known as a figure-8 pattern, this means that your voice can be picked up easily from the front and back of the device. Picku🍌p patterns are of utmost importance. So many of us get overly enthusiastic in a game of Dead by Daylight, and end up jumping around our sofa, as if that’ll give us an upper hand in-game. With all that movement, you’re going to want to be sure that your mic can still pick up your voice, and in this case, screams, even if you’ve pulled away in a bout of excitement.

The ClearCast mic isn’t just found on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Every pair of cups within the Arctic line has one of these bad boys, includingmy favorite pair, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. Despite the 5P mic’s absence of a foam covering, which would help make some mouth sounds sound less harsh (similar to a pop-shield), I sound clear as day to my pa🧸ls over Discord. Since adding the device to my arsenal, it’s made delegating generators to cover in DBD a breeze, and to this day I still get lovely comments on my audio clarity.

I’ve used a no-name brand headset before, and every gaming session was full of friends asking me to repeat myself. “Sorry, what was that” became a common phrase, and gradually detrimental to my overall enjoyment of playing online games. Switching to a high-quality mic changed all that, and now I don’t have to worry about sounding like a muffled, nonsensical mess.

SteelSeries isn’t the only brand oozing with high-end mic goodness these days. Razer, just as well known for its plethora of peripherals of every flavor, have done the same with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackShark V2 Pro. With it, Razer has included a detachable Razer HyperClear super wideband microphone with a high 32khz sampling rate. This high rate allows it to capture a better snapshot of audio, producing a creamy rich sound. A sound which received a lot of praise when chatting away with my friends over our weekly Discord film night. So much so, that the headset has since been commandeered by my partner for his WoW Classic gaming♛ sessions.

Not only that, its unidirectional pickup pattern is one often found on some of the best condenser mics, ones I’ve even used in a professional studio setting. It’s no wonder why the BlackShark V2 Pro can make you sound as though you’re actually in the same room as your gaming pals, rather than separated by entire cities. I still wouldn’t recommend using it 𓄧for singing, or even podcast audio recording. However, the more similarities mics like it to condenser mics that are designed to pick up every nuance of the human voice, the better.

The upper echelon of these inbuilt microphones do, of course, come at a price. Having that almost studio-grade pickup pattern, high sample rate, and portability with retractable and detachable mechanics go hand in hand with high-end, and sometimes the most expensive of, peripherals. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, for example, has an MSRP of $270. Meanwhile, the brand’s Arctis Nova 5P cups designed with the PS5 in mind are $129.99. Razer’s BlackShark V2 Pro isn’t on the cheap side either, coming in at $199.

Luckily, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Black Friday gaming headset deals aren’t anything new, and we suspect some heavy hitters from SteelSeries, Razer and more will see some welcome discounts. So if you’re on the hunt for a new gaming headset this November, ensuring it doesn’t cheap out on its mic will not only benefit your next gami🔴ng session, but your friends will thank you. Trust me.

If you're gearing up for the release of the PS5 Pro our list of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets will steer you in the right direction. We also have a curated list of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox X headsets if that's more your jam. Of course, with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Black Friday gaming headset deals on the🔯ir 🐽way, there's a ton of savings soon to be had.

With its OLED control hub, Sensa HD haptics, and bio-cellulose drivers, the Razer Kraken V4 Pro is firing on all cylinders in its attempts to be crowned the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset on the market. Great price tags come with great responsibilities♛, though, and the V4 Pro is going t꧙o have to work exceedingly hard to justify itself. I’ve been vibrating my skull with these cups for three weeks now, to see exactly how they live up to the investment.

Design

Side by side, the Razer Kraken V4 Pro only distinguishes itself from the base V4 model through its cups. Rather than using a mesh cover, Razer has opted for a leatherette material over the top of a more plump cushioning - stating it provides a more conductive material for haptics. That not only makes for a more luxurious feel (it certainly should at this price), but provides a better noise seal during use as well. I found these cups to be exceptionally comfortable in themselves - with far more generous cushioning than those of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X and an oval shape that hugs around the ears better than the 澳洲𝕴幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.

This is a slimmer design compared to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V3 Pro as well, giving off a more grown-up feel overall. It’s not the obnoxiously wide headset you may have seen in the past, but the Kraken V4 Pro still retains its recognizable form factor. The cup cushioning itself has been elongated to sit around the ears rather than directly on top - it gives the actual form a slanted appearance under closer scrutiny but makes for a far m🅠ore comfortable listening experience over longer sessions.

That generous padding sits along the headband as well, though with both the V4 Pro and original V4 in-hand, this feels pretty much identical to the cheaper model. It’s a full headband, rather than the floating design of the Arctis Nova Pro, which means there’s a little extra pressure along the crown. Combined with the higher clamp force compared to the Astro A50 X, it’s a little less comfortable than both other high-end headsets, thou✱gh only after a longer session. It’s by no means under-cushioned (and beats plenty of cheaper headsets), but the weight of the cups does mean it pushes harder onto the skull compared to other luxury options which is noticeable after around three or four hours of continuous use.

The Kraken V4 Pro feels like a solid piece of kit in the hands, with a milled chassis and smooth, sturdy hinges. Earcup swivel runs up to the 💯full 180 degrees and the hinge maintains its tension nicely the entire way around - the cable running from the headband to the cup is coiled to accommodate a flat form factor without stretching. It also elongates in line with the headband’s notched adjustment system. There’s not as much flexibility in the headband as you’ll find in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which could be a cause for concern if your tech travels with you, but there aren’t any creaks or rattles when manipulating the cups or band.

Of course, let’s not forget that blazing RGB on the side. It’s easily switched off if you’re in a 🍰more focused setting, but even sw😼itched on it’s a subtle effect. This isn’t a blaring set of LEDs - more of a pastel-colored swirl of effects. Of course, who that’s really for is up for debate. You’re not looking at the side of your headset when wearing it and the device will likely be powered off when sitting at your desk. Streamers tend to sit head-on to their camera, leaving the side lights waving to nobody. I don’t know how much those LEDs contributed to the overall price tag, but when costs are this high it can be difficult to overlook unnecessary add-ons.

Features

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro lives and dies by its Sensa HD haptic technology. The vibrations are designed to recreate sensations via dynamic rumbles, changing speed, intensity, and direction based on your in-game actions. This is haptic technology that completely separates itself from audio (unlike Razer’s previous iterations), though where games don’t💧 have Sensa support you’ll still be able to feel that rumble through the game’s sound as well. At the moment, the brand’s list of supported games is fairly humble but i🧔t includes big-hitters like Hogwarts Legacy, Final Fantasy XVI, Silent Hill 2, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 and is set to continue growing as well.

There’s a good degree of control over just how these haptics function in the Razer Synapse 4 app as well. It’s worth noting here, though, that the main Synapse program houses the audio haptic conversion whereas the Chroma program is your destination🎃 for fine-tuning specific Sensa HD integrated games.

The program offers controlled, balanced, and dynamic presets but also allows for fine-tuning via a 10-band graphic interface. Here you can drag the upper limit of what will trigger your haptic sensors as far down or up the range as you like. I naturally preferred keeping things limited to between 20Hz and 110Hz for music, and extending up to around 130Hz for games. This cleaned u💃p the haptic response considerably - where it was first fairly m🤡essy, a jumble of vibrations that only seemed to cloud songs like Castles by Halsey and Blood / Water by Grandson, the haptic boost to the lower ranges felt far better placed when the uppers were more restrained. The actual gain is also configurable on a percentage scale for your chosen ranges as well.

Of course, Synapse 4 also brings all the usual customizations with it; a full audio equalizer across both st꧃ereo and THX Spatial Audio, as well as specific game profiles, chat mix, a mic equalizer, and RGB co💫ntrols.

You’ve got access to three haptics modes via the headset (and OLED base station) itself - low, medium, and high - but also onboard༒ profiles for music, media and gaming. These are all toggled at the touch of a button on right cup - via two buttons that sit right next to each other and feel identical under the hand. That’s not ideal for quickly changing your settings on the fly - especially if you don’t want to scroll through menus on the hub. Having to cycle through all preset options when I simply wanted to boost haptics got pretty old pretty quick. Still, there’s a good amount of control on the headset itself considering you’ve also got a whole second scroll wheel to play with on the desktop itself as well. The right is limited to these preset and haptic settings, but the left adds mic mute, volume, power, and houses the retractable microphone.

This is similar to the mic I use on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, hiding away in the main ✱cup when not in use. The process of actually whipping that mic out is nowhere near as smooth here, though. The end of the microphone sits pretty flush with the headset itself, with only a small lip for grip when pulling it out. When it comes time to push it back in, the extra flexibility in the arm makes the whole process a little unwieldy - it never feels like it quite wants to go back into its hidey hole.

The microphone itself impresses, though. This is the same HyperClear Super Wideban꧅d mic that we celebrated on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro and Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, with a 32kHz sampling rate for boosted clarity and a more robust voice presence on chat.

There’s another big change for the Razer Kraken V4 Pro, though, the new OLED control hub. This plays a similar role as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless’s own connection hub, though with a slicker design and far easier controls. The large dial feels great under the hand, used for adjusting v🌌olume and chat mix or cycling between various haptics profiles and source settings (there are two USB-C ports, one for PC and one for a cons🎶ole). Plus, the screen itself can display far more than SteelSeries’ model, with track, system, or headset info available with a tap of the main dial.

Razer has also added more premium features to connections themselves. You’ll find both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz on here as standard, but the Kraken V4 Pro also allows for USB and 3.5mm wires and dual simultaneous connection as well. That means you can run music from one device and your game audio from another direct through the headphones - a marked step up from the usual ‘dual connections’ on the market (these ar꧑e often just quick changes between sources, for when your phone rings, for example). It’s a feature shared by the Astro A50 X and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but is generally limited to these high-end headsets.

Razer does have a leg up compared to the Astro, however, as Bluetooth connections are direc꧑t to the headset itself, rather than the base station. That’s a major annoyance with Logitech’s device, and one which means it’s essentially redundant outside of the home. The Kraken V4 Pro can travel with you, making it far more versatile for handheld and mobile use.

Battery life is on the high side🧸 compared to the competition, but it’s also a little more old-fashioned, so this isn’t quite a side-by-side analysis. The Razer Kraken V4 Pro can run for up to 50 hours with no haptics and no RGB - when I switched those features on I barely lasted two days of full use. Those 50 hours still beat the Astro A50 X’s 24 hours and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless’s 22 hours, but you do need to plug in to recharge. I never have to plug the other two headsets in - the Astro sits in its charging dock the entire time and the Nova Pro features hot-swappable batteries that negates the need for charging altogether. While the Kraken V4 Pro has a higher battery life, it’s not exactly on par with the rest of the high-end market in its implementation.

Performance

There’s some good news and bad news when ♛it comes to the Razer Kraken V4 Pro’s actual performance - and many areas where the two bleed into one. The headset itself sounds great - I noticed a particularly strong attention to directional detailing in more competitive pursuits like CS:2 and Apex Legends, with such precision even lending itself well to the zip of a spell in Hogwarts Legacy as well. These roaring cut scenes were certainly impressive, and the headset handled sparser moments with a strong sense of presence. The swelling soundtrack of those first few hours in Hogwarts played out beautifully between these cups, with power and clarity deserving of a high-end price tag.

My Spider-Man: Miles Morales test on PS5 kept this directional f🌳ocus even without THX Spatial applied. Energetic, bouncy sound sprung from all angles during the mission Time to Rally, and even kept up re💟markably well when panning the camera.

Mids were slightly clustered in Horizon Forbidden West on PS5, with the metallic clanking of machines overwhelming the audio range and losing their own details as a result. That stuffy mid-range can be teased out by tinkering with EQ settings in Synapse, but it still feels a little too close of a soundstage to truly compare with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. Doom Eternal was a delight across both PC and PS5, with that rumbling bassline tracking beautifully across haptics (though I did have to fiddle with some gain settings to avoid overdoing it), adding an extra sense of grunt to more chaotic battle scenes. Higher ranges also managed to peek through here as well, with satisfying clinks and chimes whenever I grabbed a pickup. Sওome finer details of demon squelches and grunts were caught up in this cacophony of bass and haptic response, losing their edge in the mids as a result.

The🌳 overall soundstage feels a little more cramped than that of the Nova Pro Wireless and Astro A50 X. The mids can sometimes be swallowed up in the lower range, and while the uppers do have a rich texture and impressive power in themselves they often struggle to fight through the noise of the bassline. This experience was markedly improved by dragging some of those EQ sliders, though without spending a decent amount of time testing each configuration it’s easy to end up with slightly tinny audio.

The natural soundstaꦆge does lend itself particularly well to less populated, but highly atmospheric titles. The Last of Us Part 2’s The Descent mission had me creepi🅠ng through the dangers of that crumbling hotel with a renewed sense of terror. Given the space to breathe (and with haptics on a very low setting), the mid-range showed up with a fantastic handling of smaller environmental sounds, balancing impact with detail beautifully and demonstrating some real urgency in its power.

Then we get to the haptics. I’m all for increasing immersion - I’ve been testing the Kraken V4 Pro alongside the haptic Freya cushion for a reason. Razer’s Sensa HD tech promised directionality and detail in its haptic feedback, and I just don’t see enough of that in day-to-day play. With the headset set 💫to only take haptic feedback from audio, explosions and more impactful soundtrack moments play out with a satisfying punch. It makes for a far more present experience, locking you into the action and lifting these scenes straight off the screen. There are audio-to-haptics presets available for a wide range of titles as well, so you don’t have to worry about fiddling with too many settings for the optimal experience.

The brand’s Sensa HD Game setting has been tailored 👍to specific games, with different effects applied to various in-game actions and environments. I was underwhelmed here - yes, the system accurately reproduced the feeling of my tires changing surface in Snow Runner and I was delighted by the zap of a simple spell compared to the low sweep of a Revelio in Hogwarts Legacy. There’s a but here, though. I couldn’t see any way to run both audio-to-haptics and Sensa HD at the same time. When just switched to Sensa, I lost pretty much all of my haptic feedback as I explored Hogwarts, only ever feeling a buzz when casting. That was a little disappointing - that opening cut-scene would have felt incredible with extra presence supplied by those motors. Instead, the vast majority of the game was exactly as it would have been with a cheaper headset.

Of course, different titles will use these effects in different ways. Other games pack more Sensa HD-ified actions, but there’s another problem here. Yes, feeling the slow, dreaded pulse of Silent Hill 2 across your head makes every step feel all the more terrifying, but faster movements, like the sweep of a sword in Final Fantasy XVI are too quick to really notice. Razer claims that this is when you’re going to feel the full directionality of its haptics, with vibrations traveling across the headset. Most of the time, it felt like a pretty standard buzz to me - simply because the in-game action is too fast to truly feel thඣe benefit of this haptic movement. It’s more noticeable when gain is reduced, to allow those motors a litꩵtle more detail and a little less power in their performance - but there’s still plenty of room to grow here.

I much prefer using the Kraken V4 Pro for ꧅music - this is where I can see myself keeping the headset in daily rotation. Not every song benefits from haptic feedback - in fact, more mellow tracks do far better with those motors switched off. However, bold basslines and brash drum beats feel incredible. Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, Sub Urban’s Cradles, and Halsey’s Castle all have just enough space between their driving basslines to allow the Kraken to truly shine. However, more chaotic tracks like Chase & Status / Stormzy’s Backbone also demonstrate the nuances in these motors. A growing rumble and sharp drop into full haptic vibration are perfectly executed here, with multiple layers of feedback providing a full-bodied feel. If you like music that leans more towards the lower ranges you’re going to have a particularly good time here.

Should you buy the Razer Kraken V4 Pro?

Let’s not forget this is a $400 / £400 gaming headset - the most expensive I’ve personally tested. That’🦄s a🎉n eyebrow-raising amount of money, injecting skepticism into any buyer’s mind before they’ve even taken a look at what the Kraken has to offer. It certainly did for me - as I said at the top of this review, the V4 Pro needs to work exceptionally hard to prove its worth. If this was a $300 headset it would certainly succeed, this would be a 4 / 4.5-star review. At $400, it’s a little trickier to recommend.

$399.99 / £399.99 is an almost impossible price point to justify in the current market. Razer is betting big on its Sensa HD haptic tech and overall its t🐓ac🦩tile feedback is incredibly powerful, there’s just more to be done here to be worth an extra $100 / £100 compared to SteelSeries. It’s got plenty of fancy effects, and the power behind these motors is certainly impressive, but it’s no silver bullet for everyday players.

If you’ve got the budget and you want all-out immersion, it’s a no-br🎶ainer. The tech on offer isn’t available in any other headset and you’re still picking up a fantastic audio quality (with some tweaks), premium design, and high-end connectivity. If you don’t already know that you need to be on the cutting edge of haptics, though, there’s much better value for money elsewhere on the market. We’ll speak again when that price drops to $299.

How I tested the Razer Kraken V4 Pro

I used the Razer Kraken V4 Pro for all my daily work, play, and music over the course of three weeks. Alongside work meetings and Spotify sessions, I tested the headset across Doom Eternal, CS:2, Apex Legends, Hogwarts Legacy, Snowrunner, and Silent Hill 2 on PC as well as Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Doom Eternal on PS5. Outside of specific testing, I also used the Kraken V4 Pro during more casual Fallout 76 and Spider-Man 2 gameplay on PS5. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets on the market as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets if you’re after something more Microsoft-shaped. Or, head over to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets available for more Windows goodness.

You can now grab the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P wireless gaming headset for , a whole $35 off its original MSRP. The Arctis Nova 5P has earned its place as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets, especially for those looking for a mid𝔉-range master. However, with its new lowest-ever price on Amazon, you’re getting the SteelSeries recognised quality, and a huge range of gaming audio pre-setℱs, for a price you’d expect for a budget pair of cups.

Unlike the other SteelSeries headsets in the Arctic Nova range, the Nova 5P is specifically designed to be compatible with your white Sony console beast. For months now, its Xbox counterpart, the Arctis Nova 5X hasn't budged much from its original price. But, in the console headset discount war, the Nova 5P has steadily got even cheaper over the last few months, reaching it's new under $100 p𓃲rice range. At that cost, you'd expect sub-par audio quality, a wireless only connection and a host of tacky RGB effect🎃s. But the Nova 5P manages to pack bassy audio, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, a retractable mic, long battery life and huge list of audio pre-sets on a free to use app all in tired in to a budget-friendly headset package.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P?

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless isn’t the beefiest headset in the Arctis lineup. Instead, it forgoes the RGB gimmicks and provides an array of easily selectable audio pre-sets. Developed alongside notable streamers and developers, there’s a huge list of pre-sets to choose from, ranging from support for titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, and Dead by Daylight, the perfect pickup for this spooky season.

Dead by Daylight fans can get a kick out ꦦof the precisely picked EQ settings, where the Neodymium drivers makes the killer’s terror radius sound its scariest. As someone who loves their asymmetrical horror games, but isn't necessarily good at them, I regularly found myself winning more survivor matches as the Nova 5P let me hear every subtle movement of any killer I was up against.

If pre-sets aren’t for you, the app also lets you tinker with the EQ settings yourself, all without needing to use a gaming PC. With the Arctis app, you can also adjust the settings of ✨the ClearCast retractable microphone, which can slide out the right cup at a moment's notice. It can be a bit fiddly to do this with the headset on. However, if you’re too shy to chat on Discord, or want to also use the Arctis Nova 5P for music, popping it back in turns the headset into an ideal everyday pair of cups.

The Arctis Nova 5P accompanying app doesn’t jus🐬t save you from messing around with EQ audio settings but gives you an overview of the whole headset. Here you can check the remaining battery, or select between a Bluetooth, or its 2.4GHz connection (so long as you have the provided dongle sticking out 🐼of your PS5.) The only downside with this is that every time you turn your PS5 on and log in, it will automatically make the headset your audio output. I recommend changing this in your PS5 settings just as soon at you get this headset on your head.

Speaking of which, the Arctis Nova 5P also provides an added layer of comfort I find lacking with other mid-range headsets. Thanks to the elastic headband, even after racking up hundreds of hours on Dead by Daylight, I’d regularly forget the headset was on my noggin altogether. Coming in at only 1.61 lbs, it’s super lightweight, and its plush foam ear cushions only add to its c🙈loud-like 𓆉comfort.

The major downside to the headset is it’s microphone quality isn’t the best, but that’s pretty typical as far as gaming headsets come. The ClearCast mic doesn’t come with a foam cover, mainly so you can retract it with ease, so you can fin🉐d yourself sounding pretty harsh and overbearing to friends from time to time. However, it makes it for it by providing audio monitoring in the form of ‘sidetone’ which you can adjust on the headset itself, or through the handy app.

The Arctis Nova 5P also comes with its own carrying case, which has protected my favourite PS5 accessory in every type of ba🌠g I’ve popped it in. It even comes with a handy pouch so you won't lose that tiny 2.4GHz dongle eith🃏er.

At its original price of $129.99, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P is still one of my favourite mid-range headsets to recommend, but at that price, it's isn't going to suit everyone’s budget.𓆉 But, at its current lowest-ever price on Amazon, your PS5, and your head, will find it difficult to find a better ꧙match.

If your PlayStation 5 is yearning for something higher-range, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset list where we've outlined our other top picks. If your Xbox is feeling envious, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox X headset list is full to the brim of the best gaming headsets for the Microsoft machine. Of course, with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Black Friday gaming headset deals coming up there are plenty more savings around the web as well.

The $79.99 / £79.99 cups still have plenty of competition, but moving further away from that $100 position means they’re able to drop more features and prioritize audio quality while keeping that price relatively low. They’re not going to give some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets🔥 in the premium range a run for their mon🎀ey, but they still offer a solid experience all-round. 

Design

With identically shaped cups and a similar silhouette, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 follows its sibling in its general aesthetic. However, the shortcuts to reach that low price point are pretty obvious when held side by side. The leatherette cushion cover on the Stealth 500 is much less comfortable than the mesh design of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth 600, often growiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚng hot and sli😼ghtly claustrophobic during longer play sessions. 

The actual build of this cushioning is also questionable - my test unit has a section with particularly stretched fabric. The actual cꦬup warps slightly around the left edge,♓ with heavy wrinkling and a less plump cushioning. This leatherette material is already prone to flaking over time, and I’m not too optimistic about the durability of that already-loose corner. 

The most noticeable difference between the two headsets, though, is the headband. This is where the Stealth 5𝕴00 wins out the most. The Stealth 600 is shipped with a pretty standard solid band, but there’s just not enough padding in there to remain comfortable for longer sessions. The cheaper version, however, throws a floating piece of elastic into the mix, similar to St𝓰eelSeries’ range of Nova devices. That alleviates any sense of pressure on the top of the head, with the crown only ever hitting the elastic and never the simple plastic frame on top. I much prefer this design during everyday use, especially when I’m playing for hours at a time. 

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless achไieves this effect with a slightly higher $129.99 / £129.99 price tag, with a similarly flexible headband that provides just a touch more adjustability. There are no sliders to adjust the actual slide on the headband itself on the Turtle Beach, whereas the SteelSeries is fully adjustable. However, you’re still getting three size options for the elastic itself, swapped using a set of notches on each side. 

I’m lucky, though. Placing the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 straight on my noggin from the box, I didn’t notice any pain points for mis-alignment in the earcups. If you have a particularly large or small head, though, I’d recommend steering clear. The cups themselves don’t swivel and there’s not enough adjustment🐻 in the headband to be truly customizable in shape an๊d size. 

For all their leatherette sins, the earcups remain comfortable over longer pe🦩riods of time, temperature concerns aside. There’s a plush cushioning under each side, with a low clamp force trying desperately to keep things💯 feeling loose - at least for the first few hours. 

The plastic housin♑g of the Stealth 500 feels cheaper and more t🌞inny compared to the Stealth 600, but looks like it could hold up against longer term use. It’s also a lightweight design that works towards its comfort as well. The Stealth 500 weighs in at 233g, a considerable improvement over the 301g Stealth 600 - especially with that lower clamp force in tow. 

Features

There was a time when cheap 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming headsets abandoned pretty much every fancy feature in the book to keep their prices low. That time has passed. Now the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 features not only 2.4GHz low-latency connectivity but also Bluetooth 5.2, and the ability to quickly swap between the two. That means you can run this on pretty much anything - though the option to default to a wired mode when the battery runs out is absent. That’s the same connectivity suite as the Stealth 600, though the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X addsꦐ a wired connection for its $99.99 / £99.99 RRP. That makes it a better buy for Nintendo Switch players who don’t want to worry about running out of juice while out and about. 

You’re also getting chat-mix controls right on the headset itself, right next to the volume wheel. That’s not an idea placement, especially considering my natural reach consistently hit the chat wheel instead of volume during testing. In fact, everything is pretty clustered on this left cup, with very little tactile difference between various controls. While I’m impressed with the comprehensive selection of ♚buttons and scrollers, it takes a bit of work to discern the difference between each option on-the-fly. 

This is still a lower mid-range (very almost en💞try-level) wireless headset, though, so you won’t find any of the fancier features you can grab further up the price scale. However, the Swarm II software still provides access to EQ tweaks, microphone adjustments, and customization options for the multifunction button. There’s also a mobile version of the full PC suite🌳 which will come in particularly handy for console players (a rare addition, I usually see cheaper headsets relegating all of their customization features to PC-only use). 

The mobile app does do away with the full 10-band EQ feature, but can✤ otherwise be used to check battery, swap presets, and adjust your microphone. Overall, Swarm is a solid piece of software that provides excellent functionality while still remaining intui🐻tive in its menus, all without demanding too much from your PC. 

This is also where you’ll be togg🐎ling S💜uperhuman Hearing, an audio preset that’s been shipping with Turtle Beach headsets for years now. This setting emphasizes ranges that hold things like footsteps and gunshots, with the aim being to make certain sounds clearer for competitive play. The result is an overly-processed soundstage, though, that never feels comfortable to listen to for too long. 

The battery is another indicator of a slightly lower price tag, though the 40 hour rating is more than workable for everyday play. I used the Stealth 500 for around five days averaging around five hours of use per day and still had 35% remaining, so Turtle Beach’s suggestion certainly rings true from my own testing. If you’re a heavier user, it’s worth n🦄oting that the Stealth 600 bu𓄧mps your battery up to 80 hours for just a little extra cash. 

Performance

The Turtle Beach Stealth 500s aren’t going to give high-end headsets any concerns in their audio quality. However, they do offꦡer a nicely energetic soundstage with plenty of range and a nice balance. The lower ranges are naturally a little more powerful than the mids, as is expected from this cheaper bracket. That means the mids can feel a little clustered at times. Octopath Traveler’s soundtrack feels a little restricted through these cups, compared to the Razer Barracuda X where there’s more space for detailing in the lower-mids. Nevertheless, there’s a warmth to the Turtle Beach Stealth 500’s sound quality that shines through particularly well in dialogue and cut scenes, and everyday play still sounds natural and well-balanced. 

Unlike cheaper headsets that over-emphasize the bass at the expense of clarity, the Stealth 500s still sound impressively clean in the low ranges. I didn’t notice any distortion during everyday use, though it’s also worth noting that I couldn’t seem to crank the volume to the le💃vels where I would usually hear this degradation in quality either. If you like your games at ear-splitting volumes you might struggle to feel the full power of this device. 

Overall quality is impressive for $79.99 / £79.99, though, especially considering directional audio is still worth a shot. Apex Legends and CS:2 both benefited from additional positional cues, with footsteps and gunshots easily heard amongst the heat of battle. That spatial sound wasn’t quite as precise as more competitive-minded headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, but I could easily discern the general direction of certain effects. If you’re a truly competitive player you’ll need to move further up the price scale to notice a difference in your play, but the Stealth 500 nails the basics particularly well for the p❀rice. 

The microphone does its job in the same way, offering a nicely clear pickup for the price but without the extra tonal or volume qualities of more expensive models - it’s certainly no💯t a patch on the BlackShark V2 Hypersp๊eed. 

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Stealth 500?

I’d recommend the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 to anyone who doesn’t want to go near the $100 / £100 price bracket, but wants more than a $50 / £50 headset can provide (namely a wireless connection and light form factor). In isolation, the Stealth 500 offers a solid price proposition - it’s one of the first cheaper headsets to offer both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections at an affordable rate. However, the Stealth 600’s build quality, battery life, and materials make it the better buy overall. For just $20 / £20 more you’re doubling your juice and picking up a more comfortable set of cup♏ cushions. While the headband itself is a little less comfortable than t💧he floating style of the 500s, the adjustability makes it a more viable option for many as well. 

The Razer Barracuda X also offeꦯrs a similar proposition, with better sound quality in the lower ranges and a more adjustable form factor. You’re still getting both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, though with only 10 hours more battery life. The microphone is also detachable on Razer’s model rather than the handier flip to mute version on the Stealth 500.

How I tested the Turtle Beach Stealth 500

I used the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 headset as my only gaming headset for a period of two weeks, while also testing alongside the Stealth 600, Razer Barracuda X, Corsair HS35 V2, and Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed for a period of one week. During my full testing period I tested for competitive accurac𒐪y in 🍌CS:2 and Apex Legends, while also running Octopath Traveler and Fallout 4 on PC as well.

I tested environmental audio and definition in Horizon Forbidden West, with further PS5 directional testing accomplished in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Doom Eternal was used to test the power of the lower ranges and lower mids in a more clustered soundstage, with The Last of Us Part 2 being used for dialogue and soundstage recreation. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets for on-the-go play as well.  

Design

The Cambridge Audio M100s have a smaller footprint than I’m used to, having run a set of AirPods Pros pretty comfortably for the last few years. The chunkier body in-ear didn’t stick out too far during testing, and fit comfortably for around two hours of use at a time. Of course, there’s a variety of different earbud sizes available in the box, with two foam options alongside the standard small, medium, and large silicone covers. I prefer a medium fit for earbuds, and 🥀the size options here were on par with what I’ve experienced before. There’s no ear-fit test available, but it’s pretty easy to work out which size feels ri👍ght in that initial unboxing. 

There’s about a gram of difference in weight between the M100s and my AirPods Pros, and I did feel it a little when switching back and forth. However, Cambridg༒e Audio’s buds have a solid weight distribution to them - they feel present, but never cumbersome. Crucially, they never felt like they were about to fall out - even during the odd sprint after the dog. There’s nothing physically holding them to the ear like you might see in fitness-oriented buds, andℱ I wouldn’t trust them for more energetic movements, but I wasn’t worried about losing them during everyday use. 

The main bud is a simple black color with a few silver accents running throughout. It’s a slick design that doesn’t attempt anything too out there, and - outside of the odd limited edition model - it’s the👍 only option you’ll find on the market. A small touch-capacitive panel sits on each bud, and while these controls generally registered well, the actual placement of this button was difficult to hit with accuracy. I never really got the hang of these touch controls during my three weeks fo testing, purely because I couldn’t get that placement down on the first few tries. 

Each bud slots into the pill-style charging case, a fairly large black clamshell of full plastic construction. There’s a comfortably sturdy hinge in here, with a snap to its close that feels particularly satisfying. While it’s a little chunky for small pockets it’s still 🤡easily transportable. 

Features

There’s a lot to take in here, and for a good price too - but we’ll start with what’s new, and that’s active nওoise cancellation. I’ve come from an original set of first generation AirPods Pros - earbuds I’m looking to upgrade from due to their lower quality noise cancelling. My first outing with the M100s confirmed that my current buds were behind the times. Setting the noise cancellation mode to ‘High’ (you can choose between three tiers of power), I was impressed by the hum of silence replacing the traffic noise that usually cuts through my podcast♋s on a dog walk. 

This is powerful stuff, putting a dampener on everything from an train’s rumble to the clack of a keyboard. I did, however, notice that higher frequency sounds weren’t quite so blocked. A fairly high-pitched leaf blower took me by surprise one day - bleeding straight into my audio in a way other sounds didn’t dare. This was an exception in my✱ testing, though - in general, this is particularly impressive tech considering the price point. 

Cambridge Audio has also added a Transparency mode to compete with more sophisticated outings from Sony and Apple. This is a little less inspiring. I’ll confess, this is the first time I’ve used a transparency 🀅setting in noise cancellation - but I was still disappointed with the background hum that accompanied it. On top of that, it often seemed to dip in and out without a significant sound cue to do so, opening up for a few seconds before reverting back to its noise cancelling state - and often in only one earbud at a time.

The audio itself is run through 10mm dynamic neodymium drivers, a size increase over the Touch’s 7mm. Perhaps more importantly, though, are the supported Bluetooth codecs. This is a laundry list of high-end compatibility, with LE Audio, aptX Lossless🌃, aptX Adaptive as well as the standard AAC and SBC options. Of course, you’ll only be able to make the most of the more lossless-focused codecs on supported devices and services (Tidal, or Apple Music, for example) but it’s a win for those investing in their streaming quality. It’s also another excelle꧒nt value-for-money tick - you’d usually be spending a lot more to get this kind of support.

Battery life is equally impressive. During one week of testing I used the buds for around two hours a day in full ANC and two or three hours in the evening in the system’s game mode. At the end of that week my case was still at 25% batt✱ery life and I had a full charge in each bud. That’s around an extra 15 hours of listening time left on the docket. Cambridge Audio estimates each bud can last 10 hours by itself, with an extra 23 hours stored in the case (at full noise cancellation). That’s pretty darn impressive, especially considering I’m often charging my AirPods every few days. 

The Bluetooth connection was alw꧙ays rock-solid during my testing, and the multi-connection options made switching between my phone and Asus ROG Ally or Nintendo Switch particularly easy. There was no need to re-pair, I simply had Matt Berry letting me know which device I was connected to as soon as everything was powered on. What? Oh yeah - Laszlo Cravensworth can voice your connection status and noise cancelling modes, just pick the Southwark option in the aꦬpp menu. It fills me with far too much joy, and probably added about 10% to my final review score in itself. 

I was impressed with the companion app’s streamlined design, simple but still slick-feeling interface, and intuitive navigation. The app opens you up to a whole roster of extra features, like six EQ presets (and a seven-band equaliser), mono mode, sleep mode (which kills your touch controls andꦜ silences Matt), and - of course - gaming mode. 

After hearing the audio coming out of these buds, I was really hoping this gaming mode was going to come through for us. Alas, at 80ms of latency it just isn’t fast enough to keep up even with thumb tappers on mobile. I tried some more competitive titles; Counter Strike and Apex Legends, and gave up almost immediately. Even slower games like Octopath Traveler felt clunky and off-putting with this delay - it’s just not good enough for gaming. There’s also no 2.4GHz connection option, so PlayStation compatibility and faster PC connections are out the window as well. For reference, the cheaper 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeeds ꧙offer a 40ms latency in Bluetooth and a USB-C 2.4G𒅌Hz receiver for an even faster connection. 

There is a mic for call handling (and if you do want🅺 to push through with gaming), featuring some neat noise cancelling features. My voice was nicely isolated from the background during testing, but did come across quite woolly, with words starting on softer sounds often being picked up just a microsecond too late to truly pick themselves out. 

Performance

Cambridge Audio has always put its sound quality and the forefront of its design, and the M100s follow suit. In their out🤡-the-box flat EQ preset, these are particularly natural sounding buds, allowing complex layers of music to stand out independently and al🅷lowing each instrument plenty of space to truly shine. 

Oh Wonder’s sparser twinkles held pride of place in these buds, with an incredibl💫y clean feel to each track and a crispness I haven’t heard before. The more cacophanous mids of Grandson were given the same treatment, with a satisfying gravelly texture to vocals and a piercing quality to Blood // Water’s synth drop that shone beautifully without taking over from other elements. 

I did start to notice a slight gap in power on tracks like Oh No!!, though. While there’s certainly a nice balance between everyt☂hing, that balance comes at the sacrifice of a little bass oomph. There was a range somewhere around the lower mids that felt a little neglected in the ‘Electronic’ preset. Boosting the lower ranges in-app allowed this to shine a little better, though. 

In-game imaging was crisply detailed, with a warmth that isn’t often explored in more traditional 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming headsets. Directional cues were fairly weak, though latency issues mean these are unlikely to be your competitive gaming companions anyway. There’s a nice balance between ranges for games here - traversing the world of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey I was pleasantly surprised by the deft handling of multiple different sound sources, with everything from dialogue to the clashing of swords jumping throu♍gh the buds (albeit later than it appeared on-screen). However, first-person shooters and bigger, more fiery explosion-filled games revealed a slightly lethargic sound quality that could quite scale this balance to meet the impact on-screen.  

Should you buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100s?

If you’re a music love𓆉r looking for a pair of high-end earbuds at a price that doesn’t top the market you’re in luck. The M100s pack a serious punch for their price with bright, richly textured 🗹audio, excellent noise cancelling, a long-lasting battery life, and comfortable form factor. They do all this at a lower price than their main competitors from Sony, Apple, and Bose - and all while throwing Matt Berry into the mix. 

If you’re on the hunt for a new set of gaming earbuds, you’ll want to move along. The M100s are built for music, so even their gaming mode doesn’t pack the speed to keep up with faster on-screen movement. If you can push through that lag (for solo, strategic adventures, for example), you’ll find a so♉lid audio quality with an audiophile’s touch - even if some of the more dynamic qualities of a traditional gaming headset are lost in the mix.

How we tested the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100s

🅰I used the Cambridge Audio M100s for a period of three weeks, using the buds everyday across 𒊎walks, music, movies, travel, and gaming. I listened to a wide range of genres and artists during this testing period, from more acoustic tones to distortion-heavy electronic / rock, as well as podcasts and audiobooks. 

I tested the M100s on an Android RedMagic 9S Pro with Tidal (aptX Lossless) and through regular iPhone / Spotify channels as well. I used a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch OLED, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally X to test across Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Counter Strike, Apex Legends, Princess Peach: Showtime, and Octopath Traveler. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.  

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets on the market. Or, for more portable options, take a look at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets available.  

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets have traditionally stuck to their roots in this department for years, with the vast majority packing the same driver design and achieving the same sound qualities with it. However, more and more driver options are entering the mainstream. While common dynamic drivers still rule the roost thanks🐓 to their low cost, you’ll now find more planar magnetic, electrostatic, and even balanced armature options providing your game audio. 

Knowing how each one works and its resulting sound response is crucial to finding out which gaming headset driver is right for you. Some of these options are p🦄articularly pricey, so it’s well worth knowing exactly what you’re investing in if you’re splashing some cash on an upgrade.

How do gaming headsets produce sound?

Before we dive into how individual drivers produce their audio, it’s worth getting an overview of how sound is produced through a driver. All of these options use electromagnetism to create vibrations in a diaphragm via an attached conductive material (well, nearly all these options - but we’ll get to that). These vibrations produce the soundwaves you hear through your headset. In general, the thinner and stronger the diaphragm (you can check out our guide to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:graphene drivers for more on newer diaphragm materials) and the fewer points of connection between each part of the driver the better for reducin♍g distortio🐻n.  

Dynamic drivers

These are the bread and butter of the gaming headset world, having dominated the industry for most of its life. Dynamic drivers are cheap, ✃easily produced, and efficient, making them a go-to for mainst♈ream brands. 

A dynamic driver uses a cone-shaped diaphragm and a copper wire coiled around a magnet (and within a magnetic field). The coiled wire becomes electromagnetic when an electrical si🐼gnal moves through it, causing it to be pushed and pulled very rapidly due to the surrounding magnetic effect. It’s being drawn towards one chargꦉe and then another in rapid succession. The magnet and coil sit within the centre of the cone, so this movement causes larger vibrations across the diaphragm itself, creating the sound waves you hear. 

The result is a gaming headset with a powerful bass and a wide dynamic range. However, it’s not as detailed as you’ll find in other driver options, and 🎐the fact that all these parts are heavily connected to each other can cause distortion, particularly at high volume, due to secondary vibrations from the coil itself. 

Good For: 

✅ General play
✅ Cost efficiency
✅ Powerful bass

Bad For: 

❌ High volume listening
❌ Heavier low-ranges 

Most gaming headsets use dynamic drivers, but some of our favorites are the 澳洲🐼幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless.  

Planar magnetic drivers

Planar headsets are picking up in more audiophile spaces, offering a wider soundstage but a heavier form factor overall. They operate on the same model as a dynamic driver, but instead of using a separate copper coil the conductor wire is applied across the diaphragm itself. Each strip is extremely thin and completely flat, but still reacts to electri🐭c signals and magnets within the driver. 

The diaphragm and attached wires is slotte♓d between two magnets. When the signal is applied𝄹 it’s pushed and pulled between these magnets rapidly to produce vibrations and therefore sound waves. 

Unlike dynamic drivers, planar options don’t have to contend with potential secondary vibrations from other components like the copper coil. That means the resulting audio is far less likely to distort. The tighter control over the actual diaphragm also means you’ll notice a more responsive audio quality - the di✤aphragm can react to changes in the electrical signal much quicker. There’s also far more room for lower ranges, providing more detail and greater accuracy in basslines. However, planar drivers are typically more expensive and their construction means headsets ෴are generally larger and bulkier. 

Good for: 

✅ Competitive play
✅ Low-range detail
✅ High volume listening 

Bad for: 

❌ Long-term comfort
❌ Cost efficiency 

Examples of planar magnetic headsets include the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Audeze Maxwell, HyperX Cloud Orbit S, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Audeze Penrose.  

Balanced armature drivers

Balanced Armature drivers are starting to see their use in some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds thanks to their tiny size and efficient running process. While they’re more expensive than the dynam꧅ic drivers many earbuds use, they can produce a much wider frequency range when applied correctly. 

Each tiny driver consists of a rod-like component called an armature, which carries an electrical current in itself. The rod is placed between two magnets and becomes electromagnetic when a current is ♎applied. The push and pull of the surrounding magnets causes it to swing up and down rapidly. However, it still needs to reach a diaphragm, so a driver pin is attached to one end. This makes fast impact with the diaphragm placed elsewhere, which in turn vibrates and produces soun𓆉d waves. 

You’ll usually find earbuds r💮unning multi﷽ple drivers in one bud, as each individual system has a particularly narrow frequency response in itself. That means, however, that multiple drivers can run at the same time, with each one being tuned to a specific frequency range. If everything’s set up correctly, these drivers produce a particularly detailed frequency response with a particularly strong treble range. There’s also less muddle in between ranges, as each driver is working separately. 

Ho𝓰wever, all those extra drivers and the tuning process they require bumps up cost compared to standard dynamic driver earbuds. You’re also relying on the tuning quality of each array, an aspect that scales with price. Due to their size, balanced armature drivers are less adept at stronger basslines. 

Good for: 

✅ Detailing
✅ Balancing
✅ Portability 

Bad for: 

❌ Low-range power
❌ Cost-efficiency

Examples of balanced armature gaming earbuds include the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Moray and 1More Triple Driver.  

Electrostatic drivers

Electrostatic gaming headsets are a little further away from the mainstream than planar models, but they’ve been bubbling away under the surfac♛e for years now. These drivers use static electricity rather than electromagnetic forces to vibrate a diaphragm (these are the tricky ones that don’t quite work in the same way as the others), however the principle still remains the same. 

The ‘diaphragm’ is actually an incredibly thin and light piece of electrically conductive film, held in place by simple struts and sandwiched between two metal plates lined with perforations. One of these metal plates holds a positive charge, and the other a negative one. This piece of film is so tiny it can easily be swayed by static electri𒅌city alone. 

An electrical charge is swa🦄pped very quickly between the two plates, causing the conductive material i🍸n the middle to jump towards the plate mirroring its own charge back and forth rapidly. The resulting vibration produces the soundwaves. 

Electrostatic gaming headsets are incredible, producing super accurate, super rich audio with incredibly low distortion. That’s because there’s practically no contact between the diaphragm and other c🤡omp🧔onents and because the film itself is so light in itself. The speed achieved by this driver makes for incredibly fast response times with incredible detail across all ranges. 

There are, of course, drawbacks. These headphones are as expensive as they are impressive - often reaching for four-figure price tags. This is a serious investment, especially considering they also require a separate amplifier to run🉐. It’s a pipe dream for many, but if you’re as excited about💝 driver technology as I am, it’s pretty cool nonetheless. 

Good for: 

✅ Detailing
✅ Speed
✅ Accuracy 

Bad for: 

❌ Cost efficiency
❌ Ease of use

Does size matter?

Of course, once you’ve worked out which driver type is right for you it’s time to consider size. You’ll find driver sizes ranging from 10mm in earbuds all the way up to 90mm in larger devices. In general, the larger the driver the better your audio is going to be, but we’re talking very minutely, and this is only really more noticeꦡable on a large scale. A 90mm driver might sound a little wider compared to a 40mm model, but the majority of players aren’t going to take too much notice of the difference between a 50mm and 40mm device. 

There’s plenty more that goes into making your gaming headset sound the way it does, from the materials surrounding the driver itself to the type of magnet used. Deciding which driver you should choos꧒e in your gaming headset will set you up in the right direction if you’re loo🍸king to truly perfect that purchase, though. 

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets available.  

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro was previously the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset with an open-bac♋k design but its reliance on cables (a lot of cables) and its strangely flat mids🐓 mean there’s ample opportunity for Turtle Beach to wiggle in here - and that’s exactly what the Atlas Air has done.  

Design

I’m testing the Atlas Air during a rare warm spell here in England. My body has also decided to remind me I’m just a year away from 30 which means a strange back pain that has seemingly sprung from sorting the recycling at the weekend. That means I’m sitting in a hot room with a hot water bottle, and the Turtle Beach Atlas Air is exactly the headset I need. It's light, c♌ool, comfortable, and keeps everything feeling breezy, natural, and relaxed. 

The Atlas Air doesn’t want you know it’s there. This is an incredibly well-designed headset, featuring a mesh headband design that melts into the crown and plush, light cushions on each side. It’s by far tꦕhe most comfortable device I’ve ever used with barely any pressure on the head itself. Of course, that’s all helped by the fact thaꩲt there’s a very light clamp force (I could jiggle the headset around on my head if I really tried, but it otherwise still remained stable), and extra give in the padding itself. That meant my head was free from headband strain and my ears were housed neatly in a set of malleable cushions.  

Each cup is actually suspended from the headset itself, using what Turtle Beach calls the ‘world’s first floating earcup design’. It essentially means that each cup is held onto the frame with a set of six elastic bands rather than less flexible aluminum or plastic yokes. That means each side ✃can nestle straight into your head shape without being constricted by the frame itself. These bands all look pretty snug, and they have a reassuring thickness to them but their durability is yet to be tested long-term. 

 At 301g, the Atlas Airs aren’t the lightest on the market - the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X comes in at 277g and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is jไust 280g. However, they’re certainly in the lightweight category, adding to the overall comfort even more.   

The aesthetic itself is fairly subdued. You won’t find any RGB lights and the matte black plastic feels like standard fare for Turtle Beach. The plastic itself is slightly thinner than you might expect from a gaming headset taking aim at a fairly premiuꦫm price category, but it achieves its low weight well even if it doesn’t look or feel like a $180 piece of kit. The headband itself is adjustable via velcro, but fit me perfectly the first time - testing on someone with a larger head showed that cust🔥omization is particularly easy and there’s a decent range of movement in the band altogether. 

Features

The first thing you need to know about the Turtle Beach Atlas Air is that it’s an open-back headset. That means the drivers themselves are free to blast sound in both directions without being locked down by plastic coverings on the side of each cup. In practice, open-back headsets provide a more natural soundscape without the distortions that many closed-back devices suffer from - it’s also a far mo✅re relaxing way of listening, without the claustrophobic sense of being glued to a set of speakers. 

That means the Atlas Air allows sound to flow in both directions, though, which means it’s not the best headset to use in bꦐusier environments. Don’t let that Bluetooth connectivity fool you - this isn’t a dog-walking set of headphones. That design does make for a more comfortable chat experience, or if you’ඣre a streamer, as you’re able to naturally hear your own voice. 

Open-back headsets aren’t as readily available as closed-back models, and wireless devices are even rarer. They exist, but generally as audiophile headphones and that means you’re paying for an audio quality that you might not need while losing mic features. The Atlas Air is the first dedicated 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming headset with an open-back design I’ve personally seen.  

Packing both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, this isn’t just a wireless headset, it’s fully inline with 2024’s expectations and even packs a 50-hour battery. All this tech is packed into the cups themselves, with two extra circles over each side, unlike the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro which features full open grills. 

All of the controls are packed onto the left-hand side, with the power, Bluetooth pairing, and QuickSwitch buttons nestled underneath the main cup. They’re not particularly easy to discern when wearing the headset, but equally you don’t really need these functions while in-game. Like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, volume controls are spread🎶 across the side of the cup in a dedicated dial. That means quick and easy adjustments without having to fiddle around your ear - it’s a personal highlight and a feature I wish more headsets added.  

The Atlas Air does one more thing differently. The microphone is very much a best of both worldsဣ affair. It’s detachable, so you can leave it in the box if𓂃 you never jump on comms and don’t have to worry about it sitting right in front of your face. But it’s also flip to mute once it is installed. That’s not something I’ve seen before, but it makes all the difference in everyday life, especially if you use your headset for single-player and multiplayer games in equal measure.  

While the fully acoustic Corsair Virtuoso Pro doesn’t benefit from any additional customization options, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air has a whole suite of controls in the Swa🥃rm 2 software. Not only is this a robust 10-band EQ system for PC, but it’s also available on mobile for on-the-go tweaks as well. The app offers all the usual features; chat-mix sliders and sidetone monitoring as well. 

This is also where you’ll find Superhuman Hearing, Turtle Beach’s FPS-first EQ preset which aims to enha🐓nce more competition-critical sounds like footsteps, gunshots, and reloads while killing other sounds. The result has never been particularly pleasant and generally muddies the soundstage with oddly distorted, unnatural effects. The result is even worse in this open-back format which places so much emphasis on natural sound. I don’t know how much of the final price tag goes into enabling this feature, but it’s likely not a significant amount. No biggie if you’re not fussed about competitive play, then, but worth considering if this extra feature brought your attention to the Atlas Air in the first place. 

Performance

I’ll cut straight to the chase. The Turtle Beach Atlas Air sounds fantꦏastic - it wasn’t as eye-wideningly revolutionary for me as the Corsair Virtuoso Pro was - but it’s still ꧃a cut above the rest. Everything is well balanced, with lower ranges pounding away underneath delicately handled treble tones and an impressively detailed mid-range. The additional space of an open-back design helps the Atlas Air massively here - naturally this is going to have a wider, less processed soundstage. However, there are plenty of open back headsets that still have emphasized basslines reverberating through your skull or clustered mids. 

The Atlas Air performs particularly well for itself across a range of genres as well. The gentle melodies of Octopath Traveller were a delight with so much freedom for twinkly detailing and marching percussion. Fallout 4’s battlefields were exp❀anded when I returned to mop up some side quests, with visceral explosions in the distance and markable enemies scurrying around the maps. Waking up the PS5, I found that The Last of Us Part 1’s echoes were pleasantly terrifying and I almost had to tap out of the hotel set piece in Part 2. Everything was represented in gorgeous detail and with a robust texture, all with൲out the manufactured feel of a more traditional headset.

As mentioned earlier, the graphene drivers of the Virtuoso Pro did give Corsair’s model a slight edge in my head-to-head testing. The Atlas Air has a wide soundstage, the Virtuoso Pro has a slightly wider one. I already thought Corsair had a slightly flattened mid-range, and the two headsets compete equally here. While the Atlas Ai🏅r was able to pump more power into a clustered soundstage, like the great plains of Horizon Forbidden West, therefore bringing lower tones to the forefront a little more, the Virtuoso Pro revelled in the higher end of this range, picking out screeches of metal better than the clunk of a machine’s footsteps. Considering there’s plenty of power in the Pro’s audio, I’d take the extra detail of a higher range o🔜ver the grunt of a lower one when put side by side. 

That’s an incredibly nitpicky point, and more of an attempt at quantifying why I felt slightly more drawn to Corsair’s sound than Turtle Beach’s. When all’s said 🌳and done you’re certainlꦿy getting your money’s worth from a pure audio standpoint here. 

The microphone is… fine. I had some issues with Windows 11 recognizing it as an input at first, which could be down to a waiting firmware update or simply plugging it in wrong. Once fixed, my teammates could hear me - and unཧless you’re goin🎀g for a streaming or podcasting career that’s all you really need. 

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Atlas Air?

With its exc♉ellent feature set and incredibly comfortable design, the Turtle Beach Atlas Air is the best open-backed headset I’ve tested yet. Yes, its audio quality is ever so slightly lagging behind the Corsair Virtuoso Pro - but not the extent that I would forego that wireless connection and ergonomic design. Taken in isolation this headset sounds great for single player and competitive experiences alike, and still manages to bring all the benefits of an open-back design with it as well. The so-so microphone does mean I’d still recommend the Virtuoso Pro to streamers before the Atlas Air. 

Of course, there’s always a big caveat to recommending a headset like this. You have to really know you want an open back headset before buying one. Sound leakage is real, and it works both ways. If you play in a busier environment or you want your $179.99 investment to see you through♏ morning commutes at the same time you’ll need to look elsewhere. If you play your games as God intended, locked away in a dark room far, far away from society this is going to be an excellent buy. 

How we tested the Turtle Beach Atlas Air

I spent two weeks testing the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, with the first week spent testing alongside the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth 6ꦏ00 Wireless♑ Gen 3 and the second testing against the Corsair Virtuoso Pro. In that time I primarily played on PC, running Fallout 4 and Doom Eternal on a gaming laptop via 2.4GHz and Octopath Traveler on Asus ROG Ally via Bluetooth. I also tested across The Last of Us Part 1 and 2 as well as Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 as well. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.  

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets for more console audio, or check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets on the market.  

With an impressive battery boost, Bluetooth connectivity, and a more robust soundstage all added to the final product, the latest generation certainly makes its mark. I spent two weeks using the new model, alongside its main competition (the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X, and the Razer Barracuda X) to see where it sits among the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets on the market.

Design

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 certainly doesn’t look like a cheap headset. The model I received feels distinctly PlayStation in its design (though it’s the Xbox variant that I would recommend to💮 most players) with crisp plastic framing the black internals and headband adjustment. I personally prefer this aesthetic to the aℱlternative mono-black model also available - it just looks and feels far more luxurious overall.

A sturdy metal headband and lighter plastic support the slick visuals. The band itself isn’t nearly as flexible as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X, but still promises a nicꦅe degree of durability, especially in its adjustment movement and swivel hinges. Despite its thinner plastic coating, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 weighs more than the last generation (and is the heaviest out of my comparison pool). 🉐There’s a larger battery in here than the rest of the competition, though, which goes some way to explaining the additional heft.

That weight doesn’t make itself known during wear, though. A thick foam surrounds each cup, with a nicely cool mesh fabric covering over the top. There’s a pretty heavyꦛ clamp fo𒀰rce here, but the size of each cup and the generous padding means the ears themselves never feel the brunt of it. Instead, you’re getting the best of both worlds, with a breathable material but an impressive seal for sound isolation.

The headband does let the side down. There’s just not enough padding in the top of the band to truly allow the Gen 3 to be a five-hour session headset. The harder feel of the band made itself known from the moment I put the device on, and wore quickly with time. It’s far from my least comfortable experience, but it’s not as pleasant as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed. Both of t🍸hese headsets offer a thicker cushion around the top.

Each cup can swivel a full 180 degrees for laying flat during travel or wearing around the neck. That also means you can get a nicely customized position, to ensure the best seal during play as well. Each side sports a familiar almost-oval form factor, which hugs the ears nicely, with a flat top that doesn’t stick out too far. If you want these headphones to double up for your daily commute or dog walk you’ll have a much better time with this design than the chunkier shape of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth Pro.

A flip-to-mute mic is also strategically housed inside the left ear cup, perfectly hidden when not in use but easy to whip out when needed. I do prefer this styleꦏ of inbuilt mic to that of SteelSeries, which opts for a retractable arm that does sometimes feel a little fiddly to find while wearing. Here, a simple flick down ꦍis all you need - with an accompanying tone letting you know your microphone is engaged.

Editors note: During the time this review was originally published, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 wireless gaming headset was available in black and white colorways. Yet, as of March 3, 2025, this has changed, as Turtle Beach launched a brand-new purple version of the headset. The underlying specs have remained the same, but the new look has replaced the all-black, or all-white, form factor with a dark purple coat of paint, which includes the 2.4GHz accompanying dongle.

Features

The big new features here are Bluetooth 5.2 support and a boosted battery life. The former means the Stealth 600 is now compatible with pretty much anything you can throw at it (providing you pick up the Xbox version). A 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming headset for under $100 / £100 🌊offering that kind of functionality isn’t quite as rare as it used to be - but it’s still a marvel for value.

Simultaneous connection between both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth is still too far out of this two-figure price range, but a handy quick switcher button on the right cup keeps you nimble between your sources. Unlike many cheaper wireless options, this source switching was impressively fast in my testing - hopping between my phone and PlayStation at the snap of a button once everything was configured. Normally, there’s a small lag further down the price bracket. It’s worth no♑ting that there’s no wired mode - so those looking to plug in need to head elsew💦here.

A massive 80-hour battery life also keeps things particularly competitive. That’s a particularly high number for this lower mid-range position. $100 gaming headsets usually come with 50 - 70 hour batteries and you’ll find plenty of headsets even further up the price scale struggling to compete with this number. The only other headset I’ve reviewed recently that beats Turtle Beach’s battery was the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless with an MSRP of $169.99 / £169.99.

That 80-hour figure rang true in my testing as well. I spend pretty much the whole workday listening to music on my headset, with a few hours of gaming every other eveningꩵ, and around five or six hours of play across a weꦅekend. That translates to between 55 and 60 hours of use on a given week, and after my testing week, I still had about 30% charge left.

The Stealth 600 Gen 3 punches well above its price tag in the battery department, but also impresses in its onboard controls. They’re a little clustered which means there’s a steep learning curve to getting every ta🍬p and adjustment right the first time, but the sheer number of clickers at your fingertips is certainly impressive here. I would have preferred to have the chat mix and volume dial𝓰s separated to avoid accidental scrolls, for example, but having both present isn’t something I can say for many headsets under $100.

If you don’t want to use the chat mix dial (and you won’t be able to on PlayStation anyway), it can be reprogrammed in the headset’s software for other functions. You’ve got a small Bluetooth switcher button, a separate 🌊option for pairing, a power button, and a multi-function ‘Mode’ button all on the left cup as well. This last clicker can be used for a range of different customizable functions, from swapping presets to controlling media playback, but primarily toggles Turtle Beach’s SuperHuman Hearing feature.

SuperHuman Hearing is Turtle Beach’s ‘competition’ mode. It’s a sound profile that highlights footsteps and gunshots while de-emphasizing everything else in the soundstage. It’s awful. I’ve never enjoyed the over-proc🍬essed, unnatural audio that results from this mode - and the Stealth 600 can keep casual players aware of their surroundings well by itself. This is an added🧜 feature and doesn’t detract from the overall experience, but I would be wary about basing your purchase on it alone.

The Stealth 600 Gen 3 is one of the rare headsets that uses software from both a desktop-based client and a mobile app. That 🐼means you’re covered for both PC and console play, though the full Windows program is far more sophisticated. You’ll be running Swarm II (thanks to the brand’s recent acquisition of Roccat) to customize your sound profile across 10 EQ bands, but the mobile app can also keep your battery information handy, navigate your presets, and adjust chat-mix. That’s a good degree of functionality, especially with those additional programmable buttons in the mix.

Performance

The Turtlꦗe Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 uses its 50mm drivers to the best of its ability. This is a rich, robust sound profile with particular care directed towards the lower ranges but a surprising amount of detail in the trebles as well. Everything sounds very warm here, which makes for excellent cut-scene audio - particularly in more emotive situations like The Last of Us Part 2. However, that powerful bass also brings explosive battlefields to the fore. Doom Eternal benefitted the most from this wide soundscape in my testing, with dynamic gunplay represented fantastically through bouncy, energetic audio and plenty of grit in those metal moments.

The overall result isn’t going to match up to higher-end headsets - I did experience distortion in the middle and lower ranges when volumes were bumped up (more noticeably on console than PC), and there’s less detail in these often more complex areas than you’ll find in something like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X. The Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is better at handling these more muddled soundstages (it uses tꦆhe sa✱me high-end drivers as the Pro model), with the Stealth 600 Gen 3 losing far more of the action when things got heated. You’re also not spending nearly the same amount of cash here as you would with SteelSeries or Astro’s top-of-the-range devices - and, for the money, I was impressed with the audio pumping out of these cups.

Everything soun🧜ded far more textured than the Razer Barracuda X, and with a bolder bassline than theꦗ SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X (on a neutral setting). This is a well-balanced sound profile straight out of the box, with enough tonal energy to keep things lively while still providing a nice level of detail for quieter environment-heavy moments.

Directional audio is more than passable for everyday play as well. Ultra-competitive players will be looking for something with a little more precision in its stage, but everyday players will be more than happy 🐠to plug in with these cups. I was able to easily identify footprints and gunshots in my CS2 runs. The microphone isn’t going to hold up to the holy grail that is the Razer BlackShark - but it does its job. You’re not getting the warmth or natural clarity that you’ll find in more high-end models, but my comms were all loud, clear, and strong enough for my teammates.

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3?

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 is a jack of all trades, and that’s exactly what it needs to be to compete right now. Excellent functionality pairs beautifully with a rich soundstage and is topped off with an impressive battery life and a slick design to boot. There’s not much you can argue with there - especially considering that $99🦄.99 / £99.99 price tag. I’d recommend this headset to anyone working with a split PC and console setup and plays casually.

That’s not to say the Stealth 600 Wireless Gen 3 is going to replace the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed as the best headset for the majority of players. The BlackShark offers up a more sophisticated sound profile while also boosting your mic quality - all fꩲor just $30 / £30 more. The design doesn’t lend itself to everyday wear quite as well, and Xbox players need not apply - so there’s plenty of ♚wiggle room in that assertion, depending on your situation.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is also just $30 / £30 more than the Stealth 600 Gen 3. It features the same 2.4GHz / Bluetooth connection system (with a newer Bluetooth 5.3 versi🅠on) and adds pre-engineered presets for a massive number of games straight from the mobile app. The Stealth 600 does offer a more well-rounded audio profile straight out of the box and through larger 50mm drivers. If you want sound tailored to your game, I’d opt for SteelSeries. If you’re more PC-focused (or don’t want to tinker with EQ at all), Turtle Beach wins in this matchup.

Then there’s the $99.99 / £99.99 Razer Barracuda X. This model sits at the bottom of the price range these days (often on sale for $69.99 / £69.99), but does so with older 40mm Razer TriForce drivers and smaller 50-hour battery life. It’s more comfortable than the Stealth 600 and can run in an unpowered wired mode, which means it retains its position as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset av๊ailable, but I’d take t𝔉he newer Turtle Beach model for all other platforms.

How we tested the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3

I used the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 for all daily music, streaming, and play over the course of two weeks. I also tested directly against the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5x, Razer Barracuda X, and Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed in that time. I primarily played Doom Eternal (PS5), The Last of Us Part 2 (PS5), Fallout 4 (PC), and CS2 (PC) for review purposes, while also playing A Little to the Left and Gears Tactics on PC. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We’re also rounding up the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets. Or, if you’re looking for something more desktop-based, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets on the market.

In silo, the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless is an impressive piece of kit, but with the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless on the shelves, the competition might be too much. I put the latest wireless option from HyperX to the test over the course of three weeks, to see just where it falls next to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets on the market. 

Design

The HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless looks and feels very much like the Cloud 2 Wireless I reviewed back in 2021. One of my favorite elements, the red stitching around the headband, has been abandone🧸d, but you’re still getting those iconic red aluminum yolks (now with a slightly more streamlined curve), a matte black plastic chassis, and a logo emblazoned on each side. I received the black and red model, but there’s a ver🐷sion that does away with these colorful accents for a more uniform aesthetic. 

The cups themselves provide a particularly deep cushioning with springy but still nicely firm padding and a leatherette cover. That material does trap some heat within the main driver area, and is vulnerable to cracking and flaking later in life, but feels incredible around the head str💞aight out of the box. Combined with the generous lining across the headband (far more than we were given in the previous generation), there’s plenty of protection from the harder elements of this build. That means the Cloud 3 Wireless is an incredibly comfortable headset. My ears were perfectly housed in between the cushions of each cup with no pinching to worry about, and the clamp force felt just right as well. 

 The bigꦜgest benefit of that leatherette ꦡmaterial is noise isolation. Of course, there’s no active noise cancellation here, which meant they were no match for an airplane’s engines, but the seal was impressively tight during everyday play.  

Getting the perfect fit isn’t too🐭 difficult. The headband easily adjusts across a series of notches up and down the red aluminum struts. There’s enough freedom of movement to simply place the headset straight on your head and then pull each side to reach the correct fit, but this drop in tension also means sizing can shift in a bag. I took the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless on a five-day trip and did notice that the design didn’t exactly lend itself to travel. Yes, you’ll get a cloth drawstring case in the box, but with no swivel in the (slightly chunkier) cups, they take up a consi꧒derable amount of bag space. 

The microphone attaches to the left cup via a 3.5mm port. That’s perfect if you want to use your headset on the go (provided you have a USB-C device), but I personally prefer a flip-to-mute microphone for everyday convenience. At a $169.99 / £16🐎9.99 MSRP, this feature isn’t out of the price range either. 

Features

Like previous 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming headsets from HyperX, the Cloud 3 only offers a 2.4GHz connection. That’s a little disappointing, especially considering you’ll find a Bluetooth option on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless and a wired USB mode on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed. At today’s going rate of $129.99 / £129.99 (and especially at the original $169.99 / £169.99 launch price) you’d expect alternative co✨nnection options. 

As it stands, you can use the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless with PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, most Android devices, and some Apple devices. That seems like a lot, but dropping a wired option completely wipes Xbox consoles off the menu, and the lack of Bluetooth makes use with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming handhelds a little trickier as well. I’ve been using the headset with an Asus ROG Ally🐠 for the last week and had to sacrifice power for audio. 

Controls are split across the left and right cups, with an endless but notched volumeꦕ wheel on the right and power / mic-mute buttons on the left. The volume wheel itself is one of my favorites I’ve tested. There’s a particularly pleasing tension to this scroller, allowing for quick volume control without the risk 🐷of sliding all the way up the scale in one frenzied movement. The notches are a little less pronounced than you’ll find in other gaming headsets as well, which means no annoying clacking sounds as you adjust. 

The microphone itself features a unidirectional pickup with noise-canceling baked in. At nearly 8cm long, and with a nicely flexible arm, there’s plenty of room fo🐲r a comfortable distance. 

HyperX also knows how to use a battery. The brand made headlines with its massive 300-hour Cloud Alpha device a couple of years ago, but its mainline Cloud devices have generally stuck close to average in their charges. The Cloud 3 Wireless boasts an impressive 120 hours of battery - that’s the longest-lasting battery I’ve personally tested (and the second largest only to the Alpha that we’ve seen on GamesRadar+ at all). Considering the slightly more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair HS80 Max only runs in at 65 hours, and both the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X and Razer BlackShark V2 Pr༒o come in under 80 hours this is a seriously impressive feat. Not only that, but I ran the Cloud 3 Wireless for around 100 hours over the cour💮se of three weeks and was still at 30% battery, suggesting that the 120-hour benchmark might be at the lower end of the brand’s estimate.

Like most gaming headset software suites, HyperX’s Ngenuity is ok. You’ve got all your volume, microphone, and EQ settings in here as well as an additional switch for DTS Spatial Sound. There’s nothing revolutionary going on here, and it’s neither a particularly clean nor messy piece of software. EQ changes don’t have the same kind of impact that you’ll hear in something like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X or the far more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X. It’s there if you need it, but considering saved settings don’t carry over to consol🐲e you might only ever touch it for 🧸the odd firmware update. 

Performance

The HyperX Cloud 3🧸 Wireless is fa🐼r more concerned with clarity than richness - and this ethos runs throughout the entire sound profile and microphone performance. Far more attention has been paid to higher ranges here, with an under-emphasized bass that leaves explosions feeling a little flat and renders the Cloud 3 pretty redundant when Spotify is concerned. The lower mid-range also suffers the same fate, feeling muddy and underwhelming across music. 

If you prefer detail to raw power, then, you’ll love this soundstage. A focused upper bass and upper mid-range mean environmental sounds shine through, dialogue is crisp and forward, and sometimes pierc𝐆ing clangs and scrapes are vivid without being too sharp. Nowhere was this more apparent than in Horizon Forbidden West. I have an area of this map where I like to test gaming headsets; a sparse glade with some roaming Ravagers. Why? Because very few headsets can actually balance all those machine sounds in a way that doesn’t completely overwhelm the soundstage in the mid-range. The HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless is the best headset for the job I’ve tested so far. 

In dialing down lower ranges, environmental sounds can pull through without crashing into each other. Rather than an often unpleasant cacophony of overblown machine noises, I could pick out footsteps crunching without overtaking the entire soundstage. Would I have preferre𝔍d a more textured, robust bass range? Probably yes - this is one small experiment in a sea of testing games, after all. But it does go to show how far the Cloud 3 Wireless is geared towards accuracy in the mids - something very few headsets aim for. 

While that does m🌺ean the overall soundstage is slimmer than you’ll find in other devices, there’s still plenty of room for directional cues. I was easily able to pick out movement and reloads across CS:GO, as well as enemy locations in Fallout 4 and Doom Eternal. 

Similarly, the microphone provides a crisp, cl🍌ear vocal representation but doesn’t do much else. There’s very little warmth to this mic’s tones, which makes for an easily und𝓀erstandable line of communication but not one that will lend itself well to recording or streaming. 

Should you buy the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless?

The HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless excels in what it wants to do. The question is wไhether or not that’s enough for today’s market. It wants to bring you a detailed mid-range with clear directionality, natural audio, and a soundstage that prioritizes environmental cues and dialogue, and it does so better than any headset I’ve tested. It wants to cut the cord of t🗹he previous wired model, and the resulting 2.4GHz connection is reliable, easy, and rock-solid. It wants to steer clear of the charging cable, taking inspiration from its Cloud Alpha predecessor to offer long-lasting battery life in a completely different league to the rest of its competition. 

But without Bluetooth, a wired conne💮ction, onboard EQ setting storage, a robust lower range, and a soundstage that works across both games and music, I can’t say the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless is doing enough to put it above similar options from SteelSeries and Razer. Of course, no headset can do it all - but a lot do far more than this for the cash. 

I would recommend the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless to PC or PS5 players who primarily play story-forward games like Horizon, The Last of Us, Bald𓂃ur’s Gate 3, and Skyrim. The games where dialogue matters more than the satisfaction of an explosion or the footsteps of another player. Equally, if you’re tired of constantly charging that 120-hour battery life might be enough to sway you towards HyperX. Otherwise, the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is the better buy for PC players and SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova 5X is still the top dog for console players in this price range.

How we tested the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless

I used the HyperX Cloud 3 Wireless for all play across a period of three weeks. In that time, I primarily tested on Fallout 4, Gears Tactics, and CS:GO on PC as well as Doom Eternal, Horizon Forbidden West, and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage on PS5. I also took the Cloud 3 Wireless headset on a five-day trip, during which I listened to music, podcasts, and tested on the Asus ROG Ally. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets on the market. Or, take a look at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets available.  

Design

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless isn’t tearing up the range’s rulebook here. You’re still getting smaller, 🦩more circular cups than you’ll find in models from Razer or Logitech, with a matte black plastic finish, and ski-style headband running across the t🍌op. In fact, aside from some additional controls on the right cup and a slightly different pattern running across the headband, this headset is visually indistinguishable from the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 4. That design certainly wasn’t broken, though, so why fix it? 

This is still a fant🎀astically well-put-together device, with a rock-solid plastic chassis, sturdy (if a little stiff) headband sliders, and absolutely no creaking no matter how far it’s pushed. The Nova 5 retains a flexibility that keeps it safe; I can push and pull these cups around without ever feeling like something was going to snap and they would simply jump back to their original positions like it was nothing afterward. 

The cups themselves are made out of a meshed fabric material and therefore stay nice and cool even during a spout o⛎f hot weather during my testing. The cushioning underneath was plush enough to ensure long-standing comfort during heavier sessions, and I was surprised that the smaller cup size didn’t lead to ear pinching. I have fairly small ears, but 💧there was still plenty of room in between them and the padding itself, which meant everything was comfortably housed next to the driver rather than being crammed against the headset itself.  

Features

This is where the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless gets interesting. I enjoyed my time with the previous release, the Nova 4, but its lack of Bluetooth and low battery life meant it couldn’t compete with others in its price range. This is the headset we should have had instead. It’s a little late, but with both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connections (and an easy smart switch button on the headset itself) you’ve got easy access to both your console and your phone and the ability to toggle between them. There’s no wired option here, though, so you are locked into a cordless experience (unlike the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed which gives you a USB cable to play with). 

You’ll be using that Bluetooth connection more often than you think as well. The Arctis Nova 5 comes with a companion app (available for both iOS and Android) which offers a whole wad of different EQ presets to choose from. Between your standard bass boost and FPS settings you✨’ve got hard-coded presets for a number of different games all created with developers, esports professionals, and sound engineers in tow. From Fortnite to Fallout 76, Elden Ring to Escape from Tarkov, Lies of P to Like a Dr🥀agon: Infinite Wealth, there’s a massive selection of games to choose from here (full list available below). 

Yes, pretty much all of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets offer up EQ settings, but none that I’ve tested have this number of pre-developed profiles straight out of the box. Not only that, but you’ll generally be creating these presets on PC before saving them to onboard storage (if you’re lucky enough to have such a feature). That means constant moving back and forth between your computer to fine-tune that sound or even swap your profile in some instances. I was a little disappointed to find that the co꧂mpanion app doesn’t offer an EQ graph to further fine-tune the experience. Considering this is something Razer routinely offers in its own mobile app when catering to lower mid-range gaming headsets, it seems like an odd exclusion. If you want direct control over exactly how your headset sounds, you’ll need to opt for something else.

That said, if even a couple of the games in your current rotation are on here, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is well worth checking out - and hopefully we’ll continue to see this feature s✨upported for future releases as well. 

You can select a different preset for either 2.4GHz or your Bluetooth devices, and quickly swap your preset with a few taps in the app as well. The actual connection process is quick and easy - I was up and running with just a couple of in-app buttons when running on iOS and repeat pairing is as simple as opening the software. You’ve also goౠt a couple of extra microphone controls in here, with sliders for your own volume, sidetone, and the brightness of the indicator LED on the side. 

Aside🌳 from the software, the Nova 5 Wireless features all the usual controls you would expect on the headset itself. The addition of a chat-mix scroll wheel is new for this model compared to the 4 before it, but otherwise everything runs pretty much exactly the same. The volume 🧔wheel is handily placed on the left side, with your chat-mix on the right, so it was easy to make sure I was hitting the right control. 

An extendable mic⛎rophone runs out from the left cup, with a nicely flexible s𝓰tem that snapped straight to the correct positioning with just a hand flick during my initial setup. 

The battery will see you through up to 60 hours of playtime. That’s a vast improvement on the Nova 4’s 36 hours, and while it doesn’t hold up against the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed’s 70 hours (or the slightly more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless’s 300 hours) it’s above the ಞaverage in this price range. 

Full game preset list at launch

• Atlas Fallen
• Atomic Heart
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Battlefield 2042
• Brawlhalla
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• COD Modern Warfare 2
• COD MWIII by ATKL FaZe
• COD Warzone
• COD Warzone 2
• Content Warning
• CS2 by FaZe Twistzz
• CS:GO by FaZe Twistzz
• CS:GO by Valve
• Cyberpunk 2077
• DayZ
• Dead by Daylight
• Dead Island 2
• Destiny 2 by Bungie
• Diablo IV by Blizzard
• Dota 2
• Dragon’s Dogman 2
• Dying Light 2
• EA Sports FC 24
• Elden Ring
• Escape from Tarkov
• Exoprimal
• F1 by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team
• Fall Guys
• Fallout 76
• Farlight 84
• Final Fantasy XIV Online
• Fortnite by FaZe Megga
• Forza Horizon 5
• Forza Motorsport
• Genshin Impact
• GTA V
• Guild Wars 2
• Halo Infinite
• Hell Let Loose
• Helldivers 2
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Honor of Kings
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Hunt: Showdown
• Immortals of Aveum
• iRacing
• Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash
• Knives Out
• Last Epoch
• League of Legends
• Lethal Company
• Lies of P
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Lords of the Fallen
• Lost Ark
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Minecraft
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Monster Hunter World
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Naraka: Bladepoint
• NBA 2K24
• No Rest for the Wicked
• Overwatch 2
• Palworld
• Path of Exile
• Payday 3
• Phasmophobia
• PUBG
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
• Project Playtime
• PUBG Mobile
• Raft
• Rainbow Six Extraction by Ubisoft
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Rainbow Six Siege by Ubisoft
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• Redfall
• Remnant II
• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Roblox
• Rocket League
• Rust
• Sea of Thieves
• Skull and Bones
• Smiley
• Sons of the Forest
• Splatoon 3
• Splitgate
• Star Citizen
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Starfield
• Street Fighter 6
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• System Shock
• Team Fortress 2
• Tekken 8
• Terraria
• The Division 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• The Finals
• The Last of Us Part 1
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• The Witcher 3
• Valheim
• Valorant by FaZe BabyBay
• Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt
• War Thunder
• Warhammer 40K: Boltgun
• Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
• World of Tanks
• World of Warcraft

Performance

Let’s not forget this is still a SteelSeries headset. The natural audio profile straight out of the box is still impressive, with fantastic balancing, a robust texture to the soundstage and plenty of detailing in the mids and higher ranges. This is a similar profile to the Arctis Nova 4, excelling in picking out the finer points of each range but still holding back in terms of raw power. There’s not quite the bassey richness of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis N❀ova Pro Wireless in these cups, and straight out of the box the BlackS༺hark Vꦛ2 Hyperspeed sounds far more full-bodied. 

But the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless wasn’t designed to be used straight out of the box. There are some presets that make sense in this list; run🌞ning through Apex Legends and CS:GO with their own profiles enabled was a pretty standard affair. Individual footsteps and gunshot sounds were elevated to the extent I could differentiate between different weapons, locations, and movements with ease. These are must-have presets for competitive affairs, so I was curious to see what the Mario Kart 8 option could bring to the table. To my surprise, I did notice a punchier, brighter soওundstage with more emphasis on giving twinkly melodies robust support, while also giving each kart and bike a crunchy, gravelly engine roar. The Baldur’s Gate 3 preset brings smaller environmental details to the fore - the sound of echoes dancing off cave walls or goblins arming themselves in the distance.

I was particularly interested to try out the Horizon Forbidden West preset - this is a go-to testing game for me. For some reason, very few headsets can balance these sounds of machinery with finer enviꦯronmental details in a way that feel🐎s natural. The dedicated profile still couldn’t quite make these heavier sounds fit into the rest of the landscape, but was able to balance the clunks of a nearby ravager a little better than it did out of the box. 

I wouldn’t call all of these presets game-changing. I didn’t exactly notice too much of an improvement in Fall Guys or Super Mario Odyssey, for example. 𒁃However, there are enough games on this list that do benefit from some addiꦅtional EQ tweaks. 

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless isn’t doing anything that others can’t here. The power of its audio is a little behind the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed (though only audibly so when used side by side) and those EQ settings could be configured on a PC if you have the time to do the research into other🎀s’ profiles. It’s the ease of use, specifically for console players, that keeps the Nova 5 competitive.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is a solid headset elevated by its unique software features. There aren’t many gaming headsets targeting console players with this kind of EQ ease-of-use and if you’re looking for a more tailored audio experience across each game you play I wouldn’t recommend anything else. It hopefully goes without sayinꦕg, this is the better buy over the Arctis Nova 4 - and t💖he latter is going to struggle with the 5 breathing down its back. 

However, there is a case for the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed still. While you’re dropping those ready-made presets, Razer’s option packs higher-quality audio overall, with a better microphone and direct control over individual EQ sliders. You’re boosting your battery life, adding a w꧙ired connection option on top of 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, and paying exactly the same amount of cash. If you mostly play on PC and you’re happy building your EQ profiles there, this is still where I’d recommend you put your money. 

However, the better build quality, companion app, and extendable microphone (the BlackShark is non-detachable), means the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is the go-to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PS5 headset and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headset for player🍌s who want more from their game audio without spending hours messing around with sliders.

How we tested the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless 

I received the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless for testing, so used the headset across PS5, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. In that time, I tested with pre-made presets across Baldur’s Gate 3, Apex Legends, CS:GO, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Fall Guys, Super Mario Odyssey, Horizon Forbidden West, and Starfield. I also tested the Nova 5 Wireless’s audio straight out of the box with each of these games for comparison, while also testing directly against both the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 4. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds for something more portable. 

I'm constantly testing the latest and greatest headsets, and to this day, the best wireless headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Pairing top-of-the-range audio with hot-swappable batteries, a multi-connection hub, and a comfortable form factor these cups tick all the right boxes. It's the澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best gaming headset on the market, but if you don't want to invest in a high-end♋ price tag there are plenty of other options as well.

From budget-friendly cups to luxury wireless headsets with all the bells and whistles, I live with these headsets, and put every single one through its p𓆏aces over a range of genre🦂s and platforms to make sure it's up to standard. That means you can feel reassured you're getting the best value for money no matter the budget. Not only do the best wireless headsets need to offer excellent wireless performance, compatibility, and battery life but they also need to sound great, feel comfortable, and bring a bit of added flair to your gaming setup.

The Quick List

The best wireless gaming headset overall

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Ste🌃elSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a go-to for anyone 🧜looking t🌳o invest in a high end audio system packed with additional extras. It's not just the best wireless gaming headset I've tested, but it's the best set of cups I've ever had on the test bench.

Design: The latest SteelSeries Arctis Nova line retains a core aesthetic throughout its models, but everytꦉhing is dialled up to 11 in the Pro. The luxury build materials, super comfortable ski-google headband and subtle gray color means the Nova Pro Wireless could easily pass as a luxury set of headphones, without even considering the raw gaming power inside. I can easily blitz through hours of gameplay with these on my head, without even feeling an ear pinch. There's plenty of extra features hidden in that slick design, though - which makes its streamlined effect all the more impressive.

Features: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless astounds with its feature list. First up we've got one of the most helpful battery solutions I've come across so far, hot-swappable battery packs. One slots neatly into the hub (more on that next), while the other sits inside the headset - that means you'll never run out of charge, simply swap them over when you're running low. I'm constantly forgetting to plug in, so a꧃lways having a full charge ready to go has been a game changer over the years. That main hub is another b🔯east all together. Offering handy multiplatform connections and a direct platform for EQ tweaks. Throw in active noise cancellation and plenty of controls on the headset itself and you've got a serious powerhouse.

Audio: The Nova Pro Wireless wouldn't be at the top of this list if its audio wasn't sublime. The latest iteration has taken the natural clarity of SteelSeries' drivers and boosted everything with an extra edge of finesse and dꦜetailing. Not only is this a supremely spacious soundstage, with excellent attention to detail acro✅ss all ranges, but we also noticed a boost in the lower regions which has been missing from previous Arctis iterations.

Verdict: If you have the budget, then this is the easiest reco൩mmendation for a wireless gaming headset I can make. It's simply the best wireless gaming headset I've ever tested. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless delivers on its promise and goes as far as I've witnessed any pr▨emium set in justifying the lofty price tag.

Read more: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review

The best wireless gaming headset for most players

If you're after a wireless headset that punches above its price tag but is still easily plug-and-playable with a range of platforms, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is your guy. Its💛 wireless connection is limited to PC, PlayStation, mobile and Nintendo Switch, but a USB-A wired option is there for Xbox players should they need it, and you're getting some particularly premium parts in here for a gre꧋at price.

Design: At first glance, the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed could be its much more expensive sibling, the more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackShark V2 Pro model. This is a matte black headset with the line's staple pilot-style silhouette, chunky headband, and oval shaped cups. However, closer inspection did reveal some s💮mall tears in my review unit, and some looser stitching.

That, combined with the cheaper plastic used here, is indicative of a sacrifice in build quality in order to achieve such a low price tag. You're still getting a strong design for your cash, with cool and comfortable leatherette cu🎃shioning, plenty of padding, and a suitable clamp force, but if you need a long-lasting device you might need to go further up the price scale.

Features: That lower rate build makes way for some excellent 🃏value in the features department. A 70 hour battery puts the BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed well ahead of similarly priced competitors, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections keep you connected to pretty much anything, an🌟d an extended volume dial on the side makes quick in-game adjustments particularly easy. Then there's that super wideband microphone - the best I've tested so far. This is a crystal clear, almost podcast-worthy mic that delighted in our testing, both across recording and in-game chat.

Audio: The BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed packs the microphone of the far more expensive Pro modeꦛl, but it also offers the same TriForce Titanium drivers. This is a luxury piece of𒁏 kit, offering incredible clarity and richness to pretty much anything you can throw at it. Everything is well-balanced across each range, with particular attention being paid to mids and lows. That's an area that can often become muddled with cheaper wireless headsets, but there's excellent detailing down here with space for more atmospheric environmental sounds and loud, accurate directional cues as well.

Verdict: It's difficult to match the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed's internal quality at this price point. While the headset does sit back a little when it comes to overall build, those willing to tak⛦e care of their cups will be delighted with this little bargain - especially if you spend a lot of time in more competitive settings.

Read more: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed review

The best budget wireless gaming headset

If you've got a hard $80 / £80 budget but you still want a wireless gaming headset, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is the best value on the market right now. It's a little weedier than other options c꧅loser to $100, but considering the price point it's still a fantastic contender.

Design: The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 actually beats the slightly more expensive Stealth 600 Gen 3 Wireless in the comfort arena. With a floating headband design not too dissimilar to those seen in SteelSeries headsets, the 500 sits beautifully on the crown, without any unnecessary pressure. While the actual cushioning 🃏of each cup is a little less plump 𓆉than the 600s, the lack of that harder headband more than makes up for it.

It's worth noting that this isn't going to be a a headset that fares particularlꦑy well when thrown in a backpack. The build quality of my test unit was a little concerning, with fabric stretched too tight over the cushioning of one cup, resulting in creases and strained stitching. The cheaper plastic frame does let you know this is a budget dev♐ice, but it also keeps the weight down as well.

Features: I previously held the now four-year-old 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless as the best budget option, but it's been aged out by the Stealth 500. Where SteelSeries' previous generation cups offered 20 hours of battery life for $99 MSRP, the Stealth 500 packs up to 40 hours for $20 less. While the Arctis 🦋1 relied on a 2.4GHz connection only, the Stealth 500 adds Bluetooth into the mix as well as a quick switcher button to instantly swap devices. This is one of the first budget wireless headsets I've tested that includes these traditionally more premium features - and they mean mobile and handheld use are now far easier in the entry level category.

There's an abundance of controls on the headset itself, though they did feel a little clustered when෴ I first started using it. Plus, Swarm software is there to provide EQ and microphone adjustments as well as a full mobile app as well.

Audio: There's a bouncy quality to the Turtle Beach Stealth 500's sound quality that I wouldn't have expected to hear from a headset this cheap just a few years ago. There's also no hint of over-pumping the bass, which historically results in distorted audio among the lower price ranges as well. There's a good amount of power in these basslines, 💮which can sometimes cꦿluster up the mid-section, but overall audio quality is crisp, clear, and detailed for the price.

Verdict: The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is the chea💦pest wireless headset I've tested that has actually impressed me in a while. For just a little extra cash, the Stealth 600 does improve on sound and build quality, but if you've got a harder budget it's likely these cups will be far cheap💯er on sale.

Read more: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth 500 review

The best wireless multiplatform headset

While the fact that its Bluetooth is limited to the base station itself, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X boasts an incredible unique feature that ma𝐆kes it the best wireless gaming headset for anyone splitting their time between PS5 and Xbox Series X. That's the built in HDMI swapper, allowing for full compatibility between systems and easy switching between that at just one press of a button.

Design: The Astro A50 X doesn't stray too far from its predecessors in its design. The plastic devi♐ce keeps the clean angular lines and large cylindrical headband struts of older releases, with a particularly sophisticated final effect. It's available in either black or white, but I do prefer the white model I tested - the geometric style of the base station and the softer curves around the bottom of each cup pick up particularly well in this colorway.

Construction feels solid in the hand, with plenty of rotation to ensure an optimal fit from each cup. I did note that the swivelﷺ on each side made placing the headset into the charging dock was particularly fiddly - especially considering the contacts need a little wiggling around to truly connect. Everything is nicely comfortable, with plush padding across the middle of the headband and l𒅌ining each cup.

Features: This is the big one. The reason so many wireless gaming headsets are either designed for Xbox or PS5 is because the two consoles just don't speak the same connection language. However, Astro has skirted this issue by taking its audio from the HDMI signal instead. Around the back you'll find space for both consoles to connect via HDMI 2.1 (as well as a USB-C for your chat). Once set up, and provided your consoles are set to rest rather than being tuꦰrned off, the base station can swap both video and audio between them at the press of a button - all while keeping the full 4K 120Hz signal intact.

There's a but here, one I found when trying to use the Astro A50 X for Nintendo Switch. The Bluetooth connection is tied to the base station itself, which means you won't be able to use the A50 X on the road with a handheld device. Similarly, ꦚthose who use a PC in a different setup to their consoles will also be stuck transporting the entire base between setups. That quickly became frustrating during my testing, and would be enough reason for me to only recommend this headset to those with an all-in-one setup.

Performance: That slick desig👍n and fancy feature set wouldn't be good for anythinౠg if these headphones didn't sound as great as they do. This is a particularly powerful sound profile, with a slight emphasis on the lower mid-range, but still nicely defined higher tones with plenty of space in the soundstage. That makes everything from music to games feel just that little bit more vibrant, especially considering the Astro A50 Xs do such a good job at separating more delicate sound effects from even the most chaotic of background gunfights.

Verdict: The Astro A50 X is heavily reliant on its base station, even needing it for Bluetooth functionality, however if🍎 you've got a setup that suits it (your PS5, Xbox Series X, and possibly PC all sharing one screen) it's going to be a game changer.

Read more: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X review

The best wireless gaming headset for consoles

We previously had the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X in this position, but then the newer 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nova 5 Wireless dropped. This slimmer headset packs the same audio quality as the more expensive option, but drops simultaneo🎀us connectivity in favor of a set of console-specific EQ presets that are m🤡ore than worth it.

Design: SteelSeries didn't rip up its rulebook with the latest release. This is still the same ski-band style headset you'll recognize from the rest of the range. That means you're getting smaller, more circular cups than you find on other models, but still fantastic comfort that lasts. I noted that the seal created by these particular cups was particularly strong in my testing as well, so while there's no ANC on board the form factor manages to cre🦩ate a solid isolation.

This thing is solid as well. No matter how much I bent and shaped the headband, or shook the cups, there was no creaking, splintering, or rattling anywhere. That's a big vote of confidence for long𒆙-term durability.

Features: The biggest reason I'm putting the Nova 5X Wireless up as the best wireless headset for consoles is the companion app. There are over 100 presets in here, covering a massive range of games, covering everything from Fallout to Fall Guys. A Bluetooth connection keeps you in-tune with your phone while a 2.4GHz receiver runs up to your Xbox, but it's worth noting there's no simultaneous connections here. Higher-end headsets will allow you to, for example, listen to music on your phone while still running game a♊udio from another source. However, you're switching between inputs here.

Stil💝l, you're getting a good spread of onboard controls to go with those presets. A chat mix dial and Bluetooth quick switcher are both added here (the Nova 4 drops these features), alongside the everyday volume, mic mute, and power options. A solid micropꦇhone is tucked away in the cup itself, extendable whenever it's needed.

Performance: Considering you're still getting the excellent audio quality we heard in the Nova 7s, the 5X Wireless offers fantastic value for money overall. This soundstage is particularly strong in its detailing with plenty of attention p☂aid to the lower ranges. That does mean there's less of a booming bass here, but with the mid-range remaining crystal clear everything is tuned to games here. And that's even more apparent when fiddling between different presets. While some feel a little redundant (Fall Guys doesn't particularly benefit from souped up audio), these settings are thoughtful in their approach meaning even Baldur's Gate 3 and Mario Kart 8 feel their benefit.

Verdict: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless does make some sacrifices when put up against high-end headsets (simultaneous connections being the most notable). For the cash, though, there'🌞s no better value out there for console purists.

Read more: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless review

The best wireless gaming headset for battery life

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is an extraordinary headset and does earn a place on this best wireless gaming 🏅headset list - but it is also a frustrating set; stumbling with one feature that could have really made it a world-beater.

Design: The design and build are classic, quality HyperX: a simple black and red design with sturdy arching frames for each cup, and a solid and comfortable headband between the two. And the buttons are simple and restrained too - just a volume wheel on one cup, and the mic port, mic mute, power buttonꦛ, and charging port on the other.

Features: The battery life is the main feature here though, and the thing that all the marketing around this headset banged on about - claiming up to 300 hours of battery life, no less. And, I have to say that I have come to believe that claim wholeheartedly: after 110 hours I have had to give up counting just to move on with my life, ಌwhile the chap in the earcups tells me it has gone down to only 70%. It really is remarkable and a big selling point for the set.

However, the big caveat with th🔜is headset is that I found the mic to be really quite bad. Covering all of what you don't want from a microphone - muffled audio to my friends, crackling, inconsistent volume, and indistinct clarity - at times I was having to basically put it in my mouth to be 𒐪heard.

Audio: The sound quality is truly excellent. No m꧋atter what game we were playing during testing, the Cloud Alpha Wireless's audio shone and excelled. It will have your back whatever you play from the busiest of chaotic shooters to the quietest meanders through open-world landscapes, and everything in between. We were particularly impressed with the clarity of each and every detail of the audio too, ✤from booming weapons to the tweeting of birds. The headset is even excellent for music and TV and film too which is a great plus.

Verdict: What results is a headset that is seriously perfect for you if you don't play much, if any, online games that require communication - if you do, then there might be a better set on th🍎is list for you.

Read more: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review

How we test wireless gaming headsets

We use each wireless gaming headset that passes our desks as if we had just purchased them ourselves. That means running through all daily wo🌠rk, play, streaming, and music using the device while also scrutinizing build quality, comfort, and ease of use throughout.

The first thing we note when remov🌠ing a headset from its box is, inevitably, design. There's more than just a subjective appreciation for aesthetic in this process, though. A headset's weight, balancing, cushioning depth and materials, and microphone placement will all contribute to the overall comfort of a device. We test this comfort long-term by running several longer gaming sessions through each wireless headset, and by spending work days plugged into music and meetings for extended periods of time. Beyond ergonomics, though, a wireless headset needs to hold up in its build quality.

We flex, bend, swivel, and bop every hinge and headband on a wireless headset, constantly listening and feeling for creaks or wob𒁏bles to ensure a build is robustꦇ. Beyond noting the actual materials and connections used, we're putting every strut and cushion through its paces through fiery rage quits and more professional drop tests.

While wireless headsets generally offer similar 🐟spec sheets when it comes to features, there are always going to be individual aspects that stand differently. We fully test each wireless headset across all its connection types; Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired. That means testing across a range of platforms in each connection mode as well - paying particular attention to range, strength, reliability, and speed.

Beyond thatඣ all-important connection, we're constantly evaluating how onboard controls enhance or hamper everyday and competitive experiences while also putting the mic through stringent team tests and work calls. Battery life is one of the first features we explore, though. 𒁃As soon as a wireless headset comes out of the box, we charge it fully and allow that full charge to run its course naturally over the course of at least two weeks full work and play. That can be anything from eight to 13 hours of use per day.

In order to examine audio performance, we test across a range of different genres, from the vast spaces of an open world to more close-quarters combat scenarios. Of course, sound is always subjective, so we test across the same seven games every time. These titles are spread 𓂃across different platforms and offer their own specific challenges across directional accuracy, soundstage size and precision, fr𒆙equency power and clarity, and potential for distortion.

Marvel Rivals and CS2 are our competitive games of choice, used for testing directional accuracy, microphone clarity, and soundstage imaging, particularly in the lower mid-range. We use a wider open scene with a couple of nearby machines in Horizon Forbidden West to see how well each headset deals with a cluttered mid-range, and how well it balances these more clustered scenes. Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales is used to measure directional audio in a busier scene (the main mission Time To Rally).

Doom Eternal tests a gaming headset's power in the lower range, as well as the depth of its soundstage. Dead by Daylight is used to measure a less busy, but more atmospheric, environmental soundstage and how it places voice-chat within the audio soundscape. We finally use each headset across a few levels of Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy to assess the handling of higher ranges as well.

Some game choices can differ depending 🎉on any given reviewer's access, and it's always pertinent to test headsets during﷽ a whole range of games, including titles even outside our specified list. Ensuring we're using not just the same games across each headset we test, but also brand-new releases is pertinent to recommending each and every set of cups.

Once each headset then makes it through the full testing process, it is assigned scores based on comfort, audio, battery, microphone, versatility, and build quality ♔for each comparison across previous reviews. We're constantly comparing headsets to their similarly priced competitors - often switching back and fo🌟rth between the devices during testing.

For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Also tested

We're testing new wireless gaming headsets all the time, and not all of them m🅰ake it into this list. The headsets below could still f💞ill that hole in your setup if they suit your specific needs, but their feature sets might not be as widely applicable as the models up top, or they might have fallen below expectations in other areas of testing. Below, you'll find all the wireless headsets we've tested in the last two years that haven't met the correct criteria to be featured in our best list.

How to choose the right wireless gaming headset

Finding the right wireless gaming headset for you comes down to a series of factors; what, how, where, and when you play. Each of these factors has a different bearing on the connection, overall design, microphone, and battery life of y𓃲our device. Of course we all want the best audio experience possible -💙 but finding the right combination of these extra features can help you get the best value for money overall.

That's because some players might b🎃e able to stick with more expensive features like a 2.4 GHz wireless connection or high-end microphones in order to pick up far better sound quality for their money overall. On the other hand, some may prefer to put more cash towards a long-lasting battery life and versatile suite of connections rat꧋her than prioritizing competition-level sound, so a wireless headset just won't do. Finding the right balance of priorities can help you find the right headset at the right price.

Glossary

Whether you're buying your first wireless headset or you're simply looking to brush up on some key terms before diving into your research, you'll find all the jargon l𒊎aid out just below.

• 2.4GHz: A low-latency wireless connection alternative to Bluetooth.
• ANC: Active noise cancellation removes unwanted external noise by sensing it with an external microphone and blocking it with an extra sound frequency.
• Bluetooth: A slower but more widely compatible wireless connection option compared to 2.4GHz.
• Closed-back: The most common headset design, where the driver is completely enclosed within the cup itself.
• Driver: The element of a gaming headset that converts electrical signals into sound waves.
• Dual-connection: A feature of wireless gaming headsets that means it can connect to both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth.
• Dynamic: The most common driver type featured in gaming headsets.
• EQ: Short for equalizer, EQ settings allow you to fine-tune your listening experience by manipulating the emphasis on certain ranges, usually via a separate software.
• Frequency range: The range of sound that a headset can produce, usually 20Hz - 20KHz
• Latency: The speed at which the headset receives information from the PC or console, a higher latency should be avoided if playing competitively.
• Open-back: A less common headset design in which the driver is left exposed through the chassis.
• Receiver / Transmitter: An attachment or hub that receives mic signal from your headset and transmits audio signal to your headset. Usually a small USB-C or USB-A dongle, or a larger box.
• Simultaneous connection: A wireless headset feature that allows for separate Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections to be active at the same time.

Best wireless gaming headset: FAQ

If you'd prefer something of the earbud variety, check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbud list for all our favorite buds we've had hands-on experience with so far. There's also our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset list which is full to the brim with the best wireless, and wired headset to level up your gaming sessions.

The main body of the headset is coated in a matte soft-touch white plastic, with slightly off-white leatherette cups and a darker ski-style headband across the top. The main bridge features a solid aluminum top plating, this time w🅷ith a shiny silver finish. Both sides feature aluminum panels with an emblazoned SteelSeries logo similar to those of the black model, but still swappable via the brand’s Arctis Nova Booster Packs should you prefer a pop of color. To complement all of this, a new white carry case is also available. The new white model is currently available for . 

Of course, this is still the same set of cups that have held the position of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headset over the last two years. You’ll still find fantastic audio, ingenious hot-swappable battery solutions, and that super handy dual-connection hub in the box. This time around, 🅠though, SteelSeries has also updated the ANC micro🥀phones inside each cup. These allow the headset to offer its high-quality noise cancellation but were a little protruding in previous iterations. That bump has been flattened now, making for a more comfortable experience overall. This feature is available in both the white model and all new black models going forwards.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless?

If the features above look good, and you’re ready to invest in a headset that will see you through years to come, then the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro 💝Wireless is a fantastic choice. It’s the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headset on the market, and a top choice for those after a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PS5 headset or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series X headset as well. That means it’s pretty much ideal for anyone looking to boost t𒅌he𒁏ir audio quality. 

However, those who play across multiple platforms are going to get the best value out of this device. Part of that price tag is paid towards the multi-connection hub. This is a piece of dream tech for those who split their time between PC and PS5 - I currently have both set up on the same desk, constantly hardwired into the hub itself. However, if you only play on one console then there might not be a need to invest quite so heavily. After all, there’s no point in paying for something you won’t use. While you’re dropping the hot-swappable batteries, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 is a cheaper alternative for those solo platfo🎶rm 🎃players.  

If you’re after something more streaming-focused, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming, or take a look at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds for something more portable.  

Design

At first glance, the Max could be indistinguishable from the previous 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair HS80 RGB release. Both carry the angled cup shapes that have become ubiquitous with the HS80 name itself and offer a comfortable housing for the ear itself, rather than squishing it into ♏a circular form factor. That means no ear-pinching,🥂 even over longer sessions, but a spacious seal around the shape of the ear. 

Soft fabric covers a set of memory foam cushions around the border of these cups - perfect for those who don’t get on with the sometimes sticky feel of the leatherette often included on more premium headsets. The fabric cover does still warm up, but things are much cooler here than, say, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth Pro. However, the sea🦩l maintained by this lighter fabric isn’t quite as solid as you’ll find with a denser material and the cloth could likely erode over time. 

You will find a dash of leatherette running across the ski-style headband, providing a slight cushioning to the inner strap. This band is adjustable via velcro pads on the underside of the main plastic bridge. While a neat way to keep a fabric band in place, I prefer a sliding scale as it’s difficult to perfectly balance each side when s📖imply relying on eyeballing each side. This design also means material hangs over the sides of the headset when not worn should you increase the headband size. 

The strap itself carries some strong tension in its elastic, keeping the head protected from the harder plastic above. It’s also a little slimmer than other ski bands, most notably those from SteelSeri🐟es. That does put a little more pressure on the crown than a more cushioned approach, which did wear on me a little during longer periods of test𝐆ing. 

I found myself shifting the position of the headband a few times after around two hours of wear, seating it forward or backward on my head to give each area a break. Lengthening the strap helped this problem, but resulted in additional pressure from the cups themselves falling too low over my ears. If you’re used to ski bands, this isn’t going to be a massive issue, but anyone coming from a wider band like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is going to feel it slightly.  

At 352g, the Corsair HS80 Max sits at the higher end of average, but the plastic construction saves it from feeling like a dead weight across the noggin. That trade-off doesn’t come with too many sacrifices either. No, it doesn’t look like a seriously expensive headset, but I have no concerns with the overall build quality and everything feels solid and secure with no creaking or flexing. The only points of damage could be in the material of the earcups and the velcro of the headband over time, as well as the thin wire leading from the main drivers to the band itself. These are shielded somew𒈔hat by a thick triangular piece of plastic, but I would still be wary of throwing them into a particularly stuffed backpack.  

Features

The Corsair HS80 Max doesn’t do anything too crazy with its feature list. This is a wireless headset with both 2.4GHz and Bluetoot🍸h (though no dual-connectivity for simultaneous listening), 50mm neodymium drivers, and a flip-to-mute microphone. However, there are a couple of additional extras included here that you might not find on competing models. The Bluetooth connection button, for example, 🤡doubles up as a playback center, allowing you to play/pause, move between tracks, and control incoming calls via a series of single, double, or triple presses. 

That’s not something I see too often in a gaming headset, and it’s a feature that lends itself particularly well to those who want to double up their purchase for a regular set of everyday headphones. This would be a much bigger deal if the ♐microphone had been detachable, though. As it stands, you’ll be walking around town with a giant wedge of plastic up the side of your face which isn’t ideal. 

Still, the battery life could keep up with both gaming and everyday roles. Corsair estimates that you’ll get 130 hours of juice when connected via Bluetooth and no RGB - a figure that proved true in my testing. I ran the headset in Bluetooth mode for one week, using the headset for music throughout the day, the odd meeting, and gaming or Netflix in the evening. That equated to around 6-8 hours of use per day, and the battery was still at 78% on Saturday morning. A second week of testing solely on a 2.4GHz conne𒈔ction did yield lower results. I switched the RGB on for the full power-draining experience and needed to recharge by Wednesday, running the headset for around two and a half days, or 17.5 hours before plugging in. 

The HS80 Max also comes with a free Dolby Atmos license inside the box and supports high-resolution signals up to 24bit / 96kHz. That’s a marked step up from similarly priced options, and well worth no🌠ting if you’re after a more faithful representation of songs and movies even if frequency responses are run of the mill.

Booting up the iCue software also re🏅veals another fancy addition to the Max’s soundstage; SoundID. While its setup feels a little like smoke and mirrors, the program is designed to create an audio preset tailored to your own preferred listening style. For me, that meant bumping up the power of lower ranges and expanding room in the mids. It does make a difference to the overall soundstage but doesn’t massively alter the quality of the audio coming through. I noticed a beefier response from expl🦹osions and heavier artillery, but not much that couldn’t be achieved with simple EQ tweaks. 

Performance

Straight out of the box, the Corsair HS80 Max performs particularly well. There’s a richer tone to this audio than I’ve heard before, with emphasis on the loweౠr mid-range. While there’s not much space in the stage itself, those bassier ♓areas really shine through providing excellent punch to heavy sound effects. That warmth does mean you lose a little power in the upper ranges. The twinkly, melodic soundtrack of Super Mario RPG felt a little cramped, though with the volume pumped up and some EQ settings tweaked it became apparent that there’s actually a lot of clarity in these higher tones.  

In experiences where the HS80 Max can shine, it does. The open-world environments of Fallout 4 and Horizon Forbidden West are bursting with life through these cups, from the definition of smaller details to the power of larger crashes and gunfights. Watching the Brotherhood of Steel descend for the first time through the HS80 Maxs was a particularly impressive ordeal. There’s a texture to the mid-range that is often difficult to balance. Many gaming headsets opt to put their emphasis on lower ranges, paying more attention to footsteps and gunshots in their sound profiles. While that attention has been dutifully paid here (not quite with the directional accuracy of something wildly more expensive like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Audeze Maxwell or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Astro A50 X), it’s iℱn dialogue, soundtracks, and the crunch of a gravel r🙈oad beneath your feet that the HS80 Max truly weaves its magic. 

The microphone is a little jarring in comparison. This is a weaker mic that will simply get the job done rather than providing high-end broadcast-quality sound. It’s far flatter than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro’s model and has a little more🍸 noise so its profile overall. 

Should you buy the Corsair HS80 Max?

The Corsair HS80 Max launched last year at $179.99 / £169.99, but it can be found at around $150 when on sale these days (the UK has seen its own discounts but they’re not as frequent). Those kinds of numbers put the Max up against the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Sony Inzone H5 for PS5/PC players, but we’ve also got the slightly more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro and the slightly cheaper 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed to contend with. 

The latter is currently my top pick for the best headset for most players. It’s substantially cheaper than the HS80 Max at MSRP and packs a better microphone, a wired USB-A 𒈔connection option, and an audio better suited to more competitive play. If you don’t mind leatherette earcups, it’s the better headset on paper - just be wary that the build quality isn’t quite as strong. The microphone still doesn’t detach (and doesn’t even flip up on the BlackShark) but does perform much better than Corsair’s. If you just want your gaming headset to stay on your desk, the BlackShark is the better option. However, if you’re going to take your cups out and about, Corsair does still have an edge. 

The Virtuoso Pro is just edging on the HS80 Max’s price point, at $199.99 / £169.99, and is generally a better headset overall. However, the open-back nature means it’s strictly for home use (and use in a quiet room), there’s no wireless connectivity, and you’ll be faffing with a few cables to get everyt𓆉hing set up. That means it’s not the best option for the vast majority of players - if you’re not a streamer, you’re better off with the HS80 Max. 

The Sony Inzone H5 is more of a dire🌃ct competitor in price these days, and an option I personally found more comfortable than the ski-band design of the HS80 Max. You’re dropping your battery life and killing Bluetooth features, but still keeping a richly textured soundstage similar to that of the Max. If you’re concerned about comfort across the crown of your head, this is my next go-to - though you are making a lot of sacrifices in other areas. 

How we tested the Corsair HS80 Max

I used the Corsair HS80 Max for two weeks, running the headset across all daily work and play. In that time, I tested across both a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connection, using the headset in Fallout 4, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and New Super Lucky’s Tale on PC, Horizon Forbidden West and Spider-Man Miles Morales on PS5, and Super Mario RPG on Nintendo Switch. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.  

We’re also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets on the market, as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming. Or, take a look at the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets if you’re after something more console-focused.  

The Astro A50 X maintains the range's𝕴 classic form factor and iconic docking base, but it's also the first gaming headset to offer HDMI switching between PS5 and Xbox Series X. As long as both consoles are in rest mode you'll be hopping between the two without even leaving the couch - it's basically the dream. 

That excellent functionality is backed up by super impressive audio and a comfortable design but the Astro A50 X isn't without its hiccups. There are some Bluetooth and design drawbacks here, but they're certainly not enough to keep this powerhouse away from being one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets on the market right now.

Design

This is unmistakably an Astro headset, with crisp angular lines and a smoother curve to the cups themselves. It's certainly a distinctive look, but one I got used to pretty quickly - even if the metallic adjustment poles jutting out from the top made me feel like a Cyberman even after weeks of use. This isn'tꦯ anything we've not seen before, both the headset and its geometric base station look pretty much identical to previous iterations. 

This is a plastic construction, apart from the a🌱djustment sliders, but everything still feels solid in the hand. Each side rotates a full 90 degrees to allow them to be set fully flat against a surface. Usually I would say that's a great benefit for travel, but we'll see later why this is a little redundant. Still, for everyday wear these are particularly malleable struts with that customization allowing for a flush position against the side of the head - at whatever angle that means for you. 

Combined with the soft foam earpads and block of padding running under the top of the headband, the Astro A50 X is among the more comfortable෴ gami🎶ng headsets on the market right now - even if it sits in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. The dense foam used in these cushions does mean things can get a little toasty - far quicker than I've noticed with other headset. However, these are magnetically detachable and can be swapped with cooler leatherette pads should you wish. 

That extra swing does mean dropping the headset onto the base station can get a little finicky though. The contacts a🐼t the bottom of each cup never seemed to connect straight away during my testing, usually requiring some wiggling around of each cup to get it seated within the outline of the base itself. 

The🐼 base is as you would expect from an Astro headset, matching the headset's black or white colorway and constructed from a sturdy, ever so slightly gritted plastic. Four LEDs show battery level along the front, and the currently connected platform is also displayed to the right. All the ports (and there are many) are hidden away to the rear and do a good job of keeping trailing wires out of sight. 

Controls are all housed on the right cup, which also features a large chat mix rocker across the entire panel. That&👍apos;s incredibly handy, allowing for quick adjustments without having to fee⭕l around for an extra dial that's not the main volume control. I did notice, however, that this was particularly easy to knock when adjusting the headset in everyday use, often putting balances out of whack every now and then.

Features

This is the big one. The Astro A50 X has a feature list that no other gaming headset can boast.𝓡 The back of the base station houses three HDMI ports and three USB𝕴-C ports. These are used to connect your headset to a PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC all at the same time, and the switch button on the cups themselves allow you to quickly and seamlessly swap between these inputs with just one tap. 

Even the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets can't crack the Xbox / PlayStation compatibility code, but this is certainly one solution that comes with plenty of additional benefits. These consoles both use completely different wireless connections, which is why you'll so often see the same headset branded for either Sony or Microsoft's devices. By using the HDMI signal, the Astroꦦ A50 X can take the audio straight out of the video output and send it back through to the TV with full HDMI 2.1 4K 120Hz goodness - problem solved. The USB-C ports next to each HDMI handle all your microphone audio. PC users are a little left out of this party, though, when connected to my computer upstairs I was limited to either a DisplayPort or USB-A connection. 

That brings us to a quick reality check. The Astro A50 X essentially acts as an HDMI switcher box while also benefitting from additional audio information being shared through that cable. However, it's incredibly difficult to actually get the most value you possibly can out of this device. DisplayPort means your PC gameplay is - generally speaking - going to be limited to your desk. I (as well as countless others) keep my consoles in the living room next to the TV. That means every time I wanted to go downstairs and kick back with some E☂vil West on PS5 I had to fully unplug the base statioꦿn, take it with me, and then root around for the right cables to connect everything. 

There's a similar story when it comes to travel. Yes, the Astro A50 X has Bluetooth functionality but it's limited to the base station itself. That means you can't connect the headset directly to a system like Nintendo Switch, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:handheld PC, or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming phone. I regularly journey back and forth between counties on the weekends, often bringing my 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally, Switch, and gaming laptop with me. The idea of having to include the full base station, and associated cables, in that already stacked backpack was enough to have me running for a different device in this instan🌃ce. 

These are noteworthy sacrifices (especially at nearly $400), but they do sit on the fringes of the Astro A50 X's experience. This is a gaming headset primarily desওi🔯gned for multiplatform console users, after all - so they're always going to be the ones who benefit most from its feature set. When placed in between a PS5 and an Xbox, the A50 X is faultless. 

Logitech's Lightspeed wireless connection means top end speeds and reliability, with a range that I never managed to step out of when listening to music around the house. Logitech G Hub is there for all your EQ tweaks and microphone settings - this is a barebones program but it gets the job done nice and easily and with a particularly navigable interface. Plus, you've also got PC and Xbox spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support here, and full compatibility with PS5's Tempest 3D. On top of all that, the Astro A50 X is also privy to the same graphene driver tech running inside the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Pro X2. 

Performance

Those 40mm graphene drivers bring us to performance discussion, which I'll kick off by saying this is the best audio I've personally heard through a gaming headset yet. If it weren't for some aforementioned practicality hiccups, the sound quality would be enough to have the A50 X knocking on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号🐻码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless's top spot. 

Everything is incredibly well spaced, from music to movies and games, with a balancing between ranges that forms particularly well deﷺtailed soundscapes no matter which device I was running. Even the starting lineup of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on a lowly Nintendo Switch was improved, with the rum⛦blings of engines highlighted far more than I've ever experienced before. 

The low end is powerful but still clean, with a thumping bass that never distorted itself or dominated where it wasn't supposed to. Meanwhile, higher ranges were wide open with super precise detailing and a warm tone rarely found in gaming headsets. All of that culminated in the middle, which manages to remain nimble enough to handle competing sound effects while still providing a crystal clear sound and spacious staging across both music and games. The directional audio in here feels tailor made for more competitive pursuits, ♛with particularly accurate positioning.

Doom Eternal had never sounded as delicately balanced as it did with the Asto A50 Xs on my noggin, and even the patter of rain in We Happy Few felt more rounded and immersive. Over on console, the growls of monsters and subsequent thwack of Jesse Rentier's fists were bold and impactful, cutting throug⛦h the cacophony of other sound effects to hold their own both on the battlefield and in more atmospheric areas.

All that and Logitech certainly hasn't skimped on the mic. Crisp, clear, and loud, I was incredibly impressed wi💞th the results of my voice tests, with colleagues noting its quality from simple everyday wor🔴k calls as well.

Should you buy the Astro A50 X

The Astro A50 X sits among the best audio experiences I've ever had from video games, but it's not going to be the best option for all. For one, that $379.99 / £359.99 MSRP puts it right at the top of the market righ꧂t now, coming in more expensive than even the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. While its audio is better overall, with more detailing in its still plenty powerful lower ranges and less distortion at higher volumes, the lack of Bluetooth on the headset itself means it's not quite as versatile as SteelSeries' all-in-one option. That matters when you're spending upwards of $300, but if you don't tend to play while travelling it's an easier pill to swallow. SteelSeries does, however, pack its extensive EQ settings onto its transmitter hub for a far easier tweaking process and features active noise cancellation and hot-swappable batteries. Overall, SteelSeries still has the top spot here in general - but if you play across both PS5 and Xbox Series X pretty much exclusively at home then Astro gains a significant edge. 

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is another headset looking to do a similar job. Its own wireless transmitter can also connect to multiple devices (thoꦰugh obviously without that HDMI switching functionality), and it&apoꦚs;s cheaper than both Astro and SteelSeries. You're still paying big bucks here, though, and the audio quality isn't as strong as either. 

All in all, this is a must-see for anyone who splits their time between PS5 and Xbox Series X. That price is a little much for those after a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:PC headset by itself, and those who need a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch headset or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Steam Deck headset for the on the go play need not apply. Howe꧅ver, if you've got the setup for it - and you can swing the price tag - this is a massive upgrade in sound quality and functionality. 

How we tested the Astro A50 X

I used the Astro A50 X as my sole gaming headset for three weeks, using the device for the majority of my work calls but all video games. In that time I tested across Doom Eternal, CS:GO, and Horizon Forbidden West while also playing We Happy Few, Evil West, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We're also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets as well - or check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets for something a little different.

Because of that, they're maybe some of the purest, most powerful earphones I've ever used. They sit far deeper in your ears than you may be used to, and hit way harder than typical headphones as a result. For that reason, you actually need to be careful with these things, because if you don't turn down the volume a bit, there's a real chance they'll damage those lugs of yours. Regardless, whether you're looking for the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds or you're trying to add to your loadout of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer streaming gear, Razer's Morays are very worth buying.

At $129.99 / £129.99, these probably won't be for everyone. Indeed, if you're just looking for a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming headset, just grab something more orthodox that has a microphone. For stre🍌amers and PC gamers, however - the folks who are always working with loads of audio sources at any one time, I can't recommend anything more strongly.

Design

You might be wondering how exactly the Razer Morays differ from a regular set of ea🍃rbuds. In essence, these have a far more ergonomic shape to them which means they don't just rest in your ear canal, ✤they get a mortgage and fully move in. 

This design has been perfectly shaped by Razer to complement the anatomy of the human ear. They have subtle and rounded corners that help them achieve a level of comfort I haven't previously experienced in any other audio hardware. Razer's objecti🐻ve was to make these comfortable for longer gaming sessions, and besides adjusting their position from time to time, that goal has been achieved and then some.

Powering that audio is a dual-driver design. Each bud has an armature driver for accurate treble noises while a dynamic driver helps to give games and music the bassy oomph that so many wireless earbuds like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:EarFun Air Pro 3 I just tested, can lack. 

The wiring attaches to each bud with OFC MMCX cabling, which allows for an adjustable fit while feꦬeding through high-fidelity audio. The top of the braided cable uses a memory loop shape to hook back over your ears, meaning that nothing tugs at the buds and makes them less secure.

Features

You won't find many bells and whisꦍtles here. There's no wireless connectivity, there's no microphone, this product is for bringing a pure audio experience to a very specifi💙c set of gamers and content creators. 

There is🐲 some passive noise canceling at play here whic⛦h is said to be capable of blocking up to 36 dB, but in all honesty, I think the deep fit of the Razer Moray in-ear monitors does a lot of that on its own. Meanwhile, Razer's standard THX-certified sound is back, ensuring that the noises you do hear are of the highest possible quality.

In the box, you'll get a tidy little pouch so you can take your Morays with you on the go. These hold various ear tips so you can find the fit that works best for you. The earphones connect to your platform of choice through a 3.5mm headphone jack, so they'll work with one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC controllers, but not with a modern-day smartphone.

The standard ear tips you get out of 𓆉the box are a spongy type of foam. They're not like Logitech's earbuds that mould to the shape of your inner ear, but they do feel bizarrely squishy in your ears. I can just tell that these will be an acquired taste, ཧbut luckily the other options you get with your purchase feel a bit more bog-standard.

Performance

In the comfort and sound departments, I have no complaints about the Razer Moray. For safety's sake, I will warn you once more that you shoul♎d scale your volume back with them. These things are powerful, and you really don't need to crank the volume up to get the best experi🐠ence with them.

Footsteps in HUNT: Showdown are as crunchy and detailed as I've ever heard them with these in tow, while the plosive sounds of shotguns tearing enemy players apart are conveyed with weighty force. Although I had reservations about how positional audio would work compared to one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets, I actua✅lly found it easier to triangulate gun𓂃shots than ever before. Even in a game with lesser sound mapping like The Finals, pinpointing enemy footsteps is easily done.

The twitchy combat of Atomic Heart really makes the Morays sing. While you're hacking into the head of a robot with a giant axe, there's often some soundtrack underpinning your battle. Whethe🧸r it's Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers or a DOOM-like bit of Metal during a boss fight, these in-ear monitors never fail to convey umpteen different audio sources at a time. 

The same goes for general use too. My Razer Morays are connected to my PC th𝓀rough my Sennheiser microphone, and when I'm in video meetings these days I'll throw my monitors in so I can hear my own voice as clearly as everyone else. Don't tell my coworkers, but thanks to the way these earbuds balance different audio sources, I usually have some sort of background music on during calls. Where a lesser gaming headset may trip up here, the Morays do a fantastic job of keeping music detailed at lower volumes.

It's for that 𓆉reason softer soundscapes are conveyed beautifully too. As my Spotify Wrapped reveals, there's barely a day that goౠes by where I don't listen to an orchestral video game soundtrack. Sometimes, headphones and earbuds can struggle to balance this type of music's mix of treble and bass tones. The Morays really impressed me here because detail didn't feel lacking at all. One of my favorite orchestral swells of all time is in John William's Yoda and the Force, and the Razer Morays passed this goosebump-inducing test with flying colors. 

I do have a few reservations though. I apologize for the mental image of what I'm about to say, but the out-of-the-box ear tips have a very sticky and spongy texture to them, which makes them🐼 a magnet for earwax. What's even worse is that these are really difficult 𝓡to clean.

What's even worse though, is that after taking these off a few times to clean them or swap them out, I found that they had a tendency to come off more and more easily. This leads to a big problem where you try to take the earbu☂ds out of your ears and the ear tips actually stay in your ear canal. This could honestly be quite a dangerous issue if it's more widespread. I'm not sure anybody wants to use a pair of tweezers to pinch a foreign object out of their ear. It seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

While I do like the braided cabling, it has a habit of getting tangled if you let it. This is hardly a big issue, but it can get annoying when a co𓄧il is created and it looks as though you're wearing a funny new necklace on a video call.

Should you buy the Razer Moray in-ear monitors?

Besides the fact these things border on being too powerful, I have no real reservations about recommending the Ra𓂃zer Moray in-ear monitor🐓s. Especially if you're a streamer dealing with lots of audio sources like a game, background music, discord, and alerts, these things will help you manage all of them like a pro. 

Even if you aren't creating content and you're looking for the absolute lasꦑt word on in-ear gaming audio, you may have won a watch here. These are by far the best in-ear headphones I've ever tested for gaming, and their ability to stay comfortable for longer periods of time is the cherꦍry on the cake. 

Had the out-of-the-box ear tips been a little better, this may have even been worth fi𓆏ve stars. 

How we tested the Razer in-ear monitors

I used the Razer Moray in-ear monitors as my catch-all PC audio solution for work and play for a few months before this review was written. In that time the headphones were used for long gaming sessions, video editing, streamin🍃g, listening to music, video calls, and multitasking of all of the above. I tested them at higher and lower volumes, testing the clarity of the audio when forced to deal with multiple audio sources. 

To hear more about how we test the latest gaming hardware, check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:hardware policy. 

Want to keep on shopping around before you decide on something? Here are what we deem the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headset for gaming.

Regardless of how overly saturated the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds landscape may be, I still think it's a sin that EarFun isn't better known. After months o⛎f using their earbuds on a near-daily basis, I think this is a brand that deserves more recognition. In fact, they've convinced me to never waste my money on another set of Samsung Galaxy Buds.

For a price tag under 100 in both the US and UK, this is an easy set of earbuds to recommend for budget buyers. $80/£80 really isn't a lot to pay in this arena, and for the number of features on offer here, that feels like an absolute bargain. These aren't the perfect set of earbuds, although having tried my fair share, I'm not sure a perfect pair actually exists. EarFun has takꦜen a serious crack though, and there are plenty of reasons to be happy with the result.

Design

The easiest comparison that can be made when you first glance at the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds is with somཧething like the Air Pods Pro. They have the in-ear socket but still keep the dropdown earring design. I like this shape because it makes the buds easier to adjust without accidental use of the touch controls  - a problem that plagues Samsung's Galaxy Buds.

Speaking of those touch contr𒊎ols, there's a clear circular pad built into the design h♏ere which means it's easy to find and distinguish where you should tap to skip to the next song. These touchpads always worked really nicely and clearly indicated their activations with subtle beeps. 

As is expected, the buds come with a pill box that houses them and keeps them charged. I like the shape of the case, but it does feel a bit bulky when sat in my back pocket. On the other hand, battery life here is nice and generous, and that may be an advantage of having a slightly bulkier case. The aesthetics EarFun has gone for aren't necessarily as overt as other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming headsets, but I like the fact they appear a✤s versatile as their features allow them to be. They're available in different colours too, which is always a welcome thing for accessories.

One small design issue I'd raise is with the grille used to cover the drivers. One fairly gruesome part about owning earbuds that I think far too many people ignore is keeping them clean. I had to return a pair of original Galaxy Buds to Samsung in 2019 because earwax got into the innards and caused damage. That 💜seemed to be a widespread issue (and not just a gross fact about me) because since then, most earbuds have used much finer mesh to cover their drivers. The Air Pro 3s have fairly large openings that, while easy to clean, may be more suscep🍨tible to damage if you let wax build-up. 

Features

The EarFun Air Pro 3 features a lot of great bonuses for the money you pay. For starters, you get 11mm wool drivers powered by Qualcomm's adaptive audio, and while I found that these lacked a bit of oomph at times, they certainly provide a balanced and surprisingly dဣeep audio experience. 

In terms of battery life, the box quotes around 45 hours and I'd say that's accurate. In months of using these buds, I haven't charged them very often - maybe twi🃏ce or three times at the most. The buds alone can last up to 9 hours, but the case ensures they'll always be ready to go when you need them.

I'd argue that one of the true strengths of the Ai🍨r Pro 3s is the clever EarFun companion app, which lets you turn on and off noise can𓂃celing, activate gaming mode (ultra-low latency), and adjust sound profiles. This was an easy app to use, and being a convert from Samsung-exclusive accessories, I didn't feel I was missing anything important from the Samsung Wearables app.

For those looking for a pair of earbuds to use in the gym, you'll be glad to know that these have earned an IPX5 sweat and water resistance rating, although, for reasons I'll come onto, you still might be better suited with something else. The buds connect through Bluetooth 5.3, and can seamlessly connect to two devices. In truth, I could never really set things up to connect to my phone and PC, for example. Luckily, pairing works really quickly, so switching from a phone to a Nintendo Switch on a flight is easy enough. In fairness, simultaneous Bluetooth connection is something even some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets struggle to achieve. 

One thing that does work just fine is the gaming/ultra-low latency mode which gives you less than 55ms of delay. Weirdly, this is something you have to turn on through the app, I assume because of the extra drain on battery 🐎life. Nevertheless, when playing Xbox Game Pass with one of the best mobile controllers, audio is always exactly in sync thanks to EarFun's buds.

Lastly in this list of features is Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), which is honestly really impressive. Short of Samsung's much more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro, I haven't come across a pair of ANC Earbuds that drown out background noise so well. EarFun says this is powered by QuietSmart tech and can drown up to 𒀰43dBꩲ of background noise. Through the app, you can activate ambient mode and normal mode too.

Performance

Audio is always going to be king whꦬen deciding on a pair of gaming earbuds, because more than any oth🥀er type of gaming headset, they'll likely be used for music and phone calls as well. Overall, I'm really pleased with the audio quality of the Air Pro 3s, mainly because of the balance and detail on offer. 

The tranquil soundtrack of Jusant layered beautifully with the protagonist's effort noises as they scale🅠d the ꦿgame's gargantuan tower. Eastward and the Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood sounded totally distinct even if their soundscapes aren't too far removed from one another. Electric Bass tones from the latter held power, while Joel Corelitz's treble-heavy score for the former never sounded tinny or uncomfortable on the ears. 

Music was a similar story - Laufey's smoo☂th jazz sounded lighter than air, while EarFun's buds never felt like they lost control when I asked them to play heavier rock by Alter Bridge. The rather expansive EQ settings in the companion app were great for adjusting to different genres as well, and having so many presets to hand is a real strength.

I had a similar experience with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Sony INZONE H7 headset in this regard. Even when drivers lack the power of more expensive audio solutions, great balance and quality of sound can do a lot of heavy lifting. While I certainly found that the Air Pro 3s lacked power in more action-heavy games, it's hard to fault the level of detail on offer for this price. Again, it isn't the absolute best audio quality out there, but it's better than other budget earbuds I've tried like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Denon Noise Cancelling Earbuds.

ANC is sure to be a contributing factor to that audio quality because again, a lack of power is softened by a sincere lack of background noise. While it's possible to switch between ANC mode, ambient sound, and normal, I do wish there was maybe a sl🦋ider to scale between them. While ANC worked brilliantly on a plane, completely negating that ugly pressurized air-con noise, I don't think EarFun prepared for blustery Scottish winds. There were a few walks I went out on where wind and rain did put ANC to shame.

The only other caveat I have when recommending these buds is that eve♌n with different ear tips to fit my lugs specifically, I did find that🤪 they were prone to slipping and loosening if I was eating or talking on the phone. The Air Pro 3s sit comfortably inside your ears, but not especially deep, so you will occasionally feel them start to come out. For that reason, I'd be a little hesitant to take them on a run, but your mileage may vary.

Should you buy the EarFun Air Pro 3?

If you're looking for some do-it-all wireless earbuds and you're on a budget, I couldn't recommend the EarFun Air Proꦫ 3 more. For the money you pay, you get a slew of great features that let you tailor your audio experience to you. These are just as strong f♕or gaming as they are for listening to music, and although they lack that power audiophiles may be looking for, their balance and quality make them worth buying.

As I mentioned up at the top, there's a lot of 𓂃competition in the wireless earbud market. I've always struggled with the idea of jumping ship from Samsung's Galaxy Buds because I use the specific device they're designed to be used with, but the value for money on offer with EarFun's buds has completely changed that for me. 

How we tested the EarFun Air Pro 3

The EarFun Air Pro 3 wireless earbuds were my everyday go-to mobile audio solution for a number of months before this review. I've used them extensively, taking them through multiple bat🌠tery life cycles and using them for a myriad o💖f gaming and music sessions. I also used them for phone calls and sending voice messages to test the quality of the microphones. For gaming, I paired these earbuds with the Nintendo Switch and my phone when playing Xbox games via Cloud Streaming. I made use of the companion EarFun app to customize and tailor my experience as well.

If you'd like to read more about the ways we test the latest gadgets and goobers, I'd recommend reading our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Hardware Policy.

Looking for something platform-specific? Check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headset, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headset, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headset.

Essentially, tℱhis acts as an HDMI buffer between your console, your TV and the A50 X base station. That means a single press of a button on the headset itself will not only swap your game audio to your other console, but also swap your HDMI input on the screen. Assuming both devices are switched on and you've got your other controller to hand, that's a seamless transition between the two de✃vices. 

The new base station doesn't interfere with the HDMI signal itself, maintaining the 4K 120Hz picture transfer from your console (Logitech assures us that 8K passthrough is also on the horizon with updat🍷es). Rather it simply takes the audio information and buzzes it over to the A50 X headset with Logitech's Lightspeed 24-bit connection.

The actual headset is built with the brand's Pro-G graphene drivers (you'll recognize these from the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Pro X 2) for a greater audio clarity and defin🔜ition. This is also the first Astro headset to be fully integrated into the Logitech G Hub for fine EQ tuning and ღpreset customizations.

You'll find the Astro A50 X available for pre-o༺rder , for $379.൲99 / £359.99, with shipping due to commence in the first half of 2024.

An expensive niche

This is strictly for the console hardcores with both devices, though. Th🦩e $379.99 / £359.99 headset doesn't come with a separate USB 2.4GHz dongle, and there's no Bluetooth built directly into the headset itself. You're very much tied to the base station here, which means n𝓰o play on the go and you're out of luck if your PC is located in another room. 

That's a little concerning. This is no 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:cheap gaming headset and when you're spending nearly $400 (especially considering you'll need to fork out for another set of 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 cables on top of the headset price), you're going to want as much out of that purchase as possible. There is a PC port on the base station itself but it's difficult to picture how many players are running a full PC setup alongside their PS5 and Xbox Series X in a home console setup. Sure, you could have everything lined up on a desk - but that pretty much negates the need for an automatic console switch button, especial𒊎ly once that costs $379.99. 

This is a particularly niche release. Yes, multiplatform headsets are coming up - but how many players are really swapping between an Xbox Series X and PS5 enough to warrant a $400 gadget? How many of those players also need a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming headset for PC? We haven't had our han🅠ds on the Astro A50 X yet, but it's a use case that definitely needs some examination. 

We're also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless gaming headsets as well as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets for solo console players. 

I put the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed to the test over the course of a month, to see just what that low price gets you compared to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Razer headsets on the market. 

Design

Without touching the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed, you'd be forgiven for thinking these were the Pros themselves. You've got exactly the same pilot-style framing here, with those slightly elongated oval cups, skinny steel adjustment spokes running from the main headband to the cup itself, and that prominent volume dial jutting out on the left side. Picking these up, though, and you'll quickly find the cutbacks. First up, t🥂he plastic used in the main construction is of a noticeably lower quality compared to the Pro, feeling more hollow across both the cups and the spindle attachments the the headband. 

Whereas the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023)s use a breathable microtextured fabric for the cups themselves, we're back to good old leatherette here. That's considerably warmer than the more expensive model, and is prone to flaking with age. These cups are still lined with a thick layer of foam which kept the Hyperspeed comfortable even for particularly long sessions in my testing, but having used both I did miss the extra luxury of the Pro's fabric. That durability is already being called into question, though - a month in and I've noticed a small tear in the join between the cup and the rest of the headset. If you haven't had the Pro model on the noggin, though, this is going to be a more than passable comfort level. I would say it's similar to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Pro X, just with a little more give in the f꧙oam🥀 itself. 

Still, there's a lot of other components working together to create a comfortable experience here. The Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed weighs in at just 280g. That's considerably lighter than the 320g footprint of the Pros,🐟 and only slightly heavier than the original (and wired) BlackShark V2 model which comes in at 262g. Considering there's plenty of tech under the hood here (and a 70 hour battery life), that's no mean feat. This is one of the lighter gamiꦓng headsets I've used in 2023.

That volume control dial is just as handy in this cheaper implementation, though. The raised knob allows for quick and easy access to co🐟ntrols, and offers up a nicely tactile click through each level. The actual dial itself benefits from a new textured surface as well, for even more precise controls.

Features

The Hyperspeed actually comes with a feature not present on the Pro model - the ability to plug your headset directly into your PC. This is a USB connection, so won't be ideal for those on consoles (unless the cable will stretch to the device itself), but if you're running low on battery it's a lifesaver. Not that I was running out of juice all too often. The impressive 70 hour battery life touted by Razer stands true here. I used the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed every day, listening to music or on meetings during an 8 hour work day and then playing for a couple of hours in the evenings - and I made it just over a week of this heavy useage before having to plug in. For reference, that's far more playtime than I ever got out of the considerably more expensive 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Pro X 2 (rated at 50 hours). It's not the 300 hours of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, but it's certainly above average for a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming headset in this price range. 

That's a theme running throughout the Hyperspeed. You won't find a microphone or set of drivers of this quality running at this price point too often. The former offers the same crystal clear voice quality that made us fall in love with the Pro mo𒆙del thanks to the super wideband design. This cheaper version does drop the internal pop filter but that's not going to be a massive drop for everyday players anyway. 

There's one problem here. This mic is෴ non-detachable.🦩 Considering the value on offer in the quality I'm prepared to let that slide at $129.99, but it was frustrating to have to bend it out of the way when I wasn't using it, and it does complicate travel as well.

There&a꧒pos;s a major clue to one of this headset's biggest features in the name as well. This cheaper model uses Razer's Hyperspeed tech to keep latencies down and your connection as reliable as possible. In reality, it's about as fast ⛦as other 2023 gaming headsets I've been using this year - there's little room for error in an everyday setting these days, pretty much every headset worth its salt uses a low latency 2.4GHz connection that won't cause you any problems. I was, however, impressed with the speed of the Bluetooth. Things were noticeably snappier than other headsets in this price range here.

The headset itself plays host to all the controls you'd need in a pinch. The right side features a power button (which also doubles as a playback control when connected to Bluetooth), a mic mute button, and the aforementioned volume dial. Meanwhile the left provides access to the Razer Smart Switch button. That clicker lets you cycle between the onboard sound profiles (though the FPS tuned options are abse✅nt co🃏mpared to the Pro model).

Performance

It's no surprise the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed sounds exc𝔍ellent. This headset is, after all, using t💛he same Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers featured in the Pro version. I was impressed by the clarity across the mid-ranges in particular - an area many cheaper headsets struggle to keep control of, while there was a punchy response to everything from lower range explosions and higher range reload sounds. The attention to detail in this mid-range meant footsteps and environmental cues were nicely defined in more competitive endeavors, while dialogue was balanced well against wider effects. 

There's a solid sense of space here, though nothing quite as expansive as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Pro or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Audeze Maxwell. Still, map size was tra﷽nslated well into the overall soundstage, as were solo adventures in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.⭕ 

The audio experience is incredibly similar to the Pro model, then, but how does the Hyperspeed compare against slightly cheaper options. The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X also offers a fantastic value proposition at just $99.99, but the audio is noticeably more condensed in this multi-platform, 40mm device. For just $30 more you're getting a considerable boost in texture and richness, as well as detailing across all ranges. I love the Barracuda X for casual console play, but when it comes to a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming headset for PC, the Razer Blac🎃kShark V2 Hyperspeed's soun🧜d quality simply can't be argued with. 

Should you buy the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed?

The Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed is a leader in its price range, with excellent audio and mic quality, a lightweight comfortable design, and a solid selection of additional features that look particularly good at just $129.99 / £129.99. If you're after the full luxury experience - in build, comfort, and with a deta🍒chable microphone - the Pro model still earns its place on the shelves. Considering you're getting the same core experience for $70 less here, though, this seems like the best option for the majority of players. There aren't many headsets competing at this level right now. 

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 4 proved that this is a tricky spot for gaming headsets. Quite often they're solid enough in their own right, but lacking features of devices just slightly further up the price scale and without offering much more over those slightly below them in cost. The BlackShark V2 Hyp෴erspeed is one of the first gaming headsets I've tested that nails this mid-range position. 

If you don't want to break past the three figure mark, the Razer Barracuda X is still a fantastic alternative. You're not quite getting the sound quality of those larger 50mm drivers, bu🌸t the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless connections, still impressive soundstage, and wide compatibility make it an excellent sub-$100 option. 

How we tested the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed

I tested the Razer BlackShark V2 Hyperspeed for a month, using it for all daily work, play, and streaming. In that time, I was primarily testing across competitive titles like CS:GO (PC), but also used the headset in a range of single player endeavours from Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (PC) to Jusant (PC). I also tested across Doom Eternal on PS5 for a console experience. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We're also rounding up all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets as well. Or, for something more portable, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets. 

I'm talking about the EarFun Air Pro 3s, which, since receiving earlier this year, I've used on an almost daily basis. Once 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cyber Monday gaming deals are out of the way, this is one of the first reviews I'll write, but I wouldn't recommend you wait for then, because they're an absolute steal right nꦐow.

Down fro൩m $82.98, which is pretty cheap anyway, these noise-canceling earbuds are , which is ludicrously affordable for an audio solution that's this good.  

I use the EarFun Air Pro 3🤡s for listening to music and audiobooks when I go on walks,༒ I use them for phone calls when I want to have my hands free for cooking, and when I take one of the best mobile controllers on the go, I pair them up to my phone and play Game Pass games with the awesome ultra-low latency setting. Nothing I turn these buds to lets me down, so before I tell you more about why I recommend them, here's a closer look a the Cyber Monday deal that's available. 

Why I'd recommend the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds

Straight away, you might notice a cosmetic similarity to something like Apple's Airpods, since the EarꦇFun Air Pro 3s have that dangly earing-type look. The thing I'd add though, is that they fit in my ears way better than✨ most earbuds of that shape because they have a better angle change for the part that actually goes into your ears.

On the user-experience end, they also have an improvement over some of the other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming earbuds I've used because they have a small circular landing pad where you can uಌse touch controls - no more fumbling about and tapping random parts of your ear to try and get a song to skip - it's a really easy-to-find area. 

Of course, audio is going to be the sole reason you buy or don't buy these, so let me say now that these earbuds have some of the most balanced audio I've come across. Admittedly, they aren't quite as powerful as I'd like them to be, bu༒t then again, some playing around in the Ear🐟Fun app lets you improve that a bit. 

Honestly, the amount of features here is wild for the money you pay. I haven't even scratched the surface of why I'd recommend these to you - the noise ca🐻nceling is so solid for the price, and you also get multi-device connectivity. Finally, battery life and connectivity are nothing short of excellent for this price. In months of using them, I've maybe only charged them twice or three times, and they connect to my phone as soon as I open the case - just as quickly as the official Samsung Galaxy Buds ever did. 

For more Cyber Monday coverage, check out the links b💯elow.

More of today's best Cyber Monday deals

• Amazon:
• Best Buy:
• Walmart:
• Dell:
• GameStop:
• Target:
• Microsoft:
• PS Portal:
• PS Wallet:

Check out some more deals from our coverage of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cyber Monday Nintendo Switch deals, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cyber Monday Xbox deals, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cyber Monday PS5 deals.