Best PS5 and PS4 headset 2021: Playstation gaming headphones

 

(Pocket-lint) - For the first time, plugging in a proper gaming headset can be a bit of a life-changing experience - in particular, the realisation that your TV speakers didn't really cut it as you thought it would be a shock.

A good-quality gaming headset will really change the prospects dramatically, whether you're trying to get as absorbed as possible in solo gaming sessions, or looking for some slight advantage in the world of multiplayer modes.

The selection of available headsets for each console, however, is slightly different, and they are often not compatible across all devices. Lucky for you, we've been extensively checking headsets specifically for PlayStation consoles to work out which are the very best if you're a Sony console user, or if you're picking up a new PS5. Both the PS4 and PS5 should work on all the headsets we've selected, but opting for a wired option is the most safe way to guarantee this.

How can I connect a headset to my PS5 or PS4?

In much the same way as with the PS4, adding a headset to your PS5 works.

Your life should be very easy if you opt for a wired headset (where you can usually get better sound quality for the price). In most instances, headsets will attach to your PS4 or PS5 controller through a 3.5mm jack to quickly obtain game and chat audio. Instead, some more premium headsets might opt for an optical audio cable via a pass-through, but these would come with specific instructions on how to set up the device.

Wireless headsets are also provided by the PS5 and PS4 in a few distinct ways. For one thing, if your headphones have Bluetooth, they should theoretically be able to attach through their settings to the console - but don't expect any old pair of Bluetooth headphones to function because of the way Sony sets up its Bluetooth connections. Really, only PlayStation-compatible options that are clearly advertised can work properly.

In fact, most of the wireless headsets on this list come with a dongle to plug into your console's USB port, allowing them to attach easily and quickly when they are turned on. This is both the best and fastest way to communicate with your PS5 or PS4. If a step-by-step guide is required, here it is:

1. In Settings, navigate to Devices and go into Bluetooth Devices
2. Put your headset into pairing mode and plug in any supplied dongle
3. Wait for it to appear on the list and select it when it does
4. Await a success message to confirm the connection, and register the device to your PlayStation if it's requested

Let's move on to the headphones that we've been checking, with that out of the way.

Best overall PS5 and PS4 headsets

Audeze Penrose

The Audeze Penrose is a wireless variant of the Mobius headset made by the company. Like 100mm Planar Magnetic drivers, up to 50Khz frequency response and a broadcast quality microphone, it boasts some serious specs.

This is a premium, well-designed headset with a solid standard of construction and closed-back ear cups that block external noise nicely and help you concentrate on the game. With 2.4Ghz wireless, Bluetooth networking and 3.5mm options, Penrose also has several link options.

For most gaming sessions, 15 hours of battery life is enough and everybody said the Penrose is a serious bit of kit and a pleasure to play with.

Steelseries Arctis 9

We absolutely love the Arctis 9 - it has everything in a headset most people like. First off, the sound is superb, with deep bass but also decent range, and alongside its pillowy ear cushions, its wireless receiver makes it easy to use.

The microphone, with a handy mute button and a red LED strip to let you know if you're muted, is superb and retractable.

The clincher, however, is a collection of amazing on-headphone controls that allow you to change volume, mute yourself, and most importantly, separately dial up or down your party chat volume. As far as headphones for your PS5 or PS4 go, it makes it a dream to use and our pick of the bunch.

Steelseries Arctis 7P

The newest headset for PlayStation gamers from Steelseries is an utter doozie - it's a gorgeous headset built to match the PS5 in the looks department, and we think it's nicely successful.

It has a small dongle that comes within a whisker of the more costly Arctis 9 for wireless play and sound quality. The only real difference is a very small decrease in the construct's power, which some people may even prefer because it's lighter. In short, at a lower price point, this is an absolute beast of a headset, ideal for next-gen gaming.

Razer Nari Ultimate

In the form of haptic feedback in its large and incredibly comfortable earcups, Razer has come up with a fascinating new selling point for the Nari Ultimate.

That means that the Nari Ultimate can translate sounds that exceed a certain intensity threshold (something that you can adjust easily on the fly using a dial) to light sensations on your ears as you play. It's as strange as it sounds, but once you get used to it, it's actually shockingly productive to get you much farther than you were in the game. After all, we're all about creativity.

The secret to the success of the Nari Ultimate is, of course, more so that it has a cracking, deep and strong sound to immerse you in your game world of choice, and for long periods it is very well-made and absolutely comfortable to wear. We're not won over by how incredibly big the headphones are as a whole, but you're definitely not going to mind if fashion is not a priority. Plus, you've got on-board wireless audio as usual.

Logitech Pro X

Every manufacturer knows that it is a dream to reach the sweet spot between value and quality, and with the Pro X headset, Logitech has completely nailed that landing spot. By any performance and material measure, it is a luxury device, but with a seriously impressive price.

From the choices it comes with, to start with, you get a premium experience - a removable microphone and leads that will help it work with your console, PC or tablet, and even a choice between leatherette and velour earpads, quickly switched and without extra charge. Plus a lovely carrying case, growing from a packaging and accessories point of view above all the others on this list.

Fortunately, the sound profile is also a winner, with excellent balance and decent bass ensuring you get the best sound you can expect from a headset that is so extremely reasonably priced. We can barely understand, honestly, how Logitech does it for this amount, which says something. This is a very excellent bet if you want a wired headset without a mixing station.

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2

Turtle Beach is one of the old brands in the world of gaming headsets, a longtime supplier of strong mainstream headsets for purchase in the world's chain stores, and a great continuation of that tradition is the new iteration of the Stealth 600. It has a wireless dongle and incredibly nice audio for you to connect to your console.

The consistency of the construction is nicely improved, which we're very pleased with, while the dongle is nice and compact now. It's decently comfortable to wear, and the battery life is good, to boot.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700P Gen 2

The Stealth 700P has also had a welcome update if you like Turtle Beach and want to invest a little more to get some additional comfort and construction efficiency.

It's fun to wear with a more sturdy feel and very comfortable leather pads for your ears, and the sound is extremely impressive, with booming bass making shooters particularly impactful. Battery life, like its tiny dongle and simple pairing, is equally impressive to the 600.

Astro A40 TR with MixAmp

The Astro A40s, hooked up to the MixAmp station, are as good as you're going to get from a console. There's no way around it. They are amazing to use, with every sound placed precisely and with excellent depth and range.

The bass is scary and the specifics are pin-sharp, and they're super easy to wear, too. Maybe they're not wireless, but that's basically the only thing you can criticize about them, which is saying something.

They are often priced at a level that represents the nature of their construction, which is to say that they are costly. That makes sense, though, with quality materials on display throughout and a microphone that is transparent and easy to manipulate in front of your mouth, reflecting on how comfortable they are to wear.

However, since the PS5 does not have an optical audio port, you'll need to pick up an adapter directly from Astro if you're looking for next-gen, an additional cost.

Astro A20 Wireless

The latest version of the A20 headset by Astro is a very impressive lower-cost alternative that sounds much better for its price than you would imagine.

With a boxy look that is frankly not our favourite, it has a similar design to Astro's more expensive headsets, but the super soft and comfortable earpads and huge, easily manipulated microphone make it really nice to use, which is probably the most important aspect.

It is simple to set up wireless networking, and the battery life is also good and strong. Be sure to pick up the latest edition of the second generation, which you can discern by its white layout.

Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless

Once again, Steelseries hits at the other end of the price spectrum this time (although it's still not necessarily the cheapest). One of the best-value headsets you can pick up is the wired variant of the Arctis 1, with its 3.5 mm wired link working through any console, but you can also take it wireless.

As older models will not work on Microsoft's console, the new iteration of the Arctis 1 Wireless is advertised as being for the Xbox One, but the headset actually works across all PS4, Turn, mobiles and PCs. This makes it a perfect shout from the compatibility side of things, and it has seen great sound and comfort jump to the top of our estimates if budget is a priority (although the wired version is still the peak offering from a value perspective).

The Arctis 1 Wireless connects to your console using a USB-C dongle, instantly connecting, and its stereo sound is great for its price. The microphone is also very fine, making for a convincing set, as with all Steelseries cans.

JBL Quantum 600

JBL's Quantum headset range is relatively new and has options at every price point, but the Quantum 600, which sits very much in the middle of the spectrum and has wireless connectivity for PlayStation users, is the one that has impressed us most.

With very good sound quality for the price and a strong construction that is comfortable to wear, if a tad on the tight side, it's the best value offering of the range. There's a nice flip-to-mute function on the microphone and you'll get through it very clearly. It's a nice bundle that bodes well in the headset room for JBL's presence.

Corsair HS70 Bluetooth

This Corsair headset is a wired one, but with the caveat that it has Bluetooth compatibility as well. The idea here is to wire your audio to the game, while you can connect to a chat service like Bluetooth Discord. It all works nicely, and the efficiency of the building is excellent.

For long stretches, they're easy to wear, and the consistency of the microphone is equally solid, so this might be a perfect shout if you use a separate chat service for your groups.

HyperX Cloud Stinger Wireless

The Cloud Stinger Wireless from HyperX is a totally solid headset that didn't blow us away, but has some nice features to help elevate it. For a start, it has to boast about a wireless link, using a dongle that you can plug in, and make it very easy to play.

It's nice and comfortable too, partially because of how light the headset is, but this also has the effect of making it sound slightly poorly made, which is slightly less than ideal. However, the sound output is very good, and when you don't need it, the microphone can be swivelled out of the way, which we always appreciate.

Razer Kraken X

At the top of our list, Razer might have an expensive pair, but its cheaper deals are very solid, too. The Kraken X is a headset that fits with all your consoles, and maybe it's not wireless or too premium, but it always inspired us.

It's very nice and lightweight, and especially looks really nice in the white finish, plus it's far, far smaller than the Ultimate Nari, which counts for a lot. However, it still packs in great tone, and is truly comfortable to wear. On one earcup, there is a volume dial and mute button, and while it may not stand out from the crowd all that much on the front features, its beautifully tuned drivers and comfortable construction are quietly impressive.

Fnatic React

Fnatic is an eSports brand that does a pretty great job of breaking into the world of gaming accessories and disrupting them, and we were pleasantly surprised by a few of its products, not least the React. Given its price bracket, this is a very nicely-made, classy pair of headphones, which have an excellent sound and a tasteful design.

They won't win awards for comfort or audio quality, but you'll probably be satisfied with both, given the price, and good microphone quality further improves the kit.