Heavenly-sounding gaming headsets start at just $36 this Prime Day, so it's time to send those buste
Published: January 01, 0001
You! Yes, you there, cowering at the back in awe of my magnificence. Do you own a terrible gaming headset? Have you been putting up with crappy audio simply because you think a good one is too expensive? Pah, and folly. I, the PC Gamer-appointed minister of excellent audio, have found five gaming headset deals that will improve your life immensely in the Prime Day sales, and in my benevolence I have seen fit to share them with you. Praise me. (whoah there, Andy -Ed.)
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Quick links
- Razer BlackShark V2 X |
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P |
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X |
- Asus ROG Pelta |
- SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds |
Razer BlackShark V2 X
Ah, you were expecting sheer pious austerity for this sort of cash, weren't you? But behold, for I am merciful. The Razer BlackShark V2 X is a proper, fully-fledged wired gaming headset with a near-impeccable specs sheet for the cash, and if you consider anything else in this sort of price range it'll be straight to confession for you.
Oh, apart from the slightly-more-expensive , of course. Anyway, the BlackShark V2 X has a set of 50 mm titanium drivers that sound wonderous for the cash. The microphone's very good, the chassis is well-made and comfy to wear all day, and the cable is green.
That's to ensure that you know exactly where the cable is at all times in your darkened gaming cave of solace, which speaks to the forethought of the Razer engineers, who really do... just kidding, it's a Razer gamer flair thing. Some will love the color choice, some will hate, but all will agree that this headset is a stellar deal. I have spoken.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P
Choice is not an illusion, my children. Nay, for this SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1P set is only $5 or so more than the Razer above, and has a specs sheet of its own to be proud of. It's a sin, you know, but we'll let it pass just this once.
SteelSeries drivers might not rummy golds be the bassiest, but they're darn good at accuracy, and for gaming that's exactly what you need. It's got a stretchy, squeezy headband and AirWeave memory foam earpads for all-day comfort, and the mic is noise-cancelling, thanks to SteelSeries Sonar software.
Really, this headset has a set of specifications (and chassis) that looks suspiciously like a cut-down, wired version of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X, a headset I like very much indeed. Speaking of which, I hear trumpets in the distance...
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X
We have ascended, you and I, to the heady heights of the $100 mark—but be not afraid. For the has passed through these very hands, and I can confirm that it's brilliant not just as a gaming headset, but as an all-round travel companion, too.
The neodymium drivers are fantastic at delivering crystal-clear gaming audio, and can be EQ-ed and adjusted to your heart's content (and on a per game basis) with the SteelSeries app. What? A phone application? What heresy is this?
Yes, the SteelSeries has many party tricks, and one of them is a built-in Bluetooth connection that allows you to take them out into the great beyond. I took my set on a trip to Taiwan—and not only did they sound great for the entire journey, but they survived being bashed around in my vestments (I mean, backpack) for a heavy week on the road with aplomb.
My partner has since borrowed (read, rummy mars stolen) them, which shall not go without punishment. However, she too can report that they're truly excellent daily drivers, and well worth the tithe asked for here.
Asus ROG Pelta
My eyes! It appears we have been bathed in heavenly light, bursting forth from the earcups of this RGB-laden gaming headset.
Okay, slight overstatement there—the Asus logo on the side lights up. But here our cup overfloweth with features, which is bloomin' lovely given the very reasonable price.
Ahem. Like the SteelSeries above, you get tri-mode connectivity in the form of a ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired options. Plus a removable 10 mm "super-wideband" microphone, some rather cushy padding, and a pair of 50 mm titanium-plated drivers.
Indulgence, that is what tempts us here. For the ROG Pelta is a very refined thing, as our James found in his review. Quoth the scripture:
"If I could describe my time with the Asus ROG Pelta in a single word, I'd say smooth. It's comfortable, with a healthy battery life, decent microphone, and all-around great sound. The bass is a tad underwhelming, but this is one of the only real downsides from its reasonable price point."
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
And finally, I bring my sermon to a close with an excellent deal on the , a pair of audio delights so wonderous, our Jacob gave them a score of 94% in his review. He reports that they're immensely comfortable, too, high praise from a man that has been cursed to walk the earth with a set of . Pray for him, won't you?
Yes, I've decided to close out this gaming headset roundup with something that isn't a gaming headset, because I believe it represents a concept far bigger than myself. Love, tolerance, and understanding for our earbud brethren, delivered in the hope that may be brought into the fold and accepted into our hearts.
These are really good gaming earbuds, though. All you really need to know, innit?
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1. Best overall:
2. Best budget:
3. Best wireless:
4. Best mid-range wireless:
5. Best audiophile:
6. Best wireless audiophile:
7. Best for streaming:
8. Best noise-cancelling:
9. Best earbuds:
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