A good gaming headset can completely elevate your audio experience. Whether you’re playing on your PC, Xbox or PlayStation, a pair of quality headphones can make all the difference. With immersive sound adapted to the game environment and crystal-clear mics for communicating with teammates, gaming headsets can give you a competitive edge.

The best gaming headsets are also great for listening to music and podcasts. They can deliver an impressively detailed sound, with punchy bass and crisp highs. And some models include a separate noise cancelling feature that filters out distracting ambient sounds like traffic or obnoxious roommates, delivering a clean, focused audio output.

Some models are designed to work with multiple platforms, enabling them to function as the primary gaming headset for both your PC and console setup. This is an especially handy feature if you regularly switch between the two platforms, or want to play on your phone while using your headset at home. Some gaming headsets, such as the Audeze Maxwell, even come with a companion app to tweak audio settings, connect them to additional devices and more.

Regardless of platform, the best gaming headsets will have high-quality drivers and a comfortable design that can withstand long gaming sessions. The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a solid example of this, offering a hearty bass response from 50mm neodymium drivers and excellent clarity across mids and highs.

And while it’s not the most luxuriously-appointed gaming headset, its sturdy construction, metal frame and reasonable comfort made it our top pick for a budget-friendly option. It also offers a detachable boom mic that’s perfectly suited for team-based games and voice chat, with a powerful, natural sound. gaming headset