A good headset can make the world of difference to your gaming setup. Not only does it mean you can play late into the night with the volume cranked up without having to worry about keeping your family or neighbors up but get a good one, and the sound quality can be immensely better than that directly from your TV. Here, we’re going to run you through our picks of the best Xbox headsets in 2022 to make sure you make the perfect purchase for yourself.
To help determine our picks, we’ve looked at a few factors here. First up is sound performance to make sure the quality is what you’d expect for the price tag to ensure you’re fully immersed once the cups close around your ears.
Next up we’ve focused on comfortable headsets. Ones that you can keep on your head for hours at a time to ensure your playtime is just as comfy as it is enjoyable. Nobody wants earache midway through an hours-long CoD session now, do they?
Finally, we’ve considered things like battery life (for wireless headsets) and ease of use. A headset is no good if it’s a pain to get connected every time you turn it on or leaves your living room floor looking like a miniature spaghetti junction!
So, without further ado, here are our picks for the best Xbox headsets in 2022.
1. Steelseries Arctis 9X
Best Xbox Headsets 2022
If you’re not looking to buy on a budget, then the Steelseries Arctis 9X is arguably the best Xbox headset you can buy in 2022 right now. The design is simple but stylish, the ear cups are incredibly comfortable even during hours-long play sessions, and the sound quality is right up there at the very top of what’s on offer on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S right now.
Whether it’s the tiny audio tells you’re listening out for in a competitive shooter, or you’re after a headset that’s going to make those orchestral scores in Skyrim sound richer than ever, the 40 mm Neodymium drivers will have you covered. Even better, the headset makes use of Xbox Wireless technology so you can connect it directly to your console and start playing without having to faff around with cables or dongles.
Top it off with 20 hours of battery life and a ClearCast noise-canceling microphone and it’s difficult to really fault the Arctis 9X for Xbox owners.
2. Xbox Wireless Headset
The Xbox Wireless Headset is one of my personal favorites from this list. I purchased one myself near the release date and have spent close to 100 hours wearing the thing ever since. Be it the electronica beats of Rocket League’s soundtrack, the electric atmosphere inside Old Trafford on FIFA 21, or each thumping shot from my AK74-U in Black Ops Cold War, the Xbox Wireless Headset has sounded great.
What I really love about this headset is just how easy it was to connect. A quick press of the sync button on the back of the left earcup (and a press of the one on my Series X) and I was all ready to go. That simplicity continues when actually using the headset thanks to the rotating ear cups. The left is a game/ voice chat volume mixer so you can get the balance right, while the right controls the overall volume so you can crank it right up to fully immerse yourself in the game.
The battery life, too, has been equally impressive, coming in at around the 15-hour mark on a single charge and taking about three hours to fully charge when it dies.
The only real drawback does come in the somewhat iffy mic monitoring which isn’t the loudest we’ve heard. It’s also on the bass-heavy side, which, whether you like it or not is going to come down to personal preference. I personally love it as it really helps pack a bit of extra punch in the sound profile of shooters.
All of that for $99.99 / £89.99 is very difficult to argue against, and that’s why the Xbox Wireless Headset nabs the number 2 spot on our list.
3. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
Another of my personal favorites here takes third place. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a much-improved version of the manufacturer’s flagship model, boasting a much sleeker design — including a ‘flick-to-mute’ mic and a rather muted black and grey color palette. All of the buttons you’ll need are found on the left earcup, making it easy to adjust mid-game.
When it comes to how these sound, the Stealth 700 Gen 2’s have massive 50mm Nanoclear Drivers that provide crisp sound and help you pinpoint where that gunfire or the pitter-patter of footsteps is coming from. Oh, and the Superhuman hearing mode is quite literally a God-tier sound profile for competitive play, trust me.
Those earcups aren’t just packing some serious audio prowess, they’re also incredibly comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Turtle Beach has implemented ‘Aerofit cooling-gel infused ear cushions’ with a memory foam material to ensure your ears never get hot and sweaty, and the headset never feels like it’s clamping down too hard on your head.
It’s a little more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but with some solid build quality, easy setup, and up to 20 hours of battery life in a single charge, they’re well worth the cash.
4. Razer Nari Ultimate
The Razer Nari Ultimate’s USP is rather fascinating in and of itself. Dubbed ‘Razer Hypersense’ the technology is essentially high-definition haptics that let’s you ‘feel the sounds’ as well as hearing them.
This really does add another dimension to the auditory experience when gaming, especially given the fact the technology in each earcup works independently of one another, allowing it to really immerse yourself on an explosive battlefield, where a grenade to your left sends a rumbling feeling down that side of your face. It also helps add a little more depth to bass-y tones, though whether or not this is merely superficial is ultimately down to how much you appreciate the haptic tech.
Aside from Hypersense, the Nari Ultimate boasts some fantastic 50 mm drivers that really bring the audio in your games to life. These are both housed in cooling gel-cushioned earcups coated in leatherette and memory foam to give the whole headset a real premium feel.
On the ease of use side, the Nari Ultimate also connects directly to your Xbox, making the setup process just as easy as many other headsets on this list. The mic is muted with a mute button, and the general layout is easy enough to navigate.
When it comes to battery life, things do get a bit iffy if you’re using Hypersense (though this can be turned off) coming in at 6 hours. Turning the functionality off gets you closer to 20 hours, however, which puts it in-line with its competition.
There is a slight drawback in terms of the microphone quality, which given the price is a little disappointing — hence it dropping a few positions down in our ranking here. However, if you’re looking for a headset that really stands out from the crowd and ups the immersive ante, then the Razer Nari Ultimate is the best Xbox headset in 2022 for you.
5. Astro A50
If you’re looking for the absolute best in audio quality, the Astro A50 headset is easily the best you can get for the Xbox One and Series X|S. Without going overly bass-heavy, the A50 ensures there’s a satisfying rumble and boom to explosions and gunshots, while also ensuring that dialog and footsteps aren’t drowned out in the mids section.
What’s more, it’s also one of the most comfortable headsets around, though its love-it-or-hate-it design is the trade-off for that. There’s an impressive amount of customization here too, with users able to switch between the velour-style ear cushions for a leather-like finish easily thanks to the magnetic ear cup system.
“So why isn’t this topping our list if it’s so amazing, Chris?” I hear you (and my editor) ask.
Well, for the incredible sound and comfort your ears are going to be basking in, the A50’s are a little disappointing when it comes to the microphone quality. Similarly, there’s no real noise cancellation here, and part of the reason the A50’s are so comfortable is due to the fact the headset doesn’t clamp too tightly around your ears. This means you do get a lot of exterior noise leaking in, which can pull you out of the action during quieter sections or conversation-driven cutscenes in games if you’ve got a lot of background noise in your real-life surroundings.
The A50’s charging station does help add to that ‘premium’ feel you’d expect to get from its $300 price tag, offering up a neat way to store and charge your headset, while also acting as the ‘receiver’ for all the wireless magic at work here. Even if you don’t dock the headset after every play session, the A50’s should last you up to around the 15-hour mark again, which should be more than long enough for even the most seasoned gamers.
6. Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless Headset
The Steelseries Arctis 1 is another excellent headset from the company, and one well worth the $99 price tag. It’s got a sleek and sturdy design, sounds great, and is very comfortable for extended play sessions.
Starting with the design, Steelseries has opted for another rather minimalist design, with branding on the black earcups. The headband is also black and has a steel band running through it giving it a sturdy feel that’ll put your fears of it snapping over time at ease.
It’s also really comfortable, with the band clamping down tightly over your head to create a great seal which also makes for excellent sound isolation. In terms of controls, you’ll find a volume dial and mic mute switch on the left headphone. The mic is of good quality and can be detached if you’d rather not have it in your peripheral vision during single-player sessions.
But it’s the sound quality at this price range that makes the Arctis 1 such a steal. It simply sounds fantastic and rivals even some of the pricier options on this list, with explosive, booming lows and clear mids and highs.
Our only slight gripe with the Arctis 1 is the lack of a volume mixer between game and voice chat when playing wirelessly. Strangely the option is available when using it wired, but not when paired wirelessly. This can make it tricky to hear any of your friends who talk a little quieter (like me) when the action ramps up in-game.
Still, that’s a small price to pay (just tell your mates to speak up or move their mic closer) for an otherwise excellent pick and an auditory companion that’ll deliver exceptional sound and comfort for years on end.
7. Corsair HS75 XB
We’re big fans of the Corsair HS75 XB over here, and if it wasn’t for its hefty price tag it’d be far higher up this list as a result. Compatible with both the Xbox One and Series X|S, this wireless headset connects easily to your console with a simple pressing of the pairing buttons on both the set itself and your system.
From that point on, it’s simply a case of whacking the HS75 XB’s on your head and being blown away by the sound quality. It’s right up there with some of the best headphones you can get right now, and the convenience of it being wireless means you don’t have to worry about accidentally disconnecting if you get a bit too into your game.
It is worth noting that even with some fantastic sound quality, the HS75 XB’s low-end range can sometimes get a little muddy, though there’s plenty of boom and rumble in explosions to really immerse you in the action.
This is also one of the most comfortable headsets you can buy, with synthetic leather covering both the earcup cushions and the headband to offer it a real premium feel. It’s also got a plastic grill on the back of each earcup to help air circulate through to keep your ears cool during even the longest sessions.
Top that off with a battery life of around 20 hours and the Corsair HS75 XB more or less ticks every box. It’s just a shame that, with a price of $159/ £169 it’s one of the priciest sets on this list.
8. Corsair HS35
If you’d rather not break the bank, then Corsair also has you covered with a really versatile and great-sounding headset that comes in under $50. The Corsair HS35 is a wired headset, but that slight inconvenience is balanced out with a clear microphone, impressive stereo sound and a decent level of comfort thanks to memory foam earcups and a generously padded headband.
It’s not going to rival the likes of the Astro A50s, Razer Nari or the Steelseries Arctis 9X in the sound department, but if you’re just looking for something that’s going to do the job without breaking the bank, this is an excellent option we can wholeheartedly recommend.
9.Turtle Beach Recon 500
The Turtle Beach Recon 500 is a no-frills headset when it comes to the design, but it saves all of its BGE (Big Gamer Energy) for outstanding performance at a seriously strong price point. Coming in at way under $100, the Recon 500 is a wired headset that dons 60mm drivers and dedicated woofers and tweeters for each earcup to make for a surprisingly solid soundscape, capable of delivering an above-satisfactory level of sound for all of your multiplayer antics with your pals.
It’s not going to compete with the big boys right at the top of this list, but at this price point it’s seriously tough to beat. It’s also quite limited in the optional extras. It’s a wired headset, with just the one volume wheel, so you can’t adjust your game and chat volumes independently as you might on other, pricier sets. Still, for a bit of plug and play audio goodness, this is a strong recommendation.
10. Razer Kraken X
The Razer Kraken X is another great value, multi-platform headset that boasts 40mm drivers and a rather sleek, minimalistic look, especially for a Razer product.
Coming in at $49.99/ £49.99, the Kraken X plugs right into the bottom of your Xbox controller via the 3.5mm jack. It’s lightweight at 250g, but doesn’t cut corners when it comes to comfort with memory foam cushioning on the earcups and a nice bit of padding over the headband. The microphone can be detached completely and is flexible allowing for you to quickly swing it out of the way mid-game if you need to take a quick phone call or take a bite to eat between rounds.
But all that comfort and are practicality worth nothing if it doesn’t sound good, and the Kraken X doesn’t disappoint here either. It’s capable of blasting our clear highs with booming lows, and it also uses spatial sound to help you pinpoint the direction those footsteps are coming from. It’s not quite as impressive as spatial sound is on high-end headsets, but you get what you pay for.
If you’re looking for a headset that’s not going to break the bank and will work with your PC, PlayStation or phone as well as it does with your Xbox, the Kraken X is a solid choice.
11. FNATIC React Plus
The FNATIC React Plus will likely slip under the radar of a lot of ‘best Xbox headset’ lists this year, but it certainly has the specs and a competitive pricepoint that deserves a mention.
The in-line controls for audio output and microphone, and comfortable design make it an easy recommendation, especially at the price point of $99.99/ £84.99. Those who play on PC as well as Xbox will also get to make use of the USB 7.1 sound card, which provides a ‘precision-tuned’ virtual 7.1 surround sound which sounds simply fantastic.
It makes for a more immersive experience when playing single-player games, and gives you a competitive advantage when playing in online multiplayer.
