Best gaming headsets for PS4

Because not everyone has been able to get their hands on the PS5 yet.
By Dylan Haas  on 
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Overview

Best Budget Pick

HyperX Cloud Stinger

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Best Wired Headset

Logitech G Pro X Headset

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Most Comfortable Headset

Razer Nari Ultimate Headset

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Best For Noise Cancellation

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2

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There are only upsides to having a good gaming headset, especially for those loyal to the PS4. Whether you want to hear the audio quality of your games more meticulously because your TV speakers leave something to be desired, or you're just trying to avoid disturbing whoever else is living with you, it won't be too difficult to find a situation where a nice headset exponentially improves your gaming experience.

But what are the best gaming headsets for PS4 specifically? Like with most pieces of gaming hardware, the amount of choices available can get overwhelming really quickly. With tons of brands making dozens of headsets of their own that land all over the price spectrum, it's easy to feel the pressure and even get discouraged from buying one at all.

That's where we come in. We don't want you feeling stressed when you shop — we'd rather you feel confident in your choice, and excited that you'll soon own a product that'll spark some joy in your life. In short, we're always down to help.

So, let's help you pick out your dream gaming headset for PS4, shall we? Here's what you need to know before we get to our specific recommendations for the PlayStation 4 (because it's still a pain to get your paws on a PS5, even in 2023).

Do I need to use a PlayStation brand headset with my console?

Good news: No you don't. Sony does offer proprietary headsets for their consoles, but they aren't the only compatible devices that you can use. Frankly, most third-party headsets are better.

Wired headsets are easy to connect to your console — just plug the headphone jack into the bottom of your DualShock 4 controller and you're good to go. This will work with any headset that has a 3.5-millimeter audio jack, even an old pair of Apple headphones.

How to use wireless headphones with a PS4:

Wireless is a little bit different, but still operational with the PlayStation 4. Here's a quick step-by-step guide for how to make that happen.

  1. Put your headset in Bluetooth pairing mode, according to the device's instruction manual.

  2. On your PS4's home screen, scroll over to "settings."

  3. Select "devices," and then select "Bluetooth devices."

  4. Your headset should pop up on the next screen if it was put in pairing mode correctly. Select it and give it a moment to connect.

  5. The PS4 may ask you to register your device at this point — select "Yes."

  6. Once the device is registered, it should now work with your PlayStation 4 console.

What should I look for in a gaming headset?

There is a lot to consider when shopping for the best gaming headset to fit your needs, but there are a few main points you'll really want to focus on:

  • Sound quality: If you're going to spend money on a headset, you're going to want it to actually sound good. Make sure you check out those specs — does it enable surround sound? Does it have noise-cancelation?

  • Comfort: If you normally play for multiple hours at a time, you'll want a headset that doesn't hurt your ears after prolonged usage. Prioritize headsets with cushioned ear cups and headbands for long-lasting comfort that won't distract you from your gameplay.

  • Microphone: First, make sure you know whether or not the headset even has a microphone. We recommend getting one if you play games online. Then, you'll want to see if the input quality of the mic is good, what material it's made out of, and if it's retractable or not (which is a huge plus when it comes to storage).

  • Wired or wireless? Both have their pros and cons, so find your preference and stick with it — some headsets even offer both.

  • Durability: You don't want to end up buying another headset a few months from now — make sure it's durable the first time around, and not just a hunk of plastic that won't last.

Sort all that out, and you're fully equipped to get a gaming headset that you're bound to fall in love with.

Person using the SteelSeries Arctis Pro
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is our favorite of the wireless headsets. Credit: SteelSeries

Should I go wireless?

Wireless headphones have their obvious pros, like convenience and clutter management, but the biggest downside to getting any sort of wireless device is the risk of latency issues, or "lag," as others might call it. In simple terms, when you don't have a wire connecting your headset to your console, there's a bigger chance that the audio feedback coming from that console won't sync with the signal that your headset is receiving.

This can end up being much more than just an annoyance depending on what game you're playing — if you're big into titles that require you to think quickly on your feet based on audio queues like horror, rhythm, and battle royale games, it can be seriously detrimental to how effectively you play. It's not something you're going to want to deal with, trust us.

If wireless functionality is a priority for you, we recommend getting a headset that also has a wired option, although if you get a more high-end Bluetooth headset, you might not have any latency problems at all. The bottom line: If you're going wireless, don't go cheap.

So, what's the best gaming headset for PlayStation?

Let's take a look.

Not everyone has the funds to pick up an ultra-premium gaming headset; most of us probably don't, actually. That's why it's good to have a decent budget option, too, like the HyperX Cloud Stinger.

The word "decent" actually doesn't do this headset justice; it's way better than that, which is probably why it's one of the best-selling budget headsets in the gaming industry. It feels anything but cheap — the lightweight device provides a snug fit to your head without being uncomfortable, with highly cushioned memory foam ear cups that can rotate 90 degrees. 

It also has nice 50mm directional drivers for audio precision, and easy-to-use volume controls built into the headset's ear cups. And like the Sennheiser GSP 370, it has a flip-to-mute microphone with noise-cancelation, which is a super convenient perk.

It's simple, but sometimes that's all you need — and for a budget headset, the HyperX Cloud Stinger exceeds expectations.

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The SteelSeries Arctis Pro was our favorite of the wireless headsets that we researched. Yes, it comes in at a premium price, but it is a premium product that's well worth the cash.

The lightweight aluminum alloy and steel headset 2.4G provides lossless audio even while connected via Bluetooth. That means ultra-low latency audio, and the headset's connection can withstand up to 40 feet of interference-free range. The Arctis Pro employs a dual wireless system, enabling you to connect to a second device even while you're hooked up to your console. 

The Arctis Pro also gets ahead of any battery issues before they even have the chance to begin — you'll get two batteries with your purchase, and one of which can be charging in the device's transmitter base station while you're using the other one. When one runs out of juice, you can quickly swap them out without skipping a beat. 

That transmitter base station we mentioned is what makes this headset so competent when it comes to wireless use — it's what keeps the signal strong and lossless, and comes with an intuitive interface that gives you control of volume, chat mix, EQ, and Bluetooth settings.

Topped off with cozy airweave fabric ear cushions and the acclaimed Arctis ClearCast microphone (which has active background noise-cancelation), the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is an all-around excellent gaming headset that won't disappoint. 

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If battery life is your main concern when it comes to buying a wireless headset, the Sennheiser GSP 370 should quell your fears with its 100-hour capacity. Yeah, 100 hours

While we don't recommend gaming for 100 hours straight, it's nice to know that you hypothetically could if you wanted to. And if you need a little extra juice, you can charge the headset while you use it via USB with no interruptions. 

There are more pros to the GSP 370 besides that battery, though — the headset boasts near-zero latency audio, ample padding for comfort, and an audio setting software reminiscent of the Logitech G Hub program. 

We also really love the microphone on this thing. It's durable, not like the flimsy mics you see on other devices of its kind, and has a nifty flip-to-mute function. That means instead of having to cover the microphone with your hand or fiddle with the setting to turn it off, you can simply push it into the upright position to shut off input completely. It also has active noise-canceling capabilities, which is always a nice plus.

The Sennheiser GSP 370 is a great second choice to the SteelSeries Arctis Pro for those who don't want to have to dish out the big bucks, but just because it's cheaper doesn't mean you're not getting an amazing headset. The GSP 370 is definitely great. 

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The Logitech G Pro X headset is used widely across the gaming landscape, and is said by many to be the best wired headset that you can get for your money — and we tend to agree. 

The G Pro X is at its best when it comes to three features: its strong build quality, EQ preset customization, and its exceptional Blue Voice microphone.

The Blue Voice microphone can get you near studio-quality audio output into your mic thanks to its many voice filter settings, all of which can be customized by the user. Using the Logitech G Hub software, you'll be able to play around with all the nuances of the microphone, like compression, noise-reduction, limiters, and more. Also included are real-time voice filters, bringing out your best vocal qualities so you always sound great on the other side. 

The headset is constructed from durable steel and aluminum, so you won't have to worry about it snapping in half like those cheaper plastic headsets. Those EQ presets we mentioned also work great in tandem with the Blue Voice technology — within the G Hub software, you'll have access to even more sound settings, as well as presets created by actual pro gamers that you can use as-is or fine-tune them yourself (you can then save them to the headset's USB card if you plan on using them on multiple consoles and PCs).

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If comfort is at the top of your priority list, the Razer Nari Ultimate is going to be your best bet. Equipped with an auto-adjusting and extra-large cushy ear cups, the Nari Ultimate is meant to be worn for the duration of even the longest gaming sessions. 

Each ear cup is surrounded by a layer of plush-leatherette-covered high-density foam that meshes into a great combination of comfort and sound isolation. On top of that, the two cushions are infused with cooling gel to help fight against overheating. It doesn't get much better than that. 

The Nari Ultimate brings unique sound-based features to the table as well, including Razer Hypersense haptic feedback, 360-degree THX spatial audio, and audio mixing customization. The headset also supports wired mode as an added bonus for when you're in a pinch after the battery gives out, or for when you just want a lower-latency experience.

Some reviewers of the Nari Ultimate unfortunately said that the headset's audio quality isn't completely up to par for the price (including microphone output audio), but the overall comfort of the product still makes it a totally viable option.

And hey, if you find that it's not for you, there's a two-year warranty attached. 

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We think that the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset beats out the other headsets on this list when it comes to active noise-cancellation. If you want to be immersed, this is the way to go (just be aware of your surroundings while you play, please). Another great feature you'll have access to is the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app, which allows you to edit your audio setting on the fly right from your connected smartphone — you can also take calls and stream music from your phone, even while you play.

The 100% wireless headset delivers 7.1 channel DTS Headphone:X surround sound, further adding to the immersion factor while playing PS4. There's even a Superhuman Hearing sound setting, boosting far-away sounds in-game that you might not hear otherwise. More worthwhile additions include a glasses-friendly ear cup design (with cooling gel), audio mixing within the headset itself, dynamic chat boosting, and a flip-to-mute microphone. If your goal is to drown out the outside world and focus solely on your games, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is most likely the headset for you.

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author photo
Dylan Haas
Lead Shopping Reporter

Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.

When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [email protected].


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