Table of Contents
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The Playstation 4 is an extremely sleek console. Unlike the bulky Xbox One, the PS4 is light, small and is marked by sharp edges and jagged lines. Naturally, any accessory that is to be paired up with the PS4 should match its beauty. The PS4 comes in jet black or glacier white with blue accents all over so any gaming headset matching that color theme gives it a Playstation Plus (get the pun?). The headset’s finish may either be glossy or matte as the PS4 features a dual-texture finish. It would also be cool if the headset matches the glowing light of the Dualshock 4.
Comfort
Since gaming usually stretches for a couple of hours, it is important that the headset is comfortable to wear. A wise tip in buying a gaming headset is to test whether the headband is not too tight. Extra-hugging headsets may not fall off easily, but they can suffocate the ears after a while. Also look for headsets with velour earpads or at least soft synthetic leather earpads with memory foam.
Setup
Gamers usually want an immersive experience on their playthroughs. If the setup at home is a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system, then a small one-piece headset should suffice for multiplayer chatting. However, if the setup relies on the television speaker for audio, then an over-the-ear headset is a must.
Battery Life
Like what was mentioned earlier, gaming usually takes a couple of hours, and then some. If the headset’s battery cannot keep up with that, then it isn’t worth buying. Look for headsets that can last for at least 5 hours of continuous use, better if it can last longer. Having to pause the game only to charge a headset is a major annoyance and greatly detracts from the overall experience.
No Drag Time
Drag time is the audio counterpart of lag in online gaming (and 30fps for the PC master race). It is a scourge of the gaming world, capable of turning gamers everywhere into foul-mouthed, expletive-spewing beings. Too much? But seriously, drag time can cause a death if the delay in audio is that long, especially in precise games like first person shooters. Therefore, it is important that a gaming headset have little to no drag time to reduce angry tirades.
Surround Sound/ Positional Audio
Gaming accessories are dominated by fancy marketing buzzwords and other non-essential features. One of the “most important” features a gaming headset should have is 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, at least according to accessory makers. But really, a stereo headset with great positional audio is all a gamer needs, humans only have two ears not 5 or 7. Not to mention that stereo headsets are available for way less than an average surround sound headset.
Sound Quality
The most important quality any gaming headset should have (or any audio device for that matter) is great sound quality. No one ever wants a tinny-sounding headset. A gaming headset should provide immersive audio, making a gamer feel like he is actually in the game. Gaming headsets are tweaked to deliver more emphasis on voices and environmental sounds so gunfire and explosions become realistic.
There are a lot of gaming headsets available in the market so it is important to consider all the factors enumerated for the best gaming experience. Having to charge the headset after an hour or being killed because of late footsteps can really bum out a gamer. The best gaming headsets are not always cheap so professional and hardcore gamers are mostly the ones who buy them. However, a casual gamer can always pick one up and enjoy the experience. On a budget? Check out our guide for the best gaming headsets under $100.
1. PDP Afterglow Kral PS4 Wireless Headset Review
The PDP Afterglow Kral is the PS4 counterpart of the PDP Afterglow Karga for the Xbox One. Both are part of the next-gen series of gaming headsets by PDP. But how well does the Kral perform?
Branding aside, there isn’t much difference between the PDP Afterglow Kral and the Karga in terms of design. The two are extremely similar with the only noticeable difference being that the Kral glows in PS4 blue while the Karga glows in Xbox One green. Both can glow and highlight the exposed circuitry of the headset, making the Afterglow Kral look futuristic. There are also glossy black accents in the earcups that contrast with the largely matte black finish of the body, much like the Playstation 4.
The earpads of the PDP Afterglow Kral use soft synthetic leather with memory foam. There is also a strip of foam in the inner headband. The headset is adjustable, making it comfortable to use even for long periods of time. Unlike the Karga which can feel a bit overbearing at times, there are no similar complaints about the Kral when it comes to comfort.
The PDP Afterglow Kral looks and feels durable, even with the complicated design. There are exposed screws in the body, though they are tight and secure. There are also no rattling noises when it comes to the circuitry inside the device; everything feels tight and well built.
The battery life is impressive, well above average at a little over 10 hours of continuous use. Even with the glowing LED’s and the microphone’s audio monitoring feature the PDP Afterglow Kral still delivered on its promise of long battery life. A feat for a wireless headset.
Last is the sound quality, which is pretty great for the low price. The booms of an explosion sound great but could use a little more oomph. The headset is also a stereo one, surround sound is not available. Though it still features great positional audio so FPS games are still a breeze and very fun to play with this headset.
The PDP Afterglow Kral is currently nothing but an absolute steal, considering the many great features it offers.
2. ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset Review
The ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset is one of the many gaming headsets out there that offer 7.1 surround sound. However, unlike the Xbox bundle that comes with an Xbox adapter, this one is paired with the MixAmp Pro. If it weren’t for the relatively high price tag, the ASTRO Gaming A40 could easily take our #1 position.
The basic ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset package does not come with a flashy design. Gone are the futuristic accents and neon colors. The basic package comes in either black or white, but is still bundled with a MixAmp M80 wireless receiver. The more subdued design may look boring compared to the other bundles, but the exposed screws and mechanical design still give it an industrial look.
The ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset is a bit bulky but surprisingly feels light when worn. This may be due to the largely plastic construction of the headset. The earpads use soft synthetic leather that gently envelopes the ears but does not suffocate them. There are also adjustment clips in the headband for a superior fit. The build quality is nice though for its asking price ASTRO could have used more premium materials than just plastic.
The ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset is bundled with the MixAmp M80 wireless audio receiver that connects to the console. It features a few controls like volume and power but really, since it connects to the console there is no point in reaching over to the television stand just to adjust the headset’s controls.
The audio quality of the ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset is great. The 7.1 surround sound of the headset does its job so footsteps and bullet whizzes sounded accurate and realistic. The headset shines in a game like PT where atmospheric audio and small noises are important in delivering the game’s intended experience.
The device may be cheaper than the Xbox One bundle but is still steep. However, if 7.1 surround sound is a must have, then the ASTRO Gaming A40 Headset delivers greatly.
3. PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset Review
Sony bundles the PS4 with a capable but underwhelming single-piece headset that barely suffices for multiplayer chatting. So, they released a considerably beefed up headset that should appeal to most Playstation 4 gamers. How does it stand out from the rest?
The PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset looks bulky in press shots but is actually a small and light headset in person. It comes in either black or PS1 grey that matches the color scheme of the 20th anniversary PS4 (lucky you if you got one). The headset is largely black with a blue inner strip that matches the blue lights of a PS4. The left can features most of the controls: power button, mute button, volume button, virtual surround button, 3.5mm audio jack, and a micro USB port for charging.
While it looks big and heavy, the PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset is actually pleasant to wear. The headband does not hug too tight, the leather earpads are surprisingly comfortable and the headset is light. It did not fall off while gaming even to sudden head jerks while playing PT (Playable Teaser) on the PS4. The headset also feels durable. The simple design of the PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset means that there are less fidgety parts so the entire body looks solid. There are no gaps nor are there any creaks in the plastics used, everything feels premium.
The PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset features virtual 7.1 surround sound. That means 7 drivers are not present in each earcup but a software rendition of 7.1 audio which works well. Footsteps can be placed accurately in the map on games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Battlefield Hardline. The overall audio quality was also excellent, gunfire sounded eerily realistic and the dark gloomy halls of PT was accented by the great atmospheric audio the Playstation Gold Headset pumps out.
The value provided by the PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset is unmatched and is a solid offering of Sony for its PS4 gamers. If you’re looking for a truly wireless gaming headset, look no further.
4. Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset Review
Turtle Beach has consistently released great audio equipment for gamers throughout the years. They are among the most renowned brands in gaming headsets, and the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset looks to continue the company’s pedigree.
The design of the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 is unmistakably Turtle Beach’s. It features the signature mesh type earpads found on most Turtle Beach headsets. The overall design is not really special, but there are some interesting design choices. There is a glossy honeycomb pattern on the inner circle of the cans. There are also blue accents on the seams of the earcups while the Turtle Beach logo and P12 branding sit squarely atop the boom mic swivel piece. The boom mic is thankfully adjustable so it doesn’t get in the way of gaming. There is also an in-line amp/control box featuring volume, mic mute, and bass boost controls.
The matte plastics used in the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 feels a bit cheap. The body feels hollow when knocked on and the casing looks thin. That aside, the build quality of the headset is okay. There are a couple of creaks once in a while though nothing that might break the headset. For the price Turtle Beach is asking for the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12, most of the concerns can be forgiven.
The amp feature of the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 is nothing more than a small volume enhancement and a bass boost. The sound output of the Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 is quite alright as well, the 50mm drivers output crystal clear, nuanced sound with deep, controlled lows. Explosions were booming and voices sounded crisp. The Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 is a stereo headset though for its asking price one should not expect for more.
The Turtle Beach Ear Force P12 is an excellent buy considering its great audio output and comfortable fit.
5. Skullcandy SLYR Gaming Headset Review
Skullcandy is known for their earbuds and headphones, and tends to focus on stylish design and bassy sound signature. It has set foot into the gaming headset market with the Skullcandy SLYR Gaming Headset but how does Skullcandy’s efforts fare?
The Skullcandy SLYR gaming headset is a remarkably stylish offering for a gaming headset. The trapezoid-shaped cans flow smoothly through the headband with a matte black or white finish. There are a couple of accents in the body and a Skullcandy logo right in the center of the earcup. The earpads use memory foam and come in different flashy colors. Skullcandy’s logo is also present at the inner part of the earcup. There is also a boom mic attached to the left earcup that cannot be retracted nor adjusted making it a nuisance when not in use.
For a hulking gaming headset, the Skullcandy SLYR is extremely light at only 8 ounces. Wearing the headset for hours is comfortable, thanks to the lightweight design and comfortable earpads. The cans can swivel a bit though it may look like they wobble because of poor build quality. The all-plastic build is not as sturdy as others, but it is enough to inspire confidence that it will not break within a couple of months.
A glaring issue to note is that to use the Skullcandy SLYR with the PS4, an extra male to male 3.5mm audio cable adapter is required. There are lots of them available in stores for cheap but considering the Skullcandy SLYR’s price, it should have worked as is out of the box. Another thing to note is that for some reason, some audio cable adapters don’t work well with the Skullcandy SLYR so the sound comes out garbled.
Skullcandy is known for tremendous bass output and that seems to have translated into the SLYR. The sound output features deep, solid lows that overpowers any other sound and comes with a bit of distortion. There is also an audible hissing noise in the background at loud volumes for some reason.
The Skullcandy SLYR Gaming Headset is like most of Skullcandy’s portfolio, quality for a relatively inexpensive price.
6. Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P Premium Review
Turtle Beach is at it again with the Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P, but this time offering an even more premium package for less than the price of most premium gaming headsets. But how well does it perform?
The Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P features an attractive design. Turtle Beach forgoes subtlety with clear breaks in the body with a plastic matte black finish. There are blue accents in the cans that trade the mesh cloth earpads of other Turtle Beach headsets for perforated leather earpads. Turtle Beach’s logo can be found on the inner part of the cans as well as the earcup’s shield. The latter logo glowing in a fine blue color. The headband features a cutout crisscross rubber pattern with “Turtle Beach” written on it. A detachable boom mic completes the design.
The controls of the headset can all be found on the right earcup. There is a power switch, micro USB port for charging, 3.5mm audio port, virtual surround sound presets button, and two volume controls: one for the game’s volume and another for the boom mic. To connect the Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P to the PS4, a dongle that comes with the package attaches to the optical port of the console.
The Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P is comfortable when worn even for hours on end. The perforated leather earpads are comfortable in the ears and allow them to breathe. The breaks in the body allow the headset to swivel and fold for added comfort.
The Ear Force Stealth 500p boasts 7.1 surround sound and for the most part it doesn’t disappoint. Noises can be placed accurately so FPS enthusiasts will have no problem in using this headset. There is no discernible difference, however, between its 7.1 surround sound capabilities with other stereo gaming headsets with excellent positional audio. There are also presets for Game, Movie, Stereo, and Music modes which either kicks up the bass or enhances voices.
The features that come with the Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500P more than justify the purchase. The comfort and audio output of the Stealth 500P is something that few can match at this price point.