With the new generation of consoles comes the new 3D Audio technology. It’s the perfect time to consider buying one of the best surround sound headphones for gaming alongside your PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, or a gaming PC.
If you love to play horror games or online multiplayer shooters, you will need a new set of headphones. Read our list to find out which one will fit you best.
Our overall pick for the best surround sound headphones for gaming is Razer BlackShark V2. It is one of the best headphones for gaming in terms of sound quality, design, battery life, and price on the market.
The 10 Best Surround Sound Headphones for Gaming:
Here is our review of the 10 best surround sound headphones for gaming currently on the market:
1. Razer BlackShark V2
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Removable cable | No |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless, USB, Stereo 3.5mm |
| Accompanying programs | Razer Synapse |
| Surround | THX Spatial Audio |
| Color | Black |
The Razer BlackShark V2 is a significant improvement from the previous Razer models in every way. If you consider buying premium headphones and have the means to do so, this is the model you should buy.
This model is a perfect choice for every professional gamer out there. It isolates background noises very well, provides crisp communication through the microphone, offers ambient audio, and is very comfortable.
These are both wireless and wired headphones. In wireless mode, they can last up to 24 hours. You can always check the exact percent of the remaining battery on Razer’s Synapse app.
BlackShark V2 comes with the THX Spatial Audio technology. During our gaming sessions, we could always tell the directions of the incoming sounds. Combine this with the new PS5 and Xbox, and you will notice a big difference.
Razer equipped this model with a removable HyperClear microphone, FlowKnit memory foam ear cushions, and much more. These headphones are definitely worth the price.
2. HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Removable cable | No |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless, USB, Stereo 3.5mm |
| Accompanying programs | HyperX NGenuity |
| Surround | Virtual 7.1 Surround |
| Color | Gun metal, Red |
Even from the name and the picture, you can see that HyperX Cloud II is exceptionally comfortable. With this amount of comfort, you will be able to play for a very long time.
This headphone model is a wired one, and as such, it is perfect for the hardcore PC gaming community. You can play Call of Duty Warzone, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for hours, and you won’t even notice it on your head.
What you will notice is the sound quality and noise isolation, which are very good. HyperX Cloud II also comes with a removable, noise-canceling microphone that is solid but can be a bit improved.
The main sale point of this headset model is its price and the comfort that it offers. Even the more expensive models would be envious of the features provided by HyperX Cloud II. If you consider going pro, this is the perfect choice for you.
3. Razer Kraken Gaming Headset
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Removable cable | No |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless, Stereo 3.5mm |
| Accompanying programs | Razer Synapse |
| Surround | THX Spatial Audio |
| Color | Black, Black/Blue, Green, White, Pink |
Razer Kraken is one of the most famous gaming headsets on the market. Apart from the classic Kraken, there are Kraken X and Kraken Tournament Edition. For this list, we choose the classic Kraken because we believe they offer the most for their price.
The THX Spatial Audio technology is a standard for Razer’s headsets, and this one is no different. Playing shooters feels very satisfying as you can hear the bullets flying all around you. But, the surrounding sounds never get in the way of the soundtrack or the voices of your teammates.
This headset doesn’t include sound isolation, but its ear foams perform very well in that department.
Razer Kraken doesn’t have the sound quality of its more expensive counterparts, but for the sub 100 dollars headset, they perform well. Casual players who love good sound design should take a look at this headset.
4. Logitech G635
| Wireless option | No |
| Removable cable | No |
| Connection type | USB, Stereo 3.5mm |
| Accompanying programs | Logitech G Hub |
| Surround | DTS Headphone: X 2.0 |
| Color | Black/Blue |
The first thing you will notice when you see Logitech G635 is its design. They are gorgeous, and they look and feel like premium models.
Logitech G635 comes in wired and wireless and are compatible with each gaming console on the market. You can also customize your sound using Logitech G Hub. All this makes them one of the most versatile headsets on the market.
That’s not all. This model offers good surround sound, better than your standard 7.1. When we tested them, we could differentiate all sounds within our game. It captures even the smallest sounds well, so you can easily hear them in-game.
They are very light, and they won’t be a problem during the long gaming sessions.
Logitech G635 is not just a great gaming headset. It’s one of the most versatile headsets on the market.
5. SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless |
| Accompanying programs | SteelSeries Engine software |
| Surround | DTS Headphone: X 2.0 |
| Color | Black |
This gaming headset is probably the best in terms of sound design and overall quality on our list. Even the wired headsets don’t come close to the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. However, they are very pricy.
If you want to buy them for your Xbox, don’t. The headset isn’t compatible with the Microsoft consoles.
It is safe to say that they offer the best surround sound out of all headsets that we reviewed. Packed with your new PS5, they will open up a gate to the new levels of immersion in gaming. When you play games with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro on the PS5 or a gaming PC, you truly feel like you stepped into the next generation of gaming.
All of this, however, comes with the price. They are very expensive, especially if you buy them alongside your next-gen console. But, if you have the money, you should consider buying it.
6. Logitech Pro X Wireless
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless |
| Accompanying programs | Logitech G Hub |
| Surround | DTS Headphone: X 2.0 |
| Color | Black |
The main selling point of the Logitech Pro X Wireless is that it offers wired-like sound on the wireless headphones. From our experience, they have succeeded.
Logitech may not have that many accessories like its counterparts, but it compensates it with an excellent audio design and optimal build quality. It may be minimalistic, but it looks nice, and it blends well in your gaming setup.
Sound-wise, it is packed with 7.1 surround sound and 50mm drivers. Apart from surrounding sounds, you can hear every voice clearly on the map. You will think you are on the battlefield, in space, or the race. They are that immersive.
The only thing that we didn’t like is the microphone. It’s not bad, but for this price, it can be better. If you play a lot of multiplayer games with your friends, you may want to consider that.
7. HyperX Cloud Flight S
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Connection type | Lightspeed Wireless |
| Accompanying programs | HyperX NGenuity |
| Surround | HyperX Custom tuned 7.1 Surround |
| Color | Black |
We have another HyperX model on our list, and this time, we are talking about HyperX Cloud Flight S. The main thing that differentiates this headset from all others is that it uses wireless charging.
Cloud Flight S has a minimalistic design, but it works very well. It is elegant, and it will blend well alongside your console or PC. It has four non-touch buttons that you can customize to your liking. The battery is impressive, and it can last up to 30 hours.
Sound-wise, HyperX uses 7.1 Surround Sound. The sound is generally very detailed and rich and will satisfy every gamer’s need. The strong bass sound ensures that every bullet and explosion sound realistic.
The only downside to the HyperX Cloud Flight S model is that microphone is not that great. It will do its job, but for this price, we wanted more. Also worth noting is that Xbox doesn’t support this model.
8. Sennheiser PC 373D
| Wireless option | No |
| Removable cable | Yes |
| Connection type | USB |
| Accompanying programs | Sennheiser Surround Dongle software |
| Surround | Dolby 7.1 Surround |
| Color | Black |
Sennheiser is a well-known name in the audio industry. They are not game-centric as Razer, Steelseries, or Logitech, but with this product, they have proved that they could create good gaming headsets.
They are very durable but, design-wise, we have seen aesthetically pleasing models. PC 373D is comfortable to wear, but gamers probably want a more eccentric-looking headset.
Sennheiser PC 373D comes with proprietary software that offers us limited sound customization. You can only choose four modes- Games, eSport, Music, and Off. Music mode puts the accent on treble and bass, Games mode has a louder and stronger bass, eSport enhances footstep sound, and Off mode is a default mode.
Dolby 7.1 surround is again a standard in this headset. As an audio accessories manufacturer, Sennheiser knows what they are doing. Immersion offered by the PC 373D is indeed impressive and definitely worth its asking price.
9. Corsair VOID RGB Elite
| Wireless option | No |
| Removable cable | No |
| Connection type | USB |
| Accompanying programs | Corsair iCue |
| Surround | Dolby 7.1 Surround |
| Color | Carbon |
Corsair has some of the most popular budget headsets on the market. VOID RGB Elite has the design that even the premium models would want.
The carbon finish makes this headset look beautiful. And gamers love to have pretty pieces of hardware. During the long gaming hours, we haven’t noticed them at all on our heads. It is noticeably larger than your standard gamer headset, so they are ideal for adult gamers.
VOID RGB Elite has the wired and wireless option, with a battery lasting for 16 hours. We have seen better batteries, but at this price range, this is enough.
The headset uses 7.1 Surround, which has slowly become a standard on the audio market. The sound quality is good, but the basses could be a bit louder. For an entry-level headset, Corsair offers us more than enough. For gamers on a budget, this is one of the best options.
10. ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless
| Wireless option | Yes |
| Connection type | 5Ghz Wireless technology |
| Accompanying programs | Astro command center |
| Surround | Dolby 7.1 Surround |
| Color | Black/Gold, Black/Grey |
If you go shopping for a premium quality headset, ASTRO Gaming A50 should definitely be on your list of considerations. It excels in every review category, which we expect of every model at this price range.
A50 isn’t an overly loud headset, but that isn’t a problem at all. Some lower quality headsets turn up the bass to compensate for the lack of quality of their sound. This model has a quieter bass, but that just enhances all of the sound details in the game. Playing video games with this headset feels like sitting in a cinema watching a blockbuster movie.
You also have the button to turn off surround sound when you listen to music, but they are not necessarily the best headphones for music enthusiasts.
The price may be too high for an average customer but, if you have deep pockets, you will not go wrong with ASTRO Gaming A50.
Things to consider when buying new gaming headphones
With the rise of the popularity of gaming in recent years, there is an enormous amount of gaming headphones available. Choosing the right one from this list is a difficult job, but this is just a small number of the models that you should consider.
The surround sound headphones will become a standard for all headphones in a few years. If you buy a new console, you should go for a pair of surround headphones. We will give you a few tips on how to choose a perfect one.
Wired vs. Wireless
The first obvious choice is between wired and wireless models. You may think that wireless headphones are the way to go, but there are few advantages to having a wired model.
Wireless headphones often can’t match the response time of the wired models. There are few wireless models with lightspeed that can sound like a wired headset, but they are expensive.
If you are an Xbox gamer, you should buy the wireless model with caution. Microsoft doesn’t support all wireless headphones. You can always check if the headphones support Xbox on the company’s website.
The customers should go for the wireless models if they value comfort or just have deeper pockets, and if you prefer excellent response time, go for the wired headset.
Comfort
Many people pay attention only to specs when choosing headphones, but comfort is just as important part.
When you play games for a few hours a day, comfort is not that important, but if you sit in front of a TV or monitor for hours and hours each day, it’s one of the main things you should consider.
Even the best specs don’t matter when your head hurts after long hours of gaming. Streamers and pro gamers always need a nice, comfortable pair of headphones.
Microphone
In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of online gaming and streaming. Communication plays a vital part in winning your multiplayer games or successfully communicating with your fans.
The best microphones should always have a crisp sound, and they should try to emulate only your voice to your teammates. Nobody loves to hear background noises like music, pets, your parents or partner.
Another bonus is the detachable microphone. It’s always nice to have the ability to remove the mic when you don’t use it. Without a microphone, headsets are lighter, and it won’t be a nuisance for you.
Price
For most of you, this is the most important factor when choosing the best surround sound headphones for gaming. It’s easy to find the best headphones on the market but to find the best one for a certain price point is a bit trickier.
If you are on a budget but still want a nice pair of surround headphones, you should consider buying wired models. They are a lot cheaper and offer better response times. It is better to sacrifice a wireless connection instead of surround audio.
Set the fixed amount of money that you are willing to spend and search for the headphones in that price range. Then compare their specs and choose which is the best solution for you.
Specs
Probably the most talked-about thing when you enter the tech world is the specs. We all prefer some things to another, so specs are confusing to an average customer.
The models that we have covered offer diverse specs. Even the surround audio technology is different. Some use THX Spatial Audio, DTS Headphone:X 2.0, Dolby 7.1, or their custom technologies. These are all advanced surround systems that will do their job well.
Conclusion
If you have the opportunity to try them before you buy them, listen to all of them. Personal preference should always be the main factor in choosing the best headphones for gaming.
Gaming is one of the forms of entertainment that is more and more popular every day. Being a professional gamer is now considered a full-time job. As a streamer or a pro, having good headphones is a must if you want to perform on a top-level. But headphones aren’t just for that. They are for every audio enthusiast that wants to experience this new and exciting technology.
