5 wired gaming headphones with the best sound

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Serious gamers know that wired technology is simply faster and more reliable. Going wireless can be convenient, but wireless earbuds have drawbacks that make the transition difficult for power users. Professional gamers need headphones with less than 50 milliseconds of audio delay so they can react instantly to every signal; Hearing an enemy’s footsteps a moment too late often means certain defeat. If you want to experience the best audio quality when gaming or competing, wired gaming headphones are the ideal solution.

Of course, price is an important factor in the headphone market. That’s why we’ve already covered the best budget and most expensive gaming headsets at every price point, but if you’re looking for incredible sound no matter the price, you’ll want to cut to the chase. We’ve done the research for you, cross-referenced opinions from various professional hardware testers, and taken user feedback into account. These are the five best-sounding wired gaming headphones.

Asus’ ROG product line is aimed squarely at hardcore gamers, and the Asus ROG Kithara headset is no exception. These are stylish open-back earphones that Asus touts as offering audiophile-grade fidelity and a spacious, natural soundstage. It also has a built-in boom mic and comes with a USB-C adapter for its two 3.5mm inputs. These features come as no surprise; At a price of $289.99, you would definitely expect the Kithara to deliver premium gaming quality.

The veteran hardware testers at RTINGS consider the Asus ROG Kithara to be the best open-back gaming headset for the money. One of the biggest differences between closed and open headphones is that open headphones, like the Kithara headphones, can transmit truer sound and tend to be more comfortable for extended use. On the other hand, they can let out sound for everyone to hear. However, the RTINGS team concluded that this headset’s planar magnetic drivers produce audio that sounds more like a studio headset than a gaming headset – which is high praise in a landscape where many games prioritize fancy features over audio quality.

The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro is another open-back gaming headset, but this one attempts to push comfort and mic quality even further. Beyerdynamic designed this headset with velor ear cushions, a buttoned head cushion, and a fontanel recess that maintains pressure on the most sensitive areas of the head. By creating a wired gaming headset with an even more premium build, Beyerdynamics is also pushing the price of the MMX 330 Pro to the extreme: it currently costs $329.99.

The real question, however, is: how is the audio? When Stream Tech Reviews tested the MMX 330 Pro, it praised its 45mm drivers as a perfect match for the headset’s open soundstage. The reviewer noted, “This is one of the best headsets I’ve ever used for pinpointing the exact location of footsteps (in first-person shooters). » For those who play single-player games exclusively, the sound detail may be excessive given the high price of this headset.

Competitive gamers may gain an aural advantage, but it’s worth noting that the volume and mic mute controls are located on the wire, which some may find less preferable compared to the controls on the headset. As for the cable, the MMX 330 Pro comes with a Y-shaped adapter to convert its two 3.5mm inputs to a standard that can be used with Xbox, PlayStation, and other consoles.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is SteelSeries’ wired option among its premium gaming headset lineup. In fact, PCMag ranked it as the best premium wired headset out of all the gaming headsets tested. It features a closed-back design, which is usually a hindrance to sound quality, but is best for blocking outside noise and preventing sound leaks.

At $219.99, the Arctis Nova Pro is actually considerably cheaper than some of SteelSeries’ wireless options. It still feels like premium technology, and it certainly gives you the feeling of reliability that only a wired headset can provide, but it’s worth noting that SteelSeries probably considers the Arctis Nova Pro a budget model compared to the Arctis Nova Pro Omni Wireless which costs almost twice as much.

When PCMag’s team of experts tested the Arctis Nova Pro, they noted that it delivered powerful, high-resolution spatial audio. This gives it the ability to directly compete with the more natural soundstage of open-back headphones in terms of audio quality. Reviewers are also impressed with the number of features built into the Arctis Nova Pro, which include an AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone, granular EQ settings, and the ability to connect to two systems at once via USB-C.

The Drop PC38X, formerly known as the Drop+Epos PC38X due to a brand collaboration with Sennheiser’s gaming division, is a lightweight, open-back gaming headset with a unique appeal. PC Gamer reviews name the PC38X as the best budget audiophile headset for gaming. Don’t let its low cost fool you. At $199.99, it’s perhaps the most affordable option on this list, but that doesn’t mean it compromises on audio quality.

PC Gamer praised the Sennheiser technology built into this headset, which gives it great sound and punchy bass response. For atmospheric, immersive gaming, the open soundstage delivers wide sound that’s as precise as you could want. It’s also fully compatible with consoles via an included 3.5mm TRRS cable without the need for an adapter. If you’re looking at the price and wondering, “What’s the big deal,” this is the microphone. This is a boom mic with a convenient flip-to-mute feature, but it’s a two-way design that can pick up other sounds and is prone to plosives when transmitting voice audio.

The Beydynamic Tygr 300 R is one of the best wired gaming headsets for people who prioritize audio. TechRadar named them the best wired headphones for audiophiles while noting that they are extremely comfortable. They’re even priced at a reasonable $229.99. There is, however, a big downside: there is no integrated microphone.

However, one commenter on Reddit argued in favor of the Tygr 300 R arguing that “it’s better to buy a good pair of headphones and a dedicated microphone”, rather than buying a headset that compromises audio quality in favor of a subpar mic. The best way to optimize the sound in your gaming setup is to get a pair of audiophile-grade headphones, then compare USB and XLR microphones so everyone in the chat hears your voice loud and clear.

Suffice it to say that the Tygr 300 R is not the ideal product for social gamers who want an all-in-one headset. But with their open design and TechRadar’s claim that they offer “some of the best audio quality we’ve ever heard,” the Tygr 300 R may be the right choice for fans of solo experiences.

Our list of best-sounding wired gaming headphones only includes headphones specifically marked or labeled as “gaming” headphones or headsets. We narrowed down the list to only include products that appeared in at least two up-to-date rankings of the best gaming headsets in the following hardware tests and review spots: PC Gamer, RTINGS, Stream Tech Reviews, PCMag, and TechRadar.

In addition, we exclusively considered wired headphones; we haven’t discussed wireless headsets with optional wired connections or plug-to-charge functionality. Our select headphones strictly transmit audio over high-speed, low-latency wired connections. As of this writing, each holds a customer rating of 4 stars or higher on Amazon, with no notable flaws noted in user reviews.