Best wired gaming headsets in 2024
Everything you need to know about the best wired gaming headsets.
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The best wired gaming headsets are able to offer immersive audio to enhance your gaming experience. What makes wired gaming headsets so appealing is that they tend to be much cheaper than their wireless counterparts, so if you’re someone who already tends to sit closely to their PC or console during play, then you may be better suited with one.
It’s not just price that can be a driving factor in picking up a wired headset instead of a wireless one, though. They can also provide a more reliable connection, and potentially greater sound quality. Of course, wireless options still have their perks, and you can check out our guide to thebest wireless gaming headsetsto expand your options further.
What’s more, most wired headsets offer multiplatform support, meaning they can be swapped between your consoles and PC without issue. With that said, if you’re shopping with a specific console in mind, be sure to check out our recommendations for thebest PS5 headsetsor thebest Xbox Series X headsets.
The Quick List
Best overall
Best overall
With an excellent sound profile and an incredibly comfortable design, the Epos H3 is our pick for the best overall wired headset.
Read more below
Best budget
Best budget
It’s an older model, but the Corsair HS50 still presents fantastic value for money. Its relative age means that it can also frequently be found on sale.
Read more below
Best for esports
Best for esports
It’s not the best for listening to music, but competitive players are sure to appreciate the minimal delay and fantastic mic quality.
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Best premium
Best premium
If you have the cash to splash, the Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R is a superb high-end gaming headset from a well-regarded manufacturer.
Read more below
Best for streamers
Best for streamers
If you want to make an impression on stream, the super cute and colorful design of the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is for you.
Read more below
Best wired earbuds
Best wired gaming earbuds
The SteelSeries Tusq earbuds are overall the best wired gaming earbuds you can get with brilliant audio, a great mic, and a value-busting price.
Read more below
Best wired gaming headsets in 2024
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The best overall wired headset
1. Epos H3
Our expert review:
✅You value versatility:The EPOS H3 headset can be plugged into any and all devices with a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it always sounds fantastic.
✅You want the best comfort:The EPOS H3 headset was one of the most comfortable wired headsets we’ve tested in a while.
❌You don’t want to deal with a proprietary cable:This headset uses a proprietary 3.5mm jack cable. Sourcing a replacement part could be an issue if you manage to lose it.
Thanks to its incredibly comfortable design, the Epos H3 is our pick for the all-round best wired gaming headset. It makes the audio from your games sound crisp and clear and comes with an exceptional microphone to boot. Its design is also understated enough to not stand out too much in non-gaming settings, meaning that you could probably get away with using this one in the office.
The price is also great too, coming in at just under $100 / £100. This model is also frequently found on sale, making it very easy to find at an even better price.
The only sticking point is the proprietary 3.5mm cable, which could be difficult to replace if you manage to damage or lose it. Still, we think this is a fair trade-off given the excellence of everything else you’re getting in the package here.
The best budget wired headset
2. Corsair HS50
Our expert review:
✅You’re on a strict budget:The Corsair HS50 is a very strong product at a budget friendly price.
✅You value comfort:The design of the Corsair HS50 is surprisingly comfy compared to over headsets in this price range.
❌You want surround sound:To reach such a great price, the Corsair HS50 lacks some higher-end features. Chief among these is a lack of immersive surround sound.
Found for under $50 / £50, the Corsair HS50 has brilliant build quality for such an affordable headset. It punches well above its weight in the sound department and the microphone can be easily detached if you want to use the Corsair HS50 on the go. It is worth nothing, however, that the microphone is a little small and could be easily lost if kept on its own.
Higher-end features like surround sound are absent, but there is really very little that we can find fault in this model such a low price point. This is our number one choice if you are a console or PC gamer buying a gaming headset on a tight budget.
The best wired gaming headset for esports
3. Fnatic React Plus
Our expert review:
✅You’re a competitive gamer:The Fnatic React Plus is purpose-built to to assist you in getting an edge in competitive shooters. The drivers manage to emphasize the sound of footsteps, but without sounding harsh in practice.
✅You frequently chat with your friends:If you love chatting with friends as you play, the Fnatic React Plus' boom microphone is incredibly handy.
❌You want to listen to music, too:While fantastic for gaming, the Fnatic React Plus is disappointing when it comes to listening to music.
If you love competitive gaming, then the Fnatic React Plus headset is well worth your consideration. As well as its aesthetically pleasing black and orange color scheme, the headset supports Dolby Atmos in order to simulate surround sound audio, which is perfect for playing online games such asOverwatch 2andFortnitewhich require you to be aware of your surroundings.
Costing $74.99 / £84.99, the Fnatic React Plus is also quite affordable, and cheaper than many of branded wired headsets on the market. As a long-runningesportsorganization, Fnatic priority clear was clearly on tailoring the audio experience to suit competitive gaming, although this unfortunately means that the headset’s performance is rather underwhelming when it comes to listening to music.
The Fnatic React Plus' boom microphone is also great, and definitely handy for anyone who enjoys talking to their friends as they play. Its cardioid pattern and pop filter work to ensure that even in the middle of a gunfight, your teammates will be able to hear you loud and clear, so you can coordinate effectively at all times.
The best premium wired headset
4. Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R
Our expert review:
✅You play lots of single-player games:The Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R’s open back design offers an incredibly immersive audio experience. We especially recommend these headphones for those who like story driven single-player games likeCyberpunk 2077.
✅You already own a headphone amplifier or DAC:Although they work well already, you’ll want a DAC or headphone amplifier to make the most of these headphones.
❌You’re looking for something more budget-friendly:This isn’t a cheap headset. Being wired and missing a microphone, this is solely for gamers willing to pay top dollar for the best audio quality.
They say that you can’t put a price on perfection, but those people obviously haven’t tried the Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R. For around $199 / £150 / AU$280, you’re getting some of the absolute best audio quality that we’ve ever heard. This headset features an open-back design, which helps elevate the already realistic and immersive sound.
Although they sound fantastic out of the box, this headset really begins to shine when it’s paired with a DAC or headphone amplifier - making a full setup quite an expensive investment. If you’re a gamer who plays a lot of online games, you will also likely need to buy a separate microphone as one is not included on this design. For single-player games (not to mention listening to music), however, the Beyerdynamic Tygr 300 R is an absolutely fantastic choice.
The best wired headset for streamers
5. Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro
Our expert review:
✅You want a cute design:The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is neon pink and features colorful RGB lighting. Better yet, there’s a pair of glowing cat ears on top of the headband. Need I say anything else?
✅You want top-notch sound quality:Whether you’re gaming or listening to music, the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro offers solid audio quality that works great all round.
❌You want more freedom to move:With a cable length of just 6.7ft / 2m, you might struggle to use this headset on your sofa. Consider a wireless alternative like the Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition instead.
Our testing found that theRazerKraken Kitty V2 Pro sounds just as good as it looks. Not only are you getting an adorable neon pink design (complete with RGB lighting and glowing kitty ears) that will help liven up your streams, but a very capable headset. We enjoyed using this model with games on both PC and PS5, where we were impressed by its performance across a wide range of genres. It’s also perfect for listening to music, making it one of the more versatile choices on this list.
Such a striking design comes at a price, however, as the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 isn’t exactly cheap. Still, given the unique design and superb performance here we believe that this headset is well worth the asking price. It is well worth noting that this cable is on the shorter side, just 6.74ft / 2m in length, meaning that it might be unsuitable for gaming in your living room or certain setups.
The best wired gaming earbuds
6. SteelSeries Tusq
Our expert review:
✅ You want wired earbuds that offer a top mic solution:The Tusq earbuds offer a dual microphone solution which makes them extra flexible and versatile. Having both a boom mic and built-in mics in a small wired gaming earbud set is a great bonus.
✅You want a portable wired headset option:The SteelSeries Tusq being wired earbuds as opposed to a headset means they are a top option for those yearning for a wired connection but who also need portability.
❌You want earbuds for wider media:The Tusq earbuds are dialed in for gaming, and their out-of-the-box mix makes them less ideal for music, movies, and other entertainment.
When browsing the best wired gaming headset market, it might be easy to forget that the headset you’re after might not, in fact, be a headset - so to speak.
That’s where the SteelSeries Tusq gaming earbuds come in. We’ve found from our testing that they offer the same proposition as a headset, even down to a detachable boom mic, and can offer a sterling, diminutive option among the best wired headsets.
The SteelSeries audio quality you get straight out of the box is sublime, and the design and build are robust enough to withstand a knock or two, even if it’s not the most premium in the world. Thrown in a dual microphone setup that includes built-in mics, as well as that detachable boom mic, and you’ve got something that can punch with the rest of them, and also be extra portable.
These wired buds are a superb option among the many wired headsets that may steal the limelight, so make sure to consider them if you need something portable, but also value-busting, tidy, and great-sounding.
Best wired headsets - FAQs
Are wired headsets better than wireless?
There’s no definitive answer here. While some wired headsets can outperform their wireless counterparts at a much cheaper price, it really depends on your specific choice of products.
Are wired headsets good for gaming at a desk?
A wired headset could be the way to go if you often game at a desk. The wired connection means that you never have to worry about forgetting to charge your headset and you save some money too, as wired models are often cheaper than their wireless counterparts.
How to choose the best wired gaming headset for you
If you’re determined and set on going with one of the best wired gaming headsets, then navigating the market by having a few key criteria in mind can help you find the right one for you.
BudgetAlways begin with a budget that you’re happy to spend, but have a little bit of wiggle room just in case there’s some discounts on those that are just a bit higher than your ideal level. This, we’ve found gives the right amount of flexibility. However, you can also just wait for periodic sales events like Prime Day or Black Friday; both of these are known to change headsets' price categories completely and are excellent ways of maximizing your budget.
Driver size and typeThinking about the particulars of what makes each wired headset provide that excellent audio will help you narrow down some options. Do you need the biggest drivers possible? Are you only after a specific kind, like planar magnetic ones? If you can discern this first then your search will be swifter, though keeping an open mind can also be absolutely fine.
SoftwareIt might be worth having a cursory read around any particular software that some headsets can use, particularly on PC. SteelSeries' Sonar, for example, is excellent, and Razer’s Synapse is decent enough. If this could be a boon to your use, then dig into what’s there.
Extra featuresAre you after more means of customisation and flexibility with something like a DAC unit? What about something more simpler like a detachable or retractable mic? Knowing exactly what you’re after in terms of extra features can help you choose a wired gaming headset for you. After all, you might be perfectly happy with a simple plug and play one that comes with no frills.
How we test the best wired gaming headsets
We made sure to test all of these headsets thoroughly before deciding whether they should appear on this list. There are plenty of brands out there and, with so many options, we endeavor to discover which are worth your time and money. Some of the most trusted brands that we frequently recommend include Razer, Fnatic, and Epos.
We test the best wired gaming headsets in a variety of ways. Audio quality is naturally the highest priority on our list but we also take build quality into account as well as ease of use, device compatibility and of course, the price. The best wired gaming headsets will be able to provide a quality experience in most of these areas, and be suitable for a range of budgets.
Our best wired gaming headsets guide is updated regularly as new products are released. We strive to remain ahead of the curve when it comes to recommending you the best products you can purchase at any given time.
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Rob is the Managing Editor of TechRadar Gaming, a video games journalist, critic, editor, and writer, and has years of experience gained from multiple publications. Prior to being TechRadar Gaming’s Managing Editor, he was TRG’s Deputy Editor, and a longstanding member of GamesRadar+, being the Commissioning Editor for Hardware there for years, while also squeezing in a short stint as Gaming Editor at WePC just before joining TechRadar Gaming. He is also a writer on tech, gaming hardware, and video games but also gardens and landscapes, combining the two areas in an upcomingbook on video game landscapesthat you can back and pre-order now.
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