Memory foam earpads, crisp and clear microphones, adequately sized speaker drivers, durable metal construction, virtual surround sound, and wireless connectivity; if you’re shopping for a gaming headset, these are all features that are probably important to you. There’s just one problem: these features come at a price, and you don’t want to spend a lot. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if you could find a gaming headset that offered these features, yet was actually affordable? Well, you’ll be happy to learn that you can!
Like a lot of gamers, you might be surprised to find that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality, well-designed, comfortable, and reliable gaming headset. There are lots of budget-friendly options on the market that are made specifically for gaming, and they don’t sacrifice quality for affordability. Plenty of gaming headsets feature wonderfully comfortable designs and are equipped with a surprising assortment of audio features, such as surround and enhanced sounds; they also feature quality microphones that won’t make you sound muffled when you’re chatting with your team.
While it’s true that there are a lot of top-quality, affordably priced gaming headsets, trying to weed through all of the options can seem like a daunting task. In an effort to assist you with finding a smartly designed and affordably priced gaming headset, we’ve taken the liberty of doing the legwork for you. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of our top picks of the best budget gaming headsets.
SteelSeries Arctis 1
This may be the most basic and straightforward of the entire Arctis line offered by SteelSeries; however, it’s designed and built to offer seamless compatibility in mind. It’s much like how the BlackShark V2 borrows technology from more expensive models in that the Arctis 1 features the same audio drivers as the pricier Arctis 7; however, it’s about three times less expensive. It’s also equipped with super-soft fabric ear cups that are comfortable to wear through long gaming sessions. It also offers a handy 3.5mm connection, as well as an active noise cancelling, detachable microphone that can be muted with a physical, easy to access, slider. The Arctis 1 from SteelSeries is an ideal gaming accessory, whether you’re on the road or you’re at home, it can be used with various types of gaming genres, including Overwatch, and the price tag is very attractive.
Corsair HS60
Next on our list of the best budget gaming headsets is the Corsair HS60. This wired gaming headset uses a USB connection to connect to your PC. It’s equipped with haptic motors, which deliver the perfect rumbling sound from your games right into each of the ear cups. For even more immersion, the Corsair HS60 provides support for Windows Sonic surround sound. Not only does it deliver great immersive surround sound, but it’s also very comfortable. The super-spacious, ultra-cushioned ear cups will keep your ears comfortable for those long, intense gaming sessions, and they’re attached to an adjustable headband, so you can easily achieve the ideal fit. What’s more, the Corsair HS60 gaming headset is sturdily built, allowing for long-lasting durability. Of course, it’s also affordably priced.
HyperX Cloud Stinger
If you’re on the hunt for an affordably priced headset that offers great surround sound, then you’re definitely going to want to check out the HyperX Cloud Stinger S. In fact, the virtual surround sound is so intense that you’ll really feel as if you’ve been transporting into the middle of your game. Not only does it deliver awesome sound, but it also offers reliable comfort. The lightweight design and cushioned and spacious ear cups allow for long periods of wear; in fact, it’s so lightweight and comfortable that you may actually forget that you’re wearing it! With a 3.5mm audio cable, the HyperX Cloud Stinger S can connect to pretty much any device. The wire also features a splitter on the end for both mic and headphone use without the need for a USE pass-through. The on-ear audio control features an intuitive slider that’s easy to adjust while you’re wearing it.
Turtle Beach Recon 500
The Turtle Beach Recon 500 is another one of our picks for the best budget-friendly gaming headsets. This model comes complete with 60mm dual drivers that split up the high and low frequencies, which delivers outstanding audio detail. The Turtle Beach Recon 500 sounds incredible; those explosive booms and revving engines in your games will sound as if you’re sitting right next to them. The 3.5mm wired connection provides premium-quality audio and offers support for pretty much any platform you could possibly want to use. The Turtle Beach Recon 500 is outfitted with easy to access and convenient to use controls, including a volume dial, which is situated on the left ear cup, and a simple muting function for the mic, which can be turned on and off with just the push of a button. The simplistic and subtle design can easily be worn away from your gaming setup, and the microphone can be removed with ease for a more discreet look.
Astro A10
The A10 is proof positive that Astro can offer high-quality gaming headsets that won’t break the budget (unlike many of their other high-end models, which are quite pricy). The sleek design offers some features that are based on its more premium-quality cousins, such as the A40 and the A50, so it provides an impressive level of style and sturdiness, delivering a gaming headset that’s stylish, sturdy, and that provides great sound – all for an affordable price. The lightweight frame coupled with the soft memory foam ear cushions are great for those long gaming sessions; however, we should point out that for folks who have large ears, the ear cups may get a bit snug. Offering super-crisp highs and deep, meaty lows, the A10 by Astro is a reliable and affordably priced gaming headset.
PDP LVL50
PDP has introduced a new gaming headset to its lineup with a new collection: LVL50. It’s available in four designs, including both wired and wireless, for the PS4, the Xbox One, and PCs. The lightweight design features an easily adjustable headband, complete with foam padding on the top to provide comfort at the top of your head, and the thick, yet breathable foam ear cups are spacious and super comfortable. Sliders on the headset offer a decent range, and there’s a cool little accent on the interior of the sliders. The ear cups pivot on the yolks, so you’ll be able to achieve the perfect fit for your ears. The flexible plastic on the headband is comfortable; however, it may not be as durable as you’d like. As for sound, it pushes out super-loud sound with great positional audio.
Razer Kraken X
For a budget-friendly gaming headset, the Razer Kraken X is a great choice. It packs decent sound into one of the most aesthetically pleasing designs that Razer has produced to date. The Kraken is a whole lot different than the big, bulky chassis of its predecessors; instead, this headset features a sleek and subtle design that’s lightweight and comfortable for long-term wear. The leatherette ear cups will feel great on your ears for extended gaming sessions. A 3.5mm connection works seamlessly with consoles, as well as PCs, and the sound is well-balanced, making it a great choice for both immersive and competitive games.
Turtle Beach Recon 70
Whether you’re playing on your PS5 or PC, or on your iPhone or Nintendo Switch, with the Turtle Beach Recon 70 gaming headset, you’ll be able to enjoy great quality sound at an affordable price on all of the current gaming platforms. The Recon 70’s biggest selling point is comfort. The ear cups are spacious and breathable, and they’re adjustable, so you can achieve the perfect fit without any slippage. While the sound effects may not be as sharp as on other headsets, it’s still quite impressive for a budget-friendly headset. The mic allows you to communicate with ease with other players via multiplayer; however, moving it can be disruptive, as it will vibrate whenever you flip it into one of the pre-set positions.
Hyper X Cloud Core 7.1
The Hyper X Cloud Core 7.1 is a refresh of the HyperX Cloud Core II. This model delivers impressive audio and intuitive inline controls, as well as spacious, lightweight, and comfortable leatherette ear cups. It supports virtual sound, which makes getting immersed in your games a breeze. The removable mic is easy to use and it features a USB, as well as a 3.5mm connection, so it can be used with all mobile devices, consoles, and PCs.
Roccat Elo 7.1 USB
Wrapping up our list is the Roccat Elo 7.1 USB. The audio performance is solid and speech comes across loud and clear, as do sound effects. It can double a reliable set of headphones, too, as it delivers great vocals and treble. Thanks to the Roccat Swarm software, you can choose different voice-changing filters, adjust the mic sidetone, and switch between surround and stereo sound, as well as pick from a variety of audio presets.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are a lot of high-quality and affordably priced gaming headsets. All of the options featured on this list are thoughtfully designed and deliver reliable sound. For even more options, head over to the PC International website, where you’ll find a broad selection of headsets to choose from.
