Best Gaming Headsets under $100

Offering dual chamber drivers, a durable aluminum frame and detachable mic – not to mention its compatibility with all major gaming consoles – the HyperX Cloud Alpha has got a brilliant response from the gamer community.

Features:

Compare it to its key rivals – some of which have found a place in this review – and you’d notice that the HyperX Cloud Alpha is on the smaller side. Fortunately, having a small size hasn’t stopped this headset from being durable as its aluminum frame lends it solid build quality.

Due to the presence of softer matte plastic and memory foam padding on the ear cups, the Cloud Alpha provides a relaxing yet firm gripping force. Throw into the mix its leatherette material – which forms a tight seal around your areas, and you’d have no problems wearing it for extending gaming sessions.

More importantly, what differentiates this model from its predecessors is its two-chamber spec which makes sure that the bass and mid-frequencies reverberate within the 50mm driver. As a result, it has been able to maximize articulation and minimize distortion, so you get distortion-free high-quality sound.

Having established its sound quality – which is nothing short of breathtaking – let’s turn our attention to its noise-canceling mic. Detachable and easy to adjust via its flexible step, the mic contains a large pop filter using which you can reduce ‘p’ sounds to make sure your voice remains clear, concise and free from static.

Therefore, like other features of this the Cloud Alpha, its mic would give you no reason for complaints as well.

Pros:

• Mesmerizing audio
• Breathtakingly comfortable
• High-quality microphone
• Durable build quality

Cons:

• Available in only one color choice.

Final Verdict:

Despite being priced under $100, the HyperX Cloud Alphas has features – like its beautiful sound quality, a top-notch mic, and sturdy build – that would put headsets costing three times as much to shame. If you can put together with a wired headphone, the market won’t throw any better choice than this.

Ask any gamer, and while he’d be all hunky dory about the idea of a wireless headset, he might warn you that these headsets can’t compete with their wired counterparts when it comes to sound quality. Is his claim true? Nope and the Corsair Void Pro proves this point.

Features:

First things first, while this headset does have a plastic exterior, its metal pillars make sure that it won’t break down easily. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of padding on both the earcup as well as the headband, the Corsair Void Pro RGB is very comfortable to wear.

Then comes the mic-arm which is located on the left earcup, and which you can raise or lower to turn the mic on/off. And guess what? You can mute the mic by putting its arm into the up position. And since the mic is also foldable, you can adjust its position to fine-tune your recording quality.

Fortunately, unlike most other wireless headphones, setting up this headset is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is to plug its transmitter into your laptop’s USB port, turn it on and both the devices will pair instantly. You can also install Corsair Utility Engine software to further customize the headset.

Even when you forget its meager price tag for a moment, the sound quality of the Corsair Void Pro RGB still won’t disappoint. It doesn’t follow the lead of other gaming headsets which reinforce bass to make action scenes more brutal.

Instead, the audio of the Corsair Void Pro RGB is well-balanced, hence the reason why you can use it for gaming, music, and videos as well. Yet, if you don’t like the sound, you can change the EQ settings given in the Corsair Utility Engine software for a more personalized experience.

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Above-average recording quality
• Eye-catching design
• Balanced audio

Cons:

• Lacks bass by default

Final Verdict:

Do you want a wireless gaming headset whose audio quality rivals that of its wired counterparts? Want its battery to last all day as well? What about the mic; won’t you prefer decent recording quality? If your answer to all these questions is in the affirmative, the Corsair Void Pro RGB might suit you.

Despite the fact that it’s 2019, some headsets still provide their users with tee traumatic and pain-inducing design. Have doubts? Just survey the market: 90% of all headsets have this problem. However, as its inclusion in this list shows, the Arctis 5 will give you no such pains.

Features:

In contrast to most headphones in this price range, the Arctis 5 has stunning looks. It gives you the option to customize with its design – as you can choose colors for the headband. And the best part about its design? It has LED lights which glow with alternate colors to give the Arctis 5 a futuristic look.

Similar to other SteelSeries products, the Arctis 5 comes with a complementing Engine 3 software. Available for Windows and Mac OS devices, the software lets you save the game’s configuration, customize illumination settings and even keep a backup your settings on the SteelSeries Cloud.

One particular accessory which this headphone provides in this package – and which we liked a lot – was the volume knob. It lets you mix the sound between “game” and “chat”. So, if you can’t hear your colleagues properly, you can turn the knob to change the EQ mix and get better voice quality.

Finally, this headphone does pretty darn well in the sound department too. To give those big COD explosions a huge oomph, its higher lows offer some solid punch. And while the bass doesn’t extend as far as we’d have liked, the headphone’s 7.1 Surround Sound makes its overall sound quality above average.

Pros:

• Ultra-comfortable
• Has a user-intuitive software
• Above-average sound quality
• Illuminated

Cons:

• Has a slightly looser fit

Final Verdict:

Our review of the SteelSeries Arctis 5 reveals it as a gaming headset which punches well above its price tag in terms of sound quality, comfort, and personalization. Provided you can cope with its slightly looser fit, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go for it.

Boasting a comfortable fit, stellar audio, and clever design – plus all the bells and whistles which you don’t normally find in this price range – the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition is a versatile headset which you can use for both your games as well as multimedia.

Features:

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of audio cables that don’t connect directly to your console – and rely on an amp (which connect via to your PC via a USB). Yet, in this particular gaming headset, the addition of an amp is a spectacular idea.

Why? The amp contains a plethora of buttons which elevates the whole gaming experience. For instance, on its left side, you get bass controls, whereas the right side has a toggle for audio/chat balance. You also get a button to switch between standard stereo sound and THX spatial audio.

What is so special about the THX spatial audio?

Well, it gives in-gaming sounds an excellent boast to make sure that every rocket blast, clanking, and gunshot sounds immediate and clear. Also, as we found while playing Overwatch, you could even hear the footsteps of an incoming enemy without paying extra attention.

What’s more, despite its gigantic size, the Kraken TE is comfortable to wear.

Inside the cooling pads, there is a layer of cooling gel which prevents overheating and a fabric which helps in sweat evaporation by aiding air flow. You also get an indentation for eyeglasses plus a memory foam which provides a secure fit.

Pros:

• Smart amp
• THX Surround Sound
• Comfortable and secure fit
• Solid build

Cons:

• Presence of amp will require extra desk space

Final Verdict:

Clear the clutter on your desk – for you need to make some space for the amp – and the comfortable fit, above-average sound quality and smart amp of the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition gaming headset won’t give you any headache.

Audiophiles out there know that when it comes to headphones, Sennheiser only makes the best of them, a statement which rings truer once one looks at the features of the Sennheiser GSP 302.

Features:

The Sennheiser GSP 302 gaming headset boasts a closed-back design which provides it with two benefits. First, the extra padding which comes with this design makes it more comfortable. And second, more weight behind the earcups means you get better noise isolation from these headphones.

The cord which juts out of the headset is about 4ft long and has a splitter at its end. One is for using the headset and the other is for the mic. Xbox gamers would find the 3.5mm combo adapter in the GSP 302’s package useful as it allows them to simultaneously hear in-game chat and game sounds.

Turning our attention to its mic quality, and it works equally well on PC and Xbox. The mic has a built-in background noise-reduction feature by virtue of which it makes sure that no one on the receiving end could hear what’s going on in your surroundings.

Lastly, as for the sound quality, this headset won’t miss a beat and lets you hear everything and everyone clearly. Its direction-sense is brilliant, too, as you could easily notice from which direction the sound of footsteps or firearm being fired is coming from.

Pros:

• Excellent quality mic
• Noise-cancelling pick up pattern
• Closed-back design for noise isolation

Cons:

• Quality of cable is suspect

Final Verdict:

Provided you can ignore their bulkiness – as they are a bit on the heavier side – the Sennheiser GSP 302 are awesome closed back headphones with an equally excellent microphone.

While it retains the good things of HyperX Cloud Alpha – which include its predecessor’s stylish design and comfortable fit – the HyperX Cloud II adds virtual 7.1 surround sound to take its sound quality to the next level. Will it suit you? Let’s find out.

Features:

Despite having a gaudy logo, the muted black color scheme and the polished metal finish have that reserved look. That means that unlike most headsets in the gunmetal configuration, you could wear the Cloud II on the street without raising any unwanted eyebrows.

While its exterior is reserved, it is the Cloud II’s interior where it really shines. You get a memory foam ear cushioning in a price range where other headsets only provide leatherette. Also provided are velour ear cushions, with a detachable mic proving that this headset boasts a premium design.

By taking the controls away from the in-line and perching it atop the USB sound card, HyperX has made sure that there isn’t a lot to accidentally press. Kingston has also tried to sweeten the deal by throwing in a lot of extras including an airline adaptor, a carry case, and replaceable velour ear cushions.

Finally, while this headset comes under $100, you’d be hard-pressed to find any mistakes in its sound quality. It gives a detailed and powerful stereo sound, with its 53mm drivers offering plenty of punch. Consequently, while it is made for video games, you can easily use it for music and movies.

Pros:

• Comfort is best-in-class
• Replaceable velour ear cushions
• Virtual 7.1 surround sound
• Loads of extras

Cons:

• Carry case is flimsy

Final Verdict:

Boasting 53mm drivers, a detachable microphone and surround sound quality – plus compatibility with all major gaming consoles – the Kingston HyperX Cloud II offers everything a hardcore gamer might want from their headset.

As far as contradictions go, the Razer ManO’War is a fairly contradicting headset. With dimensions of 7.56 x 4.18 x 7.96 inches, it is fairly big. Yet, with a weight of only 12 ounces – which ranks it among the most lightweight headsets in this review – it is ultra-portable as well.

Features:

If there is one headset in this review which justifies its name, it has to be the all-black ManO’War. Chunky, commanding and imposing, it has massive earcups with glowing Razer logos, though the presence of leatherette on the earcups and faux leather on the dome makes it comfy to wear.

Despite its bulky design, the ManO’War is convenient to use. You can swivel its earcups to up to 90 degrees, can store the retractable mic in the left cup when not using it and there’s a slot on the right earcup to store the wireless dongle as well.

Like almost all Razer gadgets, the ManO’War has customizable LED lights containing a programmable combo of 16.8 million colors. Different lighting modes are also on offer, with the cycling mode activating lights slowly whereas the breathing mode forcing them to pulsate in while you’re busy gaming.

Concluding its review with a glance over its audio quality, the Man O’War features virtual 7.1 surround sound. That makes it easier for you to not only hear the direction from which the gunfire is coming, but you can notice small details like footsteps and raindrops.

That means that unless you’re preoccupied with something else, the ManO’War won’t let you miss even the tiniest details in your game.

Pros:

• Supreme virtual surround sound
• Customizable lighting
• Comfy to wear

Cons:

• Bulky

Final Verdict:

Thanks to its customizable lighting options, a supreme virtual surround sound experience, and comfortable-to-wear earcups, you can easily wear the Razer ManO’War during extended gaming sessions without experiencing any strain.

Before the arrival of the GSP 300, Sennheiser – one of the world’s foremost headphone manufacturers – never ventured into the gaming headset market. Fortunately, they did that with the GSP 300 and the results couldn’t have been better.

Features:

Donning the Sennheiser GSP 300 is a gamer’s delight. Its earcups are spacious and make you comfortable with their cushy memory foam wrapping your ears. You’ll find a boom mic within easy reach on the left and a volume knob on the right.

And that’s it. Despite the fact that this model provides 10 equalizer settings – which you can control with the accompanying app – it has no array of switches, no LEDs and no multitude of buttons, which is always a good thing as more buttons usually lead to more confusion for the wearer.

While there’s not much we can say about the mic, here’s what we can: it’s stunningly good. Armed with Sennheiser’s noise cancellation technology, it saves the listener on the other end from hearing the clacking of your gaming keyboard. Plus, it auto-mutes itself when you move the boom of the mic away from your face.

Lastly, as far as gaming performance is concerned, the GSP 300 delivers top-tier performance. Regardless of the type of genre, you might be into, it produces rich, clear and crisp sound. No overdoing on the bass, mind you, but an audiophile would appreciate the subtlety with which it broadcasts the lows.

Add to the equation that you can enjoy this audio for long sessions without any discomfort, and the GSP 300 might well become the next favorite thing of hardcore gamers.

Pros:

• Equally supreme sound quality across multiple genres
• Noise-canceling mic
• Comes with 10 equalizer settings

Cons:

• You cannot detach the mic

Final Verdict:

The Sennheiser GSP 300 gaming headset provides a noise-canceling mic, an audio performance which remains equally excellent across various genres and earcups whose cushy memory foam allows for comfortable wearing experience. That should be enough for most gamers.

Just like its more expensive counterparts – like the G933 Artemis Spectrum – the G5333 offers excellent functionality. Unlike them, however, it has the simplicity to back its case as well.

Features:

Granted, the G533 is fairly heavy (1.48 lbs) and large (7.8 x 7.4 x 3.3 inches), yet it hasn’t burdened its exterior with any unnecessary frills. All it offers is an all-black gadget, one which has glossy earcups and a Logitech G symbol adorned atop it. So it won’t court any unnecessary attention on the street.

The presence of a standard notch system makes adjusting the G533 a cinch. Though you’ll have to go through a bit of learning curve to use the volume wheel since it’s positioned a bit higher than what you normally find in other headsets.

Fortunately, while we have discussed how heavy it is, an even weight-distribution mechanism takes the burden off your ears. Throw into the mix the soft and plush, mesh-fabric earcups, and you could easily wear the G533 for hours on end.

What makes the gaming performance of this model absolutely sterling is the accompanying Logitech Gaming software. You can turn to the software to set custom equalizer, mic levels and surround sound on a per-game basis.

And there’s more that this headset offers. It has positioned a noise canceling mic on a foldable boom for crystal-clear chats. Add to the mix its wireless operation – you get 15 hours battery timing and up to 15-meter wireless range – and there’s not much you can find wrong with this model.

Pros:

• DTS 7.1 Surround Sound
• Noise-canceling mic
• 15-hour battery timing

Cons:

• Heavy

Final Verdict:

The Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming headset has a generous battery life, provides a multitude of useful options via its app and assures a comfortable fit thanks to its cushy earcups. Therefore, if you have grown fed up with wires, this under $100 gaming headset offers a nice alternative.

Have you ever come across gadgets that serve a single purpose and do it brilliantly? Well, the Razer Kraken Pro is one of those. It doesn’t want to be stylish. It doesn’t want to court attention. All it wants to do is to deliver some high-end sound. And that it does in an excellent manner.

Features:

Quintessential Razer. These two words would come to the mind of every audiophile on first sight of the Pro V2. A pitch-black headset is supported by two cushy earcups which rest on an aluminum frame that is sturdy and handles abuse without breaking a sweat.

You might have to spend a few minutes trying to find your sweet spot with this headset but once you have done that, you won’t have any complaints. The thick, faux-leather earcups make it comfortable to wear and unless you aren’t using it for extended gaming sessions, it would give a comfy feel.

While trying to gauge its gaming performance, we turned to Gears of War 4. That was a good decision in hindsight, otherwise, we couldn’t have noticed the brilliant audio performance of this model.

It helps you to (correctly) guess that your enemies are approaching by pinpointing the sound of their footsteps. Provided your character meets its demise in the game – ours did – you’d get every gory sonic detail you can imagine as its body is being shred to pieces.

Lastly, this model comes with a very flexible and retractable boom mix. Though its sound is good enough for in-game chat, we won’t recommend it for podcasting as the sound might be too muddy for that.

Pros:

• Comfortable to wear
• Build quality is strong
• Excellent quality of the mic

Cons:

• Design isn’t pretty

Final Verdict:

If you are a gamer who is looking for an easy-to-use solution for voice chat and in-game audio, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 will deliver a respectable performance.

Sound quality, comfort, the utility of features and price tag were factors we took into consideration while selecting the best gaming headset under $100. Whether you’re a gamer who plies his trade on PS4 or Xbox – or you belong to that ever-strong breed of PC gamers – this article has the best gaming headset for your needs.