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[tylrdiablos]

I've been digging through numerous sites trying to find a good headset for PC usage. (Mostly gaming. And by headset I mean it; has a mic too.)

It's a bit of a clusterfuck. Site A will rate a headset 9/10 but Site B will rate the same thing 5/10. I have genuinely been through a dozen review sites and am none the wiser.

At the moment I own a pair of Astro A50's.
The wireless connection has cut out a few times, hence my desire for my next headset to be wired, and the build quality is absolutely abysmal. The headband part suddenly pops apart for no reason and is such a common problem that people on Etsy are selling 3D printed clips to hold it together.
(Which is infuriating for a headset that cost £200+.)

Any thoughts on a USB connection versus a 3.5mm jack connection?

Plenty of people seen happy with the HyperX 3's. Any users of them here who want to weigh in?

Recommendations welcome.

 

[ActusReusJB]

I think you are safe with the HyperX Cloud III. I went down the same path with wireless ones that would intermittently lose connection. The Cloud IIIs are a great bang for the buck even at full price and sound great.

 

[Shockwave_Fox]

For wired I can recommend Sennheiser HD-560s.

They really grew on me and now I don't like using any others (official PS5, official Xbox, Fidelio X2HR).

They sound so clear, crisp and balanced I love them.

 

[Yerd]

Well I went wireless. I kept reading the razer various lists, and it was on BF sale, so I bit. I had (have) an a50 for a very long time. Never liked the feel of the fit. I think I have a short head, like the top of my head is shorter than most, so everything always fits poorly. Hats included, can't find a good fitting beenie for the life of me. Anyway, just received the razer and this thing is incredibly light, which is great for a headset. I just finished rebuilding my new PC, so I am about to test this thing when games finish transferring.

Last good wired headphone I used was DT880, also light as a feather, but not a headset.

 

[forsakkenSoul]

For wired I can recommend Sennheiser HD-560s.

They really grew on me and now I don't like using any others (official PS5, official Xbox, Fidelio X2HR).

They sound so clear, crisp and balanced I love them.

I bought an HD 560S around the middle of this year, the sound quality is spectacular. Before that I used a Logitech gaming headset, which had decent enough audio, but the 560S is on another level. I can't say what it's like using it without a DAC though, because I also got a Sound Blaster X3 along with the HD 560S. From what I'd read before buying, a DAC/AMP isn't strictly necessary, but it's highly recommended.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

I have been using the Steel Series Arctis 7P+ for work and gaming for the last few years and it's amazing. Sound and microphone are very good. I think you can use it wired as well but maybe not.

Says it's designed for PS5 but I use it on PC no problem also.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Look at open back sets, much more enjoyable sound stage for gaming if you play in an area that can allow sound leaking out and not bothering others

A great starter pair is the Philips SHP9500 that can be grabbed on sale for around $50 but still are only about $80 not on sale

Add on a V Moda boom mic and you are good to go

 

[Hanzaki]

I use midrange Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser headphones because of the sound quality and comfort. They can be a little bit on the pricier side but its worth it.

 

[Zuzu]

I recently bought the HyperX Cloud 3S and it's a very nice headphone. The sound quality and the comfort are very good. The comfort is good because it has a light clamping force which is similar to my Bose Quietcomfort 35ii headphones and there is thick padding on the headband. The earcups are a fairly good size for my ears but this will obviously depend on your ear size. However, the ear pads are pleather so like all pleather earpads this can cause your ears to become hot.

The main microphone isn't very good but it's serviceable. No where near the Astro A50 mic though. There is no simultaneous bluetooth but there is a bluetooth mode in addition to the 2.4Ghz adaptor mode and the bluetooth supports multipoint so you can have two bluetooth devices connected to the Cloud 3S at the same time. The wireless strength is pretty strong. I can walk approximately 10-12 metres from my computer before the sound starts to break up. EQ saves to the headset (only a graphic EQ is available with the HyperX software not parametric EQ). People have reported that it doesn't work with the PS5 Slim so that's a factor that might affect you, but it has no problem working with my PS5 fat, PS5 Pro and my Windows 10 computer.

I've also ordered a Razer Blackshark V3 Pro so that'll be interesting to see how it compares. I wanted another headphone for my PS5 Pro that supports simultaneous audio and perhaps has better mic quality.

If you are interested make sure you look at getting the Cloud 3S and not the Cloud 3. The 3S has superior sound quality and I don't think EQ can be saved to the Cloud 3 headset whereas on the Cloud 3S the EQ can be saved to the headset. Here's some reviews that will help:

 

[Giallo Corsa]

I recently bought the HyperX Cloud 3S and it's a very nice headphone. The sound quality and the comfort are very good. The comfort is good because it has a light clamping force which is similar to my Bose Quietcomfort 35ii headphones and there is thick padding on the headband. The earcups are a fairly good size for my ears but this will obviously depend on your ear size. However, the ear pads are pleather so like all pleather earpads this can cause your ears to become hot.

The main microphone isn't very good but it's serviceable. No where near the Astro A50 mic though. There is no simultaneous bluetooth but there is a bluetooth mode in addition to the 2.4Ghz adaptor mode and the bluetooth supports multipoint so you can have two bluetooth devices connected to the Cloud 3S at the same time. The wireless strength is pretty strong. I can walk approximately 10-12 metres from my computer before the sound starts to break up. EQ saves to the headset (only a graphic EQ is available with the HyperX software not parametric EQ). People have reported that it doesn't work with the PS5 Slim so that's a factor that might affect you, but it has no problem working with my PS5 fat, PS5 Pro and my Windows 10 computer.

I've also ordered a Razer Blackshark V3 Pro so that'll be interesting to see how it compares. I wanted another headphone for my PS5 Pro that supports simultaneous audio and perhaps has better mic quality.

If you are interested make sure you look at getting the Cloud 3S and not the Cloud 3. The 3S has superior sound quality and I don't think EQ can be saved to the Cloud 3 headset whereas on the Cloud 3S the EQ can be saved to the headset. Here's some reviews that will help:

I'd get the Cloud 3S wireless in a heartbeat (since my wired Alphas still work perfectly) but...the fact that they can be EQ'd only via PC software is a deal breaker for me - both shitty Turtle beach AND steelseries have very nice phone apps where you can select EQ profiles AND also EQ them (turtle beach at least) on the fly via Android app, why couldn't hyperX do so ?
That, and the fact that while they can do 2.4GHz and BT it's not simultaneous.

They're on sale for 110-something Eurodollars at the moment btw

PS : Man, the 3S in white are a thing of beauty but, I can't even begin to imagine how dirty they'll look a few months down the line...
And yes, I shower twice a day but white is a nightmare to keep clean

 

[Zuzu]

I'd get the Cloud 3S wireless in a heartbeat (since my wired Alphas still work perfectly) but...the fact that they can be EQ'd only via PC software is a deal breaker for me - both shitty Turtle beach AND steelseries have very nice phone apps where you can select EQ profiles AND also EQ them (turtle beach at least) on the fly via Android app, why couldn't hyperX do so ?
That, and the fact that while they can do 2.4GHz and BT it's not simultaneous.

They're on sale for 110-something Eurodollars at the moment btw

PS : Man, the 3S in white are a thing of beauty but, I can't even begin to imagine how dirty they'll look a few months down the line...
And yes, I shower twice a day but white is a nightmare to keep clean

Yeah, the Clouds not having a mobile app might be a big downside for the OP. I guess it depends on how often he wants to change the EQ. If he's the type of person that likes to change EQs regularly then this will be a big problem but if, once he's found an EQ he likes, he's likely to stick with it then it won't be a big issue. Since the EQ saves to the headset, then once you've set an EQ in the PC app then that EQ will stay on the headset whether it's connected to a PC, PS5, phone etc. Also, since the Cloud 3S has a very good frequency response tuning out of the box then he might find it needs minimal EQ, if any at all (though I'd suggest at least a boost to the 4khz band since it is lacking there).

But yeah, not having a mobile app is not good and is definitely a negative compared to the competitors. The Steelseries mobile app is good (I also have the Steelseries Arctis Gamebuds) and I also like the look of the Razer mobile app for the Blackshark V3 Pro.

Yeah, I wouldn't get the white ones; the pure black ones and the black and red ones are the way to go imo

 

[OverHeat]

Get one of those!!!!!

 

[EverydayBeast]

Use nothing but wired, wireless has its issues with connectivity or syncing etc.

 

[MDSLKTR]

My Sennheiser HD 598 are still going strong after 13 years, but I decided to refresh my setup this year.
Confort was the number 1 priority (I have returned so many), so I went with beyerdynamic dt 990 edition 600ohm + soundblasterx G6 amp. Some clamp force out of the box but a slight bend on the aluminum hinges and it's heaven wrapping your ears:

 

[Boo Who?]

My favorite headset by a country mile.

https://drop.com/buy/drop-pc38x-gaming-headset

 

[OLED_Gamer]

Hate to hijack but anyone have any wired in-ear options that are good with a microphone? My good Bose ones that I have been running for years died.

Prefer in-ear as I hate having cups over my ears.

 

[TrebleShot]

Hate to hijack but anyone have any wired in-ear options that are good with a microphone? My good Bose ones that I have been running for years died.

Prefer in-ear as I hate having cups over my ears.

Sennheiser IE200 amazing for the price.