GamesRadar 4 days ago Rob Dwiar
Getting the best PS4 headset for you into your setup in 2022 is not an outdated move or 'unworthwhile' action now that the PS5 is here. First off, one of the top PS4 headsets is quite likely to play nice - and maybe even be one of the best - with the PS5 so if you are still using the PS4 or PS4 Pro (and maybe chasing PS5 stock still) then upgrading your audio is a perfectly reasonable - and downright sensible - thing to do.
And if you're happy to just keep using your PS4 or Pro as your got-to console while you wait for stock madness to level out, then the best PS4 headset is also, literally the best way to experience the enormous PS4 library we now find ourselves at the top end of. It's just an easy, surefire way to enhance your PlayStation experience - some of these sets are so good that they'll push the very best gaming headsets all the way too (and some even feature on that guide too!).
Such are the advancements in the headset market the right PS4 headset for you really is a guaranteed way to take your setup, and your gaming experience, to a new level - one that far exceeds even the best gaming TVs', and that offers slightly more immersion than even the best gaming sound systems.
Whatever you play, they'll increase your immersion and boost your experience. What's more, you really don't have to throw money at the situation to get a top-quality set. You can easily get one of the best PS4 headsets for less than $100 / £100. Though having said that, if you have the opportunity to stretch your budget beyond that, then you'll be in line for a treat as truly premium audio experiences lie that way. Expanding on this, Razer headsets and Astro headsets, for example, can cover some of the best audio and features across this list, but also span the price spectrum, so there's always something on offer from the big audio players too.
Still, before you pull the trigger, it's wise to have an eye on the best PS5 headsets and PS5 wireless headsets as a lot of those will be backward compatible with PS4 and will set you up gloriously for the future - if you want to get one headset that'll serve you well on both, you can absolutely do that - starting off as simply as using anything with an audio jack or right up to tailor-made PS4 and PS5 headsets.
But, for now, here are our picks for the best PS4 headset you can buy right now.
The best PS4 headset for 2022
Best PS4 headsets 2022 - Top 10
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P is indeed a seriously good headset that is clearly designed with the PS5 in mind - but produces spectacular results for PS4 still too. It oozes both the SteelSeries quality and Arctis line quality in every way and that's immediately obvious from getting it out of the box. The design is sleek, and the build is robust and sturdy, but also light and comfy. The ski-goggle type headband, I find, very comfortable and easy to adjust - but it can slide a little bit. The retractable microphone is of excellent quality, while all the onboard controls are neat, tidy, and responsive. The bonus of dial for the mic volume for your own voice is nice - though I never have it on and the feature set on PC will allow you to customise to some extent when you're playing on PC.
The overall audio quality is excellent, particularly in terms of it being crisp, clear, and detailed. The 40mm drivers do a great job of giving me Valhalla's music, natural sounds, and much of the combat noises too. I would really like a bit more oomph at the bottom of the audio spectrum though - there's a noticeable lack of bass sometimes which can, at times, lead to an overwhelmingly alarming amount of treble that's being thrown straight into your brain. It can even make you wince and lose richness and roundness sometimes.
Overall, it is a great package for anyone looking to next-gen while also mainly playing on their PS4. And keep an eye out for the Arctis 7P+ model which launched in late 2021, which refines the headset further with USB-C charging and a boost in the battery life.
But if you fancy Turtle Beach's quality and don't mind going the wired route - this will give you some more flexibility and save you a few currencies on the budget - then the new Recon 500 is a great option. Though clearly a new headset for the new generation of PlayStations with its more bombastic drivers and audio, it's still an excellent choice for the best PS4 headset.
You won't find lavish gamer-y design flairs or the most premium construction materials on the Recon 500, then, since Turtle Beach's latest in the long-running line costs less than $100/£100. What you do find, crucially, is sound so good it takes you aback, and offers a PS5 headset experience that is terrific in quality, and not too hard on the wallet.
Wood composite injection technology. 60mm drivers. Dedicated woofers and tweeters per earcup. It doesn't sound like the recipe for crisp, precise sound, and yet it all comes together in a powerful surge of ultra-responsive bass, detailed high end, and a pleasingly flat EQ curve with just a bit of audible kick further down the spectrum.
So that's yours. Take it to the bank. But what isn't coming along for the ride is much in the way of added features - this is a simple wired model with just a mic mute, detachable mic arm, and volume scroll wheel in the way of physical controls. Not one for perennial tweakers then, but those who enjoy simplicity and fundamentally great audio should scout out this new Recon.
If you're looking for a recent, awesome contender for PS4 headset - that will also be a go-to for PS5 players too then the Razer Kaira Pro for PlayStation is a terrific choice.
The headset shares a lot with the Kaira range generally that we saw rolled out for Xbox prior to the PlayStation range, and, as a result, looks similar, while maintaining a white and black colourway to match the console. One of the biggest selling points, however, is the inclusion of Razer's newest haptic feedback tech. The inclusion of this makes this Razer headset is a surefire enhancement for those looking for a bit more immersion from their PS4 headset. The haptics only requires the existence of audio frequency to work which is impressive and allows for haptics to be enjoyed thoroughly on PS4 still. The one drawback of the haptics is that your teammates and friends speaking to you will also set them off which is a little annoying - perhaps the next generation of haptics will be able to tell between in-game audio to enhance and chat audio to ignore...
But when the haptics in the Kaira Pro team up with the DualSense, your gaming experience is taken to a different place and really makes for an exciting ride and an immersive experience - though you can turn them off if that's not your bag. Then you'll 'just' be treated to the Kaira Pro's excellent audio quality that really does a brilliant job from the deepest of booms to the highest-pitch notes.
The mic could be a bit better with my friends saying I was a bit tinny and thing sounding, but this isn't too much of a detractor on what is an exceptional PS4 headset and one that will be within arms reach of those in that generation, as well as those on PS5.
Note: Stock is seemingly a bit hard to come by for this variant of the Kaira, but it's definitely worth holding out for so keep checking back here and with retailers.
The Razer Thresher is a truly exquisite Razer headset in every way: it's got a quality build and design, some of the best sound going for PS4 headsets, a quality mic - that is retractable - a neat optical-to-dongle audio set up, and drivers which can carry the biggest boom to the tweetiest of tweets, and also ensure you can hear your teammates over both.
The Razer Thresher has become my staple, go-to PS4 headset - overtaking the Platinum headset for me (don't get me wrong the Platinum is still excellent and deserves its place on this list, as you'll see). Personally, I chose to stick with the Thresher over the Platinum as it has a better low-end and its microphone doesn't carry anywhere near as much background noise through to my teammates - the retractable, boom mic on this generation of Razer headsets are still some of the best, in my opinion.
Now there are a few variations upon the Razer Thresher PS4 theme still available, but whatever one you snag, you'll be really delighted with the results. If you pushed me, I'd probably say that saving up a bit more budget for the 7.1 version or the Ultimate version is worth the step up. The prices you see above will represent the range of PS4 Threshers still available. And the word available is key at the moment as it is probably coming toward the end of its true life span - you can often see it out of stock with Razer - as focus will surely shift toward a range of PS5 headsets.
But, if you're on the lookout for a seriously good wireless PS4 that will last you a long while, support you on PC, give you audio excellence, and quality chat and game sound then the Razer Thresher is it. Still a very worthy investment.
The Razer Kraken Tournament Edition is currently the best PS4 headset you can buy - and the best Razer headset you can buy - when you balance out performance and price. While we'd also recommend the regular Kraken Pro V2, and the lighter and cheaper Kraken X, the TE has the better audio. It's a fantastic all-rounder, with audio capabilities that punch well above its price tag, and excellent bass that makes it perfect for gaming. Even with the standard 5.1 audio you get from a 3.5mm connection on PS4 (the 7.1 is on PC only), the Kraken TE is fine-tuned for online games like Apex Legends, helping you to pinpoint enemy movements and gunfire accurately. Take it on PC, and you can even get THX Spatial audio too, which takes things to the next level.
As a single-player headset, it performs well with most types of game, and even handles in-game dialogue admirably, which is something that catches out most gaming headsets. Sure, it lacks a little subtlety in the mid-range and loses out to headsets that will cost you $150-200, but generally speaking, the audio here is excellent. It's very comfy, thanks to the redesigned headband and cooler ear cushions, the mic is clear and loud, and the cable is a decent length. Overall, it's a fantastic package, and will significantly enhance the audio for all PS4 games for less than the four-figure mark.
You would be hard pushed to find another wireless headset with the sound quality and feature set of Sony's dedicated PlayStation Platinum headset. In fact we'd argue that it's pretty much an impossible task - the Sony headset has a fantastic mix of price and performance. If the Platinum is too expensive, we'd actually really recommend the Gold version too, which is about $40/£30 less, but doesn't quite offer the same quality of sound or the extra metallic trim.
The 50mm drivers maybe lack a little power at the low-end but they have an impressive level of clarity to their overall audio. They also neatly hook up to your PS4 offering game-specific audio profiles. But the big tick for them is the 7.1 virtual surround that links into those profiles. Well, that and the fact your headset battery will likely outlast your controller's too.
It's worth noting that as both the Platinum and Gold headsets are Sony PlayStation official, they have been designed with the PlayStation VR headset in mind too. This means they will fit neatly and comfortably on your head when wearing the headsets in conjunction with the PSVR gear. Check out the best PlayStation VR bundles here to complete such a package.
Check out our guide on whether you should buy a Sony Platinum headset here.
A new offering from Corsair, the HS60 is indeed another headset under the 100 dollar or pound mark but over the 50 dollar or pound mark. While it goes straight into the most congested part of the gaming headset market, it does distinguish itself very much and thus is worthy of inclusion on to our best list for PS4. It's compatible with anything you plug it into so its not exclusive to Sony's console in anyway but the sound and build quality is so good that its definitely worthy of high praise.
The black and yellow build is strong and comfortable, and the pair of 50mm drivers that power the HS60 Pro Surround's sound articulation are certainly powerful. In stereo mode they provide a low-end punch that really brings out the more bombastic elements of shooters and destruction-heavy action titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 . And in shooter and battle royale games like Apex Legends, PUBG and CSGO the pre-sets withjin Corsair's iCUe software really come to the fore with the the 'FPS Competition' preset clearly and brilliantly enhancing noise such as footsteps, door opening sounds and reloading.
This revamped HS60 Pro Surround is now the first and foremost model to check out from Corsair's line - and across the market - at the sub $100 / £100 mark. It's slightly weak in terms of its mid-scooped EQ the build quality and comfort can't be beaten.
The second generation of Turtle Beach Stealth 600's are a great low-budget wireless headphone that works with PS4, PS5, and PC. With a 15-hour battery life, a comfortable fit for glasses wearers, and finely tuned 50mm speakers, you'll be getting plenty of bang for your buck with these.
This is certainly a great choice for gaming on a budget, as the sound quality is top-tier and the microphone sensitivity is ideal for those who want to communicate without shouting. However, because of the reasonable price, the headset plastic does feel a bit cheap, especially across the headband and on the ear cups, and unfortunately, the ear cups do get rather uncomfortable after an extended play session. Mic monitoring is not a feature we're a fan of, as it echoes back any noise to us, but luckily it can be turned off via the Turtle Beach audio hub.
In short, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2's are a good sequel to an affordable wireless headset. It looks pretty good, feels pretty good, and sounds great - a no-brainer if you're looking to get a pair of headphones ahead of the next-gen release that won't bankrupt you.
The second generation of Turtle Beach Stealth 700's comes with some serious upgrades from the previous generation, and for only $50 more than the Stealth 600 Gen 2, it's a serious contender for your next gaming headset.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 has gotten a design upgrade from the original headset, with a slightly toned-down look (no more bright green on the Xbox version) and a flip-to-mute mic that folds neatly into the earcup. The control buttons have also been reorganized and moved to just one earcup. The buttons are nicely sized and well-spaced out, but if you're used to the Gen 1 Stealth 700s, you might need some time to get adjusted to them.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 is leagues more comfortable than the Stealth 600 Gen 2, which is saying something as I found the latter fit my glasses-wearing head quite well, but had ear cups that began to pinch after a few hours of gaming. The supple memory foam cushions with Aerofit cooling gel on the Stealth 700 Gen 2 is incredibly comfortable and lets you wear this headset with ease for hours upon hours of gaming.
And these headphones sound great, with large drivers that give you some great all-around sound, and the ability to fine-tune the audio to your liking with the Audio Hub. Turn on Superhuman Hearing mode to get the upperhand in online shooters, or enable the bass boost for some serious rumble during a heart-pumping campaign mission. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is a great headset for the price point.
In a strong field of those considered the best PS4 headsets, the Sennheiser GSP 370 set runs every one of them either into the ground or very close to it. Where it is the best, is in the premium wireless class, while also offering an immense battery life.
In terms of sound quality, Sennheiser's reputation shines through in abundance: there's clarity, detail, and depth here in bucketloads; the build and design are solid, sturdy and the perfect weight while the ear cups fit so they block out external noise through design alone; and the battery life is genuinely incredible, clocking in at nearly 100 hours. The price tag will be a bit steep at first glance, but it's not unusual for a premium gaming headset to come in above the three-figure mark nowadays, and if there's one PS4 headset that does more than enough to justify that price, its this one.
If audio quality and battery life (if you had to pick two factors) are the most important features in one of the best PS4 headsets for you, then you should go for the GSP 370s.
Best PS4 headsets 2022 - The best of the rest
As I said in my review "Getting a Sennheiser-quality headset like this, at this price point, and with this device-versatility, is an excellent proposition and one that is easy to recommend." If you're desperate to get some Sennheiser-level audio quality without paying the premium price tags, then the GHSP 300 is just that headset. It's compatible with every device and provides detailed audio, excellent surround/directional accuracy, and great overall richness. Its microphone is great too though it being non-detachable does perhaps preclude it from being a good match for PS4 players who want something for mobile devices too.
In an ideal world, it'd be nice to have some features but the stripped-back approach helps to keep the costs down too. Its sheer bang for buck value cannot be denied though and this is one of the best gaming headsets going for less than the three-figure mark. I use it as my go-to secondary PS4 headset when my other one is charging so it very much gets a great big stamp of approval from me.
The Razer Nari Ultimate is the only gaming headset with rumble functionality. Yes, this PS4 headset will actually vibrate when you hear bigger sounds (although, you can disable this function), and it does actually make a difference to how immersed you feel in the game. It's what Razer called Hypersense technology, and while it won't necessarily revolutionize all gaming headsets, it's one of the few gimmicks we'd actually recommend you try.
As for the rest of the headset, well, you're getting a really great wireless model here. The battery life is excellent, clocking in around 8 hours with haptic feedback enabled, and 20 hours without it, so you're not constantly recharging during long sessions. The connection is incredibly solid too, with almost zero artefacting or loss of sound, and the headset is surprisingly light and comfortable, meaning you won't really feel it on your head unless you're playing for extended sessions. The frequency response isn't quite as crisp for non-gaming applications, but this is a thunderously good PS4 headset with a key feature that you won't find in any other model.
The Audeze Penrose is a premium headset that is, in all honesty, designed as a PS5-first headset. However, through the magic of backward, or forward, compatibility, the Penrose is also one of the best PS4 headsets you can buy too - and a perfect set to enjoy on both generations. Given that, and the quality on offer here, this headset goes a long way - and quickly - to justifying its high price tag.
Offering some of the best audio going in a headset on PlayStation the benefits of aiming for a premium headset will soon be delivered right to your ears and brain. The headset is well built and has an agreeable design aesthetic draped over a sturdy and robust build, all of which factor into what is a comfortable bit of kit to wear for hours at a time. And you'll be able to, too, as the battery life is a solid 15 hours or so (though it's a slow headset to charge from empty).
But, importantly, it is those 100mm drivers in the headset that delivers some of the richest, most detailed, and excellent audio on offer for PS4 users. The surround sound is spot on and beautifully poised, the detail is exquisite with wind, footsteps, and chatter clearly audible - and at a distant, and the balance is great, with highs that don't squeal, and bass that is not muddy at all, but boomy and robust.
If you've been looking to buy a premium headset while you still enjoy your PS4 console - and one that will transfer brilliantly to PS5 - then this is probably all the headset for PlayStation you could ever want.
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