Do your ears a favor and get the best wireless PS4 headset possible
A good headset can transform your gaming experience, allowing you the sound quality you won't get from your TV's speakers while enabling you to communicate with other players easily. As a bonus, headsets keep your gaming sessions quiet if you're sharing a space, and they look pretty awesome. We've rounded up several choices depending on your priorities and budget. Now, if you're in the market for one of the best PS5 headsets, we've got you covered on that front too.
Best overall: SteelSeries Arctis 7
Let's be honest; gaming headsets tend to be gaudy. You've seen the unwieldy ones that light up in every color imaginable and look like sturdy bludgeoning weapons. That's not to say they aren't good headphones, but they certainly aren't the most stylish. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 benefits from its sleek design. You won't be embarrassed to wear this one no matter the occasion, and its style only scratches the surface of its desirable features.
Headsets are more than just about looks, though. The Arctis 7 features what is widely regarded as one of the best microphones in the business, and its 7.1 surround sound audio is second to none-but only available when using it on PC. Should you want to finely adjust it, SteelSeries also offers customization software, so you get the most out of your Arctis 7.
Bonus: You don't need to charge it often. This headset provides up to 24 hours of gaming on a single charge thanks to its rechargeable Li-ion battery, and it's relatively comfortable to wear for long periods. You'll find most other headsets tend to provide anywhere between 10 to 20 hours.
Pros:- Stylish
- Affordable
- Great audio quality
- 24-hour battery life
- ClearCast retractable microphone
- Customization software
- Additional 3.5mm cable included
- 7.1 surround sound only on PC
- Adjustable ChatMix for PC only
Affordable, stylish, and impeccable audio
There's a lot to love about the SteelSeries Arctis 7. It takes the best features and an attractive form factor and bundles it into an affordable package.
Runner-up: HyperX Cloud Flight
When you're looking for comfort and quality at an affordable price, you'll want to consider the HyperX Cloud Flight. It may not be as great all-around as the SteelSeries Arctis 7, but it gives the latter pair of headsets a run for its money. The HyperX Cloud Flight sports a detachable microphone, 90-degree rotating ear cups, and an adjustable steel slider for durability.
HyperX Cloud Flight provides the most extended battery life on a single charge by far - boasting up to 30 hours - but there is a caveat. This number assumes that you don't use its LED lighting. If you turn the LEDs on completely, it cuts the battery life to just 13 hours. When the LEDs are on with their breathing effect, you can get roughly 18 hours.
Its biggest downside is that it only offers stereo audio as opposed to 7.1 surround sound. While its audio quality may not be as impressive as a result, it's still good nonetheless.
Pros:- Up to 30-hour battery life
- Rotating ear cups
- Detachable microphone
- Additional 3.5mm cable included
- No 7.1 surround sound
- LED mode cuts battery life to 13 hours
Long battery life
The HyperX Cloud Flight provides the longest gaming session on a single charge and sports comfortable rotating ear cups.
Best value: Turtle Beach Stealth 600
Turtle Beach is usually a brand name you can't beat for its price. However, the company's Stealth 600 is perfect for those wanting a budget-friendly quality headset without breaking the bank. Wireless headsets tend to err on the expensive side, but the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 is incredibly affordable at just $100.
Its microphone is flip-to-mute, meaning you won't need to worry about pressing the wrong button on your headset when you want to mute yourself. Its mic monitoring also allows you to hear your voice through the headset and adjust the volume accordingly. Turtle Beach's "Superhuman Hearing" technology that emphasizes subtle in-game sounds is also present.
Though the Stealth 600 advertises "surround sound," it's only Turtle Beach's virtual surround sound and not Dolby 7.1. Because of this, the audio quality tends to suffer, but it's still better than stereo most of the time. And the battery life is acceptable at 15-hours, even if it's only half of what the SteelSeries Arctis 7 offers.
Pros:- Affordable
- Glasses-friendly design
- Flip-up to mute mic
- Audio is just decent
- 15-hour battery life
Budget-friendly for a brand name
When it comes to wireless headsets, you can't beat the price of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600. It's a brand name you can trust where headsets are concerned.
Best premium: Astro A50
The Astro A50 provides crystal-clear Dolby 7.1 surround sound over a 5GHz wireless connection. It's hard to beat that when you're looking for the best audio experience possible. It even comes with its own charging station, so you can easily display it on your desk.
Those looking for comfort will find it more than adequate in that regard with breathable fabric ear cups. A mod kit is available for separate purchase that allows you to swap out its parts for a synthetic leather headband and ear cups, improving its noise-canceling abilities. The downside to all of this is that no matter what you swap out the parts with, the Astro A50 still tends to be bulky and flashy.
This beast is easily the best premium headset you can get for PlayStation 4, and it comes at a steep price because of that. Unfortunately, you're going to be looking at spending a good chunk of change on the Astro A50. However, it packs some premium features to warrant the expensive price tag.
Pros:- Dolby 7.1 surround sound
- 5GHz wireless connection
- Flip-to-mute mic
- Base station included
- Expensive
- Batteries can degrade
- Bulky design
Premium quality at a cost
You'll be spending quite a sum if you want an Astro A50, but its wireless connection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound can't be beaten.
Surround Sound: Razer Thresher Ultimate
Razer makes some of the best headsets in the business, and it outdid itself with the Razer Thresher Ultimate for PS4. You're getting impeccable Dolby 7.1 surround sound with wireless connectivity up to 40 feet, so you don't need to worry about missing any of the conversations with your friends if you need to leave the room.
Its microphone is retractable so you can move it out of the way, and when you're not using the headset, you can place it on its base station - that can be used to switch effortlessly between PS4 and PC - which is included. You can get up to 16-hours without needing to charge the Razer Thresher Ultimate. Its memory foam ear cups make this as comfortable as possible to make up for its heavy 408g weight.
Again, this is another expensive one. There are cheaper Razer Thresher models out there, but the Ultimate is the best package out of the batch if you're looking for the most features.
Pros:- Dolby 7.1 surround sound
- Connectivity up to 40ft
- Retractable microphone
- Base station included
- 16-hour battery life
- Heavy (408g)
- Expensive
For the loyal Razer enthusiast
The Razer Thresher Ultimate has decent enough battery life and excellent audio quality with Dolby 7.1 surround sound.
Multisource audio: Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum
It's immediately apparent that this headset screams "gamer." You'll be hard-pressed to find one with a more elaborate design, but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in audio delivery. This is another one that packs 7.1 surround sound with spatial awareness so that you're never missing any of the action in-game.
Being multiplatform compatible, you aren't restricted to using it on PlayStation 4 or PC. The Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum is compatible with Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile as well. Its multiple source audio mixing support means that you can plug in up to three devices (one USB, two analogs) to answer calls and play music. The programmable G-keys on the ear cup can be used to set custom controls for gaming and media.
It sports the lowest battery life at just 8-12 hours depending on whether you're using its RGB lighting or not, and it's not too budget-friendly, so this one's features outside of gaming will likely be the deciding factor in your purchase.
Pros:- 7.1 surround sound
- Multiplatform compatibility
- Customization software
- Multiple source audio mixing
- Gaudy design
- Only 8-12 hours of battery life
- Expensive
For all of your audio needs
It might be another gaudy headset with low battery life, but the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum is good for just about anything.
Bottom lineOne of the best PS4 wireless headsets all-around is easily the SteelSeries Arctis 7. It's pretty affordable, stylish, and provides a wonderful audio experience whether you're concerned with its microphone or headset itself. On top of that, it has one of the best battery lives out there and comes with customization software to make it even better. It's one of the best PS4 headsets, period.
If you're looking for something a little more premium, you can't beat the Astro A50. Questionable-looking design aside, its 7.1 surround sound is crystal clear. Just be prepared for its higher price tag because of this. Wireless headsets don't come cheap, and though you aren't always paying for quality, it's a good indicator in this regard that you're getting a top-of-the-line product. Regardless of what you choose, you'll be having a good experience on your PS4 or PS4 Pro.
While the absolute best quality audio is found on a good wired headset, not everyone wants to deal with all of the cables that come with them. So wired might be the best, but wireless can still provide an excellent audio experience, and you can't go wrong with any of the above wireless headsets.
When you buy a wireless headset, you'll also want to consider forward compatibility with the PS5. Buying a specialty headset that only works with the PS4 may not be the best idea if you'll be moving over to Sony's latest console very soon. Instead, you may want to consider examining a list of the best PS5 headsets and making sure whatever you pick up is compatible with both consoles.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Jennifer Locke is Android Central's Games Editor and has been playing video games nearly her entire life. You can find her posting pictures of her dog and obsessing over PlayStation and Xbox, Star Wars, and other geeky things on Twitter @JenLocke95.
Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on PlayStation on Android Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert.