Experience Sony's Tempest 3D audio with these comfortable and stylish headsets.
ByWill Greenwald
Will Greenwald
Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics
My Experience
I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
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April 13, 2022
- RELATED:
- Best Gaming Headsets
- Best Wireless Gaming Headsets
Our Top 5 Picks
The Official PS5 Wireless Headset Jump ToDetails Best for Tight Budgets Jump ToDetails Best for Flexible Wireless Sound Jump ToDetails Best for Quality ANC With Gaming Features Jump ToDetails Best for Head-Shaking Haptic Feedback Jump ToDetails 
Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for PlayStation 5
Astro Gaming A10 (Gen 2)
Razer Barracuda X
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset
Razer Kraken V3 Pro
If you’ve been lucky enough to buy a PlayStation 5, you know that the console produces impressive audio. Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio tech pipes out simulated surround sound to your headphones—if you have a compatible pair, that is. If you don’t, now’s a good time to shop for a gaming headset. A headset offers a better audio experience than your TV speakers (unless you have a really good soundbar), and its microphone enables much clearer voice chat than the tiny one in the DualSense controller.
Not every gaming headset works with the PS5, though. The system supports 3.5mm wired connections, but once you start dealing with wireless audio, compatibility issues arrive. For example, PlayStation and Xbox deal with USB transmitters in different ways that require different headset versions, and connecting to an audio source with Bluetooth is even more complicated.
Still, a gaming headset is worth the investment, and these are the best PlayStation 5-compatible headsets we've tested.
Our Experts Have Tested 74 Products in the Headphones Category in the Past Year
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.See how we test.
Table of Contents
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for PlayStation 5
The Official PS5 Wireless Headset
3.5 Good
The Pulse 3D is Sony's official wireless gaming headset for the PlayStation 5. It's easy to set up, looks good, and has strong audio performance. Its pinhole mic doesn't offer the best voice quality, though.
PROS
- Strong sound, with good bass
- Works with PS5, PS4, PC, and Mac
- Stylish design
CONS
- Pinhole microphone doesn't sound as good as a boom mic
- Slightly weak in the higher frequencies
- Uncomfortable fit for people with large ears
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Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for PlayStation 5 Review
Astro Gaming A10 (Gen 2)
Best for Tight Budgets
4.5 Outstanding
Astro Gaming's newest wired headset takes the already excellent A10 and makes it feel and sound even better, while keeping the same $60 price. Just plug the lightweight, comfortable headset into a DualSense controller, and enjoy robust sound.
PROS
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Well-padded earcups
- Strong audio performance
- Good microphone
- Affordable
CONS
- Boom mic isn't replaceable or swappable
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Astro Gaming A10 (Gen 2) Review
Razer Barracuda X
Best for Flexible Wireless Sound
4.5 Outstanding
The Razer Barracuda X is one of the best wireless headsets we've seen for under $100, and its USB-C transmitter works with the PlayStation 5 (plus PCs, Android phones, and the Nintendo Switch). Its boom mic delivers better voice chat capabilities than the Pulse 3D headset.
PROS
- USB-C dongle works with PC, Android phones, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation
- Strong audio performance
- Clear microphone
- Light, comfortable fit
- Bundled with lots of cables
CONS
- No carrying case or pouch for cables or dongle
- No Bluetooth or wireless connectivity for Xbox or iPhone
- Doesn't feel quite as solid as other Razer headsets
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Razer Barracuda X Review
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset
Best for Quality ANC With Gaming Features
4.0 Excellent
The QuietComfort 35 II has been replaced by the QuietComfort 45 as Bose's best noise-cancelling headphones, but it still holds up on its own—and the gaming headset version sweetens the deal. On its own, the QuietComfort 35 II is an excellent pair of Bluetooth headphones that blocks out most noise. As a gaming headset, its 3.5mm cable with an attached boom mic adds wired, gaming-focused functionality.
PROS
- Nearly top-notch noise cancellation
- Excellent sound and voice quality
- Useful PC controller with volume wheel
- QuietComfort 35 II still holds up as great headphones years after release
CONS
- Headphones are a four-year-old model with no internal upgrades
- Limited controls in app
- No spatial audio processing license included or built into PC controller
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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset Review
Razer Kraken V3 Pro
Best for Head-Shaking Haptic Feedback
4.0 Excellent
The Razer Kraken V3 Pro is unique in that it rattles your head. This doesn't mean its bass is overwhelming; the headset features Razer's HyperSense haptic motors that physically vibrate against your ears to simulate subwoofer-like rumble. The feature is pretty hit or miss, but even without HyperSense, the Kraken V3 Pro is a great-sounding, great-feeling headset with RGB lighting.
PROS
- Full, well-balanced sound
- Clear microphone
- Good simulated surround sound with THX Spatial Audio
- Comfortable fit
CONS
- HyperSense haptic feedback throws off the audio balance and direction sense, and feels uncomfortable
- Lacks Bluetooth
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Learn More
Razer Kraken V3 Pro Review
Buying Guide: The Best PlayStation 5 Gaming Headsets
PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series X: Next-Gen Consoles Face off This Holiday
Learn More About the PlayStation 5
Sony PlayStation 5 Review
The Best PlayStation 5 Games
The PS Plus Collection: 20 PS4 Classics on the PS5, Ranked
Recommended by Our Editors
The Best Audiophile Headphones for 2024
The Best Bluetooth Headsets for 2024
The Best Headsets and Headphones for Your Home Office
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Editors' Choice
I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
Read Will's full bio
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