I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent on gaming headsets over the years. The answer is too much, all because it took me too long to give up.
I'm not here to tell you to never buy a gaming headset. I'm just here to say: don't expect it to be good, because it probably won't.
Why gaming headsets aren't up to the task
It's all about priorities
Most gaming headsets are the result of some sort of compromise. This doesn't make them inherently bad, but it does mean they can almost never be as good as a standalone product.
You pay for a pair of headphones and a microphone built into them. Many gamers prefer wireless headsets, but the sound quality suffers. Add to that bloated software, fancy gamer branding, and an audio profile that should fit almost everything… and you often end up with a mediocre product. This makes sense: something has to be done if you're trying to create a product that can do everything at once.
Gaming headsets are made for a very specific type of gamer, and unless you're that person, you probably won't need them. Some get it right, others don't, but the fact is that the focus is almost never on overall sound quality; it's all a matter of ticking certain boxes.
Apart from audio, headset microphones are also physically limited and therefore often don't sound very good. The size and placement of the capsule, combined with noise reduction techniques, often trade clarity for anti-noise artifacts, sometimes resulting in muffled sound.
Some headsets are designed for competitive gaming, e.g. Razer BlackShark V3 Proand some of them are more like jack-of-all-trades headsets. Others like Razer Kraken Kitty V3 ProFocus on the aesthetics and appeal of the streamers. Regardless of priorities, they all have to make compromises to keep gamers comfortable.
There are many alternatives to gaming headsets.
You don't need to have the right setting for your streamer to get good sound.
There's an easy way to avoid the problem of your headset not sounding as good as you'd like. You just need a separate pair of headphones and a microphone.
Personally, I use a decent pair of Audio-Technica headphones and an Antlion Modmic, a plug-in microphone that turns your headphones into a headset without sacrificing audio quality on both ends. Wired and wireless versions are available, and both are much easier on the ears than most gaming headset microphones.
If you do decide to purchase a standalone microphone, you can either buy a microphone arm or leave it on your desk. Keep in mind that environmental factors come into play here. Placement is critical for some models, and choosing a cardioid, supercardioid, or omnidirectional microphone will affect how much background noise the microphone will pick up.
Whether microphone or headphones, the right equalizer is a free upgrade. Take some time to customize the sound to suit your tastes.
The prices will surprise you
You can really save money by going this route.
Having tested my fair share of headsets and headphones, I'll tell you one thing: my $50 Audio-Technica headphones outperform the vast majority of gaming headsets I've tried, including those that cost $150-$250.
However, collecting objective data on this issue is difficult, if not impossible. A sound that is perfect for me may be terrible for someone else. However, the fact is that you can put together a headphone and microphone combo for less than a gaming headset. Often it can be of even better quality.
For comparison I'll use my own hardware:
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One headset that I really liked was SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7priced at $200 for the Gen 2 version; an older model can be found for $110–$125 these days.
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Audio Equipment ATH-M20x usually cost around $50 and in my opinion they sound better in both gaming and music.
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Finally, the wired ModMic costs $55 and up, but you can also purchase a microphone such as Razer Seiren V3 Mini for $36 (on sale) or $60 (MSRP) and still get the best setup.
Bottom line: You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good audio setup.
Need a headset? Choose a good one
Don't go in unprepared.
Look, there's a reason I kept looking for a good headset. I too appreciate the convenience of having one thing that is easy to use and gets the job done.
Of all the headsets I've tried, my favorite was the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, and before that the aforementioned SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. I know there are better headsets out there, but I can only speak from my own experience. That's the problem with headsets – a lot of what you find online will be at least a little subjective.
If you really need a headset, do your research beforehand. Read reviews that include actual microphone recordings, not just written opinions. Look for tests that measure how well a microphone cancels out background noise, such as keyboard clicks, while maintaining the natural sound of your voice.
Read also user reviews. Some will not be real and most will be biased, but you will be able to identify current themes.
It's not about being an audiophile
You don't need to be an expert.
You don't have to be obsessed with sound to strive for something good. I'm not an audiophile, but over the years I've learned to expect more than the minimum, and that's what made me distrust gaming headsets.
The most audible things are the simple ones: voices that seem muffled or harsh, wireless communications that seem out of sync, or soundtracks that sound so flat that they might as well not exist. It's about your own enjoyment and spending your money in a way that provides the best sound quality you can get.
If you really need or want a headset, do your research and don't be afraid to return it and try again if you don't like the end result. But if you're willing to try a headphone and microphone combo, I'm pretty sure you'll be happier with it, while potentially saving money on some other updates.
