The Best & Worst Gaming Headsets of 2019!

Today we’re looking at the best gaming headsets of 2019. We will also have alternatives for those who don’t need or use a microphone often. Now this year was actually pretty decent for gaming audio, especially when it comes to wireless headsets as technology got better, but let’s remember that none of these models are perfect.

All right, so I’m going to start off with the best surprise gaming headset, as I was not expecting the Cooler Master MH751 and MH752 to to be that good. They were launched in 2018, but only discovered by us in 2019, which is why I’m including them in this video. They are among the most comfortable headsets to ever hit the gaming sector, with minimal clamping force, soft and deep ear cushions, and a light frame so you can wear them forever. Also they have the best sounding microphone for its price class of $59 USD. This is the most natural sounding value oriented gaming headset that I’ve ever heard. There is no processing, no compression, not too much bass in my vocals, it just sounds really good. They are not bass heavy, have wonderful clarity, a semi-open soundstage, and since the mic is removable and they don’t look ridiculous on your head, it’s a fine pair to wear in public too. Don’t forget the MH752 actually comes with the USB dongle for those using older motherboards with ancient sound processing.

While the above is one of my favourite headsets of 2019, there was also a bunch of bad headsets that launched this year, and here’s my collection of crap:

What happened with Logitech? The G935 refresh brought back the outdated design, pointless RGB that drains battery life, a terribly loose volume wheel, macro buttons on the headset, I mean who thought this would be a good idea in 2019? It actually uses a headset frame from 2015, which shows a clear lack of innovation. Also, the mic does not sound any good and the battery life is terrible. However, they do sound really amazing, with powerful and clean output and one of the best surround sound modes. If they can fix everything else about the headset, while retaining the drivers, only then would I recommend the G900 wireless lineup of headsets. Until then, I will keep waiting for something actually good to come out.

Sennheiser is also on my crap list. The GSP 670 is way too expensive. They really should ditch the terrible frame design that is bulky, uncomfortable, and looks ridiculous and is also heavy. They have so much potential, the wireless drivers are best-in-class with fantastic audio delivery. It has a pretty decent microphone as well, and a powerful software suite that is actually pretty fun to use when it’s not crashing. Sennheiser did launch the GSP 370 with a much more comfortable frame and amazing sound, but the microphone is not as good as the GSP 670. And while they are almost half the price, that doesn’t make them a good value. They have a terrible microphone quality, crackles and audio distortions, microphone disconnections, a silly dongle, and certain features like mic sidetone and noise cancellation are actually disabled on the GSP 370.

Next up we have the Corsair Virtuoso Wireless RGB, which was a great standout product in the wireless arena. This is a headset with an impressive list of features. First, it’s one of the only headsets with a USB Type-C connector. The mechanics of all the controls is wonderful, with smooth resistance on the volume wheel, a removable microphone, and incredible build quality. However, they didn’t get the memo on the glossy sides. This is the best sounding wireless microphone of the year, but comfort wise this headset will not be for everyone. The ear cushions are not very deep and my ears do make contact with that internal wall. Sound quality is passable for a wireless pair, but the resolution is just not on the same level as the GSP wireless line, but at least I’ve had zero issues with the connectivity. They don’t crash my PC and they work fine out of the box.

The next category would be the best sound, and this one easily goes to the HyperX Cloud Orbit S. The reason for that is simple: Planar magnetic drivers that are extremely powerful, deliver insanely satisfying deep base hits, very good detail definition, and lots of options for 3D experiences using the built-in gyroscope. This is one of the few headsets that I actually enjoy in surround mode, the soundstage expansion is natural without losing the default layering in stereo. They plug in via USB Type-C which is a bonus, and you can also run them off a 3.5mm input. Having said that, don’t forget that they are $300 USD, so pretty expensive, the microphone quality sucks for the price point, the clamping force is too tight, and this whole Waves Nx head tracking technology is just a gimmick.

Now it’s time to redeem the entire gaming headset category with the best all-around gaming headsets, the Fnatic REACT. This is the definition of a proper barebones gaming headset with solid build quality, decent removable microphone, excellent memory foam ear cushions for bass trapping and passive isolation, and drivers that are tuned for clarity and close soundstage. This gives you a competitive advantage because you can hear the audio cues that actually matter. It’s a properly priced gaming headset that’s not trying to add RGB, a ton of accessories, software tuning, replaceable ear cups, etc. Ad for $69 USD this is an easy recommendation.

While the above is a good headset, what about people who need all the accessories? Well for under $100 USD I would say the new Logitech G Pro headset is a decent candidate. They are built very well, they are comfortable with proper ear cushions, all the cables are detachable, and there is even a USB dongle. Logitech really provides itself on their driver tuning, with the most natural sound delivery, and they sound very good to my ears. I will say don’t fall for the G Pro X headset because you’re just paying $30 more for an identical headset, with all the same accessories, but you do get the pointless Blue Voice functionality in the software that makes your mic sound worse.

The final recommendation would be to maybe just build your own. There are so many microphone options, the V-MODA BoomPro sounds incredible and fits into any removable 3.5mm jack on the headphone. The Phillips SHP9500 is my recommendation for natural open sound and incredible microphone quality. There are also many options from ModMic that attach literally to anything because of that magnetic clamp system, so you can pop that in whenever you need the coms and remove it whenever you just want to use your proper regular headphones. Okay, so there you have it, our best and worst gaming headsets of the year.