Headsets & audio
Gaming headsets
Need a headset you can wear all night? Start with the best gaming headset picks, go wireless if cables annoy you, or try IEMs if over-ear cups get too warm. I use a Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed.
15 articles
Comfort and a decent mic matter more than surround-sound badges. If the clamp hurts after an hour, no EQ setting will fix it.
How to pick a gaming headset
1
Fit before the graph
The ear should sit inside the pad. Clamp pain and heat are reasons to leave over-ear, not reasons to EQ harder. If it still hurts, read the earbuds and IEM pages.
2
A mic you can mute
A boom near the mouth beats an earbud mic in a noisy room. If you rarely talk, a mute you can see still matters more than a surround mode. If the headset mic isn’t enough, a USB mic is the next step.
3
Wired if you sit still
A wire has no battery and no radio to get wrong. Wireless is for a cable you will actually trip on. On PC, that wireless should be a 2.4 GHz dongle during a match, not Bluetooth.
4
Skip the extras until the headset itself is right
A DAC is optional on a USB or dongle headset. Impedance matters on some headphones and almost never on a USB gaming set. EQ is a mix tool after the hardware already fits.
Headset guides by topic
Best place to start
Fit and form
Mic and the rest of the path
Tools and related pages
Common questions
What is the best gaming headset?
Pick a wired headset if you sit still at your desk, or a 2.4 GHz wireless one if a cable gets in the way. Comfort and a clear mic matter most. The buyer's guide has specific picks.
Is a wireless headset worse than wired?
Not really, if you use a 2.4 GHz dongle. Wired never needs charging, while wireless gives you freedom to move. Avoid Bluetooth for gaming because it adds delay.
Do I need a DAC or audio interface for gaming?
Usually not. USB and wireless headsets already have one built in. You only need one for high-impedance headphones or a separate XLR microphone.
What if my headset hurts my ears?
Adjust it so your ears sit fully inside the cups and the clamp isn't too tight. If it still hurts or gets hot, try a lighter headset, earbuds or IEMs instead.
All headsets & audio articles
Gear
What a gaming audio interface is
A gaming audio interface is the box that converts an XLR microphone into a computer input and plays the computer back through headphones.
October 20, 2026 · 10 min read
Gear
What a headset for FPS games has to do
An FPS headset is the connection the machine accepts and cups you can wear. The game already places the step in stereo.
October 20, 2026 · 10 min read
Gear
What an IEM for gaming has to do
Are in-ear monitors good for gaming? Here's when they beat a headset. The plug has to carry the mic if you talk.
October 20, 2026 · 11 min read
Gear
What a noise cancelling gaming headset has to do
Is a noise cancelling gaming headset worth it? When ANC helps, when it adds hiss, and three good picks.
October 20, 2026 · 9 min read
Gear
What a USB gaming microphone is
A USB gaming microphone is a desk capsule with the converter in the body. You still hear the game in a headset. The room decides dynamic or condenser.
October 20, 2026 · 10 min read
Gear
Gaming DAC (2026): skip it for a dongle headset, buy Fulla or a $9 dongle if the jack is the problem
A 2026 DAC guide that names Schiit Fulla at $109 and Apple's USB-C headphone adapter at $9 — and tells you when a Cloud III or PRO X 2 does not need either.
October 19, 2026 · 3 min read
Gear
My setup: BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed
The best gaming headsets in 2026, wired and wireless, plus the one I actually wear every day.
October 19, 2026 · 6 min read
Gear
Best wireless gaming headset (2026): PRO X 2, Cloud III Wireless, Nova 7 Gen 2
A 2026 wireless-headset guide that names Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED at $229.99, HyperX Cloud III Wireless at $149.99.
October 19, 2026 · 4 min read
Gear
How to set a game EQ
How to set a game EQ: start with the in-game audio sliders, then tweak your headset EQ so footsteps and callouts stay clear.
October 19, 2026 · 10 min read
Gear
Gaming earbuds (2026): Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed, GameBuds, and when a boom is still the mic
A 2026 gaming-earbuds guide that names the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed from $129.99 and SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, plus the dongle-vs-Bluetooth rule.
October 19, 2026 · 3 min read
Gear
How to stop a headset from hurting
Headset hurting after an hour? Find the pressure spot and fix it: clamp, pads, band or glasses.
October 19, 2026 · 11 min read
Gear
What headset impedance means
Headset impedance (ohms) is how hard headphones are to drive. Under about 64 ohms runs fine on a PC, phone or controller; 250+ ohms may need an amp.
October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Gear
How a headset microphone picks up sound
A headset mic turns air at the capsule into the signal the call hears. A boom puts that capsule by your mouth. Official maker pages name the pattern.
October 19, 2026 · 11 min read
Gear
How to set up a headset on PC
Plug the headset into the jack or the dongle you will play on, then set that same device as the Windows output and the input.
October 19, 2026 · 11 min read
Gear
Open back vs closed back headsets
Closed-back cups are sealed. Open-back cups are vented, so the match leaks out and the room leaks in. A room with other people wants the seal.
October 19, 2026 · 10 min read