Best Headsets for Streaming (2025) – Gaming & Studio Cans!  

Author: James Potts | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

With the rise of platforms like Twitch and YouTube, streaming, a once-niche subcategory of gaming, has exploded in popularity in recent years. The idea of watching someone else play video games might not be appealing to all, but to those who enjoy it, streaming has become a lucrative and enjoyable profession. 

So for those who actually are doing the gaming, the setup is everything. You must think about the presentation – your background, camera, and headphones. If you’re thinking about getting into streaming yourself, it’s important to consider the best headphones for the job. 

But, not only do you need to hear the game, and any audio input from your watchers, but you need to be able to talk (and be heard!). Your commentary and interaction with your fans are of utmost importance when streaming – so the microphone needs to be up to the job as well.

That leads us to headsets – headphones and microphone combined. In this article, we’ll go through some of the best headsets for streaming currently available, and discuss their benefits, drawbacks, and best use cases.

Mic Quality - Keep Your Expectations in Check!

When considering which headset is right for you, it’s important to remember that the microphone in a headphone-microphone combined headset will never match the quality of a standalone, purpose-built mic. 

Sure, you can get pretty good sound quality from a lot of headsets. But if audio clarity and sonic perfection are important to your stream, you might want to consider a standalone mic (even a relatively cheap one) to use in tandem with your headphones.

Keep your expectations realistic when it comes to headset mic quality!

7 Best Headsets for Streaming or Gaming

1. EPOS | Sennheiser GAME ONE

Design, Features, and Comfort

This stylish and comfortable headset from Sennheiser is sold under EPOS, a relatively unknown brand, but one that has a wealth of experience when it comes to sound and audio. 

This is more than evident in the EPOS Sennheiser GAME ONE headset, which boasts incredible sound quality all across the spectrum thanks to a neutral frequency response. 

The headphones themselves are very comfortable. Velour padding on the ear pads provide a soft, cushioned contact with the head and won’t press glasses arms into the temples for spectacled gamers.

For input, the GAME ONE uses a split 3.5mm TRS cable, with one jack for the microphone and one for the headphones. This can cause a little bit of legwork if you don’t have enough free inputs on your computer, and you may have to look into adapters if you only have the one input available. 

Headphones

Referring back to that neutral frequency response, which doesn’t over- or under-emphasize any aspect of the spectrum, the GAME ONE sounds fantastic. 

Sure, the bass may sound a little thin at times, but that’s probably just because it’s not boosted, as opposed to other headsets which have a tendency to overemphasize the bass. 

Besides, you can manipulate your EQ any way you like, or simply allow the game to dictate the audio balance the way it was intended. 

The open-back headphone design means a fuller, richer soundscape, but little to no isolation. This means background noise can and will leak through – both ways! So be aware that you will be able to hear what’s going on around you, and those around you will be able to hear what you hear. 

Microphone

When it comes to the microphone, the EPOS Sennheiser GAME ONE is lacking a little in oomph. Because it is a relatively low-powered unit, the area that suffers the most is the low-end pickup. 

This can leave bassy-voiced gamers sounding a little thin, and softly-spoken, quiet-voiced streamers may have to shout a little (or boost the gain on their computer) in order to get a consistently good level. 

The stem is nicely flexible though, and offers a good degree of manipulability in order to get the positioning just right.

Overall Verdict

Overall, the GAME ONE headset is more than up to the job for most streamers. The headphone audio quality is excellent; the microphone leaves a little to be desired. 

But, if you know what you’re doing, and have the software at your disposal, you should be able to tweak your EQ to iron out any creases that may cause your GAME ONE experience to feel lacking. 


2. Philips SHP9600MB

Design, Features, and Comfort

The Philips SPH9500 were the stuff of legend – loved all over by music fans and gamers alike. Well now Philips are back with the SHP9600MB, an upgrade on the old favorites with a sleek design and a detachable mic.

The build quality on these things is just outstanding. Although they are mainly plastic, they feel sturdy and durable, and there is sufficient padding on the headband and around the earpads to make the SHP9600MBs so comfortable you could wear them while streaming for hours and not even notice it. 

However, some users claim that the lack of any real clamping pressure from the headband can cause the SHP9600MBs to feel a little loose. I didn’t notice this at all (big head!), but it’s definitely something to consider if you tend to be quite animated and move your head around alot. The last thing you want is your headset flying off mid-stream!

Headphones

First off, the sound quality is excellent. Although, like any pair of open-backed headphones, the bass does suffer a little bit, the overall sound of the SHP9600 is more than enough to make up for it. 

The frequency range is balanced and the mids and trebles stand out nicely, but not without a small sacrifice on the low end. 

Of course, as they are open-backed, they offer no isolation or noise cancellation. Sound will leak both in and out of the headphones while they’re in use. For many, this is not a major issue, but something to bear in mind. 

Microphone

The microphone is detachable and comes as part of the attachment cables which plug into your PC. Again, these are two 3.5mm TRS jacks and so will require two free inputs – which means an adaptor again if you don’t have that available. 

In terms of quality, many users complain of a ‘fuzziness’ to the mic pickup that I personally didn’t find all that noticeable, and overall I thought the quality of the microphone audio pickup was acceptable. 

There is a thinness to the quality of the microphone, and it could stand to use a little bass boost where possible. A lot of these complaints may stem from the fact there is no wind guard on the mic apart from the small mesh grilles which sit inside the unit.

The unit itself is on a flexible stem that can be moved to sit right in front of your mouth for better pickup. It holds its position well and is easy to use. 

Overall Verdict

The SHP9600MBs are a good pair of headphones with an OK mic. Many people love the open-back soundstage – an airy, clean sound that compliments certain genres of music such as classical and acoustic, but doesn’t do much for bass-heavy genres. 

For streaming and gameplay, this shouldn’t pose much of an issue, but coupled with the less-than-perfect microphone, it’s definitely something to take into consideration. 


3. Logitech G Pro X

Design, Features, and Comfort

Logitech is known for its high-quality, high-spec electronics products, and the G Pro X headset is no exception. Logitech acquired Blue, who make the Yeti line of microphones, in 2018, and they’ve used that audio technology in this product to produce a much better than average mic on a gaming headset. 

The build quality is great; the G Pro X feels sturdy and durable and has a high degree of bendability and flex to suit any head size and to sit comfortably around the neck when not in use. 

The frame is metal, which is robust, but does add a little weight to the product that may be noticeable after a long gaming session. 

The leatherette earpads have a tendency to get a little hot, but they offer better sound quality in terms of a seal when it comes to bass frequencies. Velour pads come as part of the package as an alternative for those who value comfort above audio quality, or those who wear glasses.

For connection, the G Pro X comes with a 3.5mm TRS input on a braided cable with inline controls, and a shorter cable for use with a mobile device. However, if that’s not your style, Logitech also offers a wireless version of the G Pro X, which uses a 2.4 GHz USB dongle for Bluetooth connectivity.

Headphones

The G Pro X do a good job of isolating sound, but there’s no active noise cancellation, so louder noises will bleed through into your listening experience. 

In terms of sound quality, bass, as expected, does lack a little bit. This is partly due to the open-backed design, but de-emphasis of low end frequencies is common in gaming headsets in an attempt to offer a balanced soundstage for game dynamics. 

But when it comes to sound customization, the G Pro X headset goes the extra mile with the Logitech G Hub software, which is free to download, and offers a plethora of options for you to manipulate and tweak both your headphone and microphone audio profile to sound exactly how you want. 

Microphone

The G Pro X microphone falls a little short of the mark, unfortunately. I found it made my voice sound thin, lacking in bass and mids, and with a slight overemphasis on the high end. 

Usually, this is a good thing for speech pickup, as it helps to make vocalization clearer to the listener. But if you’ve got a deep voice, and the majority of your speech is being lost due to a lack of low-end pickup, then overall you’ll sound quieter and less distinct. 

This is where Blue Vo!ce comes in. You can activate it in the G Hub software to instantly improve the quality of the microphone and boost your voice across the audio spectrum or in specific frequencies. 

It has a high-pass filter to cut out sibilance, noise reduction for background hiss, and many other options to further tweak your voice. The difference is instantly noticeable, and chances are you’ll find yourself using the G Hub software and Blue Vo!ce features every time you stream.

Overall Verdict

When looked at (and listened to) in isolation, the G Pro X definitely falls short in a few areas – bass resonance and microphone output. But, thanks to the G Hub software, both of those things, and a whole host of other things, can be rescued and tweaked to your satisfaction.

Bearing that in mind, the G Pro X make an excellent choice for a streaming headset.


4. Audio-Technica BPHS1

Design, Features, and Comfort

The BPHS1 from Audio-Technica is a broadcast-quality headset with a cardioid mic. It differs from other headsets on this list in that it requires some extra equipment in order to set it up, but those extra steps might just give it the edge when it comes to microphone quality. 

The first major difference with the BPHS1 is that it requires an XLR input – USB and 3.5mm jacks won’t cut it. For this, you’ll need an audio interface, which plugs into your computer via USB, which you can then plug the headset’s XLR cable into. This Focusrite Scarlett interface is popular, affordable, and easy to use. 

In terms of comfort, the BPHS1s are extremely forgiving to all head sizes, and the padding on the headband does an excellent job of protecting the top of the head from any unwanted pressure, even over long periods of time. 

The earcups rotate on every axis and the padding is sufficiently soft, though not all that breathable. In warm conditions or over an extended streaming session, you might find your ears getting hot and sweaty. 

Headphones

But connectivity specifics aside, how does the headset actually sound? Well, it sounds incredible. Because it was designed for broadcast, it doesn’t skimp on any level when it comes to sound quality. 

The frequencies are balanced; meaty, responsive bass, unobtrusive mids and clear, sharp treble. All this inbuilt quality, coupled with the extra level of control added with the required preamp makes this headset a standout when it comes to audio quality.

Microphone

When it comes to the microphone, we know from experience that gaming headsets aren’t exactly lauded for their attention to excellent mics. With the BPHS1, this is not the case. The microphone is one of the best we’ve ever tested – well worth the money. 

This is because it's a small version of a dynamic microphone, as in the kind that performers use on stage, as opposed to a condenser. This results in a level of background noise suppression that is unrivaled in your run-of-the-mill gaming headsets, thanks to off-axis noise rejection.

The stem is flexible and rotates on the left earcup – staying exactly where it’s been put when you move it out the way. It even rotates fully, so you can flip the headset around to have the mic protrude on the other side of your face if you so wish. 

Overall Verdict

Not only does it score great on sound quality and mic quality, it’s super-light and comfortable to wear – perfect for those three-hour streaming sessions. It’s tough, flexible, and the headband has a very impressive stretch to accommodate all head sizes.

Although it’s on the expensive side of streaming headsets, it’s definitely worth the money. 


5. Logitech G733 Lightspeed

Design, Features, and Comfort

If you’re focused on style and image for your live streaming, then look no further than the Logitech G733 Lightspeed for a headset that will definitely deliver on that front. 

It comes in an array of eye-catching colors, a memorable angular shape, and features RGB light strips on the front of the ear covers for that extra unique touch – although be warned, these lights are slightly visible from the corner of your eye, especially in a dark room or if you wear glasses, which can be distracting. 

They’re wireless too, so you won’t have to worry about XLR interfaces or 3.5mm TRS inputs, or getting tangled up in however many yards of cables. It seemed like Logitech had comfort and style in mind when they designed the G733s. 

They’re made of super-lightweight plastic so you barely even realize you’re wearing them. And the ski strap-style headband is adjustable and comfortable, cushioning the head strap over your head so you barely even feel it. The ear covers are mesh and leatherette, which works great on a comfort level, but doesn’t function perfectly for creating a seal for noise cancellation.

For Bluetooth connectivity, a USB dongle is required, which is a bit cumbersome, but I got used to it pretty quickly. On a laptop, it might get in the way a little bit more, but on a console or in a PC tower, you wouldn’t even notice it.

Headphones

When it comes to sound quality, you can always expect good things from Logitech. The G733s offer a well-balanced sound profile that doesn’t overly exaggerate the bass or the highs, resulting in a pleasant well-rounded audio experience that doesn’t deteriorate at high volumes, thanks to Logitech’s Pro G drivers. 

In fact, the G733 is one of the few headsets I’ve tested in recent years that does a decent job of respectfully ignoring the bass frequencies. If that sounds like a strange thing to say, what I mean by that is that there is no massive over or underemphasis. 

There is a very slight minimizing of the low end, just to prevent distortion at high gain levels, I believe, but overall, bass comes through sounding natural, rich, and full, without being dominating. 

Noise cancellation is not that remarkable, but it still does its job to a certain point. Standard background noises were eliminated pretty easily, but there is no Active Noise Cancellation, meaning the headphones don’t actually work to block out any incoming sounds.

Microphone

Unfortunately, the microphone is nothing to write home about. Lacking in low end and midrange pickup, the mic does a great job of making you sound slightly tinny and thin, but on the plus side, you will sound clear and consistent. 

Thankfully, if you’re using a PC, this can be remedied with the G Hub software and Blue Vo!ce, which allows detailed manipulation of a digital EQ, and a range of effects and customizable options that boost the quality and volume of the microphone.

Overall Verdict

The G733s look great, they sound great, and with the use of the G Hub software, you can sound great too. Sadly, for console gamers, these might not be the best option for streaming as the G Hub software is only available when connected to a computer. 


6. HyperX Cloud II

Design, Features, and Comfort

Following on from the massive success and popularity of the HyperX Cloud, the second iteration of this much loved affordable gaming headset packs even more bang for your buck. 

The HyperX Cloud II is a step up from its predecessor, and manages to improve on what many believed was already perfection. It does this with its host of new features, such as 7.1 surround sound, when used with its USB wire (which features inline controls), and the option to connect via 3.5mm jack to phones and tablets. 

A wireless option is also available. But perhaps the biggest upgrade the Cloud II boasts is the noise- and echo-canceling microphone. As we know, microphones on gaming headsets often leave a lot to be desired, but the Cloud II does a good job of making us almost forget that.

In terms of comfort, there’s not much to criticize – at all. Made mostly of super-lightweight aluminum, the Cloud II has leatherette-covered memory foam ear pads that sit snugly around the ears and exert minimal pressure on the side of the head.

Headphones

For controls, the headphones have a volume dial on the edge of the right headphone, and power and mute buttons on the left. In terms of sound quality, the Cloud II leaves little to complain about. 

Using the USB cable (on PC, Mac, or console) instantly provides you with the 7.1 surround sound, without any software to install, which vastly enhances the gaming experience. Every sound is rich and textured, with no noticeable lacking or over-emphasis on any part of the frequency spectrum. 

A well-balanced (and perhaps a little boosted) bass is nicely complimented by crisp, clear mids and highs for a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive listening experience. 

Microphone

As I mentioned earlier, the microphone makes use of noise- and echo-canceling features, which provide the user with a super-sharp speaking voice through the mic. 

There is a slight deemphasis on the bass frequencies, as is the case with most gaming headset mics, to counteract the proximity of a deep voice talking straight into a mic at close range. This can cause a slight tinniness, especially for those of us with deeper voices.

The stem is adjustable and holds its position well, and the mic wind cover does wonders for cutting out sibilance and breathiness. 

Overall Verdict

There’s really not much to moan about with the Cloud IIs. Sure, the mic is lacking a little in the bass region, but in the reality of day-to-day use, it’s not all that noticeable, and you could still do a lot worse when it comes to gaming headset microphones. 

The comfort is supreme, and the audio quality of the headphones, simplicity of the setup, and very reasonable price tag place this headset as a clear frontrunner. 


7. SteelSeries Arctis 7+

Design, Features, and Comfort

Following the well-received Arctis 7, the Arctis 7+ from SteelSeries is a noticeable step-up in terms of ease of use and comfort. It’s wireless too, so no messing about with a tangle of different cables and worrying about if you’ve got the right input. 

Its appearance is sheer class – available in all black or black & white, the all-plastic design is lightweight and comfortable. The 7+ utilizes a ski strap-style headband, similar to the Logitech G733, which effectively suspends the headset above your head, with the soft band doing most of the cushioning and lifting.

This design, coupled with the lightweight plastic, makes the 7+ an absolute dream to wear. Despite the shallow depth of the ear pad cushioning, the 7+ still manages to tick all the boxes in terms of comfort and wearability. You can have these things on your head for hours at a time and your ears won’t get sore.

You won’t feel pressure on the top of your head, and despite the fact that your ears will probably touch the cloth covering the driver (thanks to the shallow cushioning), you still somehow barely notice you’re wearing headphones.

Controls for volume and mute are on the left ear cup, along with a USB-C charging port, and a standard 3.5mm input jack to effectively convert these wireless headphones to a wired pair for use with devices that are not Bluetooth enabled. 

On the right ear cup you’ll find the power button and a volume dial for mixing between game sounds and chat. 

A wireless USB-C dongle is also included to make using the 7+ headset with consoles easier. Just plug it in and your headset should connect automatically. The dongle is small, but can be restrictive on certain consoles if you wish to use the second USB-A input as well.

Headphones

When it comes to sound quality, the Arctis 7+ really is pretty good, despite maybe a slight overeagerness in terms of bass frequencies. When listening to music, the thumping low end can be a little distracting, and drown out the mid and high range frequencies.

When gaming, the heavy bass is less distracting, but may cause problems if in-game music overrides in-game sound effects. The real beauty of the SteelSeries product line is the tweakability of the EQ via the SteelSeries GG software, which used to be known as SteelSeries Sonar.

In the audio suite of the free software, you can adjust countless parameters which will have a direct impact on both the audio you hear through the headphones, and the speech the microphone will pick up. 

There are even a bunch of preloaded presets available that are fine-tuned to some well-known games such as Minecraft, CS:GO, Fortnite, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and more. 

Microphone

The microphone on the Arctis 7+ is neatly concealed inside the left earcup and easily extended when you want to use it. This prevents it getting lost, broken or damaged if it was neither retractable or removable. It’s a nice feature that not only looks good, but works well to prolong the life of the headset. 

The mic is fitted with a red LED which lights up when you’re muted, so you can easily check mid-game without having to pause or put down your controller. 

In terms of sound quality, the Arctis 7+’s ClearCast mic does a good job of picking up and projecting your voice in a clear, easy to hear way without overly boosting the gain and incurring distortion. 

There’s a pretty effective noise-reduction feature which uses AI to block out any unwanted intrusive sounds, but if that doesn't work for you, you can head to the GG software suite for further fine-tuning.

Although the 7+ is a wireless headset, it’s worth mentioning that the overall sound quality of the microphone does improve drastically when using a wired 3.5mm connection. 

Overall Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ is a solid headset for streaming. Its comfort is almost unmatched, and although there are some slight flaws with its sound quality from the headphones, the GG software allows you to iron out any wrinkles that don’t suit your taste.


Final Thoughts

When it comes to buying a headset for streaming, there are many things to bear in mind. Comfort, sound quality, and mic quality are all clustered somewhere near the top of that list – but what makes a headset work for your friend might make it unusable for you.

You have to bear in mind your needs when spending a lot of money on what is essentially a pair of headphones.

If the microphone aspect of your headset is crucial, I would always recommend opting for a standalone mic, purely for sound quality. XLR is preferred, as the quality will be superior, but even a USB mic, such as a Blue Yeti, will perform better than the best combined headset microphone.

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About James Potts

James is an amateur guitarist and home-recording enthusiast. He loves all things music related - writing songs, playing in a band, and finding the best ways to listen to it. It all interests him, from the history of acoustic guitars, to the latest Bluetooth headphones, to his (ever-growing) collection of vinyl records.

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