Best PS4 headsets 2024

Whether it’s the roar of a supercar’s engine or the shockwave of an explosion, having the best PS4 headsets is vital to your immersion. Sound systems in games have only been improving, with more rich and detailed soundscapes, so long as you’ve got a suitable headset to get the most out of them.

Decent headsets can be picked up for under $50 (£50), but spending more will get you wireless connectivity, better battery life, and of course, premium sound with features like an audio equalizer and noise-cancellation. Look for a headset with a good microphone if you often chat with your friends in the best multiplayer games.

While the PlayStation 5 is now more readily available than at launch, the PS4 still stands as one of the best gaming consoles of all time. Without one of the best PS4 headsets, however, you’ll be missing out on the full potential of the best PS4 games. Below you can find our recommendations for the top products you can get right now, covering all budgets and needs.

The best PS4 headsets for 2024 are:

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – best overall
2. Sony PlayStation 4 Platinum – best dedicated PS4 option
3. Sony Inzone H3 – best budget wired
4. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX – best multi-platform
5. Sony Inzone H9 – best wireless headset
6. HyperX HHSS1C-KB-WT/G Cloud Stinger Core – best budget wireless
7. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 – best cheap PS4 headset

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

The best PS4 headset for most.

Pros

• Premium build and audio quality
• Retractable goose-neck microphone
• Comfortable design

Cons

• High price-point
• Poor battery life

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is undeniably one of the best headsets on the market right now for any platform. Though it comes at a steep price, we found the premium build quality and impeccable sound quality to be worth it.

With 40mm neodymium drivers and a great 10-22kHz frequency band in wireless (upped to 44kHz when used wired), the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless outputs highly detailed, rich sound. From the loud explosions and gunfire in a raging battle, down to quiet conversations between characters, this headset handles it all with ease, offering superb clarity and detail across the full range of sounds you’ll encounter.

The rich soundscape is kicked up a notch when the headset is connected to the wireless base station, where you can tweak the sound profile with individual EQ settings. With a 10-band equalizer, we found it easy to configure the bass and treble to match the type of game you’re playing. Playing an action-packed shooter like Call of Duty Warzone? Amp up the bass for even more punchy explosions and gunshots, taking the best FPS games to new heights.

It’s not all about the audio though, as long gaming sessions with headphones can often take their toll. While the Arctis Nova Pro isn’t the lightest headset on the market, it’s well-balanced and the headband does a great job of relieving pressure. We found it comfortable when spending hours grinding for new loot, for example.

All this power does come at the cost of battery life, which is around 18-20 hours when using the full suite of capabilities in wireless mode. That being said, the hot-swappable battery can be charged in the base station, while another can be in the headset at the same time, meaning your headset is never really out of charge.

However, it’s worth noting that for any of you PC players out there, we noticed some issues where Windows will default to the software’s connections, meaning you’ll need to fiddle around with your sound settings after booting up the PC. It’s not a major flaw, but it can be annoying if you jump onto a game and you can’t hear it at first.

If you like the sound of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless but it’s a bit out of your budget, then there is also a wired version simply called the Arctis Nova Pro. Though it’s not quite as convenient given it’s wired, it does bring the price down. 

2. Sony PlayStation 4 Platinum

The best dedicated PS4 headset.

Sony PS4 Platinum wireless headset specs:

Pros

• Lightweight
• Easy to use with PSVR
• Excellent 3D audio where supported

Cons

• Non-metal parts are fairly fragile
• Pricey

Sony’s Platinum headset has a sleek look with an alloy trim, making for a solid pair of headphones that won’t snap at the first hint of pressure – at least for the metal parts. The headset also works well with the PSVR.

Back when the PS4 was the top dog, the Platinum headset was renowned for its exceptional sound quality, and boasted the ability to store different sound profiles. The headset app used to do this has, sadly, seemingly been delisted, but the headset is still a solid choice if you want a premium 7.1 surround experience with 3D audio that is arguably better than what Sony’s cooked up with the PS5.

Its battery life could certainly be better, promising up to just six hours of play, and we noticed during testing that the non-metal parts of the headset can feel a bit flimsy and too easy to break. Fortunately, this hasn’t broken yet, but for those of you who want a sturdy headset, you may want to look elsewhere.

However, this is enough for anyone who is looking to get their sweat on in Modern Warfare 3, or any of the other new PS4 games releasing on Sony’s system.

3. Sony Inzone H3

The best wired PS4 headset.

Pros

• Good sound quality
• On-ear audio controls
• Lightweight design

Cons

• Build quality
• Weak noise isolation
• Microphone quality

It should be no surprise that Sony, the mind behind the PS4, makes a great wired PS4 headset at a reasonable price. With a mid-range price point, the Sony Inzone H3 offers surprisingly strong audio quality despite the average frequency range, with a crisp and detailed soundscape. It doesn’t compare to the significantly more expensive SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, particularly when it comes to the low bass, but it’s a great contender given the price.

Design-wise, there’s a handy volume control wheel on the back of the left ear. This lets you adjust your volume on the fly, without having to venture into the PlayStation menus that could otherwise result in an untimely death in a competitive FPS, or a race-losing crash in the best racing games.

Unfortunately, we found a fair few issues that were solved by picking up a more expensive headset. Our squad mates said our microphone was fairly disappointing, and through further testing, we found it quite lackluster. Paired with the weak noise isolation, this makes the Sony Inzone H3 a lacking headset overall.

And with a full-plastic construction, the Sony Inzone H3 is lightweight but rather flimsy at times. If you’re prone to taking your headset off in a hurry, or simply want something with a more premium feel, we suggest looking for a more reassuring build.

4. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX

The best multi-platform headset.

Pros

• Decent battery life
• On-ear audio controls
• Works across consoles

Cons

• Connectivity issues
• Superhuman Hearing mode

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX has been designed for the Xbox Series X/S consoles, but we included it on this list for gamers who play across several consoles. It comes with a dongle to switch between USB and Xbox modes, making it compatible with the PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch, too.

With Turtle Beach’s 50mm Nanoclear speakers, you’re in for dynamic and detailed audio, no matter what game you’re playing. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the best open-world games, then the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX will do just that, with strong low ends in particular.

The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX also has Turtle Beach’ Superhuman Hearing mode, which is set to the on-ear mode button by default. While it’s designed to let you hear more subtle sounds, primarily aimed at fans of the best competitive FPS games, it will often reduce the overall quality of the audio. However, if you’re looking for a competitive edge over immersion, then this mode will be of use to you.

Having several audio control options directly on the back of the left ear, including master volume, chat volume, a mode button, and quick Bluetooth pairing, is also very handy. No longer needing to head into the layers of PS4 menus just to tweak volume or balance the sound of your friends when at a party can’t be understated.

It’s worth mentioning that we found some issues with connection, with the dongle having a very limited range, and while the headset is pretty wonderful overall, it’s fairly expensive. We’d argue that it’s a great choice for those who want a brilliant headset for PS4 and PC, but there are better options that work well on the PS4 alone, at a better price. 

5. Sony Inzone H9

The best wireless PS4 headset.

Pros

• On-ear audio controls
• Design to match PS5
• Good active noise canceling

Cons

• Quite bulky
• Muffled microphone

Outside of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the Sony Inzone H9 is the best wireless headset you can get for the PS4. The H9 is similar to the Inzone H3 in terms of construction, though it certainly feels more premium, with a more solid feel and sleek design that justifies the increased price.

The standout feature of the Inzone H9 is the audio quality, rivaling the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro despite the slightly cheaper price. The audio range is varied, with a strong bass that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the spectrum. The high end in particular is remarkably clear and not tinny, a common issue with many headsets. With such a detailed soundstage, you can accurately measure space using audio, such as tracking players’ footsteps or other small details that can elevate your gaming experience on PS4.

The biggest downside is the microphone, which is muffled and lacks clarity. It’s serviceable if you want a microphone to chat with friends, but won’t quite cut it if you’re interested in using it for streaming or other content creation while gaming on your PS4. With a high-end price range, a better mic would be preferable, but you’ll be just fine hanging out with your friends, even if you’re coordinating tactical plays in the best battle royale games.

6. HyperX HHSS1C-KB-WT/G Cloud Stinger Core

The best budget wireless PS4 headset.

Pros

• Good sound quality
• On-ear audio controls
• Lightweight

Cons

• Bulky design
• Muffled microphone
• Battery life

The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but the HyperX HHSS1C-KB-WT/G Cloud Stinger Core is a great budget wireless headset. HyperX has focused on function over form with the Cloud Stinger Core, with surprisingly strong audio quality for such a budget option.

Don’t let the bulky and unassuming plastic frame deceive you, the 40mm drivers packed into the Cloud Stinger Core more than do the job at this price point. The mid-range audio can lack detail and clarity at times, but bass and treble are good compared to other wireless headsets in the same price range.

It also has on-ear audio control for master volume, which is great for PS4 gamers as it lets you adjust your volume without heading into the convoluted menus. However, there are no options to tweak EQ and chat volume.

The microphone quality is also lacking compared to wired headsets around the same price, with a muffled and rather flat vocal range. If you’re dead set on a wireless headset, then the audio quality and microphone quality are well-matched with the asking price, as wireless headphones typically cost more.

7. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

The best budget PS4 headset.

Pros

• On-ear audio controls
• Comfortable design
• Lightweight

Cons

• Cheaper feel
• Bulky design
• Muffled microphone

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is one of the most affordable headsets on the market right now, making it our recommendation for the best wired PS4 headset on a budget.

Despite the full plastic construction, SteelSeries is known for quality products and the Arctis Nova 1 smashes the competition in the low-end price range. Audio can feel a little compressed and lacking detail, particularly when it comes to treble, but it’s more than what you get from other budget options. Footsteps, gunshots, and more will still have a solid impact, with good spatial differentiation, but don’t expect the incredible detail reserved for the top-of-the-range options.

This trend continues with the microphone, which is muffled and can produce significant white noise. If you’re looking to use this microphone for more than simply chatting with friends, we’d recommend you look at the more premium headsets. Nevertheless, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is a surprisingly high-quality headset for a great price.

What brand of PS4 headset is best?

The best brands of PS4 headsets come from SteelSeries, HyperX, Corsair, Turtle Beach, and Sony itself. These brands offer high-quality headsets for PS4 at various prices, striking a great balance between build, audio, and mic quality, all reasonably priced in line with any additional features.

Do any headsets work with PS4?

You can use just about any headset with a PS4, so long as it has a 3.5mm jack to plug into your controller or USB 3.0 to plug into the PS4 console. Bluetooth headsets, however, will not be able to work natively on PS4. When it comes to wireless headphones, like the ones we’ve included in this list, they will feature a USB dongle that needs to be plugged into your console to allow the headset to connect over a 2.4gHz connection.

Can I use a PS4 headset on my PS5?

Yes, you can use PS4 headsets on the PS5. With the handy compatibility between the DualShock 4 remote and the PS5’s DualSense remote, you can use any PS4 headset on your PS5 console.

Like the PS4, PS5 headsets will need either a 3.5mm connection to plug into the controller or a USB 3.0 to plug into the console. This means that any headset you’ve already got for PS4 is compatible, as well as most other headsets you can purchase nowadays.

However, with the new technology in the PS5, there are some that work better on the PS5 than they do on the PS4. Check out our guide to the best PS5 headsets to learn more.

How do we test PS4 headsets?

We test our PS4 headsets on several factors to evaluate the overall value of the product, including:

• Price – headsets can range from as little as $40 to upwards of $300, and even $400. It’s important that these high-end headsets justify the steep asking price with great overall build and audio quality, and other useful features like EQ mixing and more.
• Comfort – If you’re like us, it’s easy to game for hours on end, and your headset should fit comfortably for these long gaming sessions. There’s no point in forking out for an expensive headset if its core design is weak and uncomfortable.
• Wired or wireless – Wireless headsets are typically more expensive than their wired counterparts, though quality can take a hit despite this.
• Battery life – When it comes to wireless headsets, battery life is another major consideration. The last thing you want is to run out of battery while in the middle of a game to then sit around waiting for it to charge.

That covers all our recommendations for the best PS4 headsets for one of our favorite consoles ever. These promise stellar sound that pull you into rich experiences you won’t forget. And for more accessories, check out the best PS4 controllers as your gamepad has just as big an impact on your gaming experience. Happy gaming!