Best Xbox One gaming headsets in 2019

Trying to find the right Xbox One headset can be a tricky proposition. There are so many options out there, it can be hard to tell what’s actually good, and what’s just—you know—there.

Sure, finding something good is simpler here than with a Nintendo Switch, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a number of things to consider. Here are the best options we could find, based on our reviews, as well as research into products we haven’t gotten our hands on yet.

Editor’s note: This list was updated on January 9, 2020 to reflect changes in price.

What you should know about Xbox One headsets

Gaming on an Xbox One introduces audio complications typical of any gaming console. Here, the primary constraint revolves around connection options. The Xbox One features both a number of USB ports, and hardware to support Bluetooth connections, yet it supports neither Bluetooth headsets nor most USB headsets.

Wireless audio on the Xbox One requires a USB dongle, with a few notable exceptions (Some of which are on this list). However, this isn’t always just a plug-and-play situation—only headsets made specifically for the Xbox One will work over a USB connection, whether wired or wireless.

Microsoft’s Xbox has gone through many iterations, but it’s always been a great buy for gamers.

The more common connection method is to use the 3.5mm jack at the bottom of the Xbox One controller. However, this too isn’t quite as simple as it perhaps should be. Older Xbox One controllers don’t have headphone jacks built in, so you’ll need to buy an additional adapter if this is the route you decide to take.

With all that said, there are still plenty of great options—here are some of the best Xbox One headsets.

The best Xbox One headset is the SteelSeries Arctis 9x

If you’re looking for a premium experience tailored from start to finish for the Xbox One, look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis 9x. Built on the same frame as great headsets like the Arctis 7 and Arctis Pro, the 9x variety is one of the only headsets to offer a truly wireless experience on a console.

 

That’s right, this headset uses Xbox Wireless connectivity, previously reserved for console controllers exclusively to connect to the Xbox One. Just pair the Arctis 9x with the console and you’re set—no dongles or base stations required.

The headset sports a durable aluminum frame with a comfortable suspension band modeled after the elastic band of a pair of ski goggles. It’s headphones come with pads made out of a material SteelSeries calls Airweave, which breathes extremely well and offers a nice balance between the plush of a velour pad and the rigidity of leatherette. It also boasts up to 20 hours of use on a single charge.

The Arctis 9x’s bidirectional microphone is flexible and can even retract back into the left headphone when not needed.

Surround sound is also supported through Windows Sonic Spatial Audio, so you should be able to hear the direction of enemies trying to sneak up on you in Fortnite just fine.

If sound quality is the only thing you care about, check out the Audeze Mobius

Audeze makes some of the best headphones in the world, so it makes sense that when the company decides to bring its planar magnetic technology to the gaming space, the results are pretty special. If you were playing on PC, the Audeze Mobius would be just about the best gaming headset you can get. It’s got top-notch sound, with planar magnetic drivers that accurately reproduce audio across the frequency spectrum, without over emphasizing bass.

    

The headset’s memory foam pads and super-flexible band make it a joy to use, though they take a little getting used to. It supports 3.5mm, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. On top of that, Audeze teamed up with Waves Nx to bring 3D audio to the Mobius, which brings traditional 7.1 surround sound and fascinating head-tracking tech that makes for a pretty unique experience.

However, this isn’t a list of best PC headsets, and unfortunately the experience isn’t quite as expansive on the Xbox One. For starts, only 3.5mm connections are supported, plugging into the controller’s headphone jack. Additionally, because that’s an analog option, surround sound isn’t available either. The 3D audio environment and head tracking features still work, but they’re not all that useful for gaming, so on Xbox One it feels a little more gimmicky.

All the same, if audio quality is what you’re after above all else, and you don’t mind spending a pretty penny for it, the Audeze Mobius sounds better than just about anything out there.

For booming bass, consider the Beyerdynamic Custom Game

See also:

Beyerdynamic Custom Game review: An investment in longevity

The Beyerdynamic Custom Game is a behemoth of a gaming headset, and it lets gamers customize its bass in a pretty unique way. Each ear cup has bass reflex vents, which are easily revealed or concealed with a simple sliding mechanism. Adjusting the bass reproduction also adjusts the influx of ambient noise that can permeate the headphones. In a quiet environment? Open up those bass vents and experience a boomier sound. For tournaments with plenty of chatter, just close the ports to drown everything out.

      

The cardioid boom microphone is forgiving when it comes to placement and hones in on your voice while simultaneously filtering out extraneous background noise. If customization is your thing, well, you’re in luck. The Custom Game headset includes interchangeable ear cup plates to non-verbally convey your style. If you’re not a fan of the all-black aesthetic, Beyerdynamic also has a bunch of customization options, as well as velour pads for people who wear glasses on their raids.

Because this is a 3.5mm headset, and a lot of its appeal is hardware-based, everything works on Xbox One just like it would on a PC.

The HyperX Cloud Stinger Core offers solid features on Xbox One for $40

The HyperX Cloud Stinger Core is the prolific gaming peripheral maker’s entry level Xbox One headset. For just 39.99, you get a straightforward wired audio experience, with decent sound, a built in microphone, and in-line controls.

bang for your buck

 

There’s not a whole lot more to say about the Cloud Stinger Core—You plug it in via the Xbox One controller, and it works. The microphone is flexible and offers completely workable audio quality.

Sure, this isn’t the HiFi audio solution for the discerning competitive console gamer, but again, it’s 30 bucks. If you’re in the market for something in this price range, you know what to expect—and this sits on the higher end of that.

The Razer Nari Ultimate for Xbox One brings the features

Most of the time, gaming headsets stick to a few basic features. At most price points, you won’t find an option with everything very often. The Razer Nari Ultimate is one of those options. When we reviewed it late last year, the headset offered a feature set that bordered on excessive. With Razer’s new Xbox One-focused version, we’re now firmly in excessive territory.

     

The Razer Nari Ultimate for Xbox One is a wireless gaming headset with big comfortable headphone pads and a suspension-style band. The headphones sit on hinges that rotate to fit any head shape and feature 50mm dynamic drivers. The headphone pads have hidden eyewear channels, so bespectacled gamers can play comfortably for hours. A built-in retractable microphone sits in the left ear cup, and it’s flexible, so you can set it in whatever position you need. This is built to be comfortable for everyone, and it’s got a pretty exhaustive swath of features to boot.

For starters, the Xbox One model of the Nari Ultimate features the same Xbox Wireless compatibility as the Arctis 9x, so you can connect the headset to your console without needing a dongle of any kind—just pair and go. While connected wirelessly to your Xbox One, the Nari Ultimate also supports Microsoft Sonic surround sound, so you won’t miss directional cues in games like Fortnite. Additionally, this headset even offers haptic feedback, creating a rumbling vibration on your ears in moments of intense bass.

Basically, the Razer Nari Ultimate brings gaming headset mainstays like a built-in mic, surround sound, and big booming bass, and combines it with added conveniences like Xbox Wireless and game-chat audio balancing controls—with borderline gratuitous features like haptic feedback and nearly 20-hour battery life sprinkled on top.

Why you should trust Sam

When it comes down to it, I don’t just review gaming headsets because I’m passionate about good audio. Pretty much everything I do here at SoundGuys focuses on gaming content, and that’s because I’ve been a gamer my whole life. You name it, I’ve probably played it. I know what kind of audio features are important for different kinds of games, and maybe more importantly: which ones aren’t.

The gaming headset space, much like many other parts of the audio industry, is rife with exaggerated language and gimmicky features that often don’t add much of anything to your experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the flashy lights and promises of immersive audio and bass so intense it’ll rupture your eardrums (in a good way, somehow), but most of that stuff flat out doesn’t matter. That’s why we review headsets, and why we have lists like this.