Gaming Headsets Vs Headphones: Which Is Best For Gaming?

Don’t listen to the negative people of the past. The debate over whether gaming headsets or headphones are better is far from over, especially since peripheral makers and well-known audio companies have made a lot of progress in making options for your gaming needs.

In the past, these all-in-one headsets were made up of a pair of headphones with a built-in mic. The mic was usually attached to an arm that extended from the headphones. Traditional headphones, on the other hand, were only used for listening and could only do one thing: play back sound. That line is no longer clear.

Some headphones, like the Bose QuietComfort 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM4, have beamforming microphones that are hidden. In the same way, some headsets, like the Asus ROG Delta S Wireless, don’t have a boom mic. Instead, they have the same kind of mics built in. Even both are on the Logitech G Astro A30.

But you won’t find headphones with a boom mic, and most of the headphones that gamers use instead of gaming headsets are wired and don’t have a mic at all. And while some headsets, like the Asus model mentioned above, don’t have a boom mic, those models are rare. Also, headphones usually don’t have the same features that headsets do.

There’s a chance that a headphone and mic setup could help you do better. But the quality of gaming headsets has gotten so much better in the last few years that they are often just as good and worth your money. Plus, they are easier to use than headphones with a mic built in.

Gaming headsets vs headphones: features

  • External mic required for headphones
  • Gaming headsets are better at wireless listening
  • Most headphones don’t come with any apps

Before you compare these two kinds of gadgets, you should know that wireless headphones are not good enough for gaming. Their Bluetooth will slow down your audio signal, which is something you want to avoid no matter what game you’re playing. This means that you can only use their wired Internet connection. And because the built-in mics only work when the phone is in Bluetooth mode, you’ll also need to buy a USB mic.

Since any headphones you might use would have to be wired, you’ll have to decide if you’re okay with being tied to your PC or console. On the other hand, many wireless gaming headsets with 2.4GHz wireless connectivity don’t have latency.

With wired headphones, you’ll also need an external mic, as well as the ports and desk space for a bigger setup. As an all-in-one device, a headset takes up less room, uses only one port, and will save you money in the long run.

The two are also different when it comes to their features. Most gaming headsets come with an app that lets you change the volume and mic levels, add effects, and make different profiles for different situations (or even games). Even though they often have some kind of surround sound feature, you can use that feature with any pair of headphones thanks to universal apps like Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos. With headphones, on the other hand, you can only get that virtual surround sound and make most other adjustments by using third-party apps. Some USB mics have apps that let you fine-tune the controls, but most don’t.

Gaming headsets vs headphones: performance

  • Expensive headphones have the best sound
  • Headsets can sound as good as most headphones
  • An external mic will sound better than a headset’s

The most heated part of the debate between gaming headsets and headphones has been about how good the sound is.

There are much more expensive headphones out there, and audiophiles probably would rather use a more expensive pair from their collection than the latest from Razer, Corsair, or SteelSeries. However, there are a lot of gaming headsets that have great sound quality. I’ve tried out a lot of headphones that let me hear every detail in all kinds of games and are also fun to use with music and movies.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good sound. For example, you could get the Corsair HS80 RGB USB. However, the Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro and the Audeze Penrose X, which are more expensive, offer high-resolution audio. In terms of frequency range, these can be just as good as audiophile options, giving you a clear, detailed, and immersive sound experience.

When it comes to how well the mic works, headsets are really just convenient tools. The quality of the built-in boom mics will vary by model, but they will always sound better than the beamforming mics on wireless headphones. This is because the mics are hidden in the ear cups and your voice is separated after the fact. But if the mic is on a boom arm, you can put it right in front of or next to your mouth so that your voice sounds clear and close instead of distant.

You could, of course, buy a USB mic instead, which is what many people who like to use headphones do. Most boom mics have a frequency range of 100–10 kHz, but these mics have a range of 20–20 kHz, which makes them better for vocals. But they are also sensitive to bumps and vibrations, so if you go the a la carte route, you may also need to buy an external boom arm. Not only will that cost more, but it also takes up a lot more room.

 A case for gaming headsets

  • Headphone and mic combo is bulky but sounds the best
  • Headsets are more convenient and still sound great

If you want the best results possible and don’t care about cost or how complicated your setup is, a pair of headphones like the Drop X Sennheiser HD6XX and a USB mic like the Blue Yeti will meet or beat almost any gaming headset on the market.

But if you buy a high-end gaming headset, you’ll get very close while saving money, desk space, and making your setup easier. Plus, you can make it wireless if you want a cleaner, simpler one. You can’t do that with regular headphones unless you want to add some delay to your audio, which could make or break how well you play.

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