All the best gaming headsets for your PS4

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

There are pretty much only upsides to having a good gaming headset. Whether you want to hear the audio quality of your games more clearly because your TV speakers leave something to be desired, or you’re just trying to avoid disturbing whoever else is living with you, it isn’t difficult to find a situation where a nice headset improves your gaming experience. 

But what are the best gaming headsets? Like with most pieces of gaming hardware, the amount of choices offered to consumers when it comes it buying one cannot be overstated. With loads of brands making a wide range of headsets that land all over the price spectrum, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, and even discouraged from getting one at all. 

This is where we come in. We don’t want you feeling stressed when you shop — we’d rather you feel confident in your choice, and excited that you’ll soon own a product that’ll spark at lease some joy in your life. In short, we’re always down to help. So, let’s help you pick out your dream gaming headset, shall we?

Do I need to use a PlayStation brand headset with my console?

Good news: no you don’t. Sony does offer proprietary headsets for its consoles, but they aren’t the only compatible devices that you can use.

Wired headsets are easy to connect to your PS4 — just plug the headphone jack into the bottom of your DualShock 4 controller, and you’re good to go. This will work with any headset that has a 3.5-millimeter audio jack, even an old pair of Apple headphones. 

What should I look for in a gaming headset?

There is a lot to consider when shopping for the best gaming headset to fit your needs, but there are a few main aspects you’ll really want to focus on:

• Sound quality: If you’re going to spend money on a headset, you’re going to want it to actually sound good. Make sure you check out those specs — does it enable surround sound? Does it have noise isolation? Important things to know before you click “buy.”

• Comfort: If you game for multiple hours at a time, you’ll want a headset that doesn’t hurt your ears after prolonged usage. Prioritise headsets with cushioned ear cups and headbands for long-lasting comfort that won’t distract you from your gameplay.

• Microphone: First, make sure you know whether or not the headset even has a microphone. We recommend getting one if you play games online often. Then you’ll want to see if the input quality of the mic is good, what material it’s made out of, and if it’s retractable or not (which is a huge plus). 

• Wired or wireless? Both have their pros and cons, so find your preference and stick with it — some headsets even offer both.

• Durability: You don’t want to end up buying another headset a few months from now — make sure it’s durable the first time around, and not just a hunk of plastic that won’t last.

Sort all that out, and you’re pretty much fully equipped to get a gaming headset you’re bound to fall in love with.

Should I go wireless?

Wireless headphones have their obvious advantages, like convenience and clutter management, but the biggest downside to getting any sort of wireless device is the risk of latency issues, or “lag,” as others might call it. In simple terms, when you don’t have a wire connecting your headset to your console, there’s a bigger chance that the audio feedback coming from that console won’t sync with the signal that your headset is receiving. 

This can end up being much more than just an annoyance depending on what game you’re playing — if you’re big into titles that require you to think quickly on your feet based on audio queues like horror, rhythm, and battle royale games, it can be seriously detrimental to how effectively you play. It’s not something you’re going to want to deal with.

If wireless functionality is a priority for you, we recommend getting a headset that also has a wired option, although if you get a more high-end Bluetooth headset, you might not have any latency problems at all. If you’re going wireless, don’t go cheap. 

What’s the best gaming headset for PS4?

You have plenty of options when it comes to gaming headsets for PS4, and it can be really tricky to pick the best option for you. To make your life easier, we have tracked down a selection of the best headsets from top brands like Razer, Logitech, and SteelSeries.

We recommend considering everything in this list and measuring up each device against your personal preference. There is something for everyone and every budget in this list. You just need to pick a favourite.

These are the best gaming headsets for PS4 in 2022.