Top 5 Best Xbox Headsets in 2025

Top 5 Best Xbox Headsets in 2025


Our favorites across a number of niches and budgets

(Image credit:Tom’s Guide)

Adding one of the top Xbox Series X headsets to your setup is one of the finest ways to improve or raise your gaming experience on Microsoft’s newest home consoles.

Regardless of the game you play, it is always worthwhile to invest in the best headset available to get the most out of your gaming experience because audio is so crucial to modern gaming. You may fully immerse yourself in single-player games like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, which features binaural audio design, or play online multiplayer games like Call of Duty, where you can hear every stride and incoming fire.

But since we’re now in the fifth year of the Series X and Series S’s existence, there are more headsets than ever before, which can make the decision difficult. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve put together this helpful list of the best Xbox Series X headsets, which takes into account a variety of budgets and tastes. We’ve thoroughly tested every model on this list, living with it for weeks to simulate what you will experience from it, so you can be sure that you can rely on our knowledge and suggestions. Alright, let’s get started.

THE QUICK LIST

best overall

1.  Audeze Maxwell Wireless

Best budget

2. SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox

 best wireless

3. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

Best value 

4. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

Best official

5. Xbox Wireless Headset



1. Audeze Maxwell Wireless

There are some quite large shoes for the Audeze Maxwell to fill. Even with its gaming headset line, Audeze has established a reputation for producing high-quality audiophile devices. As a result, there will always be high expectations for any new release.

Even worse for the Maxwell is that it is a direct descendant of the acclaimed Audeze Penrose, which has amassed a sizable fan audience despite its own shortcomings because of its amazing sound quality. In addition to being one of the greatest wireless gaming headsets available, it shares the spotlight with many of the top gaming headsets due to its wide soundstage, excellent microphone, and multiplatform compatibility.

It’s fortunate that the Audeze Maxwell is willing to take on the role, not necessarily to replace the Penrose but to help the brand’s gaming line grow and provide fans with more options. It has a powerful audio performance and appears to have inherited the Penrose’s amazing microphone and immersive soundstage. Better still, it has fixed at least a number of the main grievances raised by users regarding the previous model, specifically the extremely tight, brain-squeezing clamping force and the mediocre battery life.


2. SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox

It’s difficult to find a more affordable gaming headset for a console than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. Because the microphone is connected via a 3.5mm port, this multi-platform variant can also be used on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, despite its name and Xbox Series X branding.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X is without a doubt one of the greatest headsets for the Xbox Series X, but it also makes a compelling argument for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. With its powerful audio drivers, lightweight design, and respectable sound quality, this microphone is reasonably priced.

If you prefer console gaming to the normal SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1—which is designed for PC gamers and has a dedicated 3.5mm connection for the microphone—this is the less expensive gaming headset to take into consideration.

With the exception of the black color scheme and the green branding on the ski band strap, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X’s design is identical to that of the basic Nova 1. Since everything connects to the headphone jack on your Xbox Wireless Controller or DualSense Wireless Controller, there is also no 3.5mm jack splitter supplied.


3. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

SteelSeries’ wired gaming headset with cross-platform compatibility is the Arctis Nova 3. It is compatible with the Xbox, Switch, Android, PlayStation, and PC.

A well-known name in the gaming audio sector is SteelSeries. In terms of wired gaming headsets, SteelSeries has recently released the Arctis Nova 3. We have already evaluated their Arctis Pro and Arctis 9 Wireless Gaming Headsets. It also provides a lot of value for the money.

You receive a stylish plastic body that feels solid in addition to looking beautiful. In terms of ergonomics, the headset is lightweight and incredibly comfortable. The AirWeave memory foam ear cups fit snugly over your ears, and the fabric extension beneath the plastic headband provides a variety of adjustment choices.

The Arctis Nova 3 offers respectable performance. It has the type of bass that takes center stage and distinguishes itself from the other instruments in the orchestra. Therefore, give this headset serious consideration if you’re into the low end. However, the highs aren’t as remarkable. Unlike the lows, they are not as harsh and don’t come out at you. The mids have clarity and are fairly balanced.

However, in terms of soundstage, the mids sounded crowded and lacked adequate room for each component to stand out on its own. If they had had more room, presence, and depth, they would have sounded fantastic.

The Arctis Nova 3’s controls are simple, easy to use, and intuitive. This headphones’ ClearCast Gen 2 noise-canceling microphone is one of its outstanding features. It muffles about 85% of surrounding noise and transmits your speech clearly, swiftly, and cleanly.


4. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

If nothing else, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is a significant upgrade over the original. In my 2016 review of the original HyperX Cloud Stinger, I found the entire experience to be disappointing. I’m pleasantly pleased this time. All you really need with a $50 headset is the Cloud Stinger 2’s outstanding fit and sound quality. Other than that, though, it works with a lot of other platforms and has a slightly more eye-catching look than the original Cloud Stinger.

To put it another way, the Cloud Stinger 2 is most likely among the best gaming headsets available for the price, even though it may not be among the best overall.

To be fair, the Cloud Stinger 2 has some of the issues that one could anticipate from a low-cost accessory. From its awkward microphone to its plastic chassis, the build quality seems cheap. The gadget has no adjustable features and is incompatible with some more recent smartphones. However, the Cloud Stinger 2 should work well for casual PC gamers or console enthusiasts who don’t mind a few wires. For our complete evaluation of the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, continue reading.

Without any other information, you would most likely think of a $50 gaming headset that resembles the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2. It is neither ostentatious nor understated with its red volume dial, large earcups, HyperX insignia, and simple black chassis. Although it’s not the most attractive headset to wear out and about—especially since there isn’t much you can do about the bulky microphone—it functions adequately at home.


5. Xbox Wireless Headset

It should come as no surprise that one of the excellent audio accessories for your Series X/S is Microsoft’s Xbox headset. During our testing, the official Xbox Wireless Headset pleased us, especially with regard to sound quality, which is, I must say, really amazing for an audio equipment that costs less than $100.

Regardless of your preference for open-world, beat-’em-up, or real-time strategy games, Microsoft’s headset has rich, well-balanced audio. I’ve found that Microsoft’s headset performs a good job of picking up dialogue, albeit having a few fewer adjustment choices.

While playing games, you can also choose to connect to a Bluetooth device. Previously deficient features, such as the microphone monitoring level and the previously excessively loud notification sounds, have been addressed by post-release updates. Please understand that this is by no means a flawless gaming headset. There are undoubtedly better-sounding Xbox headsets available, as well as ones that fit your head better, though they are still reasonably pleasant if you’ve adjusted them properly.

I don’t want to put too much pressure on what is generally a very nice headset, though, given that it only costs about $75 and usually provides good audio in the great majority of Xbox games.


Leave a Comment