Best Budget Gaming Headsets

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Both cheap and cheerful, the A60 by Sades is the best affordable gaming headset you can buy.

Best Overall

Sades A60


The A60 ($26.79) is an excellent headset for the price. Sades managed to pack in a bunch of features, and you'll not be required to part with too much in order to strap it to your head. We've got noise cancellation, in-line controls, and comfortable ear cups for long gaming sessions.Bottom line: Surprising quality at such a low price point.One more thing: The design is also fairly unique, which helps make you stand out as the best gamer around.

Why the Sades A60 is the best budget gaming headset

The A60 is a solid headset. It's competitively priced (at just of $30) and has a bunch of features that make the price tag well worth it. It's driverless, meaning you'll be able to simply plug it in and get going, and the microphone works well for communicating with friends and random players in-game.

Thanks to the cup design and the over-ear form factor, you'll be able to shield your ears from outside interference to a certain degree. It's no digital noise-cancellation, but it works well enough. There's even in-line controls for quick and convenient adjustments.

Listed specifications:

  • Loudhailer diameter: 50mm (NdFeB)
  • Frequency range: 20 - 20KHz
  • Sensitivity: 113dB +/- 3 dB at 1 khz
  • Impedance: 16 Ohm at 1khz
  • Distortion: Smaller than 2% THD
  • Max Input power: 30mW
  • Mic Dimension: 6.0*5.0mm
  • Sensitivity: -38dB +/- 3 dB
  • Cable length: Approx.2.2m

And the $27 gets you quality build with solid plastics and comfortable memory foam for extended play sessions.

Best Premium

HyperX Cloud II


The HyperX Cloud II may be out of range for many gamers ($96.99) who would rather spend their bucks on new titles. But should you want to enjoy an even higher quality experience in-game, the Cloud II is worth a look. Solid drivers produce excellent sound with virtual 7.1 surround sound.There's even noise-canceling technology for the microphone so your teammates will be able to hear you scream on Discord better.Bottom line: It's more expensive than Razer's Kraken Pro V2 but has its own highlights.One more thing: The 53mm drivers are well matched with the USB connector and onboard sound card.

Best Comfort

SteelSeries Siberia 200


SteelSeries has gone all-out with the Siberia 200 headset ($59.99), which sports not only impressive 50mm drivers but also a suspension-based headband for optimal comfort. Take advantage of years worth of development, in-line volume, and mute controls, and support for the company's own software suite for personalization.Bottom line: The headset not only looks good but also performs admirably.One more thing: You may have an issue wearing the Siberia 200 with glasses.

Best Smart

Turtle Beach Ear Force PX24


The Ear Force PX24 ($40) from Turtle Beach is an affordable headset that offers 50mm drivers for playback that will make one smile when hitting the stars in No Man's Sky or taking on a heist in Grand Theft Auto Online with friends.There's also support for virtual surround with the battery-powered amplifier, and while you'll not be able to reproduce audio at the same level of more expensive options, for general use and gaming you'll be absolutely fine.Bottom line: It's affordable, at just $40, and has good build quality and adequate sound playback.One more thing: It automatically adjusts voice input and chat playback levels.

Best Value

Razer Kraken Pro V2


While it's not technically budget-friendly (at $78.19), though that depends on what type of gamer you are, the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is a great little headset. Not only does it sport a retractable mic but also 50mm drivers, 16.8 million colors for lighting, as well as optional USB for enhanced sound and 7.1 surround emulation.Bottom line: It's a solid headset that's comfortable to use, has great sound and looks great.One more thing: You will need to turn up the microphone because it's seriously quiet.

Conclusion

Affordable headsets can be awful, but many can be brilliant. The Razer Kraken Pro V2 isn't cheap by any means, but it's also not a headset that will decimate your bank balance. Packing some advanced specifications and features, Razer's entry headset is a killer option for gaming and media consumption.

Best Overall

Sades A60


The A60 ($26.79) is an excellent headset for the price. Sades managed to pack in a bunch of features, and you'll not be required to part with too much in order to strap it to your head. We've got noise cancellation, in-line controls, and comfortable ear cups for long gaming sessions.Bottom line: Surprising quality at such a low price point.One more thing: The design is also fairly unique, which helps make you stand out as the best gamer around.

Updated October 25, 2017: We updated the list with only the best recommendations for budget headsets.

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds

Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
34 Comments
  • Yeah, I'm not touching LG after having two G430's ear pieces break on me (it's the stress point between the ear pieces and the headband itself that breaks).
  • I use the G35 and am happy with it. Wish I got the wireless one only because the wire gets in the way. It's braided so it's stuff and does not tuck away easy. Though with wireless you are likely losing sound quality.
  • "budget" "100$". Rly?
  • Yeah I was thinking maybe the word "budget" had a different meaning in American English... I'd place pretty much all of these solidly in the midrange. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • The irony is that Rich isn't even American (though you wouldn't know it from the way he writes!) Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I though budget was in the $20 range.
  • especially when in india even that 40$ G430 becomes 80$......
  • It really depends on what kind of gamer you are. I know gamers who spend thousands (USD) on games, accessories, game systems etc. every year, so for them spending $100 or less for a headset to hear it all would be nothing. But I know other people who wouldn't spend $3 on games in a year so $100 headset would be unreasonable. If you're a gamer though a headset is a reasonable investment.
  • I still think the Turtle Beach Earforce XO ONE headset sounds great for the money! Only $58.99 US
  • I have those for xbo and they are great. They're comfortable and have great sound quality. The only downside to them is the length of the cord. It's fine when used with a controller but is a bit short for pc since you need a splitter make sure you get a longer one for those headphones.
  • I use the wireless Corsair gaming headset with 7.1 audio. Costed about 80€ so consider that a budget headset.
  • 4 days too late. My mic on the standard Xbox mono headset was not working. Bought some Turtle Beach ones for £59.99 at Argos.
  • I have heard too many horror stories about Turtle Beach headsets not living up to the hype. Having bad build quality and not lasting very long. It can't be a coincidence that so many people are saying this. I ended up going with seinheiser headsets. Awesome sound quality. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • Build quality is definitely lackluster on the Turtle Beaches. Very cheap plastically feeling, especially for the premium. Having said that I have a pair of X500's and the sound is good. They were, and I still believe are, the only fully wireless pair for the Xbox one though.
  • The Sennheiser 175 is Wireless and will work with an Xbox one but no mic. But that's fine with me. I don't do a whole lot of multiplayer online but if I do I still have the Kinect for voice. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I've got a set of X11s that I got for my 360 and PC. I don't use them anymore, but they're just fine, and I've had them for about 5 years.
  • Well imho, you can never go wrong with seinheiser. I swear by them.
  • I use Beats Mixr, astounding!
  • Currently using a HyperX CloudX (the one I recently reviewed.) HyperX headsets are so damn comfy.
  • Same here. They are comfortable for sure.
  • IMO the best are the Corsair Vengeance 2100 Wireless Dolby 7.1 Gaming Headset - https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Wireless-Gaming-Headset/dp/B00E...
  • I'm using a set of Turtle Beach X12 I picked up years ago on black friday for $20. I think they are pretty darned good considering how cheap I got them for!
  • For My PC, I have a Roccat Kave 5.1 digital headset. I went from the Asus Strix. Asus Strix had far to much creeking in them. The Roccats though are awesome. Three drivers in each earcup, yet they use virtual surround, so that works really well, separates' the different sounds so every thing feels more separate. They also rumble with explosions which really helps with the immersion, especially on PC where you for go things like vibration with mouse and keyboard.
  • Just seen your coment, I vounch for Roccat Kave as well, its really awesome. I would not buy anything else.
  • I'm using the wireless gta-v edition of the PlayStation pulse. The rumble feedback is brilliant and they also work wired on Xbox one.
  • What's wrong with the Microsoft stereo headset? I have these any they sound good and are built well. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
  • I actually read a few reviews on these and they seem to get decent reviews.
  • Are any of these good for use on XB1 AND PC? I hate that it's so hard to get a dual-device headset for XB1, and making people get that adapter to cope early on was ridiculous. To reflect another commenter, I'm confused about this use of "budget." I'd think that sub-$50, or at least sub-$70. $80-100 certainly isn't budget in my mind, unless it's a wireless headset.
  • I've got the Sennheiser PC363D's and they are amazing.
  • How about doing a mid teir and high end tier for your picks on headsets? I've been looking for a good pair to use with my XB1 and PC. Thank you.
  • I have HyperX Cloud 1. Its quite good, cost only 60€ (~70$).
  • I have the Roccat Kave 5.1 headset and i have to tell you that this is the best headset i ever had (and i am sad to see that it's not on the list). It is simply amazing in 3D positioning surround sound when playing a Video game. It is a great headset with much comfort and great durability ( i have one for like 3 year, and not a single scratch). Combined with a Good sound card (Like ASUS Xonar DS) you will get an amazing experience out of it. Perfect for Movies and listening to music as well.
    I would never buy another product than this.
  • Love my HyperX Cloud 2. Use it every day.
  • I've been using the Genius Cavimanus for 4 years now. I paid the local equivalent of about 40$ for them, and I regret nothing. Virtual surround,40mm neodimium drivers and vibration. Yes,vibration.