Best Xbox headset 2023: treat your ears to high-quality gaming audio on Xbox Series X|S
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Best Xbox headset 2023: treat your ears to high-quality gaming audio on Xbox Series X|S
These are the best Xbox gaming headsets we recommend
The best Xbox headset not only delivers fantastic sound quality, but it can also give you a competitive edge in online gaming, enhance your immersion, and let you communicate clearly with friends.
A top-notch gaming headset is one of the best Xbox Series X accessories you can buy, and it’s amazing the difference a great pair of cans can make to your overall experience. Whether you’re seeking an advantage in multiplayer games like Call of Duty, raising the scare factor in horror games like Resident Evil 4 remake, or simply blocking out the world around you, there’s a perfect headset for you on our best Xbox Series X headset list.
With advancements in sound design like spatial audio now available (Dolby Atmos, DTS: Headphone X, and Windows Sonic), the sound feels like it’s coming from all around you – even above and below. Video game audio has never sounded so realistic and you’re missing out on a massive part of what makes video games so great if you just stick to your TV’s built-in speakers.
Don’t miss out on what the best Xbox games have to offer when it comes to sound, then - upgrade your audio today with one of the best Xbox headsets below.
Best Xbox headset: quick list
Xbox Wireless Headset – best budget Xbox headset
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro – best wireless Xbox headset
Epos H6 Pro – best wired Xbox headset
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal – best noise-cancelling Xbox headset
Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX – comfiest Xbox headset
Xbox Wireless Headset
Best budget Xbox headset
➕ Packed with desirable features
➕ Intuitive volume and game/chat controls
➖ Earcups are a touch too small
Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Headset is packed with features that are often omitted from more expensive gaming headsets. It connects directly to your Xbox Series X — no dongle required — and lets you simultaneously listen to a Bluetooth device while gaming. That means you can take calls if someone rings you mid-game or listen to your favorite podcasts while spraying down filthy houses in Power Wash Simulator.
The headset’s audio profile – which is a tad bass-heavy out of the box – can be tweaked to your liking using the Xbox Accessories app, letting you lock in your preferred sound. The Xbox Wireless Headset also includes a discrete mutable microphone, mic monitoring, and intuitive volume and game/chat controls using the large dials that house the headset’s earcups.
For just $99, the Xbox Wireless Headset puts other more expensive headsets to shame. It’s the best budget Xbox Series X headset you can buy and also has the added bonus of working on your PC or phone thanks to its Bluetooth connection.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Best wireless Xbox headset
➕ Superb audio quality
➕ Never-ending battery life
➖ They may be uncomfortable for some
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset may command a high price tag, but they’re totally worth it. This is the best wireless Xbox Series X headset you can buy, and one that also lets you hook up an additional console like a PS5 or PC if you’re inclined.
With a powerful DAC that lets you select from preset EQs or design your own, it’s a pleasure playing games while wearing the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Interference isn’t an issue, and you get all the bells and whistles you’d expect at this price: Bluetooth support, a wired connection, noise-cancelling, a top-class microphone, and peerless sound quality.
What makes the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless so appealing, however, is its hot-swap battery feature. The headset comes with two rechargeable batteries, one that sits and charges in the DAC while the other is in use. It means you never need to worry about charging this headset as you’ll always have a full battery pack waiting to go.
One slight against the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the shallow earcups. While I’ve not encountered any issues with them personally, I’ve read multiple reports online of people’s ears pressing against the headset’s noise-cancelling nubs which are raised underneath the earcup lining. This might not be a problem for you, but it’s worth bearing in mind.
Epos H6 Pro
Best wired Xbox headset
➕ Excellent sound quality
➕ Extremely versatile
➖ Open-back design isn’t for everyone
Wireless gaming headsets may be all the range, but you can’t beat a quality wired pair of cans. The Epos H6 Pro is one of the best wired Xbox Series X headsets you can buy, thanks to the excellent microphone (which can be detached), large earcups, and open-back design.
The open-back design gives games a wider soundstage, making spatial audio come alive in many of the best Xbox Series X games, and I never found them uncomfortable to wear after long periods of play.
The fact the Epos H6 Pro’s are wired means you can use them on any device with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which makes them a versatile pair. You also don’t have to worry about any wireless audio interference or having to charge them periodically, either.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Best noise-cancelling Xbox headset
➕ One of the few gaming headsets you can wear inside and outdoors
➕ Beautiful design and noise-cancelling included
➖ Costs as much as an Xbox Series X
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal headset isn’t cheap by any means, but they’re one of the few gaming headsets that I’d feel confident wearing outside of the house. They just look like an ordinary pair of headphones but come with all the hallmarks of Bang & Olufsen’s famed high-quality design and noise-canceling.
The B&O Beoplay Portal has a lot of things going for them, crystal clear audio aside. They connect directly to the Xbox Series X, with no dongle necessary, and you can also use them with Bluetooth devices. They also function as a wired pair of headphones thanks to the 3.5mm headset jack.
However, at $499.99 (though they’re often on sale) you’d expect to be able to play gaming and Bluetooth audio simultaneously, but unfortunately, you can’t. There’s also no case included to protect your headset when traveling, which seems a little stingy.
Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX
Comfiest Xbox headset
➕ Extremely comfortable to wear
➕ Incredibly durable
➖ You’re sensitive to white noise and the odd audio drop
While I’d be more than happy to wear any of the gaming headsets above for hours on end, the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX is one of the comfiest pairs of cans I’ve worn in a long time. That’s quite the feat considering I have a bigger head than most, along with Spock-like ears that don’t gel well with some earcup designs.
What makes the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX so comfortable, though, is that they weigh in at just 290 grams and the clamping force is negligible. You can also adjust the fit to your liking by adjusting where the earcups sit, which are large enough that they won’t pinch your ears.
The Nacon RIG 800 HX headset makes this list because they also sound fantastic, has a great microphone and boasts excellent battery life. What’s more, they work on Xbox consoles and PC, which makes the $149.99 price tag a little more palatable.
Read my full Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX review for more.
How I test the best Xbox headsets 🧪
I test every Xbox headset that comes into my possession by hooking them up to Microsoft’s flagship console and a PC if supported. I also test out the Bluetooth functionality using my iPhone 13 Pro – again, if the headset supports it.
In terms of spatial audio preference, I primarily play using Dolby Atmos. I prefer the Game ‘Performance’ preset as it provides the best positional audio available, but I also test out some headsets using DTS: Headphone X, which often comes to life using more open-back headphones that offer a wider soundstage.
During my testing, I play through a variety of different titles to get a feel for a headset’s audio profile, including first-person shooters, third-person action games, indie platformers and more. I also like to test how each gaming headset handles regular music, as this is an area where many fall short.
To test a headset’s microphone, I’ll hop in a party chat or record voice notes on a PC to get real-world feedback from other users and to hear the sound quality for myself.
Can’t decide between PS5 vs Xbox Series X? Our in-depth comparison pits the two current-gen consoles against each to help you choose the right one for you. You can also keep track of all the latest releases with our upcoming Xbox Series X games list.
Last updated: August 18, 2023