Top Headphones 2023

There's a great package crammed into the SteelSeries Arctis 1, considering its budget price. But there are better-sounding headsets available that cost just a little bit more.

Corsair's HS35 makes a lot of great calls in the design category. But unfortunately this budget gaming headset can't quite nail the fundamental audio quality. An extra $20-$30 buys you much more quality.

The Urbanears Pampas is an upgrade for Urbanears' standards, but not for audiophiles or music lovers.

Logitech's Zone Wireless Bluetooth headset delivers solid mic intelligibility in loud environments, along with some decent noise cancellation and audio performance.

Decent for mixed usage. They have a good audio reproduction and a customizable sound profile. They also have an excellent battery life and wireless range. However, their on-ear design can be a bit uncomfortable at times, especially during long listening sessions. They also don't isolate much in noisy environments, so they won't be the best option for commuting or to use in a busy office. Their latency performance, like most Bluetooth headphones without low latency codecs, is also sub-par, so they won't be a great choice for watching a lot of video content. On the upside, they're a bit less bulky than over-ears and are more breathable, which is good for sports.

The Sony WH-XB900N are satisfactory for commute and travel. These headphones have outstandingly long-lasting battery life and are comfortable enough for long listening sessions. While they aren’t the most portable option and lack come with a hard case, they're easy to use, and their ANC can help reduce some ambient noise around you. However, they don’t perform too well in the bass range, so you hear the rumble of bus and plane engines.

The JBL Live 500BT wireless headphones support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control and deliver powerful, bass-forward audio.

The SteelSeries Arctis 9X provides great sound and a comfortable fit, but almost every new design decision comes with a drawback.

The AKG N700NC has the sound quality and noise cancellation of a top-tier headphone, but it needs more to compete against Bose and Sony.

The Turtle Beach Recon 200 are okay wired gaming headphones. They're fairly comfortable, but they get warm around your ears if you wear them for long periods. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that should emphasize the thump and rumble of in-game sound effects but without completely overwhelming dialogue or music. That said, it's worth noting that their audio delivery is highly sensitive to fit, seal, and positioning. Their boom microphone transmits your voice fairly clearly unless you're speaking in a loud environment.