You may get away with using the basic mouse or a keyboard when gaming, but the quality sound is something you can’t ignore. After all, you got to know what is going on in the game, which is why we present you the 7 best gaming headsets that are budget friendly and just under $150.
The headsets below range from wired to wireless, from old but gold models to brand new so you are bound to find something for yourself and your setup.
An important thing to note before we start is that the quality of your sound and mic can also depend on your motherboard/audio card if using a 3.5mm connection while USB is more reliable due to a built-in sound card.
Razer BlackShark V2
The BlackShark V2 is a go-to gaming headset recommendation for any gamer and it is just below $150. At an affordable price, this headset will be a great addition to any gaming setup. Although there is a budget version of the headset, the V2 X, as well.
The headset features a USB sound card through which you will have access to a variety of settings and equalizers available and be able to ensure you have a crispy sound and mic quality regardless of the device you use.
It also comes with the THX Spatial Audio technology which is a surround sound tech that will enhance your gaming experience, especially in FPS games like Valorant or Call of Duty
It has a removable mic, volume dial, mic mute button, and a braided cable for increased comfort. The headband and earpads both are made of a cloth fabric material memory foam that is very comfortable for your head and ears.
The height adjuster is a bit unique though and may be uncomfortable for some. Or at least unusual. The adjusters are made on rods that connect the headband and the ear and need individual tinkering for a perfect fit.
Both sound and mic quality are well worth the price for gaming. You will not feel your headphones struggling to produce sound and the mic is quite clear and has lots of enhancements and tuning available in Razer Synapse.
HyperX – Cloud II Wireless
HyperX has some solid and time-proven headsets that will remain a great option no matter what. The Cloud II is one of those. In this case, it’s Cloud II Wireless which is an updated version of the older Cloud II. However, still, take a look at Cloud II if you don’t mind the wires and want to save a bit more cash.
The design is simple with the volume dial, power, and mic mute buttons. The overall build is comfortable and flexible trying to live up to that Cloud name.
The USB adapter is on the bigger side. It is the size of a classic USB flash drive but shouldn’t be much of an issue unless you have somehow restricted USB ports. But the pairing is automatic and instant and supports both PC and consoles.
Finally, the mic quality could be better. It is a wireless headset so the quality is expected to be slightly worse, but still, if it is the mic quality you are chasing, you’d be better with something like a BlackShark V2. Moreover, the NGENUITY software for the headset doesn’t offer any advanced settings for your mic. On the other hand, the sound quality is amazing for wireless gaming sessions.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
Arctis Nova 1 is an amazing budget headset option from SteelSeries. Keep in mind that this version is made for PC. For PlayStation or Xbox, you will need the Nova 1P or 1X respectively.
The design of the Nova 1 follows the style of SteelSeries and is very plain and simple but still has a mic mute button and a volume dial. The earcups still rotate all around just like on other SteelSeries headsets and can lay flat on your desk. With all that, the headset is extremely lightweight compared to others.
Material for both the headband and the ears is light, comfortable, and stylish, especially on the white version of the headset, with textured cloth-like material. The headband is actually separate from the top of the headset making the headset more flexible to adjust for different head sizes.
Sound quality is good for both games and music, given the price, nothing too exceptional but you can tweak it through the official SteelSeries software. And that will heavily enhance your experience so make sure to make use of it.
SteelSeries Arctis 5
Arctis 5 and Arctis 3 are very similar in design, but the Arctis 5 pack a few extra nifty features. Nevertheless, the build is simple with no unnecessary details and signature SteelSeries rotating earcups. The foam on the earcups is breathable and the headband is separate just like in Nova 1.
What this headset has a bit unique compared to others on this list is a retractable mic. You don’t have to detach it, just simply hide it in your earcup. Along with that, you get your classic volume dial and mic mute button.
Another unique feature is an extra dial that you can optionally add to your headset through an adapter provided and you use it for whatever you please. That will also change your headset connection from 3.5mm to USB giving you the opportunity to use whichever you prefer most.
Through SteelSeries software, you can configure all the adjustments and equalizers, but most importantly, you can set up RGB. Yes, unlike many headsets on the list the Arctis 5 do have RGB rings on each earcup that can be customized.
Finally, to touch on the quality, both the mic and sound are great in this headset. You will get a bit better quality if using the USB (unless you have a dedicated sound card) but even the stock 3.5mm does well.
Corsair HS65 Surround
This is one of the best gaming headsets that will suit a professional and minimalistic setup despite being a gaming device and under $150. The design is very clean, and has a mix of materials yet the headset is very light and will make you feel that you are a professional media worker rather than a gamer.
To unleash the full power of the headset including the Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sounds feature (which is actually decent) you will need the iCue software with a bunch of adjustments, EQs, and presets available.
The mic quality on HS65 is incredible. It’s clear, loud, and crisp, and compared to other headsets in this list, the HS65 is definitely one of the best. There is no mute button on the headset, it mutes automatically when you lift the mic up.
The sound quality is good as well. While nothing particularly special at first sight you can make the headset shine through the mentioned iCue software.
All in all, this is a great headset for the price that you might want to pick up if you enjoy having a clean professional setup to use for gaming.
Sennheiser GSP 300
Moving away from the traditional gaming brands here’s the headset from a company that lives and breathes audio: Sennheiser. Although you may think that it’s going to be some sort of studio headset, worry not, it is a pure gaming tool.
The build is quite chunky, but not in a bad way. There is a double-wide headband with simple height adjustment in place and larger than usual overall width.
However, all that contributes to the overall quality of the headset. You got great noise isolation, big but comfortable volume wheel, and a good quality mic which is unfortunately non-flexible. The quality of the mic is very clear, with noise cancellation, and is much better than on say, GSP370, which had a horrible-sounding radio-style mic.
And the most important part, the sound, is very detailed yet not piercing because of how it controls sound frequencies. It is a closed design with more audible bass, so keep that in mind.
While it is a headset from a high-end audio company, it is made for gaming and it is on the pretty affordable side well below the $150 mark, so if it is the audio quality you are after, the GSP 300 is worth taking a look at.
Logitech G432
Finishing up with a classic gaming headset that’s been around for years and is proven to be the best option under $150 if you don’t have a specific brand or style preference, is Logitech G432.
The design will probably be very familiar to you. A black and blue, rectangular-ish earcups with a silver Logitech logo on them and a nice soft headband is what makes this line of headphones very recognizable.
Logitech G432 is comfortable and even though the majority of the build is plastic, it is well worth the price tag on this headset.
The headset is compatible with every platform through a 3.5mm analog connection but it also comes with a USB adapter that has an onboard soundcard. And the sound quality is much better when connected through USB. The same goes for the mic which sounds very clear.
Pair that with the Logitech PC software and you get an abundance of settings including EQs, surround sound, and sound presets.
