Microsoft’s latest Xbox consoles, the Series X and the Series S deliver not only stunning high-resolution visuals, but also improved spatial audio and support of the newest surround sound technologies like Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic, and DTS Headphone:X. To take advantage of this new technology and even get a leg up on your opponent's thanks to improved sound cues, you’ll definitely want to grab a quality gaming headset. This way you can be fully immersed in a game without any outside noise distractions. Plus, you won't annoy your roommate or family by blasting your game through a soundbar, so you can continue to play in peace.
There’s a mind-boggling amount of gaming headsets for the Xbox Series X/S, but not all are worth the investment, so we’ve helped narrow down your search. All of our picks pair perfectly with the latest Xbox consoles, and some even tote Xbox Wireless to make the connection as simple as possible. And, many of these headsets can be used with other consoles, a gaming PC, and even your phone. Plus, we’ve made sure to include plenty of options that support the newest surround sound tech. Take a look at some of our favorite Xbox Series X/S gaming headsets. You’re bound to find the best one for you.
TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Headsets:
- Xbox Wireless Headset
- Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
- Nacon RIG 700 Pro HX
- SteelSeries Arctis 7X
- Razer Kaira Pro
- Audeze Penrose X
- Bang-Olufsen Beoplay Portal
1. Xbox Wireless Headset
Best Xbox Headset
It's hard to beat a headset that was quite literally made for Xbox. The Xbox Wireless Headset is the official platform gaming headset, and it partners perfectly with the Xbox Series X/S. Also, you can snag it for under $100. The simplicity of pairing this headset might be our favorite part, as it uses the Xbox Wireless standard. However, it also offers Bluetooth or a USB-C dongle for an easy connection to a whole host of other devices. Beyond loads of connectivity options, the headset manages to sound good, too.
The Xbox Wireless Headset’s 40mm drivers pump out solid sound performance on par with other mid-range headsets. Plus, it comes with Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X support. There are intuitive dials for volume and game/chat mix on the earcups, as well as easy to find buttons for device pairing and mic mute, so you won’t have to fiddle around with controls while you’re in the middle of a game. And, with the integration of the Xbox Accessories App, you can adjust the EQ presets and mic monitoring volume, plus check the battery level. The microphone is the only finicky part of this headset, but as long as you don’t have too much background noise, it works just fine.
2. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
Best Wireless Xbox Headset
When you take a glimpse at the feature-rich, quality-designed Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, it’s easy to see why it’s our favorite Wireless Xbox headset. This headset is an amped-up version of the Stealth 700 Gen 2. It’s got 2.4GHz wireless for a pain-free connection to your Xbox Series X/S, and with the flip of a switch, it connects to other gaming consoles like the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. This means you’re in for some lag-free, uninterrupted gameplay. Plus, you’ve got Bluetooth support for your other devices as well. Since this headset is wireless, battery life is always a concern, but it boasts up to 40 hours of listening time, so you should be covered for long-haul gaming sessions. A quick charge feature even lets you get 8 hours of juice with just 15 minutes of charging.
You’ll find once these cans are paired with your console, you’re in for a pleasant listening experience. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX are comfortable, lightweight, and durable thanks to an improved design that will leave you surprised by how great they feel even after hours of use. Plus, 50mm Nanoclear speakers relay even the most subtle nuances in your games, including picking up on the quiet footsteps of other players. With Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone: X, and Superhuman Hearing support baked in, you’re in for an insanely immersive sound performance. Plus, the microphone, though it picks up some background noise, sounds clear for easy communication with your teammates.
3. Nacon RIG 700 Pro HX
Best Ultra Cheap Xbox Headset
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a decent headset with all the features you could need. The Nacon RIG 700 Pro HX is proof of this. Coming in under $90, you get a wireless headset with a lightweight, comfortable build that happens to sound great and offers zero latency, too. You can stay focused on gameplay thanks to its sound-isolating ear cups. Even better is the built-in support of Dolby Atmos for an immersive 3D audio experience. The easily discernible audio cues will improve your gameplay, especially in shooters. Plus, a removable noise-canceling microphone – that sounds pretty decent – makes communication between teammates a breeze.
The Nacon RIG 700 Pro HX pairs easily with the Xbox Series X/S thanks to the USB lossless dongle. And once you're connected, on the ear cups, you can find controls for volume, game-chat mix, and mute. The only real flaws with this budget-friendly headset are the lack of Bluetooth connectivity and the use of plastic rather than steel in its build, which makes it a bit less durable. It also lacks EQ settings unless you access them through the Dolby Atmos app on your Xbox.
4. SteelSeries Arctis 7X
Most Comfortable Xbox Headset
Comfort is key, especially if you plan on rocking a headset throughout an entire gaming marathon. With most headsets, you start to feel fatigued after a few hours of wear, but thanks to SteelSeries Arctis 7X’s design, you should last almost as long as its impressive 24-hour battery life. This headset offers up an adjustable ski-band headband and soft breathable fabric earcups for comfortable and cool gameplay. It also manages to be lightweight yet sturdy because of the aluminum and plastic used in the build.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X packs a whole lot more than just all-day comfort. Your favorite games sound great, and you can have a more immersive audio experience with the Windows Sonic support. Communication between teammates is also sharp and precise when using the built-in, adjustable microphone. And, though this headset might not come with Bluetooth, it still offers multi-device connectivity. So, you can use this pair of cans with your Xbox X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and a whole plethora of other devices.
5. Razer Kaira Pro
Best Bluetooth Xbox Headset
Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to pair a whole host of devices with a headset, and the Razer Kaira Pro offers solid Bluetooth 5.0 support. Therefore, in addition to its use of Xbox Wireless for a seamless connection to your Xbox Series X/S, you can easily connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop over Bluetooth. And, you can do both simultaneously. So, while listening to the action of your favorite shooter through your Xbox, you can also jam out to music over your phone connected with Bluetooth. This makes it a perfect cross-platform headset.
The Razer Kairo Pro comes loaded with other fun features as well. The RGB lighting on the earcup amps up your playing experience, and the headset still lasts up to 15 hours with RGB turned on. Also, the earcup is loaded with controls for everything from adjusting the headset's sound settings to switching between devices, which can be a bit overwhelming. You even get two mics, a removable wired mic and one built-in. Plus, the compact design makes it perfect for on the go wearing outside of your gaming den.
6. Audeze Penrose X
Best Audiophile Xbox Headset
If you’re looking for a high-fidelity headset with superior audio performance, look no further than the Audeze Penrose X. The soundstage on it blows all of the other headsets on our list out of the water. You’ll find the in-game sound plus additionals like a music mix come across clear and sound cues can easily be heard. And, though there is no Dolby Atmos or DTS Headphone:X support, you probably won’t even miss them because the spatial audio pairs perfectly with the Xbox Series X/S thanks to the 100mm planar magnetic drivers with Fluxor magnet arrays and Fazor Waveguides.
Audiophiles will rejoice after listening to the Audeze Penrose X, and there is plenty more to love about this high-end headset including its connectivity. It works with your Xbox Series X/S using USB wireless connectivity, and it's compatible with a wide array of other devices thanks to Bluetooth or a 3.5mm headphone jack. The battery life on these cans is a little light, but up to 15 hours of juice should be plenty to get you through any of your gaming sessions.
7. Bang-Olufsen Beoplay Portal
Best Premium Xbox Headset
You probably want a high-end headset that looks good, sounds good, and feels good. B&O’s Beoplay Portal offers all of that and more but be prepared for a rather steep price tag. Once you move past the cost, you’ll find it offers an extremely comfortable, lightweight design that steps away from the look of traditional gaming headsets. You can easily get away with using these anywhere and for anything. With superb audio quality, they’re perfect for everything from listening to your favorite album or basking in the roar of Dolby Atmos enabled game audio pipped from the Xbox Series X/S. And, it’s easy to fiddle around with the EQ setting to make this headset sound exactly as you’d like.
The Beoplay Portal is our only pick with active noise cancellation, so you can stay focused on your games when traveling or can drown out the yappy dog across the street at home. Pairing to your console with Xbox Wireless is a breeze, and Bluetooth is available for all your other devices. Unfortunately, both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth can’t be used simultaneously. There’s also a wired connection via a 3.5mm audio jack. The only glaring flaws are its shorter battery life and high cost, but with everything else packed in, it’s still worth the investment for the absolute best Xbox headset money can buy.
What to look for in a gaming headset?
There are a vast number of gaming headsets available these days, and it’s important you pay attention to specific specs to ensure you’re getting the best one for you and your Xbox Series X/S.
First, connectivity is essential. When purchasing a headset, you want to consider ones that have a variety of connections, so you can make use of it on multiple devices. One standard is Xbox Wireless, which acts similar to Bluetooth, but is exclusive to Xbox. It makes pairing compatible headsets to your Xbox console quick and simple.
Another connectivity option available is a USB wireless transmitter, and with this, you can just plug in the dongle and get gaming. You can also plug into your console or controller with wired options like a traditional 3.5mm audio jack or USB. Some of our picks even offer Bluetooth, and though the Xbox Series X/S doesn’t support it, it’s still convenient for use with other devices like your smartphone or laptop.
Of course, you want a great-sounding gaming headset. There are several factors to consider for the best audio performance. Driver size is important, and 40 mm is often the standard, but bigger usually means better. The drivers are internal mechanisms that create the sound waves you hear. A larger driver allows for more air to pass through, making not only louder sounds but also more nuanced, wider frequencies.
The range of frequencies heard on a headset is their frequency response. As humans, we can hear a range from 20-20KHz, which will cover low deep sounds to high pitched screeches. Most headsets available offer close to this frequency response or even better.
Since the Xbox Series X/S offers support for some of the best spatial audio and surround sound technologies, you may want to consider a compatible headset. This type of audio places you right in the center of your game and can pick up sound directionally. With Dolby Atmos, you can even distinguish the location of a helicopter overhead or enemies lurking in the bushes. It’s truly a next-level immersive audio experience. Looking for headsets that offer Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic, and DTS Headphone:X can amp up your gameplay and help you efficiently annihilate your competition.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.
