Best headphones for gamers

Whilst most of us discuss which headphones offer best value for money, and which would allow us to enjoy our favourite type of music; let us also consider the best headphones for gamers. The demands for a gamer are completely different to that of a conventional headphone user. So, what are they looking for? Gamers do not care as much for the design of their headphones, and are most concerned with the durability, quality of sound and of course.. the quality of the microphone of their headphones. We have researched and found the top three headsets for gaming. Please note that if you’re looking for a complete gaming package which also includes a dolby surround docking station and have a look at our review of the Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II Tango Gaming Headset.

1. Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition

The Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition is, and not so surprisingly, more about durability rather than style. Their weight is moderate, at 312 g. Not only is the weight evenly distributed, but the ear cups and the headband are also comprehensively padded. The ear cups are padded with leather and offer high levels of comfort. These are a pair of over ear headphones, so they cover the entire ear and in this effort renders some natural sound isolation. One of their ingenious features is the volume control on the lower edge of the right ear cup. The Sennheiser PC 350 headphones are also made available with a single, non-detachable microphone. Not only do the headphones block sound from seeping in, the microphones also do not pick up any stray sound. When the microphone is placed at 75 degrees, the headphones are automatically put on mute. The sound is, needless to say, incredible. It is rich and complete. The bass is perfectly balanced with the middle and the higher ranges. It is loud to suit the gaming experience without reaching the extremes. The Sennheiser PC 350 comes with a braided cable and terminates in a 3.5mm jack. There are two connections that need to be made, one for each- the headphones and the other for the microphone. While the Sennheiser PC 350 Special may be assumed to have been made for the wear, it actually is. Made mostly from plastic and aluminum, the Sennheiser PC 350 can actually take a lot of rough use. The hinges around the headband ensure maximum movement until you reach the optimum comfort and the microphone can also fold up, although it cannot be detached. All these features and capabilities, make the Sennheiser PC 350 one of the best pair of headphones for gamers on the market.

CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

2. Skullcandy SLYR

While Skullcandy may be unable to do anything extraordinary in the Headphones for Studio category; they have hit the nail with gamers with the Skullcandy SLYR. The Skullcandy SLYR has a rather modest but slick look, The SLYR is one of the most comfortable pair of headphones available in the market. The ear cups wobble and the headband adjusts to suit the gamers’ choice of comfort level. The ear cups are decently padded with thick foam which prevents the weight from being felt. You can slide the headphones around to adjust it instead of having to pick up from your ears and move it around. The SLYR can be really loud when cranked up to the highest volumes; and surprisingly, hardly any sound bleeds out. They have beautiful audio, even without the 7.1 surround. But then again, the SLYR is a pair aimed at gamers and not audiophiles; so the surround can be forgiven. More importantly, the bass and the highest notes are hit without any distortions at all. There is a square, four way knob on the SLYR which is for audio controls as well as voice volume controls, also mutes the volume. There are also three modes along with a simple equalizer. The three modes available on the SLYR are:

The ‘supreme’ - which is more like a default for all the audio controls
The ‘precision’ - which is a little punchier in terms of sound drawing out every tiny detail
The ‘bass’, needless to say, is more on the bass.

The microphone folds up into the left ear cup and the headphone come with very long cables, which may feel cumbersome. The SLYR makes use of 3.5mm connections and is compatible with any kind of system.

CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

3. TRITTON 720+ 7.1 for PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360

If you are looking for impeccable sound at home, the Tritton 720+ is one of the best that is available. With Dolby technology, the Tritton 720+ utilizes the 7.1 surround field and reproduces the theatre experience, at home. In terms of rendering comfort, the 720+ has gone the extra mile and added an extra 1.25 inches of padding on the inner side of the headband to adjust to all kinds of head sizes. The ear cups are generously padded in thick foam and cause the gamer to immerse into a deep sound experience. Not only that, the ear cup swivel to attune to the new levels of comforts and the new headband, ensures both comfort and durability. The cable attached to the ear cup comes with an inline remote which can be used to shut out chatter from the game, if you find that distracting. You can also tune down volumes enough to cut out other distracting sounds within the game but keep enough to track someone walking up behind you. When not communicating, another click on the remote and you can switch off the microphone which is attached to the headphones. There is another feature called the Selectable Voice Monitoring (SVM), which allows you to choose between hearing your own voice in the headphones and shutting it off. Also, if you want to take a break, you can with the Tritton 720+. The equalize settings allow you to maintain your original media settings while allowing you to fine tune to your requirement. Each ear cup of 50mm neodymium drivers brings about the best sonic experience there is to have. Also with the surround system coupled with the drivers, only creates the perfect gaming experience.