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Best Gaming Headset Under $200

Are you looking for a premium gaming headset? Do you need an upgrade to a 200$ gaming headset? There’s really a wealth of options of gaming headsets priced under 200$. In this post, I’m going to look at some gaming headsets in the 100 – 200$ price range.

Best Gaming Headset Under $200

#PreviewProductRating
1HyperX Cloud II Wireless Best Wireless
2SteelSeries Arctis 7Best Overall
3Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Best Sound Quality

Why You Should Get A Gaming Headset Under $200

You can expect more in a 200 dollars gaming headset. So, if you’re going to pay a premium for a gaming headset, it should sound great, but it should also be comfortable, look stylish and work with as many devices as possible.

What to Look for When Buying A Gaming Headset

Wired or wireless

The wireless headphones are perfectly countering the wired headsets nowadays. If you need more sound quality, then go with wired headsets. If you need to get away from your console or monitor, then wireless might be better for you. The choice between wired and wireless depends upon your preference and needs.

Sound Quality

That’s the primary reason why we are getting a headphone. By looking at the frequency response you can determine the Bass and Treble of the headset. The High frequencies are the Treble, while the low frequencies resemble the Bass. The Mid frequencies are for voices and vocals in the audio. To increase your chance of hearing different sound elements in-game, the Treble needs to be clear. You need a decent amount of Bass, present in the audio, to feel the rifle shots and explosives. 

Another important aspect of sound quality is how audio is decoded and delivered to a headset’s speakers. Popular schemes include stereo and surround sound configurations of up to 7.1 channels. Surround sound provides a more acute sense of sound direction.

Microphone Quality

To stay connected with other players, a mic that captures neat audio is required. You don’t want to end up muted by your teammates, because your microphone captures distorted and noisy audio. 

Comfort and Build Quality

These are a few things that can impact the comfortability of a headset

  • Ear Pads and padding on the Headband
  • Clamping Force
  • Weight

These are a few things that can determine the durability of a headset

  • Material
  • Headband Structure
  • Removable Earpads, Cables, and Microphone
  • Warranty

You can use these as filters and find the best headset for you.

$200 Gaming Headset Product Reviews

1. HyperX Cloud II Wireless  ( Best Wireless )

The HyperX Cloud II Wireless is a comfortable gaming headset that ditches the original Cloud II’s cord while delivering the same, excellent sound and feel. It’s compatible with PCs, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch consoles.

Pros

  • Good audio performance
  • Comfortable design
  • Clear mic

Cons

  • No headphone jack for wired listening
  • Average microphone

2. SteelSeries Arctis 7 ( Best Overall )

SteelSeries Arctis 7  brings a Discord-certified microphone, long battery life, and two connectivity options, wired and wireless. For wired connections to the Xbox One and undocked Nintendo Switch, there’s a 3.5mm cord. When going wireless, it uses a USB dongle compatible with PC, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch when it is docked.

Pros

  • Good surround sound
  • Comfortable fit
  • Connectivity options

Cons

  • Reliance on an app for using some features
  • Slightly overemphasized bass

3. Drop + Sennheiser PC38X ( Best sound quality )

The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X is a direct successor to the PC37X, another popular gaming headset brought to us by Drop and Sennheiser. The PC38X comes with a pivotable microphone, two pairs of ear pads, and two audio cables. You’re not getting wireless connectivity, software driver support, or RGB lighting.

Pros

  • Outstanding sound quality
  • Exceptional spatial awareness 
  • Excellent wearing comfort

Cons

  • No companion software
  • Open-back design leaks a lot of sounds

FAQ’s

Here are some commonly asked questions about gaming headsets under $200.

Does the SteelSeries Arctis 7X support 7.1 audio?

The SteelSeries Arctis 7X supports virtual surround sound using the Windows Sonic spatial audio on Xbox consoles and PC.

Does the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X have surround sound?

No. But, PC38X sounds great and offers tangible benefits to competitive gamers, all without relying on software-based surround sound.

Will a USB headset work with both, PC and console?

If it’s a wired headset, it’ll work perfectly with a PC but when it comes to consoles you need a headset that plugs in via a 3.5mm port on the controller itself.

Conclusion

I’ve decided upon the SteelSeries Arctis 7 as the best combination of quality, comfort, and features for gaming. But, if you’re looking for something wireless that sounds good and works easily on multiple platforms, go with HyperX Cloud II Wireless.

SteelSeries Arctis 7

Best Overall

  • Great surround sound
  • Comfortable fit
  • Discord certified microphone
  • Wired and wireless

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