Best Audiophile Gaming Headphones in 2024

Gaming is a huge industry, and people are always looking for the best equipment to help them play their favorite games. When you’re playing your favorite game, what’s one thing that can make or break your experience? The sound! If you don’t have a good set of headphones to put on, then you might as well be listening with earbuds from the dollar store.

In this article, we’ll go over some of our favorites when it comes to the best audiophile headphones for gaming so that you can find the perfect one for yourself!

Why Should you Choose Audiophile Headphones for Gaming?

Well, there are really only two things: comfort and sound quality. These two factors will determine whether or not you’ll be able to game for hours on end without getting uncomfortable and whether or not your games will sound amazing. If the headset doesn’t offer comfort nor quality, then it’s just a waste of money!

What are Our Top Picks? We’ve gone out and done some research to bring you our top picks when it comes to audiophile headsets worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Our first pick is definitely one of my personal favorites because I love how comfortable they are – but also because there isn’t really anything negative about them at all. The HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset has got great audio quality.

HyperX Cloud II

The HyperX Cloud II is the newest headset from Kingston Technology. It has a sleek and minimalistic design that’s different from anything else on the market right now.

This gaming headset is one of the best headsets that we ever tested. It is a great headset for gamers looking for an upgrade from their old pair or who just want to enjoy some high-quality sound when they’re playing video games.

The Cloud II features 7.1 surround sound, which makes it feel like you are in the game with your character. And highly responsive noise canceling to focus on every detail in the game without being distracted by background noises.

This product also comes with a detachable microphone, so you can use it as a regular audiophile headphone. You can also use it for watching TV or on PS4 and Xbox consoles!

Audio Quality

The HyperX Cloud II – Gaming Headset is compatible with PC, PS/PS Pro, Xbox One, and mobile devices. It offers a high sound quality thanks to the 53mm drivers that provide an excellent bass response for gaming needs. Music playback is also good when using the USB connection option (you can plug in your MP player or smartphone).

Build Quality & Comfortability

This headset has memory foam ear cups that are comfortable even after long hours of playing sessions. They do not cause any discomfort around your ears like some other headsets do. Other than comfort, they also help reduce noise from outside since they fit snugly on your ears; this way, you can fully concentrate on the game.

Durability & Design

The HyperX Cloud II is very durable and sleek at the same time. Thanks to its aluminum frame that makes it sturdy enough for travel and comes with a nice hard case!

It also has a detachable microphone that you can quickly remove when not in use. You will appreciate this feature since some other headsets don’t have removable microphones (which are usually attached). Overall, they look really cool and modern.

Extra Features

The HyperX Cloud II – Gaming Headset has a volume control knob and an LED indicator. You can adjust your audio to fit any situation, such as streaming movies, gaming, or music playback. This way, you will get the most out of each feature!
Sensitivity, Impudence & Bandwidth

AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO

The AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO Headphones are perfect for any audio professional and gamer. They have a flat wire design that makes them durable and easy to transport while giving you great sound quality. These headphones are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn an will never hurt your ears after long periods of wear. The detachable cable is a bonus because it allows you to keep these headphones in top condition at all times!

Audio Quality

The K712 PRO is a very detailed headphone. It has a flat soundstage that doesn’t color the audio but still manages to immerse you into your music with its pretty decent stereo separation. The level of detail will surely please gamer and audiophiles alike because it perfectly presents every layer in the mix. Both low-end bass frequencies and high-frequency details can be heard clearly without much effort on the part of the listener.

This is great for testing if certain parts are overpowering others in an already mixed track or whether they’re all balanced properly within their own frequency range when listening to older songs from decades past where mastering wasn’t nearly what it is today – not that this means much nowadays.

As a side note, the K712 PRO has an impedance of 62 Ohms and a sensitivity rating of 105dB. It can be driven by many different pieces of gear, from modern smartphones to dedicated DAC/amps or receivers.

Build Quality & Comfortability

The build quality of these headphones is top-notch and really sturdy. The headband has a metal frame covered in padding with soft leather wrapped around it, well as the outer part of the headband itself. These parts are already quite comfortable to begin with, so you don’t need all that much padding there.

Although they’re mostly plastic, AKG managed to keep them from feeling cheap or flimsy at all by using high-quality material and having some weight behind them. This makes up for their lack of heft and pure steel construction like on competing brands.

On one side, we have an input connector which consists of two small pins slightly protruding from the inner side of a hole that leads into the headphone. It’s hard to see, but it is there and does get in your way when you’re adjusting or pulling them out of your bag. So it’s best if you don’t put these on top of your head while walking around unless they have a special case.

However, the biggest problem is with comfortability. Their clamping force which can become fatiguing after prolonged listening sessions due to how tight they are. Even though this helps with passive noise isolation by creating an air-tight seal around one’s ears. Although not as good as over-ear closed-back headphones would provide in terms of outside sound blocking off. Especially since their ear pads aren’t heavily padded like some others on the market.

Durability & Design

The K712 PRO’s come with a two-year limited warranty if you buy them from an authorized dealer. One of the biggest factors that push me towards recommending these headphones is their incredibly low price. For what they offer and how well-made they sound like which makes them worth every penny in my opinion. Especially when compared to other brands such as Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, or Audio Technica. Their build quality alone would justify their demanding price point, but it’s not just about that. AKG did manage to take one step further than its competitors within this range and create some truly amazing sounding audio equipment.

Sensitivity, Impedance & Bandwidth

The K712 PRO headphones have a sensitivity rating of 105 dB and impedance of 62 ohms. This combination makes it possible to drive them with just about anything from your smartphone, iPod, or tablet all the way up to something like a dedicated DAC/amp or receiver. However, they might not sound as great on mobile devices without an amplifier.

Extra Features

Additionally, it has detachable audio cable. So if something happens to it, you can just buy a new one. Instead of sending the whole thing in for repair, which isn’t all that common with headphones.

Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s latest headphones are a huge step up from the WH-1000XM3, with their new Noise Cancelling Overhead Headphones. They have been engineered to be the industry-leading noise-canceling overhead headphones for phone calls and Alexa Voice Control. With a brand new mic that has been designed to reduce background noise, you will never miss a call again!

These over-ear cans provide up to 30 hours of uninterrupted audio playback time. They also come equipped with an inline microphone that allows you to take hands-free calls and voice commands.

Audio Quality

With the Sony WH-1000XM headphones, you can control your audio easily. These wireless noise-canceling overhead headphones come with a built-in microphone for phone calls and voice assistant access. Just press a button on the side of one ear cup to answer/end a call or activate smart assistant.

The touch sensors on either ear cup also let you play/pause tracks, skip songs, and adjust the volume by simply swiping up or down. No need to reach out further than your pocket! And if that isn’t enough customization options at hand, download the SongPal app on your device. The app lets you customize the touch sensor function, adjust noise cancellation levels and EQ settings.

Build Quality & Comfortability

The WH-1000XM headphones are built to last. The high-quality materials used make these noise-canceling wireless overhead earphones extremely durable and scratch-resistant. And the Self-adjusting wings on either side of each headband automatically accommodate any size head. Thus ensuring maximum comfortability for hours together!

These wireless over-ear noise-canceling headphones have all the necessary connectivity features like NFC, digital assistant, USB Type-C port, etc. This makes it easier than ever to connect your device using Bluetooth. If the wireless connectivity isn’t what you want then you can always use AUX cable.

Durability & Design

The Sony WH-1000XM headphones come with a built-in microphone for phone calls and voice assistant access.
These wireless Bluetooth-enabled overhead earphones are available in Black color only. These noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones also have an IPX4 rating. Meaning they are sweatproof, which makes it convenient even when exercising outdoors during drizzles or heavy rains!

Sensitivity, Impedance & Bandwidth

With a frequency range of up to 40 kHz, the Sony WH-1000XM headphones let you hear every tiny detail contained within your music that is lost with most other noise-canceling Bluetooth-enabled wireless overhead earphones! This product also has an impressive impedance rating of 100 dB/mW and an impedance rating of 47 ohms, making it suitable for all types of devices.

Extra Features

With so many advanced technological advancements packed within them, the Sony WH-1000XM headphones make it convenient for you to enjoy your music all day long! The high-quality battery lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge with noise cancellation activated and is very eco-friendly. The Quick Charging feature, these wireless overhead earphones can be charged from 0% to 100% in just over an hour!

The world’s first noise-canceling headphone that adapts its sound settings automatically based on environmental sounds is what makes this product so unique. As soon as they sense loud external noises around them, they will switch modes letting you hear outside sound along with your audio seamlessly.

Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 650

In the world of high-end gaming headphones, there are few brands as well known as Sennheiser. They have been a major player in the field for decades, and their Pro Audio HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone is one of the best examples of why that is true. The design philosophy behind these cans is simple: provide gamers with a set of professional-grade headphones that offer an uncompromising listening experience at all times.

The first thing you will notice about these cans when you take them out of their box is how light they are. With a weight less than 10 ounces, it feels like you’re not even wearing anything on your head! This makes long periods spent using these headphones much more comfortable than other models.

Audio Quality

The HD 650 is a fantastic headphone for gaming. They provide you with incredible sound quality, and it’s very comfortable to wear. The open back design gives the headphones an excellent soundstage that gives you great positional awareness in games, making them perfect for FPS titles such as Call of Duty or Battlefield series.

In addition to this, they also excel at other genres, including RPGs, due to their rich bass response, which makes music really come alive! One thing we do not recommend, however, is using these headsets when playing racing games because the extra bass can make your driving experience less enjoyable than it should be (especially on powerful engines) – especially if you use equalizer presets like “bass booster” or something along those lines.

Build Quality & Comfortability

Sennheiser builds their headphones very well. The HD 650 is no exception. It’s quite heavy at around 260g, but it feels great on your head, and the plush leather earpads feel so comfortable that you will forget they are even there after a while!
The cable where most manufacturers seem to cut corners, Sennheiser has not included two thick braided cables that can be replaced if damaged or just simply wear out over time (unlikely). These also come in either Black or White depending on how much color matches with your setup!

With conductive OFC copper wiring, it delivers low handling noise, like low structure-borne sound sensitivity.
General Thoughts? Overall this headset delivers an incredibly balanced sound signature that works well for gaming and music listening pleasure in general. We highly recommend it.

Durability & Design

The build quality is fantastic. The headphones have a very high-quality feel to them and should last you a long time!
They are extremely comfortable as well, which means they will never interrupt your gaming sessions even if you wear these for hours on end! The comfortability factor makes this ideal for those late-night gaming sessions or just casual music listening when watching TV shows/movies etc.…

In short, the Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone is an incredible headset with great sound quality that comes at a very affordable price given its top-notch performance.

Sensitivity, Impedance & Bandwidth

The Sennheiser HD 650 has an impedance of 300 Ohms, and a sensitivity rating is at 112 dB. This means that the headphones are relatively easy to drive with most devices, including laptops & tablets (although you may want to avoid using it on your iPhone or any phone for that matter). The maximum input power this headphone can handle without distortion is 200mW which should be more than enough for almost all uses except perhaps very high-end setups.

These numbers mean that these cans will work well with smartphones but not so well when used as portable headphones due to their low-efficiency rating (+80dB/V). It’s important not to confuse sensitivity and frequency response in determining how loud the headphones will play – they’re two different things.

Extra Features

A detachable cable comes with the Sennheiser HD 650 has two entry points for connecting cables. There’s an additional protective pouch included in the box so you can safely carry it around and store them when not in use. The ear cups are made of memory foam to provide maximum comfort during long hours of wear time, making this headphone perfect even when used as professional headphones in studios or home theaters where there may be extended periods without breaks between listening sessions.

The headband construction ensures these cans stay securely on your head regardless if you’re just sitting down at your desk or enjoying some tunes while jogging – they’ll feel comfortable all day long!

SENNHEISER HD 800 S

The Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System is one of the best gaming headphones that you can buy. They are made with top-notch materials and have a sound quality that will blow your mind. The noise-canceling technology makes it, so no outside noises distract you from your game, while the open back design allows for incredible sound quality. These headphones include velvet ear pads to ensure comfort during long gaming sessions and an adjustable headband for children or adults. If you want to take your game experience to the next level, this is what you need!

Audio Quality

The HD 800 S is designed to offer outstanding sound quality to bring you into the game and be your virtual partner. The headphone offers high-resolution audio reproduction with innovative technology for clear, natural sounds. It also delivers a very low harmonic distortion of 0.05%, so it can reproduce every detail clearly, even when turned up loud without any loss or coloration of the sound. You’ll enjoy a rich, powerful bass response that helps immerse yourself deeply into the gaming experience, making this product a top choice for gamers who want high-quality headphones for their PC games and listen to music on other devices like smartphones or consoles (Xbox One/PS).

Build Quality & Comfortability

When designing headphones, most companies mainly focus on the comfortability factor. The HD 800 S offers a new innovative design that will help deliver good sound and make it more comfortable. Even though the headphone is equipped with high-quality transducers, their weight is reduced as much as possible so you can wear them for hours without any discomfort or pain in your ears and head. Moreover, they are very light (230g), making these headphones easy to carry around even when traveling by plane.

The audio cable of this headset has two different plugs: one for PC/console and another one – ¼ inch jack plug – ideal for use on HiFi equipment at home or other devices like MP players, etc. The included adapter allows users to connect this device easily to Xbox & PS consoles.

Durability & Design

Being designed by Sennheiser, the HD 800 S provides very durable construction that guarantees long life. The headphone has a high-quality stainless steel headband and premium aluminum voice coils which can be adjusted to your needs for maximum comfortability at all times. Moreover, both ear cups are foldable, so you can easily store them when not in use or take them with you on travels without any problem (they fit perfectly into a semi-rigid carrying case).

The only thing we could complain about is maybe the lack of included carry bags, but it’s not really a big issue since most customers already have bags & cases they use for their electronic devices like smartphones, etc.

Sensitivity, Impedance & Bandwidth

The HD 800 S has a very high level of sensitivity (111 dB), which means it can be easily driven by most devices like smartphones, consoles, and laptops. The headphone is equipped with an impedance of 300 Ohms and a wideband range from 12 Hz to more than 38000 Hz, so you will experience realistic sound reproduction in games or when listening to music thanks to all these features.

Extra Features

The product is equipped with special features that make it stand out from other models. They include innovative technology for clear, natural sound reproduction (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement), outstanding comfortability & durability without any loss to the quality of sound, and also a very effective noise reduction system which makes these headphones a great choice for gamers or music lovers who want to enjoy their favorite tunes in a noisy environment like airplanes, trains, etc.
The headphone has an integrated volume control feature so you can easily adjust the level of your voice while using them on PC games.

Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System offers a rich, powerful bass response, high definition audio reproduction with low harmonic distortion making them the perfect choice for gamers and HiFi enthusiasts.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO Open Studio Headphone for gaming is a pair of high-quality headphones developed specifically for the needs of gamers. It features an innovative design with extraordinary sound quality and powerful bass while providing comfort during long periods of use.

The Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO open Studio Headphone is compatible with all devices that have 3.5mm jacks thanks to its detachable cable system, which includes two cables in different lengths (1 meter and 3 meters), as well as an adapter that allows use on 6.3mm jack equipped equipment such as amplifiers or professional mixers without having to unplug the cable from the headset itself.

Audio Quality

Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO headphones are designed for monitoring, recording, and high-fidelity gaming audio. Perfectly suitable for Pro DJs or people who want to hear high-quality sound gaming without the need for external amplifiers.
The new Beyerdynamic DT990 is a reference headphone in its class thanks to extremely linear frequency response and optimum insulation against ambient noise. With these professional open studio headphones, you can ensure that your mixes will always translate accurately on other systems!

The circumaural closed design reduces background noise, so sensitive microphones do not pick up sounds from the outside, which could distract or hinder accurate audio reproduction at any time during live recordings and broadcasts, etc. This makes it perfect for use by vocalists and musicians alike.

Build Quality & Comfortability

The headphones are made from a lightweight but very stable material. It is flexible yet strong and retains its shape well, so it’s always ready to use at any time! The headband has been designed for ultimate comfort, ensuring zero instances of pinching or discomfort even after extended periods of use.

Beyerdynamic DT990 Studio Headphones come complete with two detachable cables – both coiled and straight – as well as a spare set of velour ear pads for added comfort during those long studio sessions or DJ sets. Thanks to their simple snap-fit mechanism, these can be easily changed without any tools, which makes them perfect for sporadic on-the-go listening too!