Have you ever gotten stabbed by a melee weapon while sniping because you didn’t hear your opponent’s footsteps coming? That’s arguably the most frustrating way to die at an FPS game.
The problem in this scenario is that even if you had the best mouse and keyboard combo, you wouldn’t have been able to stop it from happening.
Why? Because your headset was just not good enough.
This is why you should never neglect your gaming headset. A high-quality headset could help you pinpoint your would-be attacker accurately and efficiently so you wouldn't have to suffer such an embarrassing death.
So, if you’re tired of getting stabbed to death at your favourite FPS, here are some of the best pieces of ear gear you can buy right now.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
If money is no object, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is tough to beat. The $329 headphones can just flat out smoke everyone else in contention for the top spot because it’s got all the boxes ticked.
Build Quality
The build quality is superb. It's got a steel headband that makes it durable and flexible at the same time. The hangers, on the other hand, are made of aluminium. Even the speaker plates have been coated with soft-touch texture. All of these make it feel premium to the touch no matter where you touch it.
The sound that comes from the Hi-Res, 40,000 Hz speakers are also premium. The high-density neodymium magnets make for ultra-realistic sounds. From footsteps lurking behind you or the zing of bullets from afar, the sound quality should be superb on these drivers.
King of Wireless Audio Gaming Experience
When it comes to connectivity, the Acrtis Pro Wireless is also king. The lossless 2.4G connection is one of the best in the business. Latency is a thing of the past for this piece of hardware. You can also use the Bluetooth connectivity if the 2.4G isn't your cup of tea. Although it cannot technically be certified as "lossless", to the human ears, there's virtually no lag between pulling the trigger on your favourite FPS game and hearing the bullet leave the nozzle.
All of this you can experience for up to 40 ft from your system.
To top these off, both the connectivity channels can be used simultaneously so you can be flexible with how you use it. If, on the other hand, you prefer to plug it into your system, there’s that option available to you too via USB, Optical, or a 3.5mm audio jack.
Dual Batteries
The package comes with an extra battery. This means you can cycle through two batteries for a truly wireless experience. Keep one plugged into the transmitter station while you keep one inside the headset and enjoy your game wirelessly virtually endlessly.
DTS Headphone: X v2.0
Having the DTS Headphone: X v2.0 certification also makes any game a truly immersive experience. You’d be able to hear bullet casings dropping on the floor even as you lay down cover fire for your mates.
The headset gives a truly 3D sound performance because of this amazing tech.
Audio Technica ATH-ADG1X
Audio Technica first became popular in the professional music scene. Now, they're trying to get into the gaming market with some really good entries.
The brand brings its industry-leading sound reproduction to their gaming headsets which makes everything just sound a lot more real. Sometimes perhaps too real. The $215 ATH-ADG1X is one of the best that they make.
Large Powerful Drivers
The large 53 mm sound drivers ensure that you get powerful audio no matter what the sounds are. They're extremely accurate, especially when playing first-person shooters. This is because the large drivers enable a 5 – 35,000 Hz frequency response.
Comfort Guaranteed
It’s an open-backed pair of cans with a honeycomb design. This means airflow through your ears is not impeded making sure that you won’t be a sweaty mess even after a few hours of gaming. This also ensures that the weight is kept low.
Comfortability is also helped by the uber-soft earpads around the sound drivers. The clamping force on the 3D Wing Support system also makes sure that the clamping force is just right on your head. The weight also makes sure that there is no undue pressure being put on the wearer.
Best Mic in the Business
As a brand that made its name in the music industry, sound capture is an aspect that Audio Technica has perfected. That expertise is fully displayed in the ATH-ADG1X's mic. Its directional mic is covered with a good windscreen which helps a lot in keeping unwanted ambient noise out of the picture when you’re talking to your team.
SteelSeries Arctis 1
SteelSeries proves that it is truly a gaming juggernaut with the Arctis 1. This budget headset is something that other companies might charge you double the rate that SteelSeries is. The $49 price tag seems like a disconnect from the value that it offers.
Innovative AirWeave Cushions
While it’s not quite the same as an open-back headset, the proprietary AirWeave fabric that the cushions are wrapped is incredibly wind friendly. They keep the ears cool even during intense matches.
Arctis Sound Signature
You can’t, of course, expect a DTS Headphone: X v2.0 type of sound to come from a $50 pair of cans but the Arctis Sound is damn near close.
You can’t get as much detail, but at least you’ll be able to quickly tell where your opponents are.
The problem in this scenario is that even if you had the best mouse and keyboard combo, you wouldn’t have been able to stop it from happening.
Why? Because your headset was just not good enough.
This is why you should never neglect your gaming headset. A high-quality headset could help you pinpoint your would-be attacker accurately and efficiently so you wouldn't have to suffer such an embarrassing death.
So, if you’re tired of getting stabbed to death at your favourite FPS, here are some of the best pieces of ear gear you can buy right now.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
If money is no object, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is tough to beat. The $329 headphones can just flat out smoke everyone else in contention for the top spot because it’s got all the boxes ticked.
Build Quality
The build quality is superb. It's got a steel headband that makes it durable and flexible at the same time. The hangers, on the other hand, are made of aluminium. Even the speaker plates have been coated with soft-touch texture. All of these make it feel premium to the touch no matter where you touch it.
The sound that comes from the Hi-Res, 40,000 Hz speakers are also premium. The high-density neodymium magnets make for ultra-realistic sounds. From footsteps lurking behind you or the zing of bullets from afar, the sound quality should be superb on these drivers.
King of Wireless Audio Gaming Experience
When it comes to connectivity, the Acrtis Pro Wireless is also king. The lossless 2.4G connection is one of the best in the business. Latency is a thing of the past for this piece of hardware. You can also use the Bluetooth connectivity if the 2.4G isn't your cup of tea. Although it cannot technically be certified as "lossless", to the human ears, there's virtually no lag between pulling the trigger on your favourite FPS game and hearing the bullet leave the nozzle.
All of this you can experience for up to 40 ft from your system.
To top these off, both the connectivity channels can be used simultaneously so you can be flexible with how you use it. If, on the other hand, you prefer to plug it into your system, there’s that option available to you too via USB, Optical, or a 3.5mm audio jack.
Dual Batteries
The package comes with an extra battery. This means you can cycle through two batteries for a truly wireless experience. Keep one plugged into the transmitter station while you keep one inside the headset and enjoy your game wirelessly virtually endlessly.
DTS Headphone: X v2.0
Having the DTS Headphone: X v2.0 certification also makes any game a truly immersive experience. You’d be able to hear bullet casings dropping on the floor even as you lay down cover fire for your mates.
The headset gives a truly 3D sound performance because of this amazing tech.
Audio Technica ATH-ADG1X
Audio Technica first became popular in the professional music scene. Now, they're trying to get into the gaming market with some really good entries.
The brand brings its industry-leading sound reproduction to their gaming headsets which makes everything just sound a lot more real. Sometimes perhaps too real. The $215 ATH-ADG1X is one of the best that they make.
Large Powerful Drivers
The large 53 mm sound drivers ensure that you get powerful audio no matter what the sounds are. They're extremely accurate, especially when playing first-person shooters. This is because the large drivers enable a 5 – 35,000 Hz frequency response.
Comfort Guaranteed
It’s an open-backed pair of cans with a honeycomb design. This means airflow through your ears is not impeded making sure that you won’t be a sweaty mess even after a few hours of gaming. This also ensures that the weight is kept low.
Comfortability is also helped by the uber-soft earpads around the sound drivers. The clamping force on the 3D Wing Support system also makes sure that the clamping force is just right on your head. The weight also makes sure that there is no undue pressure being put on the wearer.
Best Mic in the Business
As a brand that made its name in the music industry, sound capture is an aspect that Audio Technica has perfected. That expertise is fully displayed in the ATH-ADG1X's mic. Its directional mic is covered with a good windscreen which helps a lot in keeping unwanted ambient noise out of the picture when you’re talking to your team.
SteelSeries Arctis 1
SteelSeries proves that it is truly a gaming juggernaut with the Arctis 1. This budget headset is something that other companies might charge you double the rate that SteelSeries is. The $49 price tag seems like a disconnect from the value that it offers.
Innovative AirWeave Cushions
While it’s not quite the same as an open-back headset, the proprietary AirWeave fabric that the cushions are wrapped is incredibly wind friendly. They keep the ears cool even during intense matches.
Arctis Sound Signature
You can’t, of course, expect a DTS Headphone: X v2.0 type of sound to come from a $50 pair of cans but the Arctis Sound is damn near close.
You can’t get as much detail, but at least you’ll be able to quickly tell where your opponents are.