Too often, gamers play on beautiful high-definition plasma televisions; however, they are using some shoddy $18 headphones and TV speakers for sound! Sounds crazy, huh?!? Well, here we’ll take a look at 5 of the best gaming headsets available today and help you figure out if they’re right for your upgrade needs to enhanced gaming audio. You will be surprised at the difference in gaming experience with better sound as it is more enjoyable and generally increases your kill rate. Also, most of these headphones are compatible with plasma televisions. The first 2 selections are a “newcomer” to the business, sharks. These 2 headsets are already getting great reviews from gamers, so we’re going to introduce them here.
- Sharkoon X-Tatic True 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Gaming Headset-This premium gaming headset features 4 speakers per ear cup and volume controls built into the headset cord for easy placement. Users report that the headset is extremely comfortable during extended periods of gaming. The overall sound is of very high quality, and the volume can be adjusted individually for each earphone. Another nice feature is that the volume adjustment is easier to locate because it lights up and has different colors for each volume level. The downsides are a lot of cables and a somewhat high price (although normal for a true Dolby headphone). Media: PC, Box 360, PS3.
- Sharkoon X-Tatic SP Gaming Headset-Quality gaming sound at an affordable price! By simply plugging this headset into the USB jacks on your console or PC, you’ll be ready to enjoy your “all night” Call of Duty: Black Ops gaming sessions! It features an in-line amplifier and separate volume controls for voice communication. The price is about half that of the 5.1 headphones, but it still maintains its quality features. Another interesting advantage of the Sharkoon brand is that they may well be the best look headphones on the market too! Media: Xbox 360, PS3, PC.
- Ear Force X31 Digital RF Wireless Game Audio+Xbox Live Chat-An amazing headset with incredible sound quality and crystal clear 2. 4GHz digital RF wireless connection. This is a superior gaming headset that any gamer would love to have, whether gaming online or watching a movie on Netflix; this unit really delivers. Extremely comfortable padded earcups, truly wireless, independent game and chat volume controls, and advanced “battery boost” circuitry that extracts every last ounce of power from batteries before they run out. And the price is really low for such a great headset! The only issues with this headset are that the mute switch is hard to find, and once the batteries die, they are TOTALLY dead; usually in the middle of a game. Media: Xbox 360.
- Turtle Beach TBS-2052 Ear Force Z2 Professional Grade PC Headset-Adjustable padded earcups with 50mm professional grade stereo speakers. These superior gaming headsets are specially designed for PC gaming to give you a competitive edge due to directional speaker positioning and extreme comfort. Its compact design makes it ideal for “on-the-go” gamers, and it has sound-absorbing cushions to help block out distracting noises like fans or nearby people. It’s an amazing headset for a very affordable price. It works with PC, Mac, Xbox 360/live, MP3 players and to watch movies online or even Skype.
- Ear Force PX 21 Gaming Headset for PS3-Excellent game sound with super clear chat communication whether you are online with Xbox360, PC or Playstation3 network. A durable design with large, comfortable ear cups provides a superior gaming experience for those “all night” Black Ops or Bad Company:2 gaming sessions. It features swiveling ear cups, independent game and chat volumes, bass boost, and all with a simple USB connection. This is also one of the best affordable gaming headsets on the market for PS3 right now.