Best Cheap Gaming Headsets
A lot of multiplayer games require teamwork and constant verbal communication for players to succeed.
We don’t always have to speak, but the experience of playing with other people is at its best when you can talk to them.
With a gaming headset, you can constantly keep in touch with your friends on Team Speak. Also make your gaming sessions a much more lively experience.
With a good headset, you’ll be completely immersed in your favorite game’s world. Good sound quality is one of the most important things that make gaming a really lively experience. So it is definitely something worth investing into.
But if you’re a sucker for sound quality, I would definitely recommend buying a headset from a company that works with audio technologies. Here are the headers we recommend for gamers:
| Tower Speaker Name | Connection | Product Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | 1. Logitech G430 DTS | TRS | |
  | 2. HyperX Cloud Stinger | TRRS | |
  | 3. Razer Kraken Pro | TRRS | |
  | 4. SteelSeries Arctis 7 | USB / WiFi | |
  | 5. SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1 | USB | |
  | 6. Beexcellent Gaming Headset | USB & TRRS | |
  | 7. BENGOO Gaming Headset | USB & TRRS | |
  | 8. Corsair VOID Gaming Headset | USB | |
  | 9. Turtle Beach – Ear Force Recon 50X | TRRS | |
  | 10. Turtle Beach – Ear Force P11 | USB & TRS |
Of course, your gaming setup has probably cost you enough already. Especially if you bought a graphic card in this crazy GPU crisis we have going on, due to Ethereum mining.
But you don’t necessarily have to spend loads to get your hands on a truly high-quality headset. You can get one pretty cheaply by now and still enjoy good sound and clear communication.
This is why we composed this article; to help all of you budget oriented gamers get the best for yourselves without breaking the bank. Having a good gaming headset will make your setup much more convenient, with a lot of added bonuses in terms of productivity.
You’ll definitely be able to make better Skype calls too, with the headsets we enlisted. But first, we’re going to tell you what makes a good quality headset and what you should look for when you have set out to buy one.
10 Best Cheap Gaming Headset Reviews
Below you will find a short review of the best 10 cheap gaming headsets we recommend:
1. Logitech G430 DTS
Finally, we have a low cost headset that doesn’t have rubbery or leather cushions, but has a soft cloth cover instead. It feels cool and comfortable and doesn’t strain the ears at all, thanks to the cushions on the headband.
G430 DTS is a part of Logitech’s G series, a fine lineup of gaming gear made by Logitech and it stands tall among all the other gaming hardware.
It has goodies like 7.1 Dolby surround sound and a removable USB sound card that creates a pretty impressive 360 degree surround sound. You can connect it through the USB sound card or through the headphone and microphone jacks. Having this separate sound card maximizes compatibility.
But it does lack auto mute however, so a lot of unnecessary sounds will slip in to the microphone from the outside. It isn’t that much of a turn off but it does make me mad because it is a simple feature to implement and doesn’t cost much either.
To avoid any annoyances you can turn your microphone on and off with the switch hanging on the cord.
The microphone is really good for gaming and making online calls. You won’t be holding any great talk shows with it, so it’s best to get a dedicated microphone for that.
The most important thing to factor in though is the way a headset sounds, and this one sounds pretty darn good. Like I said, the USB sound card really does its thing and delivers an impressive sound quality.
The most useful thing about it is that you can really tweak your sound experience with it. You can crank up the volume of the sound that’s coming from behind you, from the left or from any other direction.
When it comes to music, you can’t expect it to have the instrument separation of studio headsets, since this is a gaming headsets. While studio headsets wouldn’t be good for gaming.
For me the design and the build quality is a big winner. I’m a fan of simple, yet modern designs that fit my head this well.
I also like the black and blue color theme and that the headband and the ear cups are held together with metal. It bends in the right places and it’s sturdy where it has to resist the most stress.
Overall, the entire headset is pretty lightweight and comfortable. Thanks to the soft ear cups and the headband padding, it gives just enough pressure to keep the headset separated from your head.
The cord has a nicely fabricated cover that resists tangles, which is incredibly convenient. You also get a cable management band and the ear cups are washable. So you don’t have to bare the feeling of having months of dirt hanging on ear cups.
You can use the Logitech gaming software to manage the headset’s settings and any other Logitech gaming peripheral you have connected.
The LOGITECH G430 DTS is a truly high quality gaming headset that goes head to head with some of the best on the market. It is well designed, comfortable and offers great sound quality, which makes it the absolute best, cheap gaming headset in my opinion.
2. HyperX Cloud Stinger
Here’s a top competitor to the previously reviewed Logitech headset and among other high-quality gaming headsets out there.
It can be used on your PC, PS4, tablet or smartphone; it works with just about everything. It comes at a low price so it’s a really awesome deal. Let’s see how it stands up against our criteria.
The exterior of the headset is matte black with the logo done with red on the side. It is lightweight with the only metal part being the connection between the headband and the ear cups.
There’s only one button on the bottom of the right ear cup. It’s the volume rocker that you can adjust.
The overall design of this headset is simple and smooth. Although it does have a pretty good build quality in my opinion, I definitely wouldn’t go too rough on it. So be careful with this baby during a sudden burst of nerd rage.
The ear cups have very soft cushions with memory foam on the inside and there’s also padding on top of the headband, which makes it rest very nicely on the head. There is plenty of leeway for adjusting it so it will definitely fit your head. You can also leave it hanging around your neck comfortably.
The microphone has a loose neck that you can easily bend and adjust to your liking, which was really cool for me. If you swivel the microphone upward, you’ll hear a click, which means that it’s muted. If you turn it downward, it will be unmuted, so you can use it.
That’s a big plus for HyperX when we look at the competition. You can hear speech through them pretty clearly as well.
It isn’t an USB headset. It has simple headphone jacks that is compatible with just about any platform. You’ll be getting stereo audio, not simulated 7.1 surround sound.
There won’t be any software slowing your PC down, which is a plus. Also, you’ll still have very good directional audio, which is a necessity in shooter games. They sound really good no matter what games you play.
3. Razer Kraken Pro Analog Gaming Headset
The all so well-known brand Razer has produced a pretty awesome gaming headset at a surprisingly low price.
It keeps consistent with the design of other Razer products and delivers an outstanding sound quality too. We’re reviewing this cheap but awesome gaming headset to see how it stands up against the others in the same price range.
In the box, you’re getting a 1.3 cable with the headphone, which is permanently attached. You’ll also get a headphone splitter that splits the signal into a microphone and a headphone jack. In the center of the cable, you have a control panel, with a volume rocker on it, as well as a microphone mute switch.
The build of the Razer Kraken Pro feels pretty well made. The majority is plastic though and feels like pretty nice plastic too. I wouldn’t be afraid to drop it on the floor a few times.
You can put a good amount of pressure on the headband and the sliders without hearing it crack even a little. It bends pretty well, so I feel safe with using it. The ear pads are pretty comfortable and have a nice leather/rubbery cover. But I could definitely use a bit more padding on the headband.
The microphone on this headset is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It bends really well and you can also make it retract completely when you’re not using it.
It also follows sounds pretty accurately and it doesn’t pick up much of the keyboard clapping, which is a big plus. So you’ll definitely have some clear conversations with this.
I would definitely recommend this gaming headset, but only if you’re going to use it for nothing else but gaming. Music sounds pretty good on them too, but there are better headsets out there that can separate the sounds of instruments better and offer a better overall sound quality.
Still the directional sounds come in very clearly, which make it excellent for shooter games and a more immersive gaming experience.
4. SteelSeries Arctis 7 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming
SteelSeries is known to manufacture some pretty awesome tech and gaming products. The SteelSeries headsets are a proud race and they are definitely worthy of sitting on top of a gamer’s head. It’s not only compatible with PC but with PS4 and Xbox gaming consoles as well.
It is a high quality headset, but one thing definitely hinders things for many gamers, and that is cost. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 costs a lot more than the other models. Still, the point of our article, to show you the best cheap gaming headsets, isn’t hindered! This price tag is a pretty good bargain for a SteelSeries headset!
The Arctis 7 has a very premium look and solid build quality. The exterior has a pretty sturdy soft touch material that gives off a very premium feel. It has a full metal headband and a fully customizable headband line, also known as the “ski goggle liner”.
The headband can be customizable. You can switch them any time to another option that’s available on the SteelSeries website. So that’s a big plus for style points.
For clear sounding conversation, there’s the ‘ClearPass Microphone’, a retractable microphone that you will hardly notice until you pull it out. It will be muted unless you do so, of course. The Audio sounds pretty clear, but it’s not too loud. You can always adjust that in your soundcard settings.
On the bottom of one ear cup, you’ll find a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a micro USB port, the power button, the microphone mute button and the volume rockers.
The connection to your PC is established through an USB dongle. You just have to plug it into your PC, a gaming console or almost any other modern device with an USB port.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless Gaming Headphone is advertised as lag-free, and it really is as much as I can tell. I noticed no sound dropouts while reviewing it.
If you can work around the price tag, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 Lag-Free Wireless Gaming Headset is an outstanding product.
5. SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1
Now, here’s one of the fanciest looking gaming headsets known to man. The Spirit Wolf 1.7 has some pretty cool fade-in, fade-out lighting and is shaped like a spaceship.
Just to put it out there, I’m not a big fan of fancy looks like this, but this headset does well in what it has set out to do, as it offers good quality audio features.
It is a multiplatform USB headset that offers powerful sound along with a pretty massive and sturdy build. You can connect it to your PC, PS4 or Xbox one.
It’s great for the everyday things you would do with a headphone, like listen to music and gaming of course. The directional sounds are pretty good, making it easy to follow the sound of gunfire and footsteps.
The ear cups provide pretty good noise isolation by covering your entire ear, making the experience more immersive.
Since it is connected through USB, you can easily adjust the sound experience you get. With simulated 7.1 surround sound, you can easily set up how loud you wish sound from a particular angle should be.
You have a 180 degree adjustable microphone that isn’t anything special. You can just adjust it up and down and it will be turned off in its upper position. Sound recordings meet the requirements for clear Skype calls and Team Speak sessions, so it definitely gets the job done.
The huge size was put to good use. Thanks to that, it has massive cushions on the ear cups and one of the biggest padding I’ve seen on a gaming headset’s headband. It fits very comfortably and covered just about any ear I’ve seen it put on.
The SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1 has a really low price for a headset that offers simulated surround sound. This makes it one of the greatest deals we enlisted so far.
If you want to cut some extra corners and budget on your gaming headset and would indeed embrace this flashy design, the SADES Spirit Wolf 7.1 is for you.
6. Beexcellent Gaming Headset
As we move forward with our best cheap gaming headsets list, the price tags just keep dropping. We have moved into a zone where we see brands that you probably haven’t heard much about.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re bad. Here, we have the all so cheap Beexcellent gaming headset that currently costs $23. I doubt that the price will go up any time soon.
It is a multiplatform headset that you can use on your PC, Xbox one and PS4. You can plug it into just about anything that supports a 3.5 mm headphone.
It is a simple gaming headset with a unique design and no extra features. It only comes in a black and blue color scheme, which I like. The ear cups are soft and the padding on the headband is spot on.
The overall build is pretty light, so I really can’t say anything bad about the exterior of this headset. It has a small control panel on the cord, so you can always adjust the volume.
The mic can be adjusted up and down, it’s pretty stiff, and so you won’t be turning or bending it anywhere. Still, it’s there and it does its thing. The headband can be stretched and adjusted to fit your head just right and it feels pretty comfortable, once you get both ear cups on your ear.
Sound is good enough. It doesn’t match up to higher-end headphones, but it sounds pretty good. Directional sounds come in clearly as well, so it gets the job done.
If you really want to spare a lot of money and cut your headphone’s price in half, you can definitely do just that with this cheap gaming headset. It works right, feels right on the head and will serve you well throughout your long gaming sessions.
7. BENGOO Gaming Headset
As we move our attention to cheaper and cheaper gaming headsets, it’s not a big surprise that we don’t get to see many extra features or anything exceptional for that matter.
But headsets around such a truly low price tend to be working well for anyone who doesn’t want anything fancy, only the fundamentals that are required for a “better than hearing it from a speaker” audio experience.
The Bengoo Gaming Headset isn’t anything special, but it is multiplatform compatible, has a surrounding stereo subwoofer and a noise isolating microphone.
This feature is pretty rare in the microphones gaming headsets have. But with the Bengoo Gaming Headset’s microphone, you won’t hear any echoing and the person on the other end of the line won’t hear your clicks and keyboard clapping.
This feature alone enhances the experience by a lot. Some other, higher-end models don’t have it.
When I say that it’s a multi-platform compatible headphone, I do mean it. You can connect it to a PS4, a PC, and Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS, Tablet, PSP or just a smartphone. If your device uses a headphone jack, than you’re all set to use this headset.
Exterior wise, the BENGOO Gaming Headset looks like something that you’ve seen thousands of times before. It has a modern, futuristic design which will signal that it is a gaming headset through in and throughout.
It also has an elastic build. You can twist and bend the headband in many ways, it won’t break, which is pretty awesome.
The cushions on the ear cups and the padding on the headband make it very comfortable. They are covered in the kind of rubbery, leather-like material that you’re used to feeling on headphones.
It’s a pretty solid deal for a well built, good sounding and good quality headphone!
8. Corsair VOID Gaming Headset
Seeing the Corsair GamCorsair got me really surprised. It isn’t a cheap looking gaming headset at all, rather a very stylish and good quality headset for gaming. Its look definitely isn’t flashy, but still modern, lean and cool enough that you would wear it outside of your man-cave.
There is a lot of variety in how you can buy these models. They are available with wireless connection, USB connection, Hybrid Stereo/USB or the good old fashion analogue connection.
Depending on which one you choose, the pricing will change too of course. It also comes in various color schemes, but the design and sound quality stays consistent in every model.
It is a multi-platform headphone, so it is compatible with smartphones, TVs and gaming consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One. Just about anything that you can connect it to.
As I said, the look of the Corsair Void has a very lean and sporty design. It is made out of plastic, so it is very lightweight, but I wouldn’t recommend treating it too badly.
The ear cups have nice soft cushions that cover your ear completely and let you enjoy good sound isolation. Each of them, including the headband, is covered with a breathing cloth material that feels very cozy. In fact, they are too cozy.
They can really make you sweat on a summer day, but if you’re going to play games in an air-conditioned room, than that shouldn’t be a problem. The headband has a good amount of padding, and the ear cups cover the air completely. The nice padding and the ear cups make this headset a comfortable one.
I anticipated that it would be really easy to break this headset, since it was made of plastic, but it turned out to be very elastic. It can twist, bend and would definitely survive a few drops. Behind the adjustable sliders that make the headset fit so well, you’ll find some metal holding the ear cups to the headband.
You can find control buttons on the left ear cup. There is a mute button on its side and a volume rocker on the bottom. It’s pretty convenient.
The microphone can be turned up and down and can also be bent in any direction. The microphone makes clear recordings, making it perfect for online conversations. But you shouldn’t use it for voice acting or any demanding studio task.
The surround sound effect can definitely be heard, giving awesome directional sounds. You can easily pinpoint where the action is happening. The sound of music is pretty awesome, offering good bass and clear playbacks, but it doesn’t match up to more high-end headsets.
It is a solid, inexpensive gaming headset. If you’re looking for something mid-range in terms of pricing and quality, than the Corsair GamCorsair is a solid option.
9. Turtle Beach – Ear Force Recon 50X
I always liked green color, and it’s the first thing that came into my vision when I looked at the Ear Force Recon 50x. It has a very cool, black and green color scheme, with a cool logo on it.
It has a design that chill people will definitely love. The build and sound quality is also pretty awesome for such an inexpensive product. You can enjoy crystal clear talks with it, thanks to the highly sensitive microphone.
You can also enjoy a much more immersive gaming experience. A lot of Xbox One players have this headphone, since it’s consistent with the console’s design, and fits the whole setup really well. Not to mention that it is 10x better than what you would have by default.
This headset is made out of plastic, but it is still very solidly placed together. It doesn’t feel like a cheap headset, since it is very lightweight and bends well. You can adjust the headband to fit your head perfectly and swivel.
It definitely isn’t built out of premium materials, but it does stand its ground in long gaming sessions, which is the most important thing.
When it comes to comfort, it features the cushions and the padding necessary to hold the headset in place on your head. It doesn’t fatigue your head or ears even after 3 hours of gameplay, because the whole headset is lightweight. But the cushions will keep your ears really warm, which might get uncomfortable during summer days.
When it comes to connecting the headset to your device, you can do it easily with the headphone jack. Just plug it into your device and you’re good to go.
Sound quality is good, very good. You can clearly distinguish high and low sounds. It helps gameplay, helping you notice sounds in a distance and perceive their directions better.
The Ear Force Recon 50x definitely won’t top off high quality gaming headsets, but it does perform respectively well.
You can see the deal along with the updated pricing through the link we provided!
10. Turtle Beach – Ear Force P11
Turtle Beach has another good quality gaming headset. It offers better quality sound for a bit more money, along with a really sleek and clean look.
No matter where you use it, it will easily become a decorative part of the room, thanks to its simplistic design. It is advertised as having amplified audio, which is true. It has 50mm speakers that offer enhanced sound, making your gaming experience a lot more immersive.
This headset can be connected through USB and is compatible with PC, PS4 and many other devices that have sound and an USB slot.
The Ear Force P11 offers some great audio features such as bass boost, a microphone monitor and higher volume sound.
The sound quality is much better than previous Turtle Beach models. On the cord, you’ll find an independent volume control. You can use it to mute the mic or to adjust the volume.
Since it connects through USB, you can expect better sound quality, ease of use and compatibility.
The microphone bends in any direction you turn it in and records even clearer sound than the Recon 50x model. You’ll have some smooth and good sounding calls and Team Speak sessions.
The cushions on the ear cups are what you would expect from any other headset. It’s soft and makes the whole headset rest comfortably on your head. Paired with a lightweight build, it is incredibly comfortable to wear, without having any fatigue during a long gaming session.
The price for the Ear Force P11 has a mid-range price tag! It is a solid deal, one worth checking out. You can see the updated pricing through the link we provided!
How to Choose a Gaming Headset?
There are all sorts of headsets out there on the market. Like with any other product, there are plenty of good ones and bad ones as well.
Here, we’re going to look through all the components that are crucial to take your gaming experience to the next level! It’s needless to say that the best way to know it is by actually trying the headsets out.
Comfort
Few things can please your ear cups more than the feeling of the soft and comfy headphone cushions.
It’s needless to say why they are so important in a headset. If you find yourself an uncomfortable headset that puts too much strain on your ears, is too warm or just plain too uncomfortable to wear for more than an hour, you’re left with a bad experience. It doesn’t matter how good it sounds.
If you’re looking to buy a cheap headset, it still doesn’t have to feel like a cheap one. Some of my headsets ended up hurting me, to the point that I just wanted to smash them into the floor. It happens.
Some headphones squeeze too tightly, distort the sound or are just a bad fit for you, you get it already. If you’re into long gaming sessions, you’ll want to have them as comfortable as possible. They should be big enough to cover your entire ear. A good headset will include a thick but very soft padding that is gentle enough for your ears.
The best way to know about their comfort before buying is by looking at the shape of the cup, the material it is covered with and its overall size. It should also have a big enough cushion on the headband, for supporting the top of your head too.
A flexible headband will also add to its overall comfort. The point there is to take as much strain off of your ear cups as possible. Another, maybe even better way to go about it, is by reading reviews. Read one or a couple of them.
Durability
Sure, a gaming headset is not something you take around with you everywhere, but it definitely has to be able to endure some stress.
It won’t last long if it’s not made of some good quality materials that bend well. But usually, the price of the headset pretty accurately describes the quality of its build.
This is definitely a risk factor for cheap headsets and we kept that in mind as we made our list. But a good way to really know the quality is by looking at how the headband is attached to the ear cups.
Sound Quality
Ah, the main course. What are you buying a headset for if not the elevated sound quality? But that’s a pretty obvious requirement. Still, you wouldn’t take me seriously if I didn’t mention it.
You definitely won’t be able to listen to how a perspective headset sounds when you’re browsing them online, so once again, you’re left to some good old guides and reviews.
There are many trusted brands out there like Logitech or Razer for example. They have proven to deliver quality in the past and will definitely continue to do so in the future.
Good headsets also have simulated surround sound and noise cancellation for microphones and ear cups. But the models we reviewed only have it for their microphones.
Usually, high-end headphones have simulated surround sound and it’s an awesome feature to have since it adds more realism to your gaming experience. Some cheaper headsets have it too.
But be wary of wishy-washy brands, because they often write simulated surround sound on their packaging and you end up with a trash sound quality. So, to be sure look for trusted brands and you’ll get good quality.
Microphone
You don’t want your voice to be distorted, so that people can hear you loud and clear. It is very annoying if you buy a headset, only to figure out that your friend on the other end hears a weird alien sound or only partially hears your voice. Nothing is worse than hearing your voice crackling when you’re trying to play a game.
Once again, the only place where you can get at least some bit of accurate information on your perspective headset’s microphone is by reading reviews.
Also, if it’s an open headset, your microphone shouldn’t pick up any of the sounds from your ear speakers, because that can lead to some really unpleasant echoing.
Looks and Design
What can be called a good design, is only determined by you. You shouldn’t make a decision solely on whether you like the color scheme of the headset or not, but you should definitely take it into consideration.
I myself, usually don’t like flashy gaming gear that has all sorts of fancy graphics and symbols on it, saying that “ooh I’m such a gamer”. I like to have a simple, modern design. Nobody has to know that it’s a gaming headset and that’s what I like about Logitech’s products.
So in short, find a look that says “game mode on”, once you place it on your head.
Connection
A 3.5 mm jack is a simple analogue connection that will transmit sound from your computer to your headset. An USB connection will allow you to adjust your sound settings and control your listening experience more accurately.
Sound comes through much clearer with USB headphones a lot of times. It’s because they feature their own sound card. 3.5 mm jacks also work well, but you’ll have your sound quality on an all or nothing basis.
Wired or Wireless
This depends on your preference and your wallet. If you want the best sound quality over comfort, then definitely go for the wired ones, because they’ll transmit sound signals much better.
Wireless headsets are much more comfortable, since you have no wire to mess around with. They operate in a 32 foot radius, so you can easily walk away from your PC and still have good sound.
Some people would argue that they could cause sound to lag or they might have some interference. New Bluetooth technologies support a very stable connection, so I wouldn’t worry about that.
Being wireless they do have to be used with a battery which makes them heavier. They also have to be charged or they might use third party batteries which will be a plus expense.
Since we’re talking about expenses, wireless headsets are also a lot more expensive, even if you’re looking for a budget wireless headset. You’ll be paying some extra for the wireless feature, so keep that in mind.
Closing Statement
As with any other technology product, the price says a lot about the quality. The pricing structure of gaming gear and similar products is very wide, so you can definitely find the price tag that suits you.
As with any other thing in life, usually taking the middle road is the best. You can find a decent headset under $40, which you will see in the following reviews. The top headphones on the list represent a sweet spot between high quality and low pricing, so you’re sure to find the one for you.
Conclusion
You see? You don’t have to spend tons of money on all of your gaming gear. You can enjoy immersive, high quality sound without spending too much on it. If you’re not a musician or someone who has to be able to distinguish sound frequencies through their headphones, you’ll be fine with the gaming headsets we enlisted.
You can check out and buy any of them through their accompanying links and get your hands on a truly solid deal!
I hope we helped you find your new favorite gaming headset at a low price and that you’ll read more!
