What probably springs to mind when I say 'upgrade for competitive gaming' is a new lightweight gaming mouse. Maybe a high-refresh monitor. Or, at a push, maybe even a slick new mouse pad. But just as important is audio, and honestly one of the best improvements I've made to my Counter-Strike gaming setup over the past few months has been a humble set of in-ear monitors (IEMs, ie, earphones) that are now just $24 at Amazon for Prime Day (Prime members only).

Audio isn't massively relevant for all games, but for a bunch of competitive FPS games it's crucial. Placing your enemies using audio can sometimes separate a win from a loss. Anyone else remember the Xbox 360 era where being accused of using Turtle Beaches (peculiarly specific) was considered an insult? If you can't beat 'em—or rather if you want to beat 'em—join 'em.

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The mistake a lot of people make, and which I made until recently, is to assume that if you want to be able to place your enemies with good audio imaging, you need to spend a fortune. That's true if you want headphones that are great in a bunch of other respects, too, but if competitive shooters are your goal then something like these Linsoul Tripowin x 0DiBi IEMs should take you far.

IEMs in general tend to be good for helping you place enemies ('sound localisation') and these ones in particular are great for the price.

I swap from the very pleasant Razer BlackShark V3 Pro to these Vivace earbuds whenever I'm booting up CS2 for that very reason. Since I've made the switch and spent some time getting used to its sound profile, I've been able to place enemies easier and am often hearing things that my teammates aren't. I can even almost tell the difference between A and B plants on Nuke, now, which is a nigh-on miracle.

The IEMs come with a few different tips, and the cable which you have to attach. I'd like the cable to be a little longer as it doesn't reach the back of my PC to plug into my motherboard, and the power from the case's connector on the front doesn't seem to be enough. This meant I had to buy a separate DAC, but a cheap UGreen one has done the trick just fine—this way I can use it with other USB-C devices, too, so it's a win-win.

Outside of the sound localisation, these earphones sound pretty reasonable across the spectrum, without much of a boost in any particular frequency range, to my ears. They're not the bassiest, and mids are perhaps a little far back, but overall they're very balanced and compare well against some much more expensive wireless earbuds with fancier tech (ANC, etc) I've tried.

And for the discounted price here, I'd say that's a damn good proposition.

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These are the earphones I use every single day, pretty much without fail, so I have zero hesitation in recommending them for their current discounted price of $71 at Amazon (for Prime members). That's as low as they've ever been, which is a way off from the $100 MSRP I reviewed them at.

They're currently the best earbuds for gaming when it comes to value for money, all things considered. There are more performant buds out there of course, but for under $100 you're enjoying some great audio chops here.

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Just note there's no 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity here—only Bluetooth. That being said, I find the low latency mode to work very well. With it enabled there's still a very slight delay, but for casual gaming, it's all but imperceptible.

What is perceptible is the wonderfully crisp and powerful audio, especially after you've fiddled with the EQ a little. The non-Plus version—which I also reviewed and rate highly, and are also on sale right now for $51 at Amazon—sound great, but the newer Air Pro 4+ enjoys the addition of tiny armature drivers. These add a lot of clarity and make higher frequencies really sing. The non-Plus version is far from bad without these drivers, but the Plus version is better.

There's very little to complain about here, really. The app is great and gives you lots of options for EQ, noise cancelling, touch controls, and so on. You get 12 hours of battery life in the earbuds themselves and another 42 from the charging case, which itself can be charged either via USB-C or wirelessly.

The one thing I wish could be better is the mic, as it's mediocre at best. I'm still audible when I talk to people, but there are definitely better earphones when it comes to mic quality.

For this price, though, whether it's for music, podcasts, of course gaming, or pretty much anything else, you're getting some wonderful little earbuds.

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We're always on the lookout for the best earbuds for gaming, and while the Nothing Ear (a) fell short of that title, our Jacob (different Jacob) came away impressed with other aspects of these buds from his time with them.

The Nothing Ear (a) are down to just $53 over at Amazon right now, from a price of $79. We actually reviewed them at $99, which means they're a lot cheaper than we judged them at back then.

Our Jacob Fox took a look at these earbuds in the summer of 2025, noting that the audio is very impressive for this price point ($99 at the time). He gave them a nod for their impressive soundstage:

"With the Bass Enhance setting enabled and set to level three (out of five) the bass is plenty punchy, and the audio in general feels more open than it does from some competitor earbuds such as the (admittedly cheaper) Air Pro 4," Jacob said.

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Though we want to give you the full picture so you can choose your next earbuds with all the information. Jacob did have some complaints. Namely, the latency is too high for gaming over Bluetooth. The buds do feature a low-lag mode, though it's still noticeable laggy compared to others we've tested, like the EarFun Air Pro 4.

He also noted they fall out of his little ears more often than others, though he does note that he has especially little ears (he does, I've seen them). For sure, most user reviews are pretty positive about the fit.

Lastly, the mic isn't great. Though to put this to the test, Jacob (other Jacob) called me with them in just now and, yeah, they're not top-notch but they're not awful either. That maybe changes in a very busy place with more noise around but they're passable, in my opinion.

That seems like a laundry list of faults, but I asked Jacob whether he'd buy these buds at this new low price and he said, "for the price, I think I'd get them". The fact these are now going for cheaper than we've ever seen them on Amazon does a lot of good.

Similarly, Jacob still rounds off his review saying they are "fantastic earbuds", namely for their sound profile, cool style, excellent software, and good noise cancellation. Those things all matter a whole lot, and at just over $50, the faults are easier to look over for the right person.

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I'll admit one thing to you right now: I don't like in-ear headphones. I never really have. They just don't feel right in my ears for longer than an hour or so. Maybe it's because I've never been keen on the idea of having a piece of silicon shoved in my ear to listen to things, or the whole form factor, although of course it is all down to taste.

After all, lots of people swear by wireless earbuds for day-to-day productivity loads, and even for gaming. The likes of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and Sony Inzone Buds are two bright sparks in this regard.

Enter the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless, a new $230/£185 set of 'open back' gaming buds that could be the answer to my problems. There isn't the need to shove any silicon tips in your ears with these buds, as they simply rest 'on' your ears, rather than in them.

For a quick refresher, open-back headphones refer to ones that don't have closed cups, thereby letting sound in and out for a wider and more expansive presentation at the expense of potentially annoying those around you.

In this instance, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless are designated as 'open' from more of a comfort perspective. It's a strange sensation having them resting on your ears for the first time, especially if you're used to more traditional earbuds and over-ear headphones. In my experience, it took just a few minutes for me to acclimatise to these ROG earbuds, although there was still an odd sensation when I put them back on after taking them off.

Moreover, the inclusion of an ear hook in their construction makes the fit secure and helps position these buds as more of a fitness/running choice, as well as for gaming. Asus also bundles a neck strap in the box to tie the two buds together, so they can't go walkabouts together, and also helps them remain in place if you're running and such. Also helping their fitness credentials is the presence of an IPX5 water resistance rating, meaning these should be alright for water splashes and such from rain or sweat.

One thing I certainly appreciate about these earbuds is that there aren't any finicky touch controls, as Asus has opted for proper buttons instead. Given how small the main frames of these are, the buttons are understandably quite small, requiring a certain degree of precision. Get it right, and you can control media playback and such with relative ease without having to swipe incoherently.

Owing to the larger nature of an open frame, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless' charging case is chunkier than you might be used to—it's more in length than in thickness. The case is still pocketable, just, and you'll need deeper pockets to accommodate. The case has a bit of a plastic feel to it, which is okay, and has some flair with ROG branding if that's your kind of thing.

Open the case up, and you'll find the earbuds sit flat down and magnetically attach for charging, complete with status LEDs so you know juice is going back into them. In the middle sits the USB-C receiver for a low-latency 2.4 GHz connection, complete with a USB-C port in itself for a passthrough so you can still charge your phone while using the buds, or so you don't lose out on the functionality of a front panel USB-C port on your PC, which can be quite hard to come by.

On the point of connectivity, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless connect via both the bundled 2.4 GHz receiver and Bluetooth, and two devices can be connected simultaneously for ease of use. The 2.4 GHz low-latency 'Speednova' connection is handy for gaming powers, while having an additional Bluetooth channel frees these buds up for listening to music or podcasts through your phone when you're travelling, for instance.

Battery life here is generally strong, too, as these Asus earbuds can run for a total of 16 hours from the buds themselves, with the case supplementing this with an additional 48 hours of use. That's 64 hours in total, albeit only if you're happy to turn the mic and RGB lighting off. Leave all of it running, and your runtime will be brought down closer to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds' 40 hours, if not slightly less.

A handy feature the ROG Cetra Open Wireless has is wear detection. This is ported over more from 'lifestyle' focused devices than gaming-centric ones, and means the buds will stop whatever you're listening to when it detects you've taken the buds off.

Far too often, I'll take a set of headphones or earbuds off to do something else, only to put them back on and find they've had a party to themselves while I've answered the front door. Now they stop when you do.

It's taken me long enough, but time to get to the important bit: audio quality. Usually, open-back headphones and headsets come with an increasingly wide and expansive presentation—after all, that's the whole point of them—which sets them apart from their closed-back counterparts.

The ROG Cetra Open Wireless largely impressed me in this regard in my usual testing ground of Counter Strike 2, with surprisingly precise directional audio and an excellent soundstage to boot. Combined with this, I got some great overall detail for pinpointing footsteps, distant gunfire and explosions, making these a very competent set of buds for FPS titles.

The big surprise at how these buds sounded, though, was the power of their bass. When not working, I'm usually listening to a good range of rock tracks, be it Marillion, Rush or otherwise. Spinning up Rush's YYZ revealed the punch and power of the bass, providing a great sense of atmosphere and warmth to proceedings. It wasn't to the extent you could feel the subbass as such, but more of a reassuring heft that works away in the background.

I also didn't find that the prominent low end coloured the sound of the ROG Cetra Open Wireless too much, as the mid-range of vocals and footsteps felt clear, while the top-end on the likes of Steely Dan's Do It Again extracted solid detail and sparkle.

I'd probably be inclined to describe these earbuds as a purposeful listen, rather than being a fun or energetic type. The sound signature serves a purpose for their gaming-centric workload, although there is still plenty of room to stretch their legs and have some fun with an array of music.

Even though these are open-back buds, I didn't experience much in the way of seepage from the ROG Cetra Open Wireless. Sure, it was possible to slightly hear the audio from a foot or two away, but that's only at unnaturally loud volumes where you're probably going to do some damage. For the most part, you won't bother people too much using these for a commute or in a busy cafe.

The microphone in these buds is perfectly cromulent for calls and in-game comms, with decent clarity and body overall that I'd wager surpasses a lot of its key rivals.

Then we come to the dilemma of price and appeal. The fact is that the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are likely to appeal to more people due to a lower price, a more conventional fit, and as much versatility as these. It's also worth noting you can get some top-class noise-cancelling buds from Sony and Bose for a similar price to these, and more fitness-focused open buds that don't cost as much.

The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless are an intriguing addition to the market sector of gaming earbuds, adding the convenience of open-back powers to a form factor it isn't usually associated with. I like the way they fit and the way they sound, although at the price they are, it's an expensive experiment.

Before the EarFun Air Pro 4+ came along, I was using the original, non-Plus version as my go-to pair of travelling buds, accompanying me on train journeys and the like. Now I've tried out the new version, the Air Pro 4+, the old set has been relegated to use as a trusty backup. The Plus version is, to my eyes and ears, better in every way.

The high-level picture is that these earbuds—just like the first but more so—offer a ton of features and fantastic sound, making for a very appealing overall package. That's especially true for the $80–100 price tag (depending on whether they're on one of their frequent sales), which I'd say is probably more of a mid-range price than a truly budget one.

On the feature front, you get pretty much the whole caboodle. The case has wireless charging, and the earphones have ANC (adjustable), dual Bluetooth connectivity, great EQ options, LE audio, Auracast, and in-ear detection. The list goes on. You even get in-app (phone speaker or earphone) language translation.

The buds are the same overall size as the regular Air 4 Pros, but I found these to sit a little less snugly in my ears. This might be down to the oval-shaped tips, as opposed to the more circular tips of the non-Plus buds. This has meant I've struggled on a couple of occasions with the earphones coming loose, for instance, if I've been on a particularly strenuous and active walk.

However, I have weird little ears and I seem to struggle more than most people to keep earbuds seated, and at any rate, it has only been occasionally that I've found it to be an issue. You get a selection of different tip sizes to choose from, too, which can help.

Once they are, in fact, seated, you're in for a treat. Sound quality on the original set was pretty great, and I'm happy to say that with the Plus buds, I can remove that 'pretty' qualifier and say that these things sound straight-up great—once you've manually adjusted the EQ to boost some of the highs and lows, that is.

There's more clarity across the frequency spectrum, and when listening to music, each instrument feels separate and distinct without reducing overall fullness. The improvement is definitely noticeable over the first version and has turned these into some truly premium-sounding earphones.

This is thanks to the combination of "ultra-light FeatherBA armature" and 10 mm dynamic drivers—the non-Plus lacked the former armature ones. Armature drivers were originally made for hearing aids and are great for clarity and higher frequencies. This explains perfectly why the difference is so (ahem) clear between the original Pro 4 and the Pro 4+.

It's noticeable with in-game audio, too, though it's not quite as bassy and immersive as some other earphones. The Nothing Ear (a), for instance, can rock you a bit more in gunfights and offers a deeper, closer presence that the Air Pro 4+ can't quite match. I wouldn't exactly say the EarFuns are worse for gaming, though, just different. The clarity you find in music does transfer into games, too, giving each audible in-game action an extra sprinkling of satisfaction.

Note that you're only getting a Bluetooth connection, which can't offer the same bandwidth as over wired USB or wireless 2.4 GHz, and moreover tends to add a little audio lag. There is a low-latency game mode, however, and I found this to work very well.

Without it enabled, FPS games are pretty unplayable thanks to the clearly audible delay, but with it turned on, the delay is almost imperceptible. Almost, but not quite, so I still wouldn't say it's the best option for someone who only plays competitive FPS games, for instance. For occasional competitive gaming and certainly for casual gaming, though, game mode works very well.

The Qualcomm QCC3091 SoC powering these buds—the same as in the non-Plus—allows for a bunch of the latest audio technologies. These include the aptX lossless codec, Bluetooth 6, LE Audio and LC3 low-power codecs, and LDAC. All stuff that you don't see too often on budget buds. Apart from Bluetooth 6, however, it's all stuff that was present in the original Air Pro 4's.

The Air Pro 4+ also has both ANC and transparency modes. The ANC sounds about the same as with the previous non-Plus version to my ears, which is to say, it works perfectly well at blocking out background hums and whirrs and even quieting other noises a little. Saying that, I really can't tell much of a difference between the different ANC modes on offer, so I just stick with the default. Ambient mode is actually improved over the first edition, allowing more sound through, and more clearly, too.

The mic is serviceable, too, at least for phone calls. It's not amazing, though, and I'd definitely prefer a headset for gaming—not least because you want to free up that Bluetooth bandwidth for incoming audio rather than outgoing. For making calls and voice noting, however, it's fine.

EarFun has also done a great job with the software, too, as everything is nice and customisable. The EQ, in particular, is great, offering full customisation with multiple bands across the frequency range, and different profiles you can switch between. It might not look as snazzy as some other apps, like the Nothing one, but it does the job just fine.

I must say, while we're on the topic of how things look, I'm happy with the change to the charging case, too. There was something about the laying-flat design of the first, especially when combined with the plain black and EarFun branding, that made me a little sheepish when opening it in public. I'd always wonder whether the AirPod users around me would be looking over at me, shaking their heads and tutting.

Not so with these new bad boys, though, because that case opens up the other way and presents you with two lovely, vertically shelved stems to grab. Opening the case takes a little while to get used to as it can be a bit slippery, but since getting used to it, I've had no issues. Ditto taking the earphones out and putting them back in.

Another slight improvement over the first is the extra battery life. While an extra two hours overall—with the case included—might not sound like a lot, going from 11 hours to 12 on the earbuds themselves (with ANC off) is more of a meaningful difference.

You really are getting quite a lot, overall, with these buds. They cover all bases for general use, and are only really lacking when it comes to competitive gaming or ultra-high fidelity audio, thanks to being Bluetooth-only.

The buds' main competition is, I reckon, primarily the original non-Plus earbuds. One of the best things about originals is that they go on sale so frequently, which at the time of writing means they often go down to $60 and occasionally even a little lower. These new Plus ones have already dropped a few times though, down to $75 or $80.

If there's not much in it, say $80 vs $65, then I'd definitely get the Plus ones. If there's more in it, say $100 vs $55, then I'd wait for the Plus to go on sale again, or go for the non-Plus version if you want to save as much as possible and don't mind sacrificing some sound quality.

You certainly would be missing out, though, as those fancy new dual drivers make all the difference. It's truly impressive how far we've come to get such a nice sound for a sub-$100 price.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's a shortage of things to worry about right now when it comes computing-adjacent hardware. Personally, I'm finding the AI boom, memory crisis, tariffs, over-priced GPUs and all that simply isn't enough to be getting on with. So, here's something else to get us all vexed, a good old-fashioned health scare in the form of concerns over headphones and toxic chemicals.

As reported by the Guardian, a new study by ToxFree LIFE for All, a Hungarian research and campaigning body, found that headphones contain chemicals that can, "cause cancer, neuro-developmental problems and the feminisation of males".

Upon immediate examination, one of the more worrying claims in the study is that at least some of these chemicals were found in each and every set of headphones tested. That includes, it is said, major brands such as Bose, Panasonic, Samsung and Sennheiser. So, to the extent that this is a major problem, it's not reserved to cheap knock-offs.

Apparently, the primary source for the chemicals is the "formulation of the plastics from which they are made". The dangerous substances are said to include bisphenols, phthalates and poly- and per-fluoroalkyl.

The study claims that Bisphenol A (BPA), for instance, appeared in 98% of samples, while its substitute substance, bisphenol S (BPS), was found in more than three-quarters. These chemicals are apparently used to stiffen plastic and "mimic the action of oestrogen inside organisms, causing a range of adverse effects including the feminisation of males, early onset puberty in girls, and cancer."

The study doesn't make clear exactly how much exposure to such devices is assumed to be required to reach toxic levels. But it concludes, “given the prolonged skin contact associated with headphone use, dermal exposure represents a relevant pathway, and it is reasonable to assume that similar migration of BPA and its substitutes may occur from headphone components directly to the user’s skin.”

At this point, then, the implication is that the chemicals are present according to one study; that's as far as the research has gone. Moreover, the study did emphasise that many chemicals were only found in "trace" quantities, and thus not likely to cause harm.

However, ToxFree LIFE for All says that, "highest concentrations of harmful substances were found in the hard plastic parts of the headphones. These chemicals can be released into the environment through heat, mechanical stress or sweating and then absorbed through the skin."

As for what any of us can do about all this, it's advised to use speakers if you don't have to wear headphones, if you do wear headphones, don't do so all day, and don't sleep with them on.

The body also points out that, in the EU at least, headphones are subject to the same regulations as TVs, despite the very different usage profile. It is calling for a new category of regulation for "wearable" electronics.

Anyway, if you have the mindspace for it, what with all the other health concerns that seem to hit news pages daily, this is certainly something to consider. It's also an interesting insight into how intuitive or otherwise this kind of risk can be.

From a purely lay perspective, one might assume that softer materials would be more likely to pose a risk of toxic material transfer and that harder plastics are more stable. But at least for the chemicals in question here, it's the opposite. For glasses wearers, it's also hard not to suddenly wonder what your frames are made of. But that is a story,—and an anxiety—for another day.

I'll cut straight to the point—JLab Audio has made an absolutely massive pair of headphones, which can be used as a Bluetooth speaker. The XL Speaker Headphones product page has multiple photos of bemused models holding them up to their ears, but I doubt that's entirely practical given the size of what we're dealing with here.

The gigantic set appears to have something to do with the Birmingham Bowl American football game, which JLab Audio proudly sponsors (via Engadget). As a result, the marketing guff is absolutely full of sporting references:

"Big wins deserve big sound. Celebrate like a champion with the JLab Blue XL speaker headphones. These aren't average headphones, they're functional Bluetooth speakers that can be worn around the neck or placed on a table," says JLab. I mean, all headphones can be worn on the neck or placed on a table, but who am I to split hairs?

The drivers within the gigantic 'phones comprise of two 2.5-inch units, with two same-sized passive radiators, which are said to provide "thumping bass that ensures your victory playlist is heard by everyone in the room." 30 Watts of audio power would be a massive amount for a regular set of cans, but for a sizeable Bluetooth speaker, it's probably about right.

I notice that most of the models aren't holding the headphones directly to their ears—lest the mighty power of those drivers reduces their eardrums to a fine mist, I would presume.

Or perhaps it's the clamping force they're afraid of. I've often critiqued gaming headsets for being too loose upon my head, but with these ones, I'll make an exception. Too tight, and terrible results may occur.

The headphones themselves are also an eye-catching shade of electric blue, as if they needed any help standing out in a crowded room. Those of us who grew up on turn-of-the-millennium British television might be reminded of a certain Trigger Happy TV sketch, but for the US market, perhaps it won't translate.

As for the price? The store page helpfully takes me to a 404 error, but Engadget reports that they're actually $99. That's a pretty reasonable sum for a powerful Bluetooth speaker, or perhaps too much for what is inevitably a gag device to show off to your mates.

It's no Pud's Small Batch Headphones offering, that's for sure. Still, ho ho ho, JLab. Your very silly product has compelled me to write an article about it, and that, I do believe, may have been the point.

Although a lesser-known brand, Soundpeats earbuds seem to be pretty well-liked for the price judging by various comments and reviews online. And for CES 2026, it's just announced the Aura Nebula earbuds, which look like they might offer a good balance between audiophile quality and gamer-oriented features and pricing.

The earbuds feature a "breakthrough hybrid five-driver acoustic system paired with a sophisticated three-way electronic crossover." That crossover refers to a 10 mm dynamic driver, a 6 mm planar driver, dual balanced armatures, and a "micro-planar tweeter." Presumably the whole "three-way" thing is excluding the latter tweeter, as that's just more planar gubbins.

So, there's a mix of dynamic, planar, and dual balanced armatures here. We've seen plenty of triple-driver earbuds before, but not so many that are specifically mixing planar with dynamic. This combination is probably what helps the price stay so "low", as these are "set to launch this Spring at $200." That's expensive, of course, but it's hardly the, err, $1,300 of the fully Planar Audeze Euclid.

Soundpeats explains the benefits of its driver combination as follows:

• 10 mm Dynamic Driver: Delivers tight, physical, and impactful low-end that you can feel.
• 6 mm Planar Driver: Provides fast, expressive, and texture-rich midrange.
• Dual Balanced Armatures: Offers extended clarity and pinpoint accuracy.
• Micro-Planar Tweeter: Adds airy treble extension and a rewarding sparkle to the high notes.

Balanced armature drivers were originally made for hearing aids, and tend to do really well with clarity for mid and high frequencies. Dynamic drivers are of course the ones we're most used to, and they're capable of producing very—drumroll, please—dynamic sound, which can be useful for punchiness and so on. Planar, on the other hand, can offer a wider soundstage.

All these different kinds of drivers have their benefits and drawbacks, but here, presumably, the engineers at Soundpeats will have tailored and balanced things to get the best out of all three.

Apart from this, the main draw for us PC gamers is that these earbuds have a low-latency gaming mode. That's something plenty of earbuds have, of course, but not all of them, especially higher-end ones that aim at the audiophile market more than the gaming one. If Soundpeats gets this right alongside the mixed-driver audio, these could potentially be some decent but not too expensive audiophile earphones that actually make sense for a gamer. Though of course there's no saying for sure without testing.

It also comes with the whole gamut of features, supporting high-bitrate codecs such as LDAC, has hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC), "3-mic AI call noise reduction", and a supposedly "wind-resistant S-shaped exterior design." And it has all the other gubbins you might want from some expensive earbuds: wireless and fast charging, dual device connection, a multi-band EQ in the app, and a low-latency gaming mode as previously mentioned.

Beyerdynamic is no stranger to our list of best gaming headphones and for good reason. Its MMX 330 Pro cans are supremely comfortable, the open-back design with STELLAR.45 drivers makes games, music, and everything in between sound phenomenal. But it's not perfect. Aside from the obvious lack of microphone for game chat, it's also not the most portable headset for gaming on the go.

So in an attempt to remedy this, Beyer has introduced a lighter, closed back headphone with an easily detachable cable that can work both 3.5mm and USB-C. The new, smaller, Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro can't beat my beloved DT 900 Pro X in sheer performance and comfort but it can certainly pack down into my backpack a helluva lot easier while still giving me that sweet, sweet Beyerdynamic sound.

The design language is pure Beyerdynamic minimalism. Matte black cups, spring-steel headband, understated padding—no RGB strips, no gamer logos, nothing you'd be embarrassed to wear out and about. Though, while I wouldn't say it feels cheap, it certainly lacks the panache of its more expensive siblings. At just 194 grams, it feels impossibly light compared to most gaming headsets, yet it barely shifts on your head during editing sessions or long gaming nights.

The actual comfort story is more complicated, however. The smaller ear cups are great for sealing in sound and very comfortable on the ears, but they do come with a thermal tax. These aren't wide Beyer bowls like the DT 900 Pro X. They sit closer, hug tighter, and trap heat over time. In warmer weather, the soft velour pads get sweaty really quick. This is the one consistency issue the headset can't quite escape; you pay for portability with airflow. The DT 900 Pro X, with its wider open-back design, is infinitely cooler and more breathable, but that comes at the price of noise isolation and travel practicality.

For connection, the DT 270 Pro comes with a detachable 1.3m coiled cable that not only extends to 3m but can also plug into either ear cup, something every headset should do but almost none actually offer. It lets you route the cord cleanly around your setup, whether you're on a handheld, at a desk mic, or sliding the cable behind a monitor arm.

Beyerdynamic also includes a 3.5mm-to-USB-C dongle in the box, instantly making the DT 270 Pro phone- and portable-device-friendly. With a nominal impedance of just 45 ohms, you can plug it into a PlayStation 5 controller, a Nintendo Switch, ROG Xbox Ally, iPhone, or MacBook and it just works. You don't need a DAC or an audio interface to unlock the clarity.

And it's here with the sound where the DT 270 Pro reminds you why Beyerdynamic dominates studios. It's tuned like a scalpel. Beyer isn't using its stellar STELLAR.45 drivers but instead a dynamic sound transducer with a closed acoustic design and a frequency response of 5 – 24,000 Hz. Regardless, it sounds fantastic.

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, directional cues are laser sharp. Footsteps cut through the mix without being artificially boosted. Reload clicks and metallic rattles sit exactly where they should in the frequency stack. Even grenade blasts don't smear into the mids the way they do on many bass-heavy gaming headsets. The tuning never tries to impress you with trickery; it simply gives you the truth. More importantly, positional accuracy is spot on and I was easily able to pinpoint enemies coming at me from all different directions.

The same restraint shines in narrative games like The Outer Worlds 2. Voices are clean and unmasked by the epic, orchestral swells. Marketplace ambience, wildlife motifs, and environmental hums occupy distinct layers without noise floor. It's not cinematic in the "boom and reverberation" sense—it's cinematic in the "everything has its own lane and nothing collapses" sense. You notice how well-engineered the sound engine is because the headset refuses to hype any one frequency. This is a very pleasing headphone to listen to.

The true advantage of the DT 270 Pro is how it flexes across roles. It isn't pretending to be a gaming headset; it just happens to be very good at gaming because it was built for broadcast and production. Podcasting, voice-overs, editing, streaming, and field recording all feel natural on it, and the 45-ohm drivers never punish you for using onboard audio. One moment you're tracking enemy footsteps and the next, you're editing footage on a tablet. The headset doesn't care what device you're on—it just does the job.

Pricing is where the DT 270 Pro quietly disrupts the gaming market. In the us you're looking at $160, and in Australia it typically sits around the $199 AUD mark depending on retailer and availability. That puts it at roughly half the price of its bigger sibling while still offering a close enough sound experience. Proper gaming headsets at this price usually offer RGB flair, a boom mic, virtual surround presets, bass-heavy tuning and of course, wireless convenience.

The DT 270 Pro ignores all of that. It simply gives you clean drivers, proper isolation, broadcast-grade clarity and build integrity that doesn't feel disposable. Against something like a HyperX Cloud III or a Steelseries Arctis Nova 3, both of which lean heavily into comfort, include a mic, and gamer-tuned EQ, the Beyer feels almost ascetic—but it absolutely outclasses them in raw audio detail.

The verdict is simple. The Beyerdynamic DT 270 Pro is not a headset for people who want a product to tell them it's "for gamers". It's a tool that happens to reward gamers who understand why neutral tuning, isolation, and directional precision matter. The smaller ear cups and heat build-up are real compromises, but they're the cost of portability and focus. If you want a single headset that can edit content, record voice, travel with your handheld, and still provide competitive insight in shooters, this is the one that gets it right. Considering it's almost half the price of the exceptional DT 900 Pro X, I really don't think there is much to complain about here.

These earbuds have been my go-to pair for the past few months, and this is despite me having a few different pairs of earbuds at my disposal, even more expensive, premium ones. So now they're at their lowest ever price of $53 at Amazon for Cyber Monday, I have precisely zero hesitation recommending them.

The EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds have pretty much every feature you might want from a pair of buds, which is in part what makes them some of the best earbuds for gaming. There are tons of earbuds that sound and look great, but not all of them will be ideal for gamers. The Air Pro 4s, though, nail not just the sound but the gaming use case.

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Starting with the former, the sound, note that these do take a little tinkering to get sounding great. By default, they're a little flat and lifeless. But after you add a good EQ curve to it in the app it can sound lovely and crisp. It isn't the fullest soundstage, but it's incredibly lively and clear for budget buds. (My go-to general EQ, if you need a good reference, is '9, 7, 3, 4, 3, 1, 2, 3, 10, 10', with significantly boosted lows and highs.)

In addition to this, it has the whole range of features: decent ANC, great ambient/transparency mode, wired USB-C or wireless charging, tons of battery life including the case, nice mic audio, and a snappy low latency gaming mode. The only real downside is the lack of 2.4 GHz wireless, but the low latency mode works well enough.

The combination of all of these things, in addition to them actually staying in my ear canal unlike many earbuds I've tried, is why I use these all the time. That's whether I'm using them for gaming, having a conversation over the phone, or most often, listening to music.

Sometimes I use the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds instead—which are on sale for their lowest ever price of $59 at Amazon, too—when I'm listening to music, because these look great and do have a slightly fuller soundstage once bass boost is enabled. But for the overall and gaming use case, I stand behind the EarFun Air Pro 4. They're well worth it normally, and doubly so at this new low price for Cyber Monday.

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If you haven't considered buying a good set of wireless earbuds before, let me tell you—you're missing out. While a fully-fledged gaming headset might be the better option for pure desk-based audio, earbuds have come a long way in recent years, and some of them are even great for gaming these days.

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Plus, wireless earbuds are a super-convenient thing to have around. Stick them in their charging case, chuck them in your pocket, and you've got a set of discrete sonic companions wherever you go. I've found two of our favorite earbud sets with heavy discounts in the Amazon Prime Day sales, so let's take a look at our budding contenders. Sorry.

Quick links

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds | $128 @ Amazon (save $72)

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 | $200 @ Amazon (save $150)

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

If you're looking for consummate all-rounders, and quite literally the best gaming earbuds we've ever tested, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are for you. I've found them for $128 at Amazon right now, and you get a huge amount of audio convenience for your cash.

These little gems have a fully-fledged 2.4 GHz wireless connection thanks to an included dongle, alongside Bluetooth 5.3 support for audio on the go. That means you get the best of both worlds when it comes to connection options, with latency-free audio available for gaming, and Bluetooth for connecting to your phone while you're out and about.

They sound great, too, thanks to a pair of 6 mm neodymium magnetic drivers, and offer 40-hour battery life via their charging case. In fact, you can get 10 hours of juice without socketing them back into their, err, sockets, which is darn good going.

They're also water-resistant, stylish, and remarkably discreet. Oh, and noise cancelling, which makes them the perfect option for blocking out the outside world and thrusting yourself into your digital cocoon.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

While the SteelSeries buds above are the better all-round option, I couldn't let this deal go past without shouting about it. Y'see, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds are my daily drivers for everything but gaming, and I look upon them like old friends.

These exceptionally well-made devices look more like expensive jewellery than audio gear, and they're comfortable as all get-out to wear, too, thanks to an included selection of earbud tips and fins. They've also got the best earbud drivers I've ever heard, which means sparkly, golden treble, defined-yet-smooth mids, and a surprising whack of bass once the Boost setting has been enabled in the app.

The noise cancelling is truly exceptional, too. I've worn these on flights, trains, and in crowded bars, and they're incredibly good at blocking out the outside world. So, why haven't they beaten out the SteelSeries set for the top spot?

In short, while the low-latency connection option is fine for single-player gaming, these are still Bluetooth-only buds, and that means a very small amount of lag. Should you be more of a slow-paced RPG fan than a shooter sicko, they'll do just fine. But, in all honesty, the Arctis GameBuds are simply quicker to react, and that makes them the better buds overall. Plus, the Sennheiser set is expensive—even with $150 knocked off the price.

But if you want a high-end audio companion for your travels, and plan to stick to a traditional gaming headset at home, I can't recommend the Sennheiser buds highly enough. Whichever you pick, though, both of these buds deliver superb audio directly into your ear canals. Which is a lot nicer than it sounds, actually.

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I've been using EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds so regularly and for so long that I almost forgot to check whether they were on sale this October Prime Day—they've just become such a normal background to my everyday life, I almost overlooked them. Which is ringing praise, of course, because it takes something for a product to be my automatic go-to each day.

Turns out they are in fact on sale, and for their lowest ever price. You can pick up these solid little earbuds for just $56 at Amazon right now, the only proviso being that you need to be an Amazon Prime member. If you're not a Prime member, though, don't fret because you can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

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The EarFun Air Pro 4s cover all the basics you might want, and they do so incredibly well. Earbuds such as the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds will bag you a little better quality and better features for gaming—and these are currently on sale for $128 at Amazon if you're interested—but for a decent budget pair, the Air Pro 4s are great.

After a little fiddling with the EQ, I managed to get mine sounding lively and crisp, with just enough bass to keep me groovin'. Don't expect tons of bass, of course, but the overall soundscape is great once it's EQ'd, and the separation in particular is wonderful.

These also come with all you might want from earbuds, minus 2.4 GHz connectivity. It does have a game mode, though, which can be enabled in the phone app, and I've found the latency in this mode isn't very noticeable. You also get a great ANC and ambient mode and even wireless charging from the case, which bumps up the total battery from 11 with just the earphones to 51, including the case.

The mic's also entirely usable, which is more than I can say for some earbuds. Just bear in mind that you'll struggle to have both audio-in and -out over Bluetooth, so this won't be a great use case for gaming while talking on Discord, for instance. But it's ideal for phone calls.

In all, I've simply found them solid enough earbuds that they're my go-to for gaming, phone calls, travelling, and listening to music or podcasts. They do tend to go on sale quite often, but they're at the lowest price we've seen them at, so I don't think there's much point holding out. $56 is well worth it for these ones.

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Bulbous, weighty, and wired—these are the sort of traits you would actively look to avoid when purchasing a gaming headset. Yet on the Audeze LCD-S20 Closed-back, I don't mind one bit. This isn't a pair of headphones to wear on the bus or chat over Discord. They don't even have a microphone. No, the LCD-S20 is for sitting back and engrossing yourself in your favourite game or album and enjoying the tonal brilliance of planar magnetic drivers.

Marketed at professional musicians and producers, the LCD-S20 are a little out of our usual comfort zone for PC gaming apparel. However, what makes them great for recording a track in a studio also has a benefit for PC gaming. Namely, planar magnetic drivers with SLAM technology and superb sound isolation.

The LCD-S20 look a lot like the Audeze Maxwell. That's a pair of headphones that we rate very highly, with multiple members of the PCG hardware team using them as their daily driver, and I'll get back to comparisons with these later in the review. The LCD-S20 shares the same floating band design with three levels of adjustment, designed to keep all 550 grams of these mostly metal headphones off any one place on your head. It works pretty well, too, even when I've worn them through the better part of a work day.

Only a couple of bits in the box: the headphones, a 2.5-metre headphone cable with a 6.3 mm jack, and a 6.5 mm to 3.5 mm adapter.

Let's talk SLAM, or Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator. This is how Audeze improves the bass response on its planar magnetic headphones. Audeze talks up the benefits in a blog post, but boils it down to delivering a powerful, accurate bass response as a careful balancing act between a few things, including pressure build-up, diaphragm tension, and efficiency. SLAM helps minimise pressure build-up, making it a little easier to balance everything else, and allowing Audeze to better tune its bass response to its liking.

SLAM, surprisingly, isn't a nebulous concept. A rare thing in audio. You can actually see SLAM on the LCD-S20. Those little gaps on either side of the toothed ring between the earpads and earcups? That's SLAM—the start of a channel circumventing the earcup and the planar magnetic driver itself to relieve pressure. You can see it better by removing the magnetically attached earpad, as you can see in the images down below.

SLAM was adopted on Audeze's upsettlingly high-end headphones, the CRBN2. Only a cheeky $5,995 for a pair. You'll be thankful to hear you'd pay just a fraction of that for the LCD-S20, coming in at $499. SLAM clearly isn't an expensive implementation—the LCD-S20 is only $100 more than the popular and pretty mainstream MM-100. Though I do wonder what price we'll see these end up on in the long-run—Audeze notes the current price is "introductory" on its website.

The bass response on the LCD-S20 is pretty thumping as a result, to use a technical term. Though if you're expecting ear-wobbling lows, it's much more controlled and less pronounced than that. Listening to some of my drum and bass favourites, I'm still left feeling I'd prefer a sub in the back of someone's souped-up Honda Civic to really feel the bass. Yet the clarity through the lower reaches of the response is pretty spectacular, if not particularly powerful. I had to punch up my Schiit Magni 3 to high gain to really push the LCD-S20, despite their low impedance. That's likely down to their lower sensitivity at 93 dB/1mW compared to 98 dB/1mW on the MM-100. I'd recommend a pretty beefy amp to go with them to be on the safe side.

Unlike most planar magnetic headphones on the market, the LCD-S20 are closed-back. The wide, flat earcups that tend to distinguish planar magnetic cans from dynamic drivers are gone, replaced by large domed designs. I've previously likened them to the Los Angeles Griffith Observatory on either ear, and I'm sticking to that visual aid.

The lack of any vent or mesh on the rear of the earcup has the effect of boxing the driver in, blocking sound leakage. The disadvantage here is a perceived smaller soundstage and a tougher go at reproducing a neutral tone compared to an open-back design. While you might prefer the darker tone of closed-back headphones—I must admit, I tend to prefer open-back headphones—they have one major benefit.

Closed-back offers much greater levels of sound isolation compared to open-back. That's the passive ability to block unwanted noise from the outside world from reaching your ears, and vice versa (preventing sound leakage). In this instance, this is what makes the LCD-S20 adept for recording. You don't necessarily want to hear everything around you when belting out your best. Focusing on what's happening inside the headphones is more important, and that can often be true of PC gaming too.

The immersive and isolating properties of closed-back are great for solo gaming. I've been playing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty lately, and getting into the depths of Dog Town with a samurai sword and a bad attitude is made that much better by the clarity of the chooms chatting in a nearby yard, or music thumping on the street, or bullets winging overhead. It's pretty good for focus in more competitive games, too. I found it to be good for positional audio in The Finals, and I could easily make out distinct footsteps and gunshots from quite a distance away. I needed to roll out the discrete microphone to get chatting in Discord, however.

The LCD-S20 is also the only headset I've worn in many years that lets my partner creep up on me without even trying. My partner placed a smoothie on my desk as I wrote this review and it scared me to death. I played it cool; she had no idea.

It's engrossing for playing games or listening to the latest music. Planar magnetic is a gorgeous way to experience audio most of the time, and Auduze knows how to make a good one, but more so, and I've spoken about this in a separate piece, good sound isolation versus mediocre active noise cancellation is day and night.

For travel, yes, ANC makes a lot of sense, but for desktop gaming, the passive qualities of the LCD-S20 make it much more universally effective at blocking outside sounds than most active systems on gaming headsets. Even with the Alienware 16 Area-51 by my side, trying its best to distract me, the LCD-S20 kept me in my own lil' happy bubble, unaware of the ruckus outside. That said, if you want to block out the sound of your gaming laptop, you might want to look out for a pair of headphones or a headset that's easier to drive—like I mentioned earlier, you really need the dedicated amp to get the most out of the LCD-S20.

For PC gamers who want to isolate themselves from a noisy environment, the LCD-S20 is my favourite way to go about it. Even topping the AceZone A-Spire for blocking out any unwanted sounds. Though the LCD-S20 has stiff competition from its own ranks: the Audeze Maxwell offers a similar shape and construction, wireless functionality, and a lower price tag. It doesn't have SLAM technology, and wireless connectivity doesn't offer the same oomph as a dedicated DAC/amp over a wired connection, but it's a very tempting offer for a PC gamer. Likely more so than the professional-leaning LCD-S20.

Though there is something for gamers and audiophiles with the LCD-S20. Noise isolation, depth and range of sound, a detailed bass response, and the sort of long-term comfort you get with seriously massive earpads. For purposeful listening and immersive gaming, it delivers all you could ask for, though its price tag will see it resigned to high-end setups only, even more so than a pair of more affordable Audeze Maxwell, and I'd still lean towards open-back designs for most audiophile listening.

I'll be right up front about this, so strap in: the Audeze MM-100 is not for everyone. Nor, it must be said, is it designed to be. Audeze describes the planar magnetic drivers used here as "tuned for production-grade accuracy", and it really isn't kidding. But if pin-point audio precision is your goal, the Audeze set is one of the finest I've heard—and if you don't mind messing around with a software EQ, you can make it sound great for daily listening, too.

A pair of these magnesium and steel-chassised beauties will set you back $399/£399 a pop, and that's a huge amount of cash to spend on a set of cans. What you receive when you open the box, however, immediately feels like a quality piece of gear. It's rare I coo and crow over a chassis design, but there's something retro futuristic about the MM-100 that immediately demands comment.

Nestled inside the substantial earcups are a pair of planar magnetic noise-makers that Audeze says are some of its most accurate yet. They've been tuned in collaboration with Manny Marroquin, a Grammy award-winning producer and mixing engineer who's worked with some extremely big names, from Mariah Carey to Kanye West—so I'd say he was fairly well-qualified. Okay, very.

Before I break open my box of sonic superlatives, however, I should explain why planar magnetic drivers are so special. Unlike a traditional speaker, where a surface is resonated with the help of a magnet on the rear to create sound, planar magnetics use a flat, ultra-thin diaphragm suspended within a magnetic field to reproduce your audio. The fine precision capabilities of a planar magnetic driver dwarf those of a traditional unit, which means they're highly coveted by audiophiles for their exceptional accuracy.

And the ones I'm testing here have been tweaked even further towards the neutral. What that means in practice is, pulling the MM-100 out of the box and listening to it for the first time—immediately after listening to a traditional gaming headset—comes as something of a shock.

These drivers are flat, with a capital F. That doesn't mean they sound bad, per se. But the effect is something akin to getting out of a hot tub and jumping into a freezing cold swimming pool. Treble and mids sit precisely in the mix in a way that can initially feel thin, while the bass sits back in the sonic broth, hinting at the low end underneath rather than bouncing your eardrums around.

This is far from my first set of reference-style headphones, but even I found the experience a little jarring, so I decided to do a bit of tweaking to see what those drivers were really capable of.

Planar magnetics of old used to require a bit of breaking in to get the most out of them, so I duly set the MM-100 up on my laptop, tucked it under a duvet, and blasted some of the heaviest music I could think of through its poor little magnetic beasties for a few hours to see if it would loosen things up.

The duvet was a necessary caveat, as this is an open-backed set, which means the outer ear cups are grilled to expose the rear of the drivers to the open air. Opening up the rear of the drivers often widens the soundscape considerably, but it also means that anyone in the near vicinity can hear what you're listening to, which makes them somewhat unsociable. Certainly, my relationship would be in danger if I pushed the Audeze to its limits in my front room.

After a breaking-in period, the MM-100's drivers have indeed loosened. What was initially a somewhat harsh tune has since become shiny and smooth, and the bass response is much improved.

Still, don't expect it to sound as bouncy and punchy as a regular gaming headset. It's simply not its job, instead sacrificing the skull-pushing bass for a shiny, ultra-smooth sound profile. The bass is most certainly there, it's just sitting where it was designed to sit, not boosted to high-heaven like it would be in most consumer headphones.

That's not to say you can't make the MM-100's drivers sound great for daily usage, though. If you're considering a set of these then you're likely familiar with a basic EQ, and after adding a boosted, Harman-style curve in my basic Realtek audio software, the MM-100 duly comes to life.

Above is an example of the sort of curve you'll want to set to get a lovely, more traditional sound out of these phones, and it really allows the quality of those drivers to shine. The separation, soundscape, and mix reproduction the MM-100's planar magnetics are capable of is nothing short of excellent, and the smoothness of the frequency response is spine-tingling to listen to with certain tracks.

You will need to do a bit of tweaking to achieve it, though, and I think an argument could be made that you shouldn't have to for this sort of price.

Still, the MM-100 is set up from the box for production duties, so I don't think it's too much of a surprise that the drivers prioritise accuracy, not artificially-elevated loveliness, by default. I think it's best to think of it as a wide sonic colour palette, ready to be painted on if you're prepared to put a small amount of work into your brush strokes. And if you have a good headphone amp? All the better. The Audeze set likes a push, whether that's through an EQ, or an extra boost in the signal chain.

But what about gaming? Well, the major caveat here is that you don't get a microphone, like many audiophile-grade headphones. However, if you're the sort of person who finds themselves more immersed in a game if the soundstage is wider, my goodness you're in for a treat.

Also, we can be friends. Anyway, much has been written about the loveliness of a good set of open backs combined with a good audio engine, and much of that writing has been from me. That ultra-wide sonic capability means that delicate, almost fragile details are allowed to shine through the mix, which in turn means that a buzzing insect in an open field really can make you swat at your head out of sheer reflex.

Yes, dear reader, it happened to me. Anyway, the Audeze MM-100 makes for an excellent gaming companion, although I would like it to be a little lighter. That 475g weight makes the chassis feel gorgeously premium in the hands, but after wearing it for a 4-hour+ session, my neck sure feels the strain. The faux-leather headband in combination with the cooling-gel-filled earpads, however, still makes for a comfortable wearing experience overall.

So, the real question is, should you be considering the Audeze MM-100 for your next headphone purchase? And the answer, I'm afraid, is complicated.

If you're looking for superb drivers, a microphone, and something more traditionally tuned, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is still the better choice overall. While the Stellar .45 drivers aren't quite up to the standards of planar magnetics, they also offer a beautiful, wide soundscape, and don't need quite so much tweaking to get the most out of them.

And, should planar magnetics truly be your heart's desire, you should definitely take a look at the Audeze Maxwell. It's a proper gaming headset, with much fewer concessions made to absolute accuracy. Really, it's the best of both worlds—planar magnetic gorgeousness, combined with gaming headset features in perfect harmony. It's earned itself the top wireless spot in our best audiophile headphones for gaming guide, and believe me, it got there for a reason.

However, the MM-100 serves a different purpose, and for that reason should be judged a little differently. For video editors, audio engineers, and those of you that are really, really serious about the accuracy of your sound, I'd say it's well worth considering.

It's magnificently well-made, precise to a fault, and feels like serious audio gear for serious people. Me, I prefer the Maxwell. But should I be called back into the studio once more for a session or two, it's the MM-100 I'll be taking with me instead.

The first time I sat down to test out the Sony WF-C710N, I was disappointed. Though they connected to my rig easily, what followed was hours worth of fiddling around, disconnecting audio, and crackling sounds. I figured this wasn't what was supposed to happen, took it to another rig and had the same problem. After waiting for Sony to supply me with a replacement pair, then connecting them to the same devices, I now feel very confident saying I would never use these buds for gaming.

This is a shame, as there's actually lots to love here outside of the nightmare connection issues. The translucent blue of my set looks great—harkening back to the days of seethrough hardware. They're also nice and sturdy, not only feeling firm but also coming with an IPX4 durability rating. This rating means the buds are water and dust-resistant. If they get caught in the rain (or like piña coladas), it should be able to brush that off with little problem, though dunking it in water is naturally a no-go.

The buds also pair with devices that aren't PCs very easily. Simply hold down the connect button on the back of the case, go to the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use, and select WF-C710N. You can even connect them to two different devices at once, and it can switch between the two by pausing your sound and playing on your secondary device.

The box comes with six rubber tips for the buds (totalling three different sizes), so there's room for some customisation. They did manage to come off the bud at one point while taking it out of my ear, and my life flashed before my eyes (no, I'm not being dramatic), but this hasn't happened since.

They are a comfortable set of buds too, thanks in part to a light weight, and in part to the way they just sit into a groove in your ears. They never feel like they are sticking out at an uncomfortable angle, and are easy to just pop in and go for a walk. When pointed out in a call, my colleague Jess noticed they are surprisingly discreet.

The Sony WF-C710N are designed with mobile phones front and centre, and Sony has flagged them as such. There's no dedicated game mode, no 2.4 GHz connector, and you absolutely need to use the Sound Control app. This app allows you to customise sound, get updates, and there isn't an equivalent on PC. This means that, if you are gaming on a laptop and want to change the settings, you have to reconnect them to your phone in order to change anything.

Dual connectivity does make this easier, but even it is a bit inconsistent. These buds work perfectly fine on Steam Deck without any sound consistency issues, but dual connectivity only kind of works. When connected to a mobile phone, if I pause that music and play from a laptop, the buds will smartly detect which device is being used and switch over. This is not the case with the Steam Deck; I'm not going to say it's a Linux problem, but...

I have to disconnect the buds from the Deck, or turn the Deck off entirely, to play music on my phone, regardless of whether sound is playing on the handheld machine. They do stay connected to both devices, though, so I can still use the app and customise sound, but I can't take a quick call on them, without entirely turning off the Steam Deck. The same is true of the Nintendo Switch 2, which connects fine but falters in dual connectivity. On two different laptops, connectivity was solid and dual connectivity worked as intended.

The buds offer dynamic sound and great active noise cancelling (ANC). They manage to do a particularly good job in the clashes of steel and violin in Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, due to textured mids and highs. Where those sounds could come across as shrill or sharp in a worse set of buds, they feel quite balanced in the mix. Bass, naturally enough for a pair of buds, is not quite as strong or thunderous as a headset, but playing around with the EQ settings can give them a real oomph.

The Bluetooth connectivity works just fine in regards to latency. There's a slight delay not present in gaming-specific buds and headphones, but it's not a large enough disaparity to irritate me. Hooked up to a gaming laptop, you likely won't notice it.

On Mother Falcon's 'You Knew', a demonstrably orchestral pop/indie album, the buds manage to capture the nuance of pounding cellos under the vocal line, without stepping over the intricacy of a clarinet or tuba. This same quality allows dialogue to come through in games. For its price range, this level of sound quality is pretty great. However, the Soundcore Liberty 5 buds have a better battery life and also offer great sound.

The Liberty 5 also come with LDAC, and the Sony buds don't. LDAC—actually Sony's own tech—allows devices to stream lossy audio at high rates over Bluetooth, which means LDAC devices get higher quality audio. Though you don't get quite as full a soundstage, the Earfun Air Pro 4 earbuds also offer a better battery life, more consistent connectivity, and both ANC and Ambient Sound for $30 less.

Ambient Sound filters in some of the sounds around you, and for me, the major difference was being able to better hear what I was saying, as well as now picking up a fan on my desk. This is a decent middle ground between no filtering and ANC, and meant I could hear my partner talking when they wandered into the room. ANC is very natural in this set of buds. Weaker ANC I've used has added an almost artifacting effect to the bottom of the sound (presumably to drown out your surroundings), and these buds noticeably don't do that.

Though the app is quite good, I don't have much freedom to change the touch controls. You can swap them around in settings, but you choose from sets of presets, instead of swapping individual ones. The touch controls themselves are pretty solid, as they rarely pick up misclicks. I normally feel a level of trepidation when a control requires four taps, but I managed to do this with little problem. The biggest problem I found with touch controls was just remembering which setting was which, which isn't a bad problem to have.

Listen to the Sony WF-C710N microphone below:

Battery life on these buds is about average, offering around 30 hours from the buds and case combined with ANC on. This equates to 8.5/12 hours from the buds themselves and 21.5 from the case.

For calls or going for a walk, these are a solid set of buds. The mic quality is good for the price, and moving from my laptop to my phone has been super simple every time I've needed to do so. Despite this, I do wonder why someone might pick a pair of buds like these, even if they don't plan on playing too many games with them.

Okay, I get they're not meant to be specifically for gaming, but it's not like a potential buyer doesn't have a broad swathe of buds to choose from, and you can get a set that does everything these do at a similar price, but can also actually work on a gaming PC.

I've felt very conflicted in my testing process with these buds, as I've enjoyed them quite a bit in day-to-day use, but they're let down by the PC-shaped elephant in the room. I can't look past the fact that two different sets of WF-C710N buds failed to work on multiple gaming rigs, despite other Bluetooth headsets and buds working fine. Maybe this is why Sony's actual gaming set, the InZone Buds, ship with a 2.4 GHz receiver, but I'd still pick many other buds over those, too.

If you want an all-rounder for your phone, handheld, and gaming PC, these buds aren't nearly as good as they sound.

When I was a young warthog, trying and failing to touch type with my wee hoofs at the family computer, I had a choice of two audio output devices—some relatively decent speakers or a headset that wouldn't look out of place in a call centre. As a teen growing up during the advent of both YouTube and MySpace, I opted for the headset that would make an audiophile weep every time. It was simply all I had. Thankfully, we've come a long way since then.

These days, those serious about sound and gaming are spoilt for choice. If you're not into RGB lighting, the best audiophile headphones for gaming won't demand that you compromise. For example, my new reigning champion of the best closed-back headphones category, the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MKII, presents a clean black silhouette alongside brilliant sound that picks out all of the little details of a game's soundscape with startling clarity and accuracy.

The Pro MKII is great for gaming and great for music listening—though without a microphone arm, it is less well suited to party chat. Mind you, for those who simply have no desire to venture into the realm of voice chat with strangers (which is fair, to be honest), that might actually sound appealing.

For those who'd rather not add a whole other sound input device to their setup, there are plenty of audiophile headphones that come with a microphone arm. For example, the Audeze Maxwell ranks as our top pick for the best wireless headphones, so you're not tethered to your desk like you are with the aforementioned Beyerdynamic headset. But on top of that, the Audeze Maxwell boasts a detachable mic that records your voice clearly to boot.

Now, I don't know about you but my poorly co-ordinated trotters tend to mean I drop and lose things a lot. Hence why I don't mind a non-detachable microphone arm quite as much as the next tusked piggy (or in the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MKII's case, no microphone at all).

Thankfully, our pick for the best audiophile headphones overall is the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro, which comes with a non-detachable mic that even I can't lose. For those doing a double take, yes, Beyerdynamic heavily dominates this category not only for their stunning audio quality but also, with their great big, plushly velour ear cups, they often offer a wonderfully immersive listening experience. The closed-back design of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MKII is especially good at keeping ambient distraction out while you game.

Gosh, if my younger ungulate self had donned even one of these audiophile headphones, I've no doubt it would've blown her tiny mind. But there's much more than just the above offering a crisp earful. Do join me down by the watering hole, and soak up every tiny ripple that the world of audiophile headphones for gaming has to offer below.

The quick list

Best headphones for gaming

If you're anything like me, you probably know Anker for its strong cables, USB hubs, and sturdy surge protectors: real meat and potatoes tech bits. I've seen the odd Anker speaker, but its earbuds never really popped up. That is, until our Katie gave the Soundcore Liberty 5 a whopping 93% just a few months ago.

If you happen to be a Prime member (or don't mind signing up for a 30-day free trial), the Liberty 5 earbuds have already come down to just $104 on Amazon. Spending more than $100 is still quite a commitment on a pair of buds, but we think these rock, with strong battery life, excellent customization, and nifty fast charging.

Thanks to Dolby Audio, we found these buds could handle very aggressive and loud music well, and Katie says it "delivers [a] warm, versatile soundstage even at metalhead volumes".

We did note in our review that, for a little extra, you can get earbuds with a few more features, but down to just over $100, they offer a lot for the price. ANC, fast charging, IP55 splash resistance and dual connectivity are just some of the great features on offer.

If this is a little out of your price range, the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds (a set we really rather liked) have also come all the way down to just $56 at Amazon. Soundcore's offering is more impressive, but these are a solid pair of budget wireless earbuds.

A common complaint with many earbuds, the Liberty 5 actually have good touch controls, and they're easy to customize with Soundcore's app too. Rather impressively, the buds charge up over seven hours of use by sitting in the case for just five minutes, and the case itself will fully charge in that same amount of time. If you've found your earbuds running dry, you can get them topped up in the time it takes to make a cup of tea or coffee.

If you're planning on hopping on calls, we found these buds to have a clear and detailed recording quality, but the lack of background noise reduction does mean others will be able to hear your background. This makes them not the greatest for a conversation in a crowded space.

With all colors being the same price, I'd personally pick the rather tasty Rose Apricot flavor color, and not just because the white one can scuff pretty easily.

The Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO MKII 30 Ohm might be marketed as studio reference headphones, but don't let the pro-audio branding fool you—this thing absolutely slaps for gaming. With the right setup, it delivers god-tier soundscapes for single-player immersion and pinpoint precision for competitive play. And now, with a gamer-friendly 30 Ohm impedance, you can actually run these off your controller or phone without needing a $1000 amp.

The DT 1770 PRO MKII doesn't scream gamer. No RGB, no angles, no mic. What you get is a solidly built, all-metal frame with plush, swappable earpads and that signature Beyer headband clamp that feels like it could survive a dropkick from Kratos. The closed-back design keeps your audio in and the distractions out, perfect for late-night sessions or focus-intensive competitive matches.

Inside the box, Beyer bundles two types of pads (velour and synthetic leather), two cables (coiled and straight), and a premium case. The velour pads offer a more breathable, softer feel ideal for long gaming sessions and are especially comfortable for glasses wearers, though they let in a bit more ambient noise.

The synthetic leather pads, on the other hand, provide better passive isolation and a tighter, more bass-boosted seal, making them great for immersive or noisy environments. That's a nice touch at this price ($899 AUD), and makes it easy to customize for either comfort or isolation.

The biggest win for this new MKII 30 Ohm model is accessibility. The original DT 1770 PRO's 250 Ohm impedance made it a pain to drive without a dedicated amp. Now, with a much friendlier 30 Ohms, you can plug these straight into a PS5 DualSense controller, Nintendo Switch, Xbox pad, or even your phone or laptop and get great results. That said, they still scale beautifully with better DACs. Plug it into something like a FiiO Q3, you'll notice deeper bass and tighter imaging, but the fact that they work well out-of-the-box is a massive deal.

Soundstage and imaging are what set the DT 1770 PRO MKII apart. In games like Assassins Creed Shadows, The Last of Us Part I, or Cyberpunk 2077, these headphones dig up audio details you didn't even know existed. Footsteps, wind rustling through broken windows, the metallic twang of a reloading pistol—it's all there with frightening, delicious clarity.

In competitive games like Valorant or Call of Duty: Warzone, the positional accuracy is unreal. You can track enemy movement with such precision, it almost feels unfair. The closed-back design also helps with focus by keeping ambient noise out. If you game on console, the 3.5 mm jack is plug-and-play, but bear in mind there's no built-in mic, so you'll need a separate setup for chat.

Because this is still, at heart, a reference headphone, the DT 1770 PRO MKII is incredible for music, especially if you prefer clarity and detail over bloated bass. It's got a slightly V-shaped tuning with a clean, punchy low end and sparkling highs. Not overly warm, but musical enough for everything from Hans Zimmer soundtracks to Kendrick Lamar.

Watching Netflix or YouTube is also a joy. Dialogue is crisp, background effects are nuanced, and that cinematic weight really shines on these. If you're looking for an all-day headphone that can handle gaming, work calls, and chill sessions, this fits the bill—provided you're okay with a wired connection.

Compared to the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro (also available in a 32 Ohm version), the DT 1770 PRO MKII feels more serious and refined. The MMX has a great integrated mic and is purpose-built for gaming, but the DT 1770 offers broader versatility and better audio quality for both music and pro-level editing. Against the Sennheiser HD 660S2 or the Audeze Maxwell, it holds its own with better comfort and less dependency on high-end gear to sound great. It's not wireless, it's not flashy, but it's built like a tool, not a toy.

There are some minor drawbacks. First, this is a heavy headphone at around 388 g—that's almost 50 g heavier than our beloved DT 900 Pro X. After a few hours, the clamp and weight can start to press, especially with the pleather pads. If you wear glasses like I do, you'll definitely prefer the cushier velour set for pressure relief. Second, the price is steep. At $899 AUD, it's a serious investment, especially when there are excellent options like the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X or Audeze Maxwell for much less. Lastly, it's not portable-friendly. This is a chunky, studio-style headset with long cables. If you want something to wear on the train or gym, look elsewhere.

The DT 1770 PRO MKII 30 Ohm isn't trying to be your average gaming headset. It's not interested in trends or RGB. It's about giving gamers and creators access to audiophile-grade sound with the kind of detail and imaging that can genuinely improve how you play and experience games. If you want reference-level audio that just works on any device, this is it. If you want convenience, a built-in mic, or wireless freedom, you'll need to look elsewhere. But for my money, I'd be happy to invest in an external mic and stay tethered to my rig for the quality audio I get from these Beyers.

It's always a bit of a downer when we review a product that's very good, but a bit too expensive for its market segment to wholly recommend. Our Jacob found himself in such a position recently when he reviewed a pair of Sennheiser HD550 headphones, which are brilliant, but usually a bit expensive compared to some of the competition.

But lo and behold, look what I've just found—a deal for these very beauties, down to $250 at Walmart. That's still not chump change, you understand, but it's enough of a knockdown for us to break out the party balloons and declare that you should seriously consider buying a pair.

Now, let's get the caveats out of the way nice and early. These are open-back headphones, which means anyone around you will be able to hear what you're listening to. It also means, however, that the soundstage is truly immense, which in turn means crystal clear, expansive-sounding gaming audio and music reproduction. Some of the best headphones in the world are open-backed for this very reason, and are highly coveted as a result.

You also don't get a mic, like one of the best gaming headsets, by virtue of the fact they aren't one. A gaming headset, I mean. These are high-end-style headphones with a gaming badge, but they'll sound utterly fabulous for gaming audio, and standalone microphones come remarkably cheap these days.

Oh, and they're wired. So you won't be getting up to make a cup of coffee mid session, unless you keep your coffee maker at your desk. In which case, I salute your forethought, and your lack of risk-aversion. Good job.

Those are... well, all the drawbacks I can think of. Oh, they're also a bit reference-like in their treble reproduction, which means they're not the smoothest-sounding pair of headphones at the very top end.

What they're capable of, however, is providing properly accurate and expansive sound, and when it comes to audio gear, that's about the highest praise you can possibly give.

And, unlike many other reference-style headphones I can name, the HD 550s are still capable of a weighty chunk of bass. And the mid-reproduction is fantastic, which means they'll be wonderful to listen to for gaming, music, movies... I mean, what do you listen to? The Sennheisers will reproduce it with aplomb. That's their one role in life, and it's something Sennheiser gear does better than almost anything else, in my opinion.

At least until you get into the $500+ range, anyway, and then you get drivers massaged by professional therapists and fed beer until they fatten up into delicious steaks. Something like that, anyway.

What was I saying? Oh yes. These Sennheiser headphones are fabulous, are often slightly too expensive, and right now, are not. That's about the sum total of it. I'm going for a lie down.

Yes, I use not one but both of these earphones pretty much daily (lucky me, I know). I reviewed both (1, 2) earlier this year, and while I found the EarFun Air Pro 4—now $56 at Amazon—to be much better for gaming, I still have a soft spot for the Nothing Ear (a)—now $69 at Amazon.

At full price the Nothing Ear (a) isn't the best pick for a gamer, but for this discounted price there's a good argument to be made for it. However, that's only provided you'll also be using your earphones for listening to music or movies and don't intend to use them for competitive gaming.

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If you're looking to use your earbuds primarily for gaming, though, I still reckon the EarFuns are a better bet—we call them the best mid-range wireless gaming earbuds for good reason. And now they're at their lowest ever price, it's an easy decision if that's your use case.

Quick list

• EarFun Air Pro 4 | $56 at Amazon (save $24)
• Nothing Ear (a) | $69 at Amazon (save $40)

Gaming earbud Prime Day deals

The EarFun Air Pro 4's are my go-to for FPS gaming on handheld or for taking calls. The mic is decent (not great, but okay) and there's a good low-latency Bluetooth mode on them. There's no 2.4 GHz connectivity, sadly, but I've found the low-latency mode to be just fine, and FPS gaming is where that really matters for me, because there's nothing worse than firing your gun and hearing the pop a second later.

Apart from that, they have a great sound profile, provided you're willing to fiddle with the EQ in the phone app for a while to get the sound you prefer. It's not the fullest and widest sound, but the best word I can use to describe it is "lively." There's good separation and crispness, and some decent bass response too.

Apart from that, it has all the other bits and bobs you might want from earphones: Great ANC and transparency modes, plenty of battery life, and even wireless case charging with LEDs on the front to show you how much juice you have left. For the price, they're a very solid all-round pick.

So, if the EarFuns are so great, why do I also use the Nothing Ear (a)? I use these primarily to listen to music or play less shooty games, because despite how nice and lively the EarFuns sound, there's just a bit more depth and and wider sound stage to the Nothings. For both gaming and music, this means a little more immersiveness.

The downsides are primarily no low-latency mode and an awful mic. The lag in particular makes this set unsuitable for FPS gaming, but it's not too bad for running around in an RPG or similar games. And as for the mic, well, that depends on how much you value your friends' ears and irritation meter.

If you listen to music a lot on your travels and occasionally do some casual gaming that doesn't require low audio latency, the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds might be a good shout. They also look rather lovely, too, whether in yellow, white, or black.

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I'd like to start off this review with an admission: I've had the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds in my possession for far too long. In a year where I've spent a fair bit of time on the road (and been waylaid by many time-sensitive GPU and laptop reviews), the Sennheisers have accidentally ended up as a long-term test sample. What this means, however, is that I've used them all over the world, in every scenario imaginable, and I can tell you with absolute confidence they're the best earbuds I've ever used.

I've taken them to Taiwan, Las Vegas, Greece, and, err, Bath. I've also used them nightly as my bedside set for late-night YouTube watching, gotten them accidentally wet, and at one point, nearly swallowed one. They've been constant companions and performed in all of their duties (including resisting being consumed) with aplomb. There's one thing I can't entirely recommend them for, though, and it's a bit of a catch given the name of this website—they're not the best for gaming.

That has nothing to do with raw audio performance, you understand. Sennheiser knows a thing or two about audio engineering, and that's reflected in the truly fabulous miniature drivers on offer here. But as someone who is sensitive to latency, Bluetooth-only buds (even ones using the most recent version of the standard) don't quite cut it for me when it comes to fast gaming reaction times.

That's all you get for connection options with the Momentum True Wireless 4—and while the low-latency Bluetooth mode is fine for a bit of singleplayer plinking, if you're looking for earbuds with near-zero latency, the SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds with their speedy 2.4 GHz wireless connection will cover that particular base better than the Sennys. Sad, but unfortunately, true.

But before you leave this review to continue your gaming earbud-related search, let me say this: If you want a refined, gorgeous-sounding, convenient-as-you-like companion for all your other audio-related duties, I can't recommend the Sennheiser set highly enough.

They're not cheap, mind. A set of these will run you $280/$200 at current prices, and that's the sort of money that usually makes me suck through my teeth for a set of head-based audio bangers, no matter how good they are. Especially as, for gaming, I'd prefer something with a dongle-based wireless connection.

That being said, having used them so extensively, I can say that you get a hefty dose of heavily engineered refinement for your cash. Opening the fabric-covered charging case and looking inside reveals two magnetically-socketed earbuds that look and feel more like expensive jewellery than audio gear. You get several sets of replaceable eartips to suit your particular inner-ear anatomy, along with multiple sizes of "fins" that mount around the outer casing to grip your, err, outer-inner ear with complete comfort.

The Sennheisers look and feel expensive, from the fabric of the case to the feeling you get when you securely mount the buds in your lug holes. That might sound like a small thing, but when it comes to objects you put inside your ear canals, feel really does matter.

And when it comes to sound? They're simply sumptuous. I've long admired Sennheiser gear for its exceptional sonic tuning, but connecting these earbuds for the first time and listening to some of my favourite tunes gave me something of a revelation. I'm not particularly fond of earbuds for sound quality in general, but these? They really are something special.

The treble reproduction from the 7 mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers has a shiny, exceptionally clear quality that seems to beam straight into your cranium, without ever becoming harsh. Mids crunch and cut with absolute accuracy and grin-inducing warmth, while the bass is surprisingly hefty without being overblown, particularly if you give them a push with the built-in EQ found in the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app.

Here you can activate Bass Boost to give them a substantial kick, choose from a range of EQ presets, or configure a custom one of your own. You can also tweak the noise cancelling, complete with a real-time waveform that shows you exactly what noise is being taken out of the spectrum and what's being let through. I'd go as far as to say the ANC is the best I've used to date when left to its own devices, as it's given me a much-needed dose of serenity on trains, planes, and even around the pool.

Screaming children interrupting your holiday reading time? Not with the Sennheisers. And with ANC activated, a single tap of the left earbud touch controls activates Transparency mode, so you can occasionally interact with the outside world. Yes, I would like another beer. No, the kids haven't been bothering me much. This Ian M Banks novel is excellent, thanks very much.

And then there's the battery life. Away from their charging case, you get 7.5 hours out of the earbuds themselves with ANC off (7 with it on), which is pretty good going. The case itself can recharge the buds from empty to full three times over, extending your potential time away from the socket to 30 hours in total.

What this means in practice is that, with regular usage, I find myself forgetting I need to charge them over the course of a week, sometimes even two.

I simply chuck the case in my pocket or bag whenever I leave the house, and try to remember to top it up occasionally. It's not as good as the 40 hours of battery life you get with the SteelSeries GameBuds, but still plenty to keep you going out and about on your travels.

And the fabric finish of the case itself? It's been exposed to sand, dirt, water, smog-filled city streets, and bags full of grating electronics gear—and still looks identical to the way it did when I pulled it from the box. I realise at this point I'm gushing, but I've rarely been so impressed by a piece of tech that I choose to carry it with me wherever I go. So, for balance, it's time to deliver some critique.

The touch controls, like all touch controls, can be susceptible to accidental activation. As a long-haired human, I have occasionally gone to brush my luscious locks away from my face and accidentally skipped a track, or minutely adjusted the volume. The six beamforming mics are good for earbuds, but still won't compete with the audio capture of a proper headset microphone—and I have to mention that $280 price tag once more.

The Sennheisers are getting on for twice the price of the Arctis GameBuds, and they sit firmly at the top of our list of the best earbuds for gaming. So, given the massive price difference between the two, I'd say the SteelSeries set is the one to go for if you want all-in-one performers with genuine gaming chops.

On that last note, though: I did put 40+ hours into Avowed using the Sennheisers, and found the latency perfectly bearable. So it's not like they're completely useless for gaming, but more that latency-dependent games like multiplayer shooters are going to expose the limits of Bluetooth response times, even with low latency mode enabled in the Sennheiser app.

In terms of what you can perceive, it feels like the audio is just enough behind that character's mouth movements and distant gunshots are ever-so-slightly out of sync, and in the heat of a competitive battle, you're likely going to notice the delay.

Depending on what games you play, however, your mileage may vary. Certainly, I've been accused before of being overly sensitive to latency-related audio issues. Should you be an acquaintance of mine, you've probably got a story about me tearing out cables and adjusting settings while everyone else was simply enjoying a movie, because it was technically out of sync, dammit. Yes, I am a wonderful person to know. Thanks for noticing.

And it must be said, we've recommended otherwise-brilliant Bluetooth-only audio gear before, and will again, by virtue of the fact that not everyone will be bothered by ever-so-slightly sluggish response times. For me personally, though, it's enough to drop the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds down from the 90%+ score I want to give them, and into the more realistic mid-80s.

"Not the best for gaming" is a helluva caveat for a PC Gamer review of a $280 product, that's for sure, and I have to take that into account. But otherwise, I couldn't sleep at night without raving about what fabulous, sweet-sounding companions the Sennheisers are for day-to-day life. Gaming might not be their forte, and they're expensive. But when it comes to products I will stand behind, even in the face of those considerable caveats, I can think of no better candidates than these.

A good set of gaming earbuds offers solid sound, a good battery life, and stable connectivity, all in a package that can easily fit in both your pockets and your ears. Luckily, the Steelseries Arctis GameBuds, our absolute favorite earbuds for gaming, do all that and come in at a mighty reasonable price.

Over at Amazon, you can pick this pair of earbuds for $148, which is more than $50 under its MSRP. This is the best ever price we've seen on a pair of buds we'd recommend even at their full price.

As one of our highest-rated bits of tech from the entirety of last year's PC Gamer reviews, our Jacob liked this pair of earbuds so much it made him finally return to earbuds for the first time in a decade. This is why I wasn't particularly surprised to see we gave it an incredibly high 94% in our Steelseries Arctis GameBuds review.

We said the GameBuds "come close to over-ear audio quality", and this is helped not only by their 6 mm neodymium magnetic drives but also game-specific audio profiles. These are fine-tuned to crank up the important parts in games, such as footsteps in Counter-Strike 2, for a competitive edge.

Outside of games, they still sound fantastic, with our Jacob saying they almost compare to a proper pair of over-ear cans. They come with a solid 40 hours of battery life (10 from the buds and 30 from the case) but are also Qi-enabled, which means you can charge them wirelessly and quickly. IP55 water resistance is an extra touch that makes them a good set for taking out and about, too.

Perhaps our biggest annoyance with testing out the GameBuds is that they can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time. You can swap quickly from the 2.4 GHz connector to a Bluetooth device, but should you want to swap from PC to mobile to Steam Deck, you will need to either move the dongle around or disconnect and reconnect via Bluetooth.

We also noticed we could take the mesh inside the buds out, which happened during a vigorous clean, but we did manage to get it back on with some effort.

With these fairly tame critiques out of the way, the GameBuds are simply the best gaming earbuds right now, thanks to an excellent feel, sound, and battery life.

The GameBuds we've highlighted (which are the only set below $150 right now) are the Xbox version, which, aside from Xbox branding on the package, seems no different from the set our Jacob loves so much. They do come in Black, as opposed to the white of the PlayStation model, but work with PC, Xbox, PS5, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and handheld gaming PCs just fine. For the money, we wouldn't recommend a single set of earbuds over these right now.

I am very much an over-ear headphones girlie—living in a historic tourist town will do that to you. But besides that, my weird little cartilage has just never found in-ear buds agreeable. If they're not making my ears ache, earbuds are straight up popping out and threatening to get lost somewhere in the unknowable corners of my messy desk. But can heavy-hitting headgear honcho Sony change my mind?

Once upon a time, I was a weirdo with a Sony Xperia Z3, a phone that lasted me almost half a decade. Even wilder, I'm genuinely still using the wired earbuds that came out of that box. As great as those still are for Discord calls with my Final Fantasy XIV Online Free Company, I'm not a fan of the wire rattling across my jacket zip or getting caught on goodness knows what else when I'm out IRL. So with all of that in mind, it would be fair to say I was optimistic about the Sony WF-C510.

The first test—would the smallest of the three included tips actually play nice with my narrow cartilage?—yielded a comfortable result. Truthfully, I can easily wear these for a full day of work without my ears aching.

As for taking them out into the real world, these Sony earbuds haven't attempted to make a popping break for it out of my ear yet. A compact, sleek design (available in white, black, blue, or yellow) means these hardly scream 'gamer earbuds' either. My only complaint is that, despite a fairly good seal, I do still get some wind noise as I power walk to work. Otherwise, these earbuds are great for listening to tunes or a podcast at your desk—but leave much to be desired if your day-to-day is full of video calls.

As is typical for earbuds, the mic's noise cancelling is abysmal. That's not the end of the world if you're just trying to quietly coordinate the Free Company, but anyone situated in, say, a noisy, open-plan space will end up sharing all nearby conversations over every video call. Because of this, these earbuds are especially ill-suited to taking calls while out and about or otherwise on the go.

This is genuinely a shame, as the earbuds otherwise do a surprisingly great job of filtering out ambient noise as you listen to tunes, despite not having Active Noise Cancellation. Instead, you can choose to filter out or listen in on ambient noise with a press of the left earbud.

Alright, so party chat aside, how does the Sony WF-C510 fare for music and gaming? In a word: serviceably. I found the sound quality comparable to my trusty, over-ear JBL TUNE 720BT headphones—which is just as well, as both float around a similar price point on Amazon. Sure, there's an attempt at bassiness here and there, though nothing truly roof-raising due to those absolutely tiny 6 mm drivers.

Overall, it's a pretty balanced, clear sound profile, with maybe just a touch of splashiness on the percussion—sure, it could be better, but it could also be a lot worse. There's limited room to futz around with audio equalisation in Sony's Sound Connect app, but you can only download this to Android smartphones and iPhones, with no PC compatible app currently available.

So, while I wasn't wringing any fresh depth out of Une vie à t'aimer from the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack (which may well be down to Spotify's compression more than anything else), the Sony WF-C510 earbuds are still good enough to prompt me to consider diving back in to collect all of the RPG's Steam achievements.

But while these buds are fine for turn-based parrying and dodging, I doubt they'll offer an edge in gameplay that's any twitchier, as these lack anything like a 'low-latency game mode' or any gamer-geared options at all. These are definitely aimed at a more everyday consumer crowd.

The main sticking point is the earbud buttons, which encourage you to almost think in code for more complex functions. Due to the compact size of the buds, it's one button for multiple functions, with different actions predominantly differentiated by the number of presses. Pressing the right bud's button pauses and plays the current track, while tapping the left bud button once toggles the Ambient Sound Mode. For slightly less frequently used functions, you need to either paw at the buds multiple times or fiddle with the UI on your paired device.

This is fairly standard for the small form factor of earbuds, and thankfully, you can customise the buttons' functions in the Sony Sound Connect app. However, this is only on a very limited profile basis. In other words, you can choose either your left or right bud to handle playback control functions—but that means you're looking at rapidly pressing your earbud four times just to adjust the volume by default.

Thankfully, the earbud buttons are the least friendly part of the user experience. Great, multi-point connectivity means that as soon as I open the sleek little case, the Sony WF-C510 earbuds easily find my phone and desktop again with no nudging required from me. Comparatively, I tend to find my pricier Philips TAH8506 wireless headphones need a lot more cajoling to reconnect.

As for initial pairing, you just need to flip open the Sony WF-C510 earbud cradle case and hold down the button on the back for five seconds—it couldn't be easier. The case itself also handles charging, storing another 11 hours of power on top of the earbud's 11 battery. A light on the open case will turn orange when it's running low, and a notification even tells me how much power is left in each bud and the case whenever I connect them to my phone.

Still, it's hardly the beefiest battery life, especially as hours of heavy use will definitely give you less than 11 hours of playback. For instance, the Creative Outlier Pro buds boast a comparatively much larger reserve, packing in 60 hours of charge into the case alone. Furthermore, Creative's earbuds also offer ANC, running for about 10 hours with this switched on, while only costing about 20 bucks more than the Sony WF-C510 buds.

Wanting battery life aside, the Sony earbuds magnetically snap into place within the case, automatically charging on contact. The case is compact, though it doesn't feel overly flimsy, featuring a wide back hinge that could withstand at least some force—not that I'd advise testing that out.

But even with swish magnetic attachment, I can't quite escape the anxiety that these earbuds will be far easier to lose than full-sized headphones. So, while I appreciate that earbuds don't leave me feeling like I'm walking around with claustrophobic horse blinders all day, I'm still reluctant to declare myself a complete convert.

It's also hard not to feel the absence of any gaming-specific features. If you're looking for a pair of earbuds that will change the mind of someone who swears by hefty gaming headsets, you're better off checking our best wireless gaming earbuds guide.

The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds are great for listening to music or movies but they're not the best for gaming. As a pair of earbuds for the average user—especially for those who care about style—they're great, but for a PC gamer I unfortunately can't give them a resounding recommendation.

Style points are valid points, though, and on this front the Nothings come in clutch. I have the yellow version, but honestly the black and white versions both look wonderful in their own way, too—white looks the nicest to my eyes. Things are helped especially by the part-transparent stem and fully transparent case lid.

Not only do the earbuds and case look worthy of the $99 MSRP, but they feel worthy, too. Although plastic, the case feels solid and it snaps shut with an unignorable clack, and the similarly solid earbuds get pulled magnetically and snapped into place with ease. I don't feel embarrassed getting the case out. Quite the opposite, using these earbuds make me feel like a completely ordinary modern person, right at home in a Starbucks.

For travelling and listening to music they serve very well, too. Battery life is decent, though nothing to write home about, with 9.5 hours in the earbuds and 42.5 hours including the charge in the case. And unfortunately there's no wireless charging, just USB-C, which is something I'd like to have seen for this price point. Even the cheaper EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds (which I rate highly) have wireless charging. It does have an IP54 rating, though, which should mean it's safe from light rain and a little dust.

I like the on-ear controls, as they work by squeezing the stems rather than the usual touch controls, which is a little easier to get right and less prone to accidental presses.

Audio is very impressive for this price point, too, although you will of course find better audio in slightly more expensive audiophile buds, not to mention ones that can do more than just Bluetooth since this compresses audio.

The main thing I noticed upon trying out the Nothing Ear (a) for the first time was that the soundstage feels very wide and full. With the Bass Enhance setting enabled and set to level three (out of five) the bass is plenty punchy, and the audio in general feels more open than it does from some competitor earbuds such as the (admittedly cheaper) Air Pro 4.

It's not quite as crisp or as lively as the EarFun buds were after I tinkered with the EQ, and the amount of tinkering you can do with the Nothing's EQ is limited, to say the least (the 'custom' option only allows you to change three bands: bass, mid, and treble).

But despite this, I find myself preferring the audio from the Nothing Ear (a) to the audio from the Air Pro 4. And that's both for music and for games—in the latter, the full and wide sound combined with the more punchy bass (from gunshots, for example) helps with immersion.

Listen to the above to hear the microphone quality of the Nothing Ear (a).

Saying this, I still tend to return to the EarFun Air Pro 4 rather than the Nothing Ear (a), and that's for several reasons. The first is one that probably won't apply to most people: the Nothing earbuds fall out of my weird little ears quite easily. I reckon that's just because my ears are very small and so the buds don't have enough space to rest comfortably, but it's something to be aware of if you struggle with similar. I didn't have the same problem with the Air Pro 4 earbuds, and I think that's because the part of the earbud that sits outside your ear canal is smaller.

The second reason, though—and the most relevant to PC gamers—is that even with 'low lag mode' enabled, there's still noticeable latency over the Bluetooth connection. It's pretty unplayable without that mode enabled, but even with it enabled the delay is a little noticeable in a way that it's not with the EarFun buds. And it seems to turn this setting off every time you put the earbuds away, meaning you have to go back in-app each time to enable it.

The final main reason I reach for other earbuds rather than these is that the mic is pretty rubbish on them. People I spoke to over the phone noticed my voice audio had gotten worse as soon as I started using these instead of the EarFun buds or the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. My voice is audible, but it's not ideal, even for earbuds.

I should also note that these earbuds do feature ChatGPT integration via voice assistant, but I turned that off pretty much straight away because I'm wanting to plug in earbuds, not Big Brother's annoying Little Brother. Okay that's a lie, I disabled voice control because it called someone random in my phonebook when I asked it for the weather.

For just listening to music or other non-interactive things where latency and voice doesn't play a part, these are fantastic earbuds. They're stylish, easy to use (plug-n-play, pretty much), with simple and sleek software, and they sound fantastic. They even have good ANC and transparency modes. But for gaming, the poor latency is hard to look past, and even some cheaper earbuds with better latency will be a better option.

Newest in a lineup of intensely customizable gaming earbuds, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 waltzes onto the scene with style and practicality on its side. But with some of the best gaming earbuds coming in at well under its $130/£100 price tag, the Soundcore Liberty 5 is going to have to offer something truly special for its price range in order to make it onto the list, especially versus its plucky predecessors.

Popping the case out of the box, I was impressed with the smooth, matte pebble design. It looks great in white and, although scuffs have become a common sight through weeks of daily usage, it's easy enough to wipe clean. The lid slides up gently (so long as you remember which way up the Soundcore logo sits) to reveal two stemmed earbuds and a tiny button between them for pairing. Simple, aesthetically pleasing, and I only need one hand to open them. That's a bloody good start.

Before getting stuck in, I had my pick of six different sized ear tips. A surefire way to ingratiate yourself to a small ear haver like myself as I'm constantly fighting larger-tipped earbuds. They tend to fall out whenever I smile. Not with these babies. You'd be hard pressed to find a person whose ears don't fit at least one option. Sure, they're not going to mold to your ear shape like the Logitech G FITS, but the Liberty 5 is also half the price and comes with a better spec.

Pushing that customsation to the max, the Soundcore app lets you choose between five levels of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in Manual mode, and Airplane or Car in the real-time adaptive AI Transportation mode. I've not had a chance to test it in an actual airplane yet, but there's a notable difference as you scale up to fifth level ANC (Our Jacob has used the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro on an airplane and says it works great, too). It turns droves of passing cars to a whisper, and the rumble of my dehumidifier is completely inaudible. Sadly they don't block out higher pitched sounds like next door's dog yapping, but they do take the edge off.

In the app you can not only change the EQ—with a pretty effective preference test to tune it to your liking—but also edit the on-ear controls. Each earbud has a pressure touch sensor on the stem, making it easy to avoid pressing accidentally, but most importantly both can be assigned multiple controls. There's single, double, triple, and long press gestures, and every single one is mappable to play/pause, previous, and next controls. You can even get it to open your preferred voice assistant, scroll through the ANC modes, or take a photo. The main benefit for me is that I never end up stuck with the back button earbud, unable to skip songs because I left the other one somewhere.

This is something I do a lot, which with my old Amazon Echo Buds meant I would always come back to dead earbuds. Thankfully the liberty 5 lets you power them off when inactive (also editable in-app). I've only had to charge the case for these puppies once in the past two weeks of constant use—and I mean constant. I worked with the Liberty 5 all day, walked the dog with them, and was still able to get a stretch of rain sounds out of them before falling asleep.

With literally five minutes of charging I get just over seven hours of battery life, about four times over until the case itself needs charging… all with ANC turned on. Not to mention that the case charges in five minutes with the little fast charge cable, too. Basically, Anker nailed the battery rating. And sure, the Liberty 5 won't match the Creative Outlier Pro for its immense battery life, but it's got enough to keep you going for weeks at a time.

Take a listen to the microphone on the Liberty 5 in the clip below:

My testing has involved some very loud, very angry listening, which the Liberty 5 handles valiantly thanks to Dolby Audio. Alongside a wide frequency response and LDAC support it delivers warm, versatile soundstage even at metalhead volumes, though earbuds will never match the prowess of the best wireless gaming headsets. The really sad part? No LDAC or Dolby in gaming mode. That's because it would absolutely trample the response times which, when primed, are pretty stunning. Most gamers won't notice the difference, but gaming mode certainly elevates the experience. There's a higher accuracy with clearer footsteps since it leans into the higher frequencies, while moving away from the rumbling lows. It makes me think these would be wonderful for ASMR, though I'm loath to test that out.

As for the mic, you can expect super clear audio recording quality, but with no in-app features to reduce background noise and six microphones, you can hear everything going on in the background over calls. It even picks up all those annoying mouth noises that set off my misophonia. Accurate, then, but some noise gate options wouldn't have gone amiss.

With gorgeous aesthetics, rugged ANC, practical customization, and speedy, accurate sound, there's a lot to love about the Liberty 5. My main gripe as a woman whose clothes often don't contain pockets, is that I can get about five meters away from my phone, behind a single thin wall, before the Bluetooth connection drops out. That's not going to be an issue if you're glued to your gaming monitor, but it's not great for housework. Still, it's the only bad thing I have to say other than the easy-to-scuff matte white case.

It's true you could spend a little extra cash on the shinier pebble-design sister, the Soundcore Liberty Pro 4, but who needs a barometer and a fancy OLED screen when you can have a matte design with the same level of battery life and a wider frequency response, all for less?

Of course, there are cheaper earbuds you might consider as a gamer, depending on what you need. Against our current best mid-range gaming earbuds, the EarFun Air Pro 4, the Liberty 5 is a little more expensive but offers a wider soundstage. It doesn't quite match the Air Pro 4's battery life or allow for wireless earbud charging, though it's hard to find earbuds with this level of customisation and audio accuracy at this price range.

If you've been on the hunt for a budget audio device that you can both play games and go for a run with, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are even better now that they're on sale.

With up to 52 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.4, and crisp sound quality, you can pick them up for just $60 at Amazon right now. The only downside is that you need to be an Amazon Prime member to claim the deal.

One extra caveat is that it's only the black pair of earbuds that are available in the sale. Other colors will cost you $90. Though it's a shame you can't customize the color, the price difference does emphasize how good a deal this really is. In our EarFun Air Pro 4 review earlier this year, we praised their rather excellent price point, and this is made better by being over 30% off.

With pricing out of the way, let's actually get into the buds. The sound profile is a tad boring out of the box, but with some EQ twiddling, we got a crisp and lovely sounding sound, that is only enhanced by great ANC and some interesting ambient sound modes.

The app is also great, being an intuitive way to both set up and customize all sound modes and tweak settings. You can quickly check the battery in there, which is neat as the battery life is standout. The earphones have 11 hours of charge in them, which is decent, but the case offers a further 41 hours, totalling 52 hours for the lot. One charge can last weeks, depending on how much you actually use them.

The lack of 2.4 GHz connection is a tad disappointing, but something has got to give at this price point, and the Bluetooth 5.4 connection, in Game Mode, is strikingly good when it comes to latency. If you're a bit of a social gamer and plan on using these in your rig, handheld gaming PC, or your phone, it is worth noting that the mic is just okay. It's not awful, but a tad fuzzy and tinny. Your friends will certainly tell you are talking on an earphone mic.

We have seen the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds this cheap before, with them hitting $60 a handful of times in the last six months or so, but we've never seen them any cheaper, and they're well worth the cash you can get them for right now. If you need an audio solution for your Steam Deck with good sound, solid battery life, and a great app, I haven't been able to find a single pair of earbuds that offer the same feature set at this price.

Lately, on my many weary travels to Brum aboard the old iron horse (riddle that one), I've been partial to a little campfire and rainfall ambience in my ears to drown out the railway hum and loud commuters. But sometimes I've caught myself thinking, 'Man, I really wish I could hang some giant buckets off my ears, have rainfall collect in them, and amplify that sound into my ears for some more authentic rainfall listening.'

So thank the lord that our favourite wacky headphone creator, Philip of Pud's Small Batch Headphones, has come to my rescue with this beautiful monstrosity. Now I can not only recreate that authentic ambient rainfall sound but also strengthen my neck muscles and look like a sad Mickey Mouse while doing so.

Under the TikTok video is a fittingly concise description: "I made water headphones for natural rain sounds." Now, there's a phrase I didn't realise I needed to hear (see) until I'd heard (seen) it: water headphones.

Philip explains: "It consists of two half-gallon basins and a self-contained pump system with a precision water displacement unit at the top." Crucially, though: "With these, not only do you get the natural sound of the water, but you actually get the spray and the mist, and if it's windy you get super wet."

That's one thing I'd not really considered before, to be honest, but you better bet I'm considering it now. The 4D element to these is something I think I've certainly been missing from my travels. Especially as it's leading up to summer now, when I'll be thankful for a little gallon-earcup spillage to cool me down.

Unfortunately, I can't see this gorgeous invention on the Pud store page just yet. But if and when it's on there, I know I can speak for everyone here: sign me up.

The business relationship between audio brand Sennheiser and audio care conglomerate Sonova is a little confusing, but basically what you need to know is that Sonova finalised their purchase of Sennheiser's consumer division for €200 million back in March 2022. Sennheiser still makes their own studio kit for professionals, but amateur audiophiles are served by Sonova draped in Sennheiser's brand banner. To put it another way, when you pick up some Sennheiser branded headphones—like the HD 550 that Jacob just reviewed—they're actually made by Sonova.

What's far easier to understand is that Sennheiser and Sonova are being fined to a total of nearly €6 million for price fixing. The Bundeskartellamt—that's the federal cartel office in Germany—found that Sennheiser had been engaging in price fixing since at least 2015. What's more, Sonova continued the practice after its purchase of the brand, right up until the antitrust investigation began in September 2022.

According to the Bundeskartellamt's findings, this price fixing was a concerted, vertical effort between Sennheiser itself and merchants selling products to end-users, though interestingly the council isn't fining any of the involved retailers.

Sennheiser closely monitored consumer prices using both price comparison websites as well as more specialised software. If the company found consumer pricing was significantly below their MSRP, it would reach out to affected retailers directly. Following this intervention from Sennheiser, retailers would then frequently raise their price and the end consumer would ultimately pay for it.

The Bundeskartellamt describes a "code language" being used for internal conversations about price maintenance measures at Sennheiser, though that's far from the wildest detail. According to Bundeskartellamt president Andreas Mundt, "Sennheiser employees even underwent antitrust training but used that knowledge to cover up their price-fixing practices." He adds, "This illustrates that companies must not only adopt compliance measures but also put them into practice.”

The result is a fine in the millions that apparently takes into account the fact Sennheiser and Sonova co-operated fully with the Bundeskartellamt's investigation. Besides the audio giants at the centre of this case, three Sennheiser employees specifically are also being fined and, boy, would I hate to be any one of those guys.

Mundt also said, "When it comes to illegal cartels, what first comes to mind are agreements at the same market level, for example between manufacturers or between retailers. However, price competition is also significantly hindered to the detriment of consumers if manufacturers and their retailers conclude agreements on fixed retail prices. Over a long period of time, Sennheiser hampered the free pricing of premium headphones."

Perhaps €6 million is just a drop in the ocean for Sonova, but perhaps it's not naive to hope this federal fine sends a message. If nothing else, maybe my next headphone purchase will be slightly less dear—or maybe I shouldn't dare hope for premium audio at a slightly less than premium price. Ah well, back to the best audiophile headset guide for me, then.

I've just got done reviewing these earbuds and I liked them so much that I just had to jump on highlighting a deal on them. At their regular circa $90 price they're certainly worth a look, but for $10 off—$80 at Amazon—they're definitely worth it if you're in the market for some new earbuds in this price range.

The reason I'm saying the Air Pro 4 earbuds are $90 is that while Amazon seems to suggest these originally retail for $96, a cursory look at their price history shows a maximum of $90 and EarFun's own site shows them at $90 when not discounted, too.

Regardless, $10 off for some already wonderful earbuds is a fantastic deal. What's made me love these li'l EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds so much, you ask? Primarily just how feature-rich and well-rounded they are, plus their ability to sound lovely after some fiddling with the EQ. They've been the perfect companion to my handheld gaming and train-travelling music sessions.

The 10 mm drivers in the Air Pro 4's can dish out some crisp, lively audio after messing with the nicely customizable EQ. You're not getting quite the full, well-rounded sound of audiophile earphones that are 2x or 3x more expensive, but you're certainly getting better than I've heard at this price range, with plenty of punch and lots of clarity and separation.

The app itself helps make the experience, too. Battery levels for the earphones and case are easy to spot, controls are easy to fiddle with, and everything just works as it should. Even Dual Device Connection works a breeze almost all the time, allowing you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them just by playing things on the different devices.

Speaking of Bluetooth, though, that's all you're getting with this—no 2.4 GHz. With Game Mode enabled I noticed zero problems with latency, but it does mean you won't be able to use the earphone mics while retaining anything close to nice audio at the same time. That's just a drawback of the Bluetooth connection, unfortunately.

Apart from this and a less-than-perfect mic, though, you're getting some lovely sound quality, plenty of features, and did I mention tons of battery life, too (51 hours of it, in fact, including the case, with 11 hours of juice stored in the earbuds themselves)?

I'd recommend these for the full $90, so for $80 I'd say it's a great deal. The only thing is, they have been known to go even cheaper than this, so it's up to you if you want to wait and hedge your bets for an even cheaper deal. Whatever you decide, if you're looking for some solid-quality earbuds under $100, it'll be worth it.

There are tons of $50-$100 earbuds on the market these days, and many of these are at least half-decent picks for gaming, thanks to their dedicated 'game modes'. But despite this crowded market, and after using them for a while, I reckon the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds stand out from the crowd enough to be worthy of consideration.

That's primarily because they offer a very well-rounded feature set plus a lovely sound profile for $60–$90. And I'd bet that this price point is exactly where many people are looking towards when considering new earphones.

So, down to brass tacks. The first thing to note is that the Air Pro 4 is Bluetooth-only, offering no wireless 2.4 GHz connection. That's not so much of a downside for latency because the Air Pro 4's low-latency Game Mode works great.

It is, however, a downside for those of you looking to do gaming while using in-game voice chat or speaking to Discord friends, because Bluetooth simply cannot properly handle voice and stereo audio at the same time. Spotify music sounded dreadful after I started recording my voice via the earphones' onboard mic, but it returned to normalcy once I stopped.

It's also a downside for those of you who want never-fiddly audio (a technical term, I assure you). I've found these earbuds to be almost never-fiddly, but there have been a couple of occasions where I've had to disconnect and reconnect to the Bluetooth on my laptop, probably because of some shenanigans with Dual Device Connection, which I always keep enabled. I doubt you'd get that problem with a dedicated 2.4 GHz dongle—I never had the problem with the expensive 2.4 GHz SteelSeries buds.

Still, that's happened to me only once in a blue moon and the fix is easy. But it does give me a nice segue into its dual-mode functionality, which is one of many well-implemented features these earphones offer.

Dual Device Connection allows you to connect to two devices at once, and it'll play audio from whichever device you're playing something from (it won't do both sources at once, of course). I've found this really useful as it means I can game on my handheld and still have it connected to my phone to answer calls or easily switch over when I want to listen to some music or an audiobook while I'm on the move.

While Dual Device Connection can be set up using the button inside the case while the earphones are sat snugly inside it, it's much easier to do in the app, as are most things. That's because the app is fantastic—I much prefer it to others I've used, both for its extensiveness and simplicity, which is a hard balance to strike.

At the top of the app, you're greeted with a very clear battery indicator for both earphones and charging case. Below that, you can fiddle with Ambient Sound (transparency), Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), Game Mode, In-Ear Detection, EQ, Dual Device Connection, touch controls, left- or right-side mic, LE audio, and voice prompts. You can also install firmware updates super easily from in-app.

That's a ton of features, and all of them work surprisingly well (though I'm not sure about LE audio—a low-power Bluetooth addition—since it doesn't work with iOS and I am, sad to say it, one of those people).

I was particularly impressed with the EQ, especially after being a little disappointed with the EQ options on the competing Nothing Ear (a) earbuds. EarFun not only gives you tons of presets to try (including profiles for different genres of music) but it also has a 10-point parametric curve that you can fiddle with.

The sound profile is by default a little boring and slightly mushy, to my ears. But with a little fiddling, these earbuds can sound fantastic. I ended up taking another user's EQ numbers and then adjusting things slightly from there.

For those interested, I settled on the following EQ numbers: 9, 7, 3, 4, 3, 1, 2, 3, 10, 10. Changing to this made a massive difference, and the earphones went from okay to really quite lovely.

Admittedly that's not quite as spectacular as what you'll find in some audiophile IEMs or even the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, but for this price range, it's great. After my EQ fix, I'd describe the sound profile as crisp and lively, with tons of separation and a decent amount of punch, but still not quite as full and present as some higher-end options.

It's certainly not a dull audio experience, and I'm thoroughly enjoying listening to both music and games through the Air Pro 4's 10 mm drivers. Yes, I'm reminded it's not quite there whenever I put the Arctis GameBuds back in, but it's damn close for quite a lot less money.

I haven't noticed any drop in quality when switching to Game Mode, either, though I do notice the drop in latency. With Game Mode disabled there really is quite a lot of noticeable lag, but when it's enabled I don't notice any lag at all—gunshot sounds seem to ring in my ears the moment I press the handheld's trigger and make sparks fly on-screen.

These buds are also great in ANC and transparency modes (or 'Ambient Sound' mode, as EarFun calls it). ANC adaptively cancels up to 50dB and I found that while it struggles to block out dynamic noises (as most earbuds do), it does a really good job of keeping out fans, wind, and other such rumbles and grumbles.

I've found this really useful when travelling on public transport, and I tend to just keep it on its 'Strong' setting as I've found that to work best. I've also found its Ambient Sound setting to work a charm, preventing me from being struck down by reversing cars and so on.

One area that's very middling is the onboard mic. It's not bad, it's just not great—you can definitely tell it's an earphone mic rather than a headset one, as it makes your voice sound a little fuzzy and tinny. Credit where credit's due, though, it does at least get rid of static background noises such as rumbles or wind relatively well.

The on-ear controls are fine, but as with other touch-capacitive earphones, you have to be careful not to press anything by accident. I didn't have more of a problem with this than I do with any other earbuds with touch controls, but it's something to note regardless.

You do get a lot of control over what different left/right presses do, too. For each ear, you can set different functions to a long press or a single-, double-, or triple-tap. You can choose between the following functions:

• Volume up
• Volume down
• Previous track
• Next track
• Pause/play
• Voice assistant
• Noise Cancelling/Ambient Sound/Normal toggle
• Disabled

I've left things as their defaults purely because I'm lazy—no, really, that's the reason—but at some point I might switch pause/play to single-tap and previous/next track to double-tap given I rarely change volume with the touch controls anyway.

The icing on the cake is battery life. These are rated to 11 hours of life in the earbuds themselves, plus another 41 hours from the charging case, for 52 hours total. And the case has both (relatively slow) wireless charging compatibility as well as fast charging if you plug it in via USB-C.

One of the things that's pleased me most about these earbuds, in fact, is how easy managing battery life is. That's not just because there's a lot of juice in them, but also because it's just so simple to see how much is left. Three little LEDs on the front of the case tell the battery life tale on the front of the case whenever you open and close it, and the app shows how much is left incredibly quickly, clearly, and easily. Having all this plus the ability to charge the earbuds wirelessly or via USB-C is fantastic for this price point.

And that's the main deal, I think: You're simply getting a heck of a lot for the price. MSRP is $90 but at the time of writing the Air Pro 4 earbuds have tended to be on sale for far less than this relatively consistently. Even at full price, I'd say they're more than worthy of consideration, and definitely so when they're on sale.

They might not offer the most absolutely refined, well-rounded sound of audiophile earbuds, but they can sound very lively and crisp after some EQ tinkering, and they scoop over bucket-loads of features and deliver on them incredibly well. 2.4 GHz connectivity and a better mic would be nice, as would some physical rather than touch controls, but we can't expect perfection for this price. But as for what we can expect in this price bracket, the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds deliver all that and more.

The over-ear headset rules the roost for gaming at a desk but peel yourself away for a moment to touch grass or, more likely, play Steam Deck in bed, and a set of earbuds comes into their own. I'm being pulled away from wearing chunkier headphones in favour of slim in-ear designs these days, and it's feature-filled earbuds like these Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro from Anker that are doing it.

I've been using the Liberty 4 Pro for a variety of uses over the past few weeks: trips to PC Gamer towers, travel further afield, and playing games on a couple of handheld gaming PCs. The Liberty 4 Pro buds have been superb for all of it. That's thanks to the huge amount of control I have over every aspect of these earbuds.

It's not new to have handy controls on the earbuds themselves. A way to quickly answer a call, play, pause, skip… you've probably used earbuds before, I don't need to explain this. Like many other earbuds before them, the Liberty 4 Pro offer the same sorta thing. It has little touch capacitative tracks on the edge of both left and right earbuds that double up as a button. Slide your finger up either earbud, the volume increases. Down, it decreases. Click it, a track pauses. Double click, skips.

The Liberty 4 Pro does something I really like, however. It lets you mix up all of that.

Through the Soundcore app on my phone, you're free to change what each swipe or press does, and this extends to each individual earbud. You can play it safe with both earbuds matching your ideal configuration, or have one earbud dedicated to my audio and the other open your phone's voice assistant and deal with calls.

The anarchist in me wants to set triple press to answer a phone call and double press to hang up on one bud, and the exact reverse on the other. Though I'm much more the type of person to leave most button presses empty and just keeping things simple. 'Damn you, live a little' I say to myself as I set my safe and simple shortcuts in the Soundcore app.

This level of customisation means you're not locked in with clunky controls, even if the earbuds are set up that way out of the box. I've had earbuds in the past that have weird buttons for opening AI assistants or changing audio presets, and which I'll occasionally press by accident—not here. The Liberty 4 Pro does actually come with a long press to change ANC/Transparency modes as standard, but I've turned it off to avoid such a situation happening.

Another feature I've disabled right away is the wearing detection. When enabled, this pauses any media when you take an earbud out, but as someone that lives in fear of unknowingly blasting my music to everyone around me due to a time as a child when I did that (both my headphones were playing and my phone speaker, and I was on public transport, and I was an emo teen), I like to turn it off. Anker lets me do that in the app.

The only downside to all these control options on both earbuds is that it's easy to accidentally press the touch controls when taking the earbuds in and out of your ears. This has led to a few moments where I've cranked the volume up a little too high just while trying to fit the buds in my ears.

I should say before we go any further: the Liberty 4 Pro sound great. I'm really impressed with these little earbuds. The bass is weaker than a chunky over-ear headset, that's a given, but I listen to a lot of drum and bass and it's not a complete wash out. You're definitely missing out on the lower bass lines and 'oomph' but there's plenty of clarity throughout the range, with deep and high vocals coming through clearly.

The good news is you can tweak these earbuds further to your liking in the Soundcore app.

The equaliser tab offers a wide selection of audio profiles to choose from. There's one for every genre of music and more. After trying out most of them, I've found the profile provided by 'soundcore Signature' is the best for use across games and listening to music. It strikes a good balance between punchy highs and decent bass response (for earbuds). Though there are a few other options…

If you're a certified audio tweaker (that's tweaker, not… never mind), you'll want to dive into the custom EQ option. You can set the EQ a variety of ways and across a bunch of profiles (I reached four custom EQs before deciding that's probably enough for most people).

Audio nerds will be pleased to hear it's possible to enable LDAC mode for higher quality streaming over Bluetooth (though at the cost of power consumption), but you'll need to pair it with some high quality streaming software or files, such as Tidal or Apple Music. Even though I'm a pretentious Tidal user and do care about high quality streaming most of the time, I find I don't notice the difference between standard and LDAC while using these earbuds—perhaps it's the tiny drivers covering up all the nuance but give it a go and see for yourself.

LDAC is only good for Android phones, however, so your Windows-based handheld or desktop won't benefit without a third-party driver.

That same third-party driver will let you run aptX Low-Latency, too, which can drop latency over Bluetooth a helluva lot. That's good for gaming. Though for handhelds, it's just a standard connection, so is a little laggier than a dedicated 2.4 GHz dongle. No worse than most BT headphones, at least.

Then, there's HearID. Now I've used a system like this before on a Corsair headset through iCUE, and I was as impressed with it then as I am now. It works like this: you are played a song clip over and over, and each time you select whether you prefer profile A or profile B. That factors into the next clip, then the next, and by the sixth one, you've landed on an EQ you ostensibly prefer to most others. Mine ended up with a little more bass than treble. I still prefer the soundcore Signature profile but HearID isn't half bad.

Lastly, there's spatial audio. I don't love the quality dip from the spatial audio presets, as the mids get all muddied and I don't get a sense of openness at all. What's strange is the head tracking mode, which means when you turn your head, the sound remains 'in front' of you at all times—essentially knocking the balance towards the earbud in your front-facing ear. It's odd, and a bit of a novelty to try once.

All of this tweaking can carry over whether you're playing music off your phone or using a handheld gaming PC or other device. So long as you're connected to the Soundcore app. So I've been using the earbuds on the Ayaneo Flip DS and using the Soundcore app on my phone to adjust the EQ.

I'm not the type to change equaliser frequently but you can also drag a few EQs into the top window for easier access in the app.

With sound and controls just about covered off, what's left to talk about except the case, which comes with an OLED screen, and the ANC.

Starting with the case, it offers a larger battery capacity to keep the buds juiced up when not in use. According to Anker, it offers around 40 hours of battery life. The company also notes the earbuds get around 10 hours, though that's without Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. With ANC enabled, it's more like 7.5 hours.

I've used these earbuds for a couple of weeks now and I've only had to charge the carrying case one time. For most of my time with them, I've slid the case up to reveal two fully charged earbuds. I rarely see them dip below the 70% mark most days. I have noticed the battery drain accelerate with ANC enabled, however, and I am a little concerned about whacking ANC on full blast on a long plane journey. I think you might find that battery goes quick. At least they charge extremely fast.

Though these buds are designed to deal with plane journeys, with Anker including a barometric sensor to help deal with air pressure changes, I've sadly not been able to test that myself just yet. I'll let you know if I find these buds to be particularly flight-friendly down the line.

Listen to the microphone on the Liberty 4 Pro here (and sorry I say 'Pro' weirdly):

What I can attest to right now is the ANC quality. It's extremely good for a pair of compact earbuds. Whack ANC up to 10, either in the app or using the touch controls and OLED screen on the case itself, and you can mostly cut out the tired hum of a city bus. Importantly, the ANC is good at removing the sound of fans whirring, which is especially useful if you're playing on a handheld gaming PC. I've paired these buds to both the Steam Deck and Ayaneo Flip DS and the battery runs out on the handheld long before the buds, even in ANC mode.

These are also good earbuds for sports. They're light (too light for my scales) and stay firm in my ear holes. I've been using them extensively while on my bike trainer, and they're yet to dislodge themselves yet. I'm also testing out their IPX5 water resistance rating too, with the amount I'm sweating on the darn thing. Moving on…

One thing the Liberty 4 Pro are not good at is microphone quality. For obvious reasons, earbuds aren't able to easily sit in front of your mouth for more directional audio pickup patterns to be used. As such, they're straining to hear you, and only you, from a distance, and even a few microphones to try to counteract unwanted noise can't save the quality. I don't sound too hot reading our mic test script through these buds.

I'm also a little scared of losing one of the earbuds and having to buy a whole new set but I won't put that on the Liberty 4 Pro. No, rather these buds should make a great addition for Steam Deck or Windows handheld. I've been using them pretty extensively for this purpose and I'm yet to lose one, scuff the case, or have the connection drop out. Providing you promise not to lose one, $130/£130 seems like a pretty good deal.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first unboxed the Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. Audio-Technica's reputation in the professional audio world is rock solid, but open-back reference headphones aren't exactly a dime a dozen in the gaming space. These aren't your typical bass-heavy, RGB-infused gaming cans. Instead, the ATH-R50X aims for pure, uncolored audio reproduction—an honest, no-frills approach that promises accuracy above all else. Can they compete with my all-time favorite and one of the best gaming headphones: the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X?

The first thing that struck me was the design. The ATH-R50X is understated, with an industrial, no-nonsense aesthetic that feels more at home in a studio than a gamer's battle station. The build quality is reassuringly solid, with a mix of metal and high-quality plastic that ensures durability while making them shockingly light on the head at just 207 grams.

The headband is generously padded, and the ear cups, covered in soft velour, are large enough to fully encapsulate the ears without creating any uncomfortable pressure. Comfort-wise, these rank among the best I've used for long sessions—something I quickly appreciated during my long work day and evening gaming sessions.

Slipping them on for the first time, I fired up Call of Duty Black Ops 6 to see how they handled positional audio. Open-back headphones have a reputation for delivering superior spatial awareness, and the ATH-R50X doesn't disappoint.

Footsteps in the distance, subtle environmental cues, and even the faintest rustling of leaves felt incredibly well-placed, as if I was right in the middle of the action. Imaging is razor-sharp, making it easy to pinpoint enemy positions without needing software-based enhancements. The frenetic action and chaos of gunfire, grenade explosions is delivered with clarity and precision.

Unlike the artificially expanded soundstage of some gaming headsets, the ATH-R50X delivers a natural and genuinely immersive listening experience. The open-back design allows sound to breathe, creating a spacious and realistic audio environment that enhances both gaming and music. This makes it particularly suited to open world games with rich environmental audio. While it lacks the exaggerated bass impact of some closed-back alternatives, the superior clarity and lifelike separation of instruments and effects make up for it, providing an incredibly engaging and accurate soundstage.

Playing through The Last Of Us II, the depth of the sound design felt incredibly immersive—every distant footstep, every disgusting Shambler growl, dripping water and eerie undersewer sounds made the experience more intense and believable.

Music is where the ATH-R50X truly flexes its reference-grade credentials, however. Playing Hans Zimmer's 'Why so serious', I was immediately struck by how balanced the sound signature is. The bass is tight and controlled rather than overpowering, allowing midrange details to shine through with stunning clarity.

In Wicked's 'No one mourns the Wicked', vocals are intimate, instruments have a natural timbre, and there's a crispness to the treble that brings out minute details without veering into harshness. If you're used to consumer-grade headsets that artificially boost the low end, these might seem a little flat at first—but give them time, and you'll appreciate the sheer accuracy they provide.

Of course, being open-back, they're not great in every scenario. The lack of isolation means they leak sound like crazy—so if you're in a shared space, expect everyone around you to hear whatever you're listening to. Similarly, external noise seeps in freely, which makes them less than ideal for travel or noisy environments. These are best enjoyed in a quiet room where you can fully immerse yourself in the audio without distractions.

When it comes to connectivity, the ATH-R50X keeps things simple. It uses a detachable cable(you get a 1.2m and 3m with Gold tips), which is a welcome touch for longevity, though I would have appreciated a balanced cable option for those using dedicated amps. Speaking of which, while these headphones aren't particularly power-hungry at 50Ohms, they do scale well with high-quality sources. But they work just fine plugged into the back of your PC, monitor, or console controller.

Compared to traditional gaming headsets, the ATH-R50X does require a bit of a mindset shift. There's no built-in microphone, no flashy features, and no companion software to tweak EQ settings.

But what you do get is uncompromising sound quality that far surpasses most gaming headsets in the same price range. If you're willing to pair them with a standalone mic, they can easily double as a high-end gaming solution that doesn't sacrifice audio fidelity for gimmicks.

That brings us to the big question: Who are these for? If you're a competitive gamer who values pinpoint accuracy and a natural soundstage, they're a fantastic choice. If you're an audiophile looking for a neutral, detailed listening experience, they tick all the right boxes. But if you need isolation, thumping bass, or a built-in mic, you'll probably want to look at something like the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro.

At $159(£139 GBP, AUD$399) the ATH-R50X sits in an interesting price bracket. They're more affordable than some high-end studio monitors but pricier than most mainstream gaming headsets. If sound quality and all day comfort is your top priority, they're absolutely worth the investment. But if you need a built in mic, noise isolation and wireless connectivity there's plenty of great options elsewhere.

Earlier in the year, PC Gamer packed me up and shipped me off to Denmark to take a look at some new SteelSeries gear. After filing into a SteelSeries office with a handful of other journos and SteelSeries PRs, it was revealed that The Big News were these new tiny earbuds. And my heart sank. I can't stand earbuds, I thought. They really picked the wrong person to bring out here.

How wrong I was, though. Perhaps by some premonitory magic, the SteelSeries folks happened to pick the one person who could be brought not just on-side but yanked out of the depths of anti-earbud abyss, and on-side.

This wouldn't have been possible if the Arctis GameBuds weren't damn solid, though.

No, SteelSeries isn't twisting my arm to write this, I've just been genuinely blown away by these buds. I'm sure that's in part because I'm surprised to be giving any earphones at all the time of day again, but it's also because these ones in particular genuinely impressed me.

Why's that? Well, for one, they actually fit my weird little ears…

Anyway, moving on.

I actually ended up using the GameBuds in different ways than I thought I would. For instance, they've got me listening to audiobooks while tootling around the house doing chores, and they've even got me running to pick them up when I receive a phonecall. I shudder to think of the number of times my friends must have heard me say "call you back in a second, I'm just grabbing my earphones." There's just something about chatting hands-free, you know?

Maybe this is old news to everyone who didn't write off earbuds for the last decade. But part of the reason for me writing them off—apart from most earbuds not comfortably fitting my ears—is that there's rarely enough benefit to weigh against the dreadful feeling of having your ears clogged.

But wait, what's that, Transparency Mode (think the inverse of ANC) works a charm and makes your ears feel positively de-clogged? Yep, the GameBuds shine in that regard, too.

In fact, every barrier that I wanted to put up, the GameBuds smashed them down. Like a pushy but loveable puppy, they clawed their way through my protective barriers and made me admit: Okay, I'll give you a shot.

And that's why I gave them such a high score in my Arctis GameBuds review: because there's not a single area in which I feel they should be improved. (Okay, that's a slight exaggeration because I later found out some third-party tips prevent them from fitting in their charging case, but that's a small gripe.)

Audio quality's the obvious area to start with, and in this department they've been a blast. I'm used to my open-back Sennheiser HD 599 headphones, and while the earbuds don't quite get there—and it'd be a miracle if any 6 mm drivers did—they get close. This has made my train journeys 100x more pleasant than before, especially given I was previously using bone conduction earphones (ie, not earbuds, but over-ear earphones).

The GameBuds have been the perfect little guides back into the world of in-ear monitors not just because of this but because they're so versatile and easy to use. I just take them out of their case and they connect to Bluetooth, and then if I want to do some handheld gaming I can switch over to 2.4 GHz with a quick toggle. They charge as soon as I put them back into their cosy little pod, too, and I can charge that pod by simply placing it on top of my Qi charger.

After spending just a day or two with them, I no longer had to think about it. They simply work, in pretty much any circumstance I've put them in—any time, any place.

And they fit my weird little ears. There's that, too. That makes the Arctis GameBuds a 2024 champion in my ears… I mean eyes. I didn't expect to consider a pair of earbuds to be my fave tech of 2024, either, but here we are.

These JBL Quantum TWS earbuds have been out for a while now, and thankfully they've bucked the trend that some manufacturers follow, where they keep their products at roughly the same price even years down the line. Instead, JBL's slapped a phat ol' deal on these tiny bass thumpers.

When they first came out they retailed for $150, and our hardware mastermind Dave James rated them highly even for that price. Now, though, with a saving of over 50% off they're at their lowest ever price of $69.95 at Amazon, for a saving of $80. At this price, they're certainly worth it, even these two and a half years later.

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Now, I personally love my SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, and if you have $160 to spare they're well worth it. But for those on a more reasonable budget, the Quantum TWS earbuds are where it's at—for gaming, at least.

Feature-wise, what you're getting from the Quantum TWS is pretty similar to the Arctis GameBuds, anyway. You're getting 2.4 GHz USB-C and Bluetooth 5.2 connection, fast switching between these connections, a carry case that brings charging up to 16 hours of battery life, surround sound, active noise cancelling (ANC), the whole bundle.

Sound quality is middling but far from bad. As Dave says in his review: "they're not the best-sounding buds I've tested, but the sound quality is good." Which is a whole lot better than most earbuds at this price range which, in my experience, can sound pretty muddy.

The main thing, though, is that the Quantum TWS earphones are easy to use and versatile—single tap on the right to pause/play, and ditto on the left to cycle through ANC and other modes. Plus, you get a game mode which syncs game and video audio, and when you pair this with its snappy 2.4 connection, you have a stellar pair of gaming buds.

Now set an incredibly reasonable and lowest-ever price of $70, and you have a really impressive proposition.

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PC Gamer's favourite headphone inventor Philip of Pud's Small Batch Headphones has been at it yet again, this time crafting a veritable Jigsaw trap-looking headphones that pump out full 5.1 surround sound audio.

Move over Ol' Thumpy and make way Scrub Daddy because Philip's now showing off his 5.1 surround-sound headpones on Reddit. Only, I can't tell whether to call these headphones, speakers, or take a lean into sci-fi land and go with The Mind Prison.

headphones from r/headphones/comments/1gju6er/i_made_51_surroundsound_headphones

The actual name for them Dolbus, which, as Philip explains on his website, refers to "surround-sound headpones with 5 speaker drivers plus subwoofer". Even the best gaming headsets can only give you virtual surround-sound, and however impressive that might be it'll never be as good as the real deal.

The real deal means having five actual speakers surrounding you, though, which is exactly what this pair (pentuplet?) of "headphones" does. You seat your cranium in the centre of five tiny speakers.

Needless to say, unless you have some two-feet-out-the-socket curvy eyeballs, you won't be using these for gaming, or for much that requires, well, seeing anything, because there'll be a speaker right in front of your eyes. Practical? Maybe not. But would I want a set anyway? Well... still maybe not... Lest I get trapped in the Mind Prison.

But I'll go to bat for anyone who does, because it's an incredibly cool concept, as with all of Pud's wondrous creations. Ah heck, you've bent my arm, sign me up. It's worth the possible nightmares.

When I got my hands on the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds for the first time a little over a month ago, apart from being surprised that they actually fit my weird little ears, I was also surprised by how premium they look, feel, and sound. Now that I've had time to thoroughly test them, I'm pleased to say my initial impressions weren't skin-deep. These are incredible gaming earbuds that more than justify their admittedly steep price tag.

They're not expensive next to the PlayStation Pulse Explore and Sony InZone Buds, but they are pretty expensive compared to other options. After all, we're PC gamers 'round here, so we can swat aside all that "console" nonsense. And in the realm of earbuds for PC gaming, the Arctis GameBuds do face some competition at their $160 MSRP price point. The JBL Quantum TWS earbuds, for instance, do a lot of what the GameBuds do and often go on sale for a lot cheaper than their standard $150 price tag.

Make no mistake, though, the GameBuds do indeed do a lot, which goes a long way towards justifying their MSRP—not to mention their stellar audio quality, which we'll get to.

We're talking quick-switch Bluetooth 5.3 and 2.4 GHz USB-C connectivity, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency modes, impressive battery life, cross-console compatibility (depending on whether you buy the Xbox or PlayStation version), 360-degree spatial audio, Qi wireless charging, IP55 water resistance, "WearSense" tech that pauses playback when you remove the earbuds, plenty of left- and right-side button controls, and even a slot in the carry pod for the USB-C dongle. None of this is even to mention the SteelSeries GG software, phone app, game audio profiles and full parametric EQ customisation.

The GameBuds quite simply have everything you might want from gaming earbuds—at least, they have everything I found myself wanting. When it comes to ease of use and versatility, these little bad boys fire on all cylinders.

Commuting to work? Take them out of the case, slap them in your ears, and listen to music from your phone over Bluetooth. If you're on public transport, press the left earbud once to turn on ANC. At work, take your small 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle out of the case and use it to connect to your laptop. Press the right earbud three times to switch to 2.4 mode and toggle from ANC to Transparency mode with a press of the left earbud so you can hear your colleagues clearly. 

On the way home, plug the dongle into your handheld gaming PC for some impromptu gaming. Quickly toggle to Bluetooth to connect to your phone when you receive a phone call, then toggle back. When you get home, your earbuds should still be close to full charge because the case holds 4x full charges and charges the earbuds when they're inside it. Drop the case on your Qi wireless charger to top it up, and you're good to go.

That might be an extreme example—few people use earbuds throughout the entire day—but it gets across the ease of use. In my own case, I found the ANC incredibly useful for blocking out chatter on trains and transparency mode useful for hearing my partner while I strolled about the house doing chores listening to an audiobook. That was all via Bluetooth, but I found it super easy to switch over to 2.4 for gaming on the Lenovo Legion Go, either in bed or on the sofa with it hooked up to the TV.

 Thanks to the carry pod's charging, I've never had the GameBuds come close to running out of battery, either, even on days when using them for an entire workday and then travelling or gaming in the evening. There are always at least some intermissions where I can pop them into the pod and keep them fed. And the pod itself's found its home on my iPhone's MagSafe charger (a Nomad Stand One) which I lay down flat for the GameBuds. 

Plus, during all this—and unusually for me, given I'd sworn off earbuds for so long—I didn't have a single complaint about comfort. They simply fit, snugly and with little imposition. If I'm to get picky, I'd say the WearSense tech is a little too sensitive. During a sweaty workout, it would occasionally think an earphone's come out and pause my music, but I've just learnt to disable WearSense when I'm gonna get sweaty—no biggie.

Mic quality is respectable, too, but they're still earbuds, so you're not getting anything amazing. Most even moderately decent headset mics should do better. Here's what it sounds like:

So, the GameBuds are incredibly convenient to use and everything works seamlessly—once you've done a little initial setup in SteelSeries GG for the 2.4 GHz mode, that is. They're also pleasant to use. Their case is smooth and feels good to hold, and after the earbuds have gracefully snapped into place thanks to some well-designed magnetism, it snaps shut with a satisfying thwack. The earphones themselves have mechanical buttons, too—none of this haptic touch malarkey.

None of this would matter, however, if the performance and audio quality weren't present to match it. Thankfully, the Arctis GameBuds deliver here, too.

Now, I'm no audio snob but I am partial to my audiophile Sennheiser HD599 cans, and I can say that in comparison to these, the GameBuds stack up quite well. You're never going to get the full gamut of crystal-clear frequencies from small earphone drivers, but as far as earbuds go, SteelSeries has it nailed. Just remember to disable the noise limiter in the software if you want to crank this thing up, as it comes enabled by default for legal reasons.

There's definitely more clarity to some mids and highs (cymbals and syballances, and all that) with my 599s, but for earbuds the Arctis GameBuds are damn fantastic. Depending on which EQ you use, you can get a wide coverage from the 20–20,000 Hz response neodymium magnetic drivers, and the bass can be pretty punchy, too. Electric Wizard certainly said a heavier hello to me than they did on my 599s, but then again I'm not a bass-head and like to keep my 599 EQ'd pretty tamely.

Speaking of EQ, though, you're going to want to slap some on the GameBuds, and that's where the presets come in. We've seen these before with the Arctis Nova 5X, but I think they make much more sense for GameBuds. 

Whether in SteelSeries GG for PC or the SteelSeries Arctis app for Android and iOS, you get a wide range of tailored EQs to choose from, for specific games as well as for some general uses such as for music or movies. You can set the earphones to use one pre-set profile for 2.4 GHz use and a different one for Bluetooth use, too—perhaps gaming for the former and music for the latter.

If you're using SteelSeries GG, you can even use Sonar to apply different profiles to different audio channels and then set these channels to be used for specific apps. For instance, I use the aux channel with the Punchy Music preset for Spotify and the media channel for my browsers with a Movie preset.

For gaming, it depends on what game I'm playing. Some profiles are even developed by pro teams or players rather than by SteelSeries, and my experience with these profiles has been great. 

I found FaZe's CS2 profile, for instance, to offer genuinely clearer audio in CS2, allowing for easier placements of footsteps and just a generally more pleasant audio experience. But when I used this profile in Overwatch 2, it was rubbish, as you'd expect. So I slapped on an Overwatch 2 preset and it sounded great. I couldn't find other presets that sounded better for it—not even ones I thought might work more generally, such as the Music ones.

The only real downside is that there aren't presets for every game. I was disheartened to find that there wasn't one for DOOM Eternal, for example, as I like to use it for testing. Currently, there are about 180 presets to choose from (and not all are gaming ones), although you can find more being shared around by users on the SteelSeries Discord and other places. Of course, there's also the option to customise EQs yourself, and SteelSeries GG includes a shiny new parametric EQ to help with this.

As part of my overarching attempt to use Crab Champions to test every single component or peripheral I review, I decided to use the game to test the GameBuds' latency. Apart from the absurd factor, this game's a good choice because, in my experience, it's incredibly snappy and well-optimised. 

As one would expect, latency is fantastic when connected over 2.4 GHz—I noticed nary a single delay between the crab visually dash-jumping and the corresponding "oof" sound caressing my ears. 

Connecting over Bluetooth did add a little latency, however: enough that I noticed it, but not enough for it to make gameplay annoying. Gunshots still sounded like they were happening when they actually were, provided I didn't pay too much attention to the muzzle flash.

I can't help but feel like that slight bit of Bluetooth latency really doesn't matter with these earbuds, though. I mean, the case has a USB-C slot, for goodness' sake. I didn't notice much of a drop in audio quality when switching from Bluetooth to 2.4 GHz, but I still don't see myself gaming over Bluetooth when 2.4 is an option, even if it does end up knocking an hour or two off the battery life. The pod charges the earbuds so easily and conveniently, after all. And if charging speed's a concern, connecting the pod via cable allows for fast charging, which translates to 15 minutes charging for 3 hours worth of power.

In all, there's incredibly little to dislike about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. The only question is pricing, and on that front, I think the price tag is justified for those looking for a truly premium set of earbuds.

Compared to the JBL Quantum TWS, for example, yes, both have similar features—ANC, transparency mode, on-ear controls, quick 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth switching, and so on—but the SteelSeries pair just does things that bit better. It has much better battery life, sounds better than plenty of over-ear headsets, has physical buttons rather than touch controls, and offers all the Sonar preset gubbins to boot. Plus, it rounds all this out with an incredibly suave design that does feel the $160 (£159 / AU$359) part.

Before I'd tried the Arctis GameBuds out properly when I heard how much they were going to cost I was sceptical. I thought okay, they're nice, but are they that nice? Now that I've tested them extensively, I can answer: Yes, they are. They won't be for everyone, because premium earphones aren't for everyone, but for those in the market, they're a fantastic versatile and high-quality pair of earbuds.

I like to think I'm immune to targeted advertising, or at the very least resistant. But at some point we all fall victim to the algorithm, and so the whirring cogs behind my Google Discover feed correctly identified that not only am I obsessed with audio, but also a long-haired human being with a taste for heavy metal music (among many other genres, of course).

And thus, I was shown an advert for the Heavy H1H wireless headphones, somewhat aggressively marketed as the "world's first headphones built for metal fans mimicking the live music experience." Initially I scoffed at the concept, but on closer inspection I've come to realise there's actually some really interesting headphone design going on here. 

For a start, they've been designed by Axel Grell, chief engineer at Sennheiser. That's a man who has learned a thing or two about audio in his 30 years in the industry. More than that though, these headphones make use of eight individual drivers, feature "Hell Blocker" active noise cancellation (you may start rolling your eyes here), Bluetooth 5.1, five beamforming microphones, and a 50 hour battery life—all for $269/£245. Pricey then, but not too bad for audiophile-specced premium noise cancellers.

Ah, go on then. I had to satisfy my curiosity, at the very least. My review units came in an all-black box that looks more suited to high-end aftershave than a set of cans, with h-e-a-v-y-s printed in a stark white font. Everything other than the logo is black, black as my heart, and that includes the headphones themselves. These are substantial units, although they're capable of folding up into a more compact size to squeeze themselves into an included hard-shell carry case.

They're also quite weighty, although 80 g lighter than our favourite audiophile wireless headset, the Audeze Maxwell. I'm not averse to a chonky set of phones, however, and these are super-comfy, at least. That's thanks to some plush leatherette cushions and a squidgey-soft internal headband lining.

The rest of the build is a mix of tough ABS plastics with a premium-feeling satin finish. They really do look and feel like the cat's pyjamas, although that satin coating is a bit of a fingerprint magnet—which spoils the look somewhat as you pose about with your new cans.

Speaking of posing (and despite the stealth black aesthetic), these headphones really will make you stand out. That clamshell folding mechanism is very convenient for shrinking them down for travel, but it means that when they're unfolded and atop your head, the Heavys look wide with a capital "woah".

You can just about fit them inside a raised hoodie when it's raining, but be prepared for everyone to notice you're wearing some serious-sized earwear.

Control-wise, you've got a switch for Bluetooth mode and pairing on the left earcup, and a proper miniature volume dial on the right, with push-to-click muting and weeny little skip buttons sitting on either side. Next to that is a three-way switch for power on, off, and noise cancelling.

Sorry, that should be on, off, and 🤘Hell Blocker🤘. I forgot where I was for a moment.

The good news is, this switchgear all feels great, with properly chunky actions. The bad news is, you'd better get used to using that power switch, as there's no auto shut-off here. Unless my review units are broken of course, but it's led to more than a few instances where I've come home from work, sat the Heavys down on my desk, and found them still blinking away the next morning.

I could also do without the over-the-top voice clips accompanying actions like reaching maximum volume or activating noise cancellation. It sounds like someone impersonating Satan on his day off—presumably to match the heavy metal theme—but it's more than a little cringe-inducing.

"MAXIMUM VOLUME," growls the voice artist in his best Duke Nukem. "Please stop embarrassing me on the train," I hiss in response.

Anyway, let's talk about that weird driver setup. First clues here are found inside the earcups—the tweeter units are positioned separately, in the front half of the cup, standing proud from the inner cushioning and pointing across your ears, not directly at them. As for the regular drivers? Rather than one main unit per earcup, here you get two 38 mm units stacked on top of one another each side.

This creates a remarkable amount of definition in the sound. With the tweeters sitting a noticeable distance away from the main drivers and pointing across your ear holes, you get shiny, silky treble and thundering bass at the same time with little crossover, allowing both to exist prominently in the mix without descending into mush.

I know, all very flowery language that, isn't it? But as someone who has used more high-end headphones than you can count, I was very impressed on my initial test listen—in which I went through my test playlist of well-mixed, genre-ranging tunes, keeping an ear out for flaws. Standard headphone testing really, but those excellent drivers perform with aplomb.

However, that's not the primary purpose of these beasts. These are headphones built for heavy music, and so it's time to break out the good stuff. Challenge accepted.

Kicking things off with Mork's black metal stunner, "På Tvers Av Tidene", it's easy to hear that ice-pick definition in action. What's really impressive is the level of kick these headphones are capable of creating without missing out on the details, so weighty toms are allowed to thump independently from the bassline, while cutting guitars grind through the sonic soup appropriately.

Turning things old school for a second, Metallica's "Sad But True" has all the appropriate weight you'd expect from those multi-layered guitars, with Lars' snare drum snapping distinctly down the middle of the mix. Deep Purple's live recording of "Black Night" from the seminal "Made in Japan" (yes I grew up on my Dad's record collection, what of it?) shows off an impressive amount of space in the staging and is probably the best I've heard it on any set of phones under $300.

It's not just metal that benefits from this multi-driver setup, either. Hip hop? Those main drivers love a kick drum, with some meaningful sub-bass skull-rattling to boot. Bluegrass-influenced folk? There's delicacy in those tweeters, and that lets banjos and fiddle parts shine.

So, musically, these are pretty fantastic for a wireless set of cans, and have quickly become my go-to for high-quality audio on the move. But what about gaming?

Well, as you may have seen from the spec sheet, these are Bluetooth only for wireless. No regular RF connection here, nor a latency-free 2.4 GHz dongle. And while this is a relatively modern version of the Bluetooth wireless protocol (5.1, which I tested with my own Bluetooth 5.3 adapter on PC), that still means audio delay.

How much this matters to you will depend on your tolerance for less-than-perfect latency, and the type of gaming you enjoy. For strategy, RPGs, and anything more slower-paced than the mean, I'd say it's actually fairly usable by Bluetooth standards—although the delay is definitely there. 

Really though, it's best to treat these headphones as wireless for travel, and wired units for sitting at your desk.

A 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm jack cable is included, but at 1.3 metres it's slightly too short. My setup is positioned right next to me on my desk, so it's just about suitable, but a longer cable would be much appreciated. The 2.5 mm port lives deep inside a recess on the right earcup, meaning that if you do buy a longer version, it'll need to have a very skinny connector size to fit. A standard 3.5 mm jack on the outside would be a much better design choice.

Several beamforming mics are built into the unit for Bluetooth, but for a wired connection, you'll need the slightly more expensive gaming bundle with an included in-line boom mic to make yourself heard. 

That particular cable didn't make it to me in time for review, but it's where I'd be aiming to turn the Heavys into a gaming headset extraordinaire. It's a shame it's not included in this package, but there you go.

What I can say is that, wired, the Heavys do just as good a job at delivering gaming audio as they do music. Explosions have genuine punch, soundtracks soar, and that multi-driver design shows its usefulness once again when turned towards the atmospheric.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint has excellent audio design, with chirping wildlife, crunchy snow and claustrophobic forests, and the wide and distinctly spacious soundstage of the Heavys allows all of it to breathe with the correct sense of scope and space.

These cans are proof that, in actuality, a really good set of drivers is the most important thing for gaming audio, and a great set of headphones will absolutely deliver quality sound for gaming in the same way they do music. It's the sound staging that really matters in a good gaming headset, and these cans perform admirably.

All this makes the Heavys something of a difficult product to weigh up. On the one hand, they're superbly well-made, properly punchy, nicely detailed, and a pleasure for wireless day-to-day fun. On the other, for gaming, you really need to plug them in. And an extra cable on top of the price for a wired boom mic? A definite misstep.

But truth be told, I'm very fussy about sound, and I've been using them non-stop as music machines over the past few months—with some plugged-in gaming hijinks at the weekend.

They really are very good at what they do, and sometimes you like a piece of kit so much, you'll forgive its flaws—simply because, if you'd paid your own money, you'd be genuinely pleased with it.

And that's the case here. The Heavys H1H headphones don't make for a perfect gaming headset experience, but they are superb, multi-talented, and rather gorgeous headphones. They've been making me bang my head with approval since I pulled them from the box, and that's worth a lot if you ask me.

I'd still pay the extra for the planar magnetic Audeze Maxwell over the Heavys if pushed, mainly for the proper wireless connection and included mic. Plus, planar magnetics are always going to beat out traditional drivers when implemented properly, even fantastic-yet-oddball ones like these. But all that being said? The Heavys H1H headphones are still my sort of jam, man. 

Phillip, of Pud's Small Batch Headphones fame, has long impressed us with his fabulously wild headphone creations. We were left in awe of his singularly brilliant Ol' Thumpy set, which looks somewhere between the most outrageous set of headphones you've ever seen, and a good excuse to dress up as a Disney rodent for Halloween.

It appears Phillip hasn't been resting on his laurels, however, as he's recently taken to Reddit to show off two of his latest creations. The first is called Moon, and looks something like a rubber-tubed halo—although according to our noble headphone creator, there's actually some genuinely clever acoustic design going on here:

"When you listen to music normally, through speakers or live, both ears hear both sides of the stereo image", Phillip explains.

"In other words, even if the music is hard-panned-left on your speakers, your right ear will hear it. But not so with headphones. Some amps have a built-in "crossfeed" feature that simulates this effect. But I wanted the real thing.

"So I connected a 1-inch silicone tube between both sides--and the result is a more natural, speaker-like sound."

Wanted more speaker-like sound, so I made headphones with "crossfeed" where each ear can ear some of the opposite side (also they don't have a name yet, ideas?) from r/headphones

Indeed, and you've made yourself look truly bizarre doing it. It has to be said that while acoustic engineering appears to be the genuine goal here, Phillip's talent for making something that transcends the sublime into the ridiculous remains unmatched.

The second set is downright subtle compared to the first, but it's still sure to make you stand out in a crowded room. Enter, the Scrub Daddy, a neon-yellow and orange set of cans that look half building-site chic, half toybox charm.

Here, Phillip has gone to town on two Scrub Daddy sponges, transforming them from mundane (although I have to admit, pretty useful) objects into a set of headphones that, according to its creator, actually sound pretty damned good:

I made headphones using Scrub Daddies and they measure surprisingly well (measurements in the pics) from r/headphones

"Every shape and material has a different effect on a headphone’s sound. Today I made headphones using two Scrub Daddy sponges that I bought at Target and was surprised by how much they improved the sound.

"You can see from the measurements they match the target curve pretty closely, with maybe just a teensy bit too much mid bass. But still they sound great."

We'll have to take his word for it, but it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that some sort of foam would work well as a headphone material. Still, to wander around a superstore and come out the other end with two objects for your next small-batch headphone project takes a certain level of creative thinking—and here I think what's been created isn't just potentially acoustically great, but something I could see someone wearing as a fascination piece to the Met Gala.

Let's face it: it wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen someone wear on the red carpet, would it?

Me though? Well, I just don't think I'm that brave. Still, I can't wait to see what new efforts Phillip comes up with over the next few years, and wouldn't mind testing a couple for potential additions to our best audiophile headphones for gaming guide, either. When it comes to the Ol' Thumpys though, I dread to think what the shipping costs might be. Perhaps I'll just wear them home.

SteelSeries has just announced and launched its first earbuds with the Arctis GameBuds. As usual when trying them out, I carelessly disregarded everything one might expect me focus on. Instead, I solidified my opinion based on a particular and peculiar fact: these earbuds actually fit my weird little ears.

Look, there's a lot to objectively like about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, but the simple fact is I've never been an "earbuds" kind of guy, so hearing about all its features didn't really spark joy in me, you know? But what did spark joy in me was the fact that, after getting used to the push-and-twist movement required to fit them, these things fit snug as a bug.

I long ago abandoned all hopes of owning and using earbuds because of my strangely small ears with what must be the most disastrously designed ear canals on the planet (I've even had a doctor comment on my narrow ear canals, so it's not just me). They always slip out. 

That's why for the longest time I've used bone conduction earphones: because they sit over my ears, not in them. The Arctis GameBuds have me reconsidering this decision now, though, because like Cinderella's slippers, these GameBuds fit my ears like a… glove?

Given I'd committed all earbuds to the flames years ago and hadn't regularly used any for a long time, I did struggle a little to insert them properly right away. Doing so involves placing them gently into your ear and twisting slightly. Seeing me struggling and looking sheepish, a SteelSeries rep actually put them in for me at first—an experience I shall treasure—but before too long I got the hang of it.

I sat, I stood, I even moved with these things in my ears, and not once did I feel the telltale slip and slide of a bud about to pop out.

SteelSeries says it's designed these things using "over 62,000 ear scans" to "build the perfect design". When I heard that I thought that's probably the usual marketing fluff, but after having them fit snugly and confidently in my ears, I started to wonder. Maybe there's something to all this R&D malarkey.

Of course, none of this would be the least bit relevant if the earphones themselves were rubbish, but they're not. In my estimation, at least, they're pretty damn great for their $160 MSRP.

The basic rundown is as follows: Two svelte earphones, 10-hour battery life, Qi fast charging in the included pod case, IP55 water resistance, 360-degree audio, ANC, transparency mode, Bluetooth 5.3 and 2.4 GHz wireless, game-specific sound profiles a la Arctis Nova 5, and cross-compatibility with all manner of devices including PC, PS5, and Xbox (if you buy the Xbox-compatible version).

These last couple of points are what seem to distinguish the Arctis GameBuds from other earbuds, because most don't do compatibility across all consoles, and the per-game profile gubbins is unique to SteelSeries. Which isn't to say it's great—our Andy didn't rate the utility of such profiles very highly in his Nova 5 review. But hey, an extra feature's an extra feature, right? And regarding features the GameBuds do seem to have the lot, which is great at this price point.

Sound-wise I was pretty impressed when I tried them, too. After I'd gotten over the shock of the earbuds staying in my ears, I got to gaming and listening to music with them. I didn't have too long with them so I can't offer more than a quick impression, but I found them to offer plenty of clarity and a decent amount of bass.

I was also possibly unreasonably impressed by the mechanical switch clicks that occur when you press each ear face—none of this haptic touch malarkey, just good, solid buttons. Buttons, I might add, that I expect I'll be pressing a lot to switch between 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connection, which will probably be my use case: gaming via 2.4 GHz on my handheld and then switching to Bluetooth on my phone.

For at least a while, though, I'll probably just marvel over the fit. The Arctis GameBuds really have made me reconsider my attitude towards earbuds and the possibility that my ears could be happy housing them once again.

When you think of Dyson, you probably think of vacuum cleaners. Or perhaps those fancy hand-dryer thingys that force you to move your hands up and down in a slot in posh pub toilets. But think again! It's just announced a set of noise-cancelling headphones, and they look absolutely humongous.

The Dyson OnTrac headphones are not the first set that Dyson has tried its hand at producing, as who could possibly forget the Dyson Zone, a set of cans with an attachable air-purifying "travel visor" that made you look like an extra in Mad Max. Not a convincing sell for many, I'd imagine, but the OnTrac's design suggests that style may be a top priority for its latest models, as you can apparently customise it to your heart's content.

The outer chassis comes in four different colourways, but the options don't stop there (via The Verge). You also get a choice of ear cushions, and a plethora of outer plates in metallic and matte finishes to choose from, for $50 a pair.

That's just for extra plates, you understand. The headphones themselves have an MSRP of $500, so for that, you'll be expecting some premium features. Beyond the 2,000 possible colour combinations of outer caps and ear cushions, Dyson says the OnTrac also features "best in class" noise cancelling thanks to eight external microphones, along with a companion app to monitor how much noise is going on around you.

The 40 mm drivers have a 5 Hz to 21 kHz rating and are tilted inwards towards your lugholes (that's British for ears) for direct sound, and a USB-C port for wired connection, although you'll need to use an adapter for 3.5 mm input. A collapsible carrying case is also included, which actually seems like a genuinely useful idea.

Carrying cases for headphones are all very well when protecting your cans, but when you're wearing the set themselves the case does often take up a fair bit of room in your bag. Innovation at Dyson, y'see. Not just for things that suck and blow.

What I'm really not sold on, however, is the way they look from the front. These things look Huge with a capital H, and while those big bronze plates on the version above do have a sort of retro sci-fi appeal despite the size, looking head-on...it's not pretty.

That looks like the same headband design as the Dyson Zone, and while it seems like it might be comfortable, I'm not sure if it'll make me look more of a prize plum than usual in public. Also, $500? That puts the OnTrac in competition with the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay Portal, and while that's a pricey set of headgear, it's excellent at what it does. 

They're even more expensive than the Nuraphone ANC headphones, although I suppose the downside there is that they give you an internal ear exam every time you put it on.

Still, time will tell if they're any good. Big headphones are in vogue, it seems, and despite being great chonkers, these might represent a set of headphones from Dyson that you'd actually want to wear in public. Maybe.

Or if the Princess Leia vibe is for you, a superb addition to a Halloween costume. You can take that idea for free. You're very welcome.

It's rare that two Jacobs find their way into the same office, rarer yet that both have a passion for the same brand of headphones, and rarer than the rarest of rares that both of their favorite respective headphones should have hefty discounts for Prime Day 2024. What incredible times we live in when just such an occurrence has, well, occurred.

• We're curating the best Prime Day PC gaming deals right here.

Both of us (Jacob and Jacob) love our Sennheiser headsets. Senior boss-man Jacob Ridley has the senior boss-man headphones, the Sennheiser HD 650—Jacob R's note: the HD 800 S are the boss-man headphones, let's be honest—which we reckon is the best pair of mid-range audiophile headphones for gaming on the market. Junior Jacob Fox, on the other hand, has the entry-level pair, the HD 599.

Both headsets are on sale with 30% or higher discounts this Prime Day. The HD 650 is on sale for $350 at Amazon and the HD 599 is on sale for $130 also at Amazon. There's also the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX on offer for $169 at Drop (save $50), which Jacob Ridley reckons is almost identical to the HD 650 but cheaper. Plenty for mid-range or enthusiast audiophiles to sink their teeth into for a relatively low cost, then. Let's hear what the Jacobs make of them.

Jacob F's HD 599 headphones

Jacob F: My HD 599s have been sitting on my head day-in, day-out, for a very long time. They're old as can be, but in the world of audiophile headphones this matters practically zero. Great headphones are great headphones, full-stop. 

Sure, they don't have any of this new planar driver wizardry, but the dynamic drivers in the HD 599's cans sound incredibly natural and plenty punchy. Dynamic vs planar is a subjective choice anyway—both have their pros and cons. 

It's hard to convey headphone sound profiles in words, but the HD 599's drivers aren't completely neutral. They accentuate mid-bass frequencies a bit, as well as the high-end, which is somewhat of a staple for Sennheiser cans. They sound simply wonderful to my ears, at least.

For open-backed headphones that offer a stellar soundscape, they're what I'd recommend to anyone in the sub-$150 price range, as I would for anyone looking to switch over from standard gaming headsets to audiophile headphones. I should also mention that they're comfy enough that, after all this time, I tend to wear them out of habit while I'm at my desk even when I'm not listening to anything. With this $70 Prime Day discount I can, and will, recommend them in a heartbeat..

Now, Jacob Senior, tell me about your HD 650 headphones.

Jacob R's HD 650 headphones

Jacob R: The sound of drum and bass erupting down your ear holes. This, my friends, is the HD 650 experience that I enjoy every day. A simple pair of headphones—you'll find no microphone, onboard controls, or wireless connectivity here—and yet my all-together favorite pair for day-to-day use. I don a pair of SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless headphones for chatting with mates over Discord but for everything else, it's the Sennheiser HD 650 I'm reaching for.

These headphones offer a clarity I'm yet to find in any reasonably affordable gaming headset. That's not a massive criticism of gaming headsets as much as it is a compliment to the HD 650. The open-back design paired with Sennheiser's upper-range focus deliver fantastic audio quality. While listening to high quality FLACs on Tidal I can revel in parts of the track that you can often miss with more muddled drivers—the trailing high notes or lasting sibilance in a cymbal crash.

With a pair of Sennheiser HD 650, you are also on the hook for a quality DAC and amp combo. I have the Schiit Magni and Modi combo, a classic pairing, though I've recently reviewed the Drop + Xduoo TA-84 OTL and found it to be a handy two-in-one solution that looks pretty slick in all black with four tubes atop.

Speaking of Drop, here's the thing: I wouldn't buy the HD 650 right now. I'd buy the Drop HD 6XX instead. These are almost identical to the HD 650, sound profile and all, and they're usually a lot cheaper at $219. Right now, however, you can scoop a pair for $169.

The Drop + Xduoo TA-84 OTL is also on offer right now at $299. That means you can get the same setup as me (near-enough) for $468.

The kids these days love a full-on gaming headset, but personally? They've always made me feel a little too much like I'm manning an air traffic control tower. That's why I have, for my entire PC gaming career, stuck rigidly to a succession of Sennheiser headphones. But after a near-decade of use, my trusty HD 598s are starting to look a little worse for wear. Well, lucky for me Drop has a very tempting Cyber Monday deal on a pair of Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XXs then, 'ey?

They're going for $179, about $40 below their usual asking price, and I'd probably be tempted even if the luxurious velour padding on my HD 598s wasn't starting to lose its lustre. These are a premium set of cans for a seriously sensible price. The 6XXs are, in essence, the same headphones as Sennheiser's HD 650s, our number 2 best headphones for gaming out there right now.

• We're curating all the best Black Friday PC gaming deals right here.

That means you get the crystal clear, ultra-balanced mix the HD 650s are famous for at a price under $200. We're talking crisp mids and highs with just a little left to be desired on the bass. Don't get confused, though, there's still plenty of oomph there to enjoy. They're open-backed, too, which makes for a lighter sound that won't annihilate your eardrums. Just make sure you don't use them in a public library: there's pretty much no noise isolation here at all, so everyone will hear what you're listening to (and you'll hear them, too).

If you're wondering what makes these 6XXs instead of 650s, the answer is, uh, the colour. The HD 6XXs come in a smoky midnight blue compared to the plain ol' black of the standard HD 650s. Personally, I rather like it. It adds a classy, noirish vibe to the set, but I've been rocking a set of cans that look like they were fashioned from the inside of an old Land Rover for the best part of a decade, so perhaps my aesthetic judgement's not to be trusted.

Anyway, these are some seriously comfortable, seriously nice headphones for a seriously reasonable price, and I'd recommend nabbing a pair to anyone in the market for a set of headphones right now. Just remember, if you really want to get the best out of them, it's always a good idea to chuck a DAC and an amp in there. I've had the one I use for so long that I have genuinely forgotten the brand of it—sorry—but I can tell you that I've heard PCG staff talk up Schiit's gear in the past.

One size fits all takes on a new meaning with the Bang & Olufsen Portal headphones. They should fit any head size, but I'm actually talking about how they're handy for a load of different devices. They're able to connect to your PC, phone, handheld console, or otherwise wired up to anything else you might have—an old Zune, maybe—via Bluetooth, 2.4G dongle, or USB Type-C cable.

Usually there's a pretty big premium on this sort of multi-use gaming headset: anything that can claim to do the job of two headsets tends to come with a price tag equal to two headsets (or more). That's usually true of these B&O Portal cans—they'd usually set you back a whopping $499—but right now you can pick a pair up for $209 at Amazon.

It's worth stating that these cans were cheaper over Black Friday, but the discount has only dropped by $20, so it's still a great price for a stunning set of headphones. Usually these are available for well over $200, or even $300 from Amazon direct.

• We're curating all the best Cyber Monday PC gaming deals right here.

I use my pair of Portal headphones just about every day. I have them hooked up via Bluetooth to my phone and have the USB Type-C dongle plugged into my laptop. They switch between inputs seamlessly and I'm regularly walking around the house and still retaining a solid connection even many feet away from the device.

They offer built-in noise cancellation, and I've had many opportunities to test this feature out on noisy planes. I'm always impressed, and to be honest I sleep well with them on my head even on the noisiest old jets. You can adjust the level of noise cancellation using the slim trackpad-like sliders on the rear of the left earcup, and one the right you have another for volume control.

The noise cancellation comes from microphones build-in to the headset itself, which work surprisingly well considering there's no boom arm. Don't get me wrong, a boom arm will produce better results, but the microphone is a passable quality for most. I've even made a TikTok video (over on the PC Gamer TikTok channel) outside a loud Las Vegas casino with the built-in microphones on this headset and it came together pretty well. You can check that out for yourself here or in the embed below. I mean it wasn't anywhere near the quality of my usual XLR, but when needs must.

Below: a TikTok video I recorded using the B&O Portal's built-in microphones from an outdoor area of a busy Las Vegas casino.

My only major complaint with the Portal is that if you wear a hood over the top of these headphones, or even have a hood bunched up around your neck, the material can sometimes touch the volume or noise cancellation slider and activate it. In over a year of use, I've only had this happen a handful of times, but something to consider if you're an Elvis impersonator and often find yourself wearing massive collared shirts.

All in all, I have very few complaints about the Band & Olufsen Portal headphones. I can wear them for the entirety of a journey through an airport, on a flight, and back out the other side and not feel much fatigue on my ears. Similarly, the battery life is a solid day's worth of use, which isn't as long as say the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless at 300 hours but I'm yet to have run out of juice mid-way through a long trip.

I would recommend these headphones more often, to be honest, it's just the MSRP is so high and the price usually still pretty up there that I don't. With this deal, it's a much easier recommendation. Take a look at our best Cyber Monday gaming headset page for more options, though mostly more 'traditional' gaming headsets you probably won't want to wear out the house.

How much would you pay for a good set of headphones? Fifty bucks, a couple hundred? If you want to go all-in on immaculate audio reproduction and hang the sense of it, you could easily spend a grand or more. But if you want a genuine piece of music history, you could have paid $70,000 for a set of headphones once used by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. 

I've had serious audiophile cans strapped to my head, which cost thousands, and honestly, they might be great for monitoring but not so much for just enjoying music or gaming. Just give me the Audeze Maxwell, and I'm happy. 

However, these Realistic Nova 40 headphones were never made to be audiophile-level headphones. But their heavy sound isolation meant they were popular for people either wanting to keep the world out or keep their sound in. And their vile flesh-tone plastic and coiled wire have a retro-chic aesthetic that means they're still in some demand for the nostalgia factor alone.

According to the report in Audioviser, the sale wasn't the result of a classic auction of music memorabilia but a private purchase between a collector, Felix Zimmermann, and presumably the musician's family.

The article notes its sources, who were relatives of Cobain, have stated the headphones were "meticulously maintained and stored over the years" as the family "recognized their sentimental and historical significance."

But if you want to get the same experience, you can nip over to eBay where there are a whole bunch of the same Realistic Nova 40 headphones on sale for a more reasonable sum. Around $20, to be more precise. Or you could just nip into your local goodwill/charity store and see if you can find a pair.

The headset market’s been finding new ways to lavish our ears with luxury for decades now. Cushioned earcups, expertly tuned drivers, surround sound, dual wireless connectivity and countless other back-of-box boasts have all made life slightly more pleasant for us as we experience game audio, but the fundamental design of the headset hasn’t changed that much. 

That’s certainly not an accusation that could ever be levelled at Panasonic’s SoundSlayer wearable speaker. It’s a radical design that sits over your shoulders like an F1 driver’s HANS device, providing a very literal three-dimensional audio experience as you play and eradicating the familiar discomfort that comes with long, hot sessions wearing chunky headphones. 

Hook up the lengthy cable to your device of choice, sling the SoundSlayer over your shoulders and you can game in a chair, on the sofa or fully reclined in ‘I pulled a sickie for this game and I’ll be damned if I’ll get up from this position all day’ mode. 

Speaking of modes, Panasonic’s equipped this wearable with six different sound modes, three for gaming and three for TV or movies. RPG, FPS and Voice modes comprise the former, and they were developed in collaboration with Final Fantasy XIV’s sound team, an outfit who know a thing or two about game audio. They can offer either all-out immersion, pinpoint sound cue accuracy for a competitive edge or a nice flat audio environment for important Discord comms like “gotta go guys, sorry, my dinner’s ready” and “How did he even see me from there? B******t. Reported.” 

On that front, there’s a noise-cancelling mic equipped right on the wearable, so you don’t need to get additional devices involved to make that conversation run both ways. 

Over in the entertainment side, Cinema, Music and Stereo modes give you an easy way to fine-tune the EQ curve to suit that trending Netflix show you’ve had your eye on, your Summer Belters ‘23 playlist on Spotify, or whatever else you feel like listening to when you’re not playing. It adds a bit of a value proposition to the SoundSlayer, which obviously doesn’t want you to put it away just because you’ve clicked Exit To Desktop. 

You can cycle between all those modes, along with controlling volume and mic mute status, via buttons on the SoundSlayer’s edges. They’re tucked away enough not to disturb the sleek lines of the unit itself, but still easily accessible at a moment’s notice. We’ve all got that one mate whose mic is always inexplicably up WAY too loud… Seriously, sort it out, Tom. 

We’re not often treated to real avant-garde thinking and breakthrough designs like this in gaming audio. If you’re tired of playing it safe with the same old headset models and you’re looking for audio that literally surrounds you in a 3D soundscape instead of tinny digital surround sound, Panasonic’s SoundSlayer could have your current headphones sweating.

I'm a naughty audiophile. Thankfully the new Audeze Maxwell gaming headset means I no longer have to be. You see, I love really good audio. I love the tingle down my spine that accompanies listening to a tune you know really well, but suddenly hearing something new in it; I love getting immersed in an all-encompassing game world now brought to vivid life, all because of the hardware I'm using.

But I'm also intrinsically lazy. It's a curse. 

And that curse means I would rather not have to deal with the special hassle of wired headphones even if I know that I'm getting an objectively worse aural experience as a result. That's why I ditched the beautiful-sounding Audeze LCD-1 wired headphones from my home PC setup in favour of the cable-free Razer BlackShark V2 Pro.

Not that the wireless Razer cans are bad—they honestly sound as good, if not better, than the HyperX Cloud Alpha, which is high praise from me—but they just don't come close to the warmth or tonal clarity of a good set of planar magnetic headphones, of which the LCD-1s are, well, one. The BlackShark V2 Pro is, however, a wireless gaming headset; the freedom of movement, and general quality of life, that affords trumps the sound for me in general use.

But the Audeze Maxwell means I no longer have to make that compromise, because I can have both planar magnetic drivers, gorgeous sound, and a wireless gaming headset in one. In fairness, Audeze has already created such a gaming headset in its Penrose, but it lacked either the battery life or the high-res audio chops of this new updated Maxwell design.

So what's my obsessive deal with planar magnetic drivers? Your standard gaming headset uses dynamic drivers, which operate on a principle largely similar to traditional speakers. They have a cone-shaped diaphragm that is vibrated using a single magnet, and a magnetised coil, to generate sound. It's relatively simple, but creates a distinct shape of wavefront as the sound hits your ears.

With planar magnetic drivers, however, you (generally) have a pair of magnets either side of a flat diaphragm. Essentially, the way they generate sound waves is the same—using electrical currents to interact with the magnetic fields and move the diaphragm—but because of the wider, flatter structure of the driver the way the sound hits your ears is broader and more natural.

This is why planar magnetic drivers are able to create such a natural soundstage, and why I think they are the best technology for gaming headsets if you want to deeply immerse yourself in your chosen game world.

The main issue, though, is they end up being rather heavy as a result of the larger magnets. And in a wireless headset, that has to also contend with an added battery. Together the weight can become an issue. At 490g, the Audeze Maxwell is heavy, and there's no getting away from that. But thankfully the design of the headband and ear cups is such that I've never felt fatigued from wearing them, even after long gaming sessions.

The leather-looking head strap means the band is suspended on your head and the ear cups press in gently from the side. I've had headsets that fairly try and crush your jaw because of the force with which they try and grip onto your skull, conversely the Maxwell has never felt like it's got me in death grip. That said, it's secure and the asymmetrical design of the ear cups means you get a good fit and therefore some decent passive noise cancelling, too.

I'm into the overall aesthetic as well. The old Penrose looked and felt a little too 'gamer' for my tastes, and the more classic styling of the Maxwell works for me, and is more in keeping with Audeze's standard audiophile headphones. It's worth noting there are two discrete designs of the headset, however: an Xbox and a PlayStation version. The difference is either green or blue accents and an included Dolby Atmos license with the Xbox set. 

For the PC user I'd recommend the PlayStation version; it's a little cheaper at $299, instead of $329, and you're not really losing any functionality. You're still getting all the goodness of the 90mm PM drivers, and all the same controls. Those are built into the left-hand ear cup, giving you the ability to adjust volume, game/chat mix, mic mute, and AI noise cancelling, too.

In terms of the actual connection, you have four choices. You can either connect through an analogue 3.5mm jack, a USB type-C cable, Bluetooth 5.3, or a low latency 2.4GHz wireless connection via an included USB type-C dongle. You can also set it up with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless at the same time, though that doesn't mean you can hear both at the same time. If it's connected to your phone and PC then if you get a call it will auto-switch to the Bluetooth input so you can chat.

And it's all super quick, and pretty slick. We're pretty used to latency not being an issue with 2.4GHz wireless, but Maxwell also allows for high-res audio to be flung over that wireless connection. With the Penrose you were limited to 16bit/48KHz, but the Maxwell goes all the way up to 24-bit/96KHz audio. If you were after proper audiophile wireless chops, Audeze has delivered here, and in a gaming headset.

The Bluetooth connection is rapid, too. I've gamed on a bunch of different wireless earbuds recently with the Steam Deck and hooked up to GeForce Now on my Nvidia Shield device, and few deal with the latency issues without some disappointing audio issues. The Maxwell happily connected to my Shield and delivered a gaming experience that was imperceptibly different to the wireless experience I had on my PC, the connection is that quick.

And then there's the audio. Ah, it's just great. 

It honestly doesn't matter whether you're listening to high-res music (Tidal Master is my jam) or you're gaming, the Audeze Maxwell headset is able to deliver a sometimes astonishing aural experience. The main thing, for me, is the level of clarity and tonal separation I get with this headset—it's right up there with the best audiophile headphones I've ever used. That means being able to pick out and isolate practically any sound pumping at your ears, and it's that which makes listening to music you know well such a joy.

Suddenly hearing a bassline you'd never picked out before can be a real stop-what-you're-doing moment. And I had a bunch of those wearing the Maxwell headset during testing, where I'd stop gaming or typing just to listen slack-jawed to what was going into my earholes.

Something that has surprised me is that I've not really needed to burn them in, as I have with other planar magnetic headphones I've used, even my previous Audeze set. Previously, such headphones might sound a little too detailed out of the box, and potentially that made them a little sharp and spikey. But after a period of use they would warm up to the point where they become warmer and deliver a richer sound. The Maxwell headset, however, sounds great from the instant I hooked it up.

One of the really impressive things is the natural soundscape the drivers deliver even with a closed back operating principle. Normally you'd only get that expansive sound from an open back headset, yet the Maxwell offers clarity and excellent positional audio cues from your gaming environment. The flat wavefront of the planar magnetic drivers is what leads to that more natural experience as opposed to the targeted, shaped wavefront dynamic drivers deliver direct at your ears.

The other benefit of using planar magnetic drivers is the bass response. They can really plumb the depths of either bass-heavy music, or make you really feel the 'splodes. They're also far more capable of cutting the bass when it's no longer being generated, and that makes it feel far more punchy, too.

Finally, there's the microphone, which is generally the weakest part of a gaming headset. We have, however, seen improvements in this sphere recently, what with Audio-Technica's StreamSet absolutely nailing it. I'm not going to call the Maxwell's detachable boom mic broadcast quality, but I've been impressed with its clarity, too. There's also a noise filter you can access at the press of a button, which will help with background noise. On its highest setting you can sound a little robotic, but it's decent for sure.

There's also a fall-back option of internal mics using beamforming to capture your voice. For me, it's an emergency backup if you just want to quickly chat without having to plug in the boom mic, but makes the Maxwell supremely versatile. 

What about battery life? I've been using the headset for weeks now and have only had to charge it a couple of times. Audeze is quoting an 80+ hour battery life, and I'm not going to argue with that, it's certainly there or thereabouts. It's also incredibly quick charging via USB type-C; you can pump the battery up by 25% in just 20 minutes.

The weakest part of the package, however—and it always seems to be the way of things in tech—is the software. The Audeze HQ app is clunky at best, inadequate at worst. Thankfully, you don't ever really need to go into the application itself because all the controls are available directly on the headset. But there are oddities, such as the EQ settings that offer six different presets, and another four presumably editable ones. Except there's no capability to do that. There's also supposed to be a five-band equalizer for the mic, so you can tune it "to sound just right" except again the software doesn't give you access to that.

That's certainly not a deal-breaker for me, however, all I want the Maxwell to do is sound great over wireless and not run out of battery during my game time. And in that it excels. In fact, I'm finding it hard to justify any other high-end wireless gaming headset on the market. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless has that exceptional battery life, and the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a little more affordable still, but if you're after audiophile sound in a wireless headset nothing else comes close to the Maxwell. Certainly not for the money.

Sure, $299 is a lot of cash to drop on any peripheral, but that's not a lot of cash to spend on a planar magnetic headset, even less so on one that's capable of high-res audio over wireless to boot. It's certainly a better value bundle than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, our previous favourite high-end headset, and a better-sounding one, too.

The Audeze Maxwell is absolutely now my daily driver of a headset. It services both my desire for wireless freedom and my pretentious audiophile pretentions, and it's just the best aural experience you're going to get in a gaming headset.

Almost every gaming headset I've had the pleasure of wearing has had a pretty poor quality microphone. They're mostly fine for game chats and yelling at your friends, but the second you want your voice to sound good they can get in the bin. Your average gamer probably doesn't mind too much, and would definitely rather their headset delivers great sound and maybe forgoes the mic quality for a cheaper price. But there's a reason most streamers, podcasters, and content creators of many stripes will have a dedicated desk mic for those higher quality recordings.

Even our absolute favourite gaming headsets fail to go toe-to-toe with an ok quality desktop microphone. It's actually kind of weird given how good lapel mics are, and considering casting headsets exist. Still, this gaming headset truth leaves most creators of content having to fork out for two devices. Audio Technica's new ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet headset says hell no to that, spend all that money on me instead.

The ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet isn't exactly a budget headset coming at $229/$AUD399/£169 but in no way is that the aim. It's absolutely a high-end closed back headset. 

That price shows in its build quality. It sports a strong yet flexible build with fully rotating and folding earpieces with swappable pads for comfort. Though mostly plastic, the build is sturdy and the silver metal flourishes look great on the overall mat black design. It's the kind of look that when other people are wearing it, I assume the music they're listening to is better than mine.

Listening to music is a lovely experience in the ATH-M50xSTS, which I kind of expect for an Audio Technica headset. These are essentially a rebuild of the ATH-M50x so they're brimming with that good sound DNA. The audio quality is really hard to fault especially in this price range. It's well balanced with little details shining through in songs. A little bass heavy in the way that all headsets tend to be, but it's fairly mild and the bright treble and warm tones are lovely to be immersed in.

In-game sounds benefit from the quality too. I found there's little muddiness even when there's plenty of action. I loaded up for an afternoon of Overwatch 2 and spent my time sneaking around as Sombra, hunting enemies by their footsteps to great effect. In Sons of the Forest, I foolishly went wandering, allowing my headset to take me on an audio adventure right into the blades of a propeller swinging cannibal. These cans definitely have the audio chops to stand up to the demands of a gaming session. The choice of cuffs and lightweight design with relatively little pressure on the top of the head also make for a comfortable ride.

The outer housing for the StreamSet is pretty minimal as the whole thing only offers one button, a pressable scroll wheel. All it does is turns off the monitor mode and adjusts specifically the volume so you can monitor your own voice to your headset. Monitor mode can be pretty offputting, but I noticed myself using it far more with this headset than normal, allowing me to get a good feel for what my voice was like. It felt easier to do this with the dedicated monitor controls, and also potentially thanks to the sidetone circuit that's supposed to give your own voice a more natural tone in the headset.

With such a dedication to monitor mode, there's no buttons for anything else on the headset. It makes sense, especially for a headset that wants to make sure you sound good. All other audio is meant to be controlled through your PC. Remembering to reach for your PC volume controls as opposed to the headset itself takes a little bit of getting used to, but I think the trade off in simplicity is worth it. 

I know the whole point of the ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet is to have a good mic, but wow does it actually have a good mic. Audio Technica has packed a cardioid condenser into this attached boom mic. It's based on the brand's 20 Series microphones and gosh it does sound like it.

The StreamSet mic is comparable to using a desktop mic only a whole lot easier. I used it during several streaming sessions and am convinced it's less hassle and maybe even a better solution than my desktop mic setup. I am almost exclusively rocking wireless headsets because I hate cables, but this is convincing me it needs to be in my streaming kit.

The headset mic sits on a flexible arm, allowing you to position it right where you need, and it has a flip to mute function. You don't have to worry about moving too far from the mic mid stream or setting up a secondary device. I didn't even need to enable any software like Nvidia's Noise Removal to clean up background noise, like I would otherwise have to do. The ease of monitoring your voice with the press of a button also encouraged me to check on it more, but tended to only let me know I was sounding fantastic.

This gaming headset  is old school cool. There aren't any real drivers to worry about, and certainly no blaring gamer software to have to not only install but also navigate. These are plug and play in the truest of sense just immediately working with whatever I plug them into flawlessly. Due to working with PCs and what not, I'm reviewing the USB model which has a fixed USB Type-A cable and comes with a USB Type-C adapter in the box and has absolutely no issues. For people much cooler than me there's even an incredibly uncommon analog XLR option, which feels like it goes further to show off audio reverence in these devices.

Audio Technica's ATH-M50xSTS Streamset held lofty goals of replacing your desktop mic streaming setup with one headset capable of delivering high quality audio from both ends. Not only does it provide an excellent listening experience, but the mic is as good as the boast. It turns out this is a set of cans that does exactly what it says on the tin. It makes that high price a lot more palatable when you consider you're getting a great quality set of cans and an excellent microphone all in the one package.

This headset/mic combination doesn't disappoint on either spec, delivering amazing sound quality and recording that'll see your desktop mic gathering dust.

There's a lot to be said about real-world functionality. When a product just fits into your life so easily as to push out something else that might empirically be 'better' you know it's got something tangible to offer. That's where I am with the Logitech G FITS earbuds. They're now the buds I use on a day-to-day basis, and have replaced the gaming headset I use in the office, too.

That's because of their dual-mode wireless design and how easy it is to switch back and forth. I can wear the FITS on my walk into the office listening to stuff on my phone, switch on my PC, then one quick triple-tap and I'm hooked into my desktop rig. Then, when I shut down at the end of the day, I can just walk away and it'll automatically reconnect to my phone for the bus-ride home. Yeah, I'm a one-way walker. It's a big hill to get back home.

The Logitech buds are comfortable enough that wearing them for such an extended period of time isn't really an issue either. That's largely because they actually mould to your ears when you first use them. It's a slightly odd feature, and a slightly odd sensation when they're forming to your ear-holes, too, because they do get warm.

Logitech calls it Lightform and it uses UV LEDs in the buds to harden a material in the earbud tips (a photopolymer) that is designed to form to your ears' individual shape. This has the combined effect of giving you a secure fit so they don't fall out, and delivers a natural sound isolation that means Logitech doesn't need to add any battery-draining ANC features to its buds.

It's not as effective as dedicated active noise cancelling, and does mean in very loud environments you will get the outside world leaking in, but it's still pretty effective.

This fitting process also means you don't have to jam the buds into your ears in order for them to stay put, either. That's something that can become uncomfortable after a while, no matter what kinds of alternative tips other earbuds ship with.

And what of the sound? Therein lies some of the compromise. Despite the high price, you are still getting a relatively standard 10mm driver. And, while they deliver a good audio experience, I'd maybe say they're a little top heavy. That's not to say you're losing out at the lower end of the scale, because there's a decent level of tonal clarity across the range, but out of the box they tend towards the high tones.

That's me picking some nits, switching from some high-end, over-ear headphones to these for a direct comparison. But in general use I've been really pleased with the sound quality, whether I'm listening to audiobooks, music, or gaming in the office when I should be working. I'm testing product, that's what I tell people.

The Logitech G FITS do have the same issue that crops up with so many different wireless earbuds, however, namely occasional connection hiccups. It's admittedly pretty infrequent, but sometimes you'll find one bud or the other not turning on when you pull them from their carry case. It then just needs quickly dropping back into the case and pulling out again, so it's only a minor annoyance. And it's something I've experienced with pretty much every set of wireless earbuds I've ever tested, too.

That case is kinda pleasing, though. It's a flattened egg shape, with a matte finish that makes it feel good in the hand. It also fits pretty easily into a pocket, too. Though my issue with the relatively small scale of the case is that it means you can't keep the USB dongle inside it. 

The USB Type-A Lightspeed dongle (using Logitech's own 2.4GHz wireless connectivity feature) is rather chonky. Realistically you're meant to be leaving that plumbed into your desktop rig rather than taking it out and about, but it does almost preclude using it effectively with your laptop or Steam Deck when you're on the move. 

That's where the JBL Quantum's still have an edge; the Type-C dongle is small enough to stick in their thicker case and means you always have it to hand. Still, the G FITS buds do have a secondary game-mode option, which reduces the latency when you're connected via Bluetooth 5.2.

Logitech has priced its G FITS buds rather high, however. And, while they do have a bit of a premium flair to them, the audio isn't quite good enough to completely sway me that they're worth their $200+ price tag. Yet if you consider they can replace the gaming headset you have plumbed into your desktop at home as well as being your out-and-about earbuds, there's maybe some value play in that dual-mode usage model. 

Certainly, that's how I've been using them in the office, and they've easily replaced the better-sounding wired over-ear headset I traditionally use. Which, again, is testament to the power of their real-world functionality. I'm a boring sort, one who will happily eschew form for function, and when something just works for me then I'll keep coming back to it. Like I'll keep coming back to the FITS now they're moulded to me own ear-holes.

I've long appreciated Corsair's no-nonsense approach to budget gaming headsets. Think about what you really want in a budget headset: good audio, a comfortable build, can take a drop or two, and come with a clear-sounding microphone. To get all four is important to me, even in a cheap headset, but last year I came away impressed with Corsair's HS55 Stereo—a neatly wired package with a parsimonious price tag of just $45, which I rate as the best cheap gaming headset right now.

Today, I'm looking at those same headphones. Why? Because this time they're wireless.

There are a lot of similarities between the wired and wireless HS55 cans, and that means you can expect much of the same physical build quality and specs from the wireless pair as I wrote in my initial Corsair HS55 review. To save you a click, and since there are differences over the wireless connection, here are my thoughts from over a week living with the wireless pair.

The audio quality on the HS55 Wireless is decent, with enough clarity throughout the frequency range necessary for gaming. These cans work great in Destiny 2 and I found it easy enough to pick out positional cues well while wearing them. That said, they can become a little woolly with lots of calamitous noise all happening at once. That's a rare occurrence, and they sound surprisingly decent in racing games even when the volume's cranked high, so I'll chalk that mostly up to Destiny 2 itself being pure chaos at times. Generally speaking I found the HS55 Wireless to be clear enough for gaming with across genres.

As for listening to music, there's not much special here. These are pretty standard 50mm drivers and they sound like it. The bass is a bit too heavy, though thankfully not entirely blown out like some gaming headsets. The mid tones are sometimes tough to discern from one another, which has been particularly noticeable as I've been listening to Skrillex's latest album this week and there's a lot going on at any one time during it. Altogether I found I quickly got accustomed to the HS55's sound profile, and it's not unpleasant for listening to some tunes with. The HS55 produces what I would consider a fairly standard sound for a closed-back gaming headset with a bit of an overly bass-heavy profile, which is fine.

I'd say if you're looking for something a bit more musically inclined, you should check out Drop's PC38X or the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Both pairs are impressive on the audio side of things, though admittedly pricier than Corsair's pair for it.

Now let's talk about the microphone, because I have to say this is the biggest disappointment of the wireless HS55 headphones versus the wired pair. I was, and still am, impressed by the clarity of the microphone on the wired HS55—the mic comes through crystal clear and there's no hissing or interference notable in the end recording. That was not the case for the wireless model, however.

I've recorded our usual microphone test for both the wireless model and the wired model again, and the wired pair just sounds a whole lot better. The wireless connection seems to add a whole lot of noise to the output on the HS55 Wireless. The output is clear enough to be heard, and I've used this headset in meetings and a few group gaming sessions without any complaints, but I'm a little sad to see the HS55's strongest feature become one of its weakest as a trade-off for its wireless functionality

The mic does remain a neat flip-to-mute unit with the wireless pair, and it's fairly simple to bend into place for the best pick up. You can also bump the microphone's volume in the iCUE app, which is a nice addition as I found the wired headset was a little quiet at times.

There is one other big drawback to picking up the wireless model of the HS55, however. To cut the cord, you'll need to part with $100/£100/€120. That's more than double the going price of the standard wired HS55 headphones.

There are bountiful reasons as to why a wireless gaming headset is a good decision. The most obvious being the freedom to get up and walk away from your desk at any time without dragging your PC tower off with you. A wired headset is hardly a hassle, but I'll admit it is nice to not have to keep taking my headset on and off every time I run off for a bathroom break or to grab a coffee between raid encounters. I've been testing a wired headset for the past few weeks, and so the Corsair's wire-free functionality has been a bit of a blessing.

It also goes the distance. I got up and walked downstairs and out of my back door into the garden and through all the floors and walls the Corsair's audio didn't falter once.

But the price premium does take the shine off the HS55, Corsair's quality is high, but admittedly this is a headset that's unremittingly plastic in its construction. That didn't matter much at $50, but with this sort of price tag I am left wanting a bit more of a premium feel. 

The HS55 Wireless is plenty comfortable, however. I've been wearing it for the better part of eight-hour work days and only towards the very end of the day do my ears start to ache a touch and I want rid of this thing. That's actually pretty good compared to some other budget headsets I've been using lately—the Scarlett HP60 MkIII headset included with the Scarlett 2i2 bundle I reviewed last year starts to get uncomfortable to wear after just a couple of hours.

Corsair's trick here seems to be getting its wireless HS55 headset down to an impeccable weight of just 274g. Now Corsair says that's actually lighter than the wired HS55 at 284g, which I absolutely could not take at face value from the Corsair website, so I got my scales out and weighed them both.

The wired HS55 headset with its cable weighs in at 275g, and the HS55 Wireless is bang on at the advertised 274g, which means Corsair has kept pretty much the same weight despite adding a whole battery and extra controls to the HS55 Wireless. I'm impressed, honestly. 

The lightweight nature of the Corsair HS55 Wireless does make a difference to its long-term comfort, and it's notably lighter than other wireless headsets we've seen recently, including the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7.

The trade-off here is battery life. The HS55 Wireless claims to last around 24 hours, and in practical terms that's seen me only charge it one time in the past week of use. Not bad, but miles off the Cloud Alpha's marathon 300-hour battery life. 

The Corsair HS55 Wireless is a bit of a mixed bag. I like that Corsair's stuck to a well thought out formula for the HS55's design, and I love that it's managed to make the wireless version basically the same weight as the wired. What I don't love is the price tag—it being so high makes me really second-guess whether I need to cut the cord or if I'd actually prefer the wired HS55 for less than half the price. What has me leaning towards the wired model is its excellent microphone fidelity, which the wireless HS55 just can't deliver.

On this sort of budget the Corsair HS55 Wireless is good enough if you're desperate to cut the cord and free yourself from being tethered to your desk. But if you're not sure whether wireless is worth it, you could spend a lot less and get yourself a really great wired headset instead. I think that's where I'd put my money.

This open-source project hands you the blueprints to your very own, homemade, 3D-printable headset. A complete parts list, printing plans, and assembly instructions are included, and it'll even show you how to build and programme your very own headphone amplifier.

They're called the Ploopy Headphones, and they look pretty excellent considering they're mostly made out of a spool of 3D printer filament. The entire project, including the drivers and amplifier board, is all planned out with source files and a step-by-step guide on how to assemble the bespoke pieces. There's even a helpful how-to on what to order from a PCB manufacturer and what chips to grab if you want to go all out with an entirely ground-up build.

If not, you can purchase a kit from Ploopy Co. with all the necessary bits and pieces you need to construct your own audiophile headphones. That kit comes in a whole lot cheaper at $150 CAD to the $300 CAD you'd need to spend on a pre-built pair of cans.

The beauty of 3D-printed parts is that you can choose whatever colours for the headset that you desire, and even the pre-assembled kits come in a range of colours to suit your style. It also means that if anything breaks on the Ploopy cans, you can print a spare part and replace it yourself.

The genuinely impressive bit, however, is that these headsets offer a reasonably impressive frequency response from their planar magnetic drivers. Ploopy compares the headphone's response to the Sennheiser HD6XX, which are pretty well-known and popular audiophile cans.

Ploopy hopes to lay the groundwork for a community-driven audiophile headphone platform, meaning people will take these designs and run with them. These first-generation Ploopy designs are basically a framework for more customised, even personalised, cans in the future, and that's pretty darn cool.

There's just something about this project that I absolutely adore. Building your own hardware can be a learning experience, and tricky at times, but you come out of it with a newfound appreciation for the kit on your desktop. There's a reason we recommend you go out and try building your own PC where possible. Or your own keyboard. 

I hadn't thought about building my own headphones until now, but it does seem an extremely awesome venture. Oh, and Ploopy Co. offers plans already for various trackball mice you can download and build yourself, too. Excellent stuff.