The best PS4 headsets are a gateway to an enhanced audio experience for the console and provide clearer awareness of your surroundings and opponents in online multiplayer games. The very best, featured in our list below, all boast superb audio quality, excellent design, and form factor, and, crucially, a high level of microphone clarity for truly immersive gaming.
With the PlayStation 4 now more than a decade old, options for its best headsets are plentiful. What's more, several of these headsets often retail for less in the wake of the PS5 console entering its fourth year of market availability. We should stress that if you're after what's current-gen, then the best PS5 headsets will likely suit you better.
Despite its age, the PS4 is still a very capable console that's receiving third-party hardware and software support to this day. So if you haven't made the jump over to PS5 yet, don't worry. There's plenty of incentive to stick around on PS4 with the following accessories.
The Quick List
Best overall
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 takes our top spot for best overall PS4 headset due to its ergonomic design and high-quality audio, making it the perfect addition to your setup.
Best budget
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is an affordable headset that boasts powerful audio capabilities, with the addition of multi-platform versatility if you're looking for a more general product rather than exclusively for PS4.
Best premium
If you've got a larger budget when looking for a headset and you want something built to last, then the Astro A50 offers a premium build alongside its top-tier audio qualities.
Best wired
If you're looking for a high-quality, wired headset, then the HyperX Cloud Alpha ticks all boxes. Boasting impressive audio and comfortable construction, it's our top pick for the best wired PS4 headset on the market.
The best PS4 headsets in 2024
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Best overall PS4 headset
✅ You appreciate a simple setup. The SteelSeries Arctis 9 features simple controls and lets you run speaker inputs through the hub, meaning you don't have to manually change your ins and outs.
✅ You want something comfortable for long sessions. This headset is built for comfort, so you'll be able to immerse yourself in the best titles on the platform without feeling like you need to remove your headset after a while.
❌ You prefer bass-heavy audio. The audio response of this headset is slightly flatter, so it delivers a less pronounced bass response than other headsets which could effect your experience ever so slightly.
❌ You use headphone controls frequently. The placement of the headset's control wheels make them a little awkward to use which could be a problem if you rely on headset controls.
The Arctis family has many variants, but for the PS4 gamer with their eyes on the near future, the Arctis 9 is your best bet. It's wireless, features Bluetooth connectivity on top of that, and lets you run speaker inputs through the hub so you don't have to change audio ins and outs manually - just turn the headset on and off and let your system figure out the rest. All things considered, there's a lot on offer here for the price.
Like all models in this illustrious family, the response is flatter and more like a set of studio cans than other gaming models. That means a less pronounced bass response, so drum and bass devotees may perhaps want to look elsewhere. Everyone else is treated to a rich soundscape that's perfect for gaming, but it's not so tightly tuned that it can't work for music or movies, too.
Virtual surround is on the menu - and actually quite hard to turn off, though possible - but the best sound comes from the stereo configuration. The retractable mic isn't a highlight, coming across thin compared with other mics. Still, it's clear, reliable, and great at noise-cancelling. Best of all, the Arctis 9 is compatible with PS5, so no need to rethink your audio setup once you've picked one up.
- Read more: SteelSeries Arctis 9 review
Best budget PS4 headset
✅ You want a multi-platform headset. The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is a pretty versatile headset, so if you want something you'll be able to use outside of gaming with a PS4, then it's worth considering, especially given its price point.
✅ You want something more affordable. The main appeal of this headset outside of its audio capabilities is its price tag. It's an incredibly affordable alternative for someone looking for a relatively cheap headset that doesn't sacrifice much quality.
❌ You want something built to last. Although it's a more affordable headset, this is reflected through its build. The construction feels cheap, so it's a case of getting what you pay for.
❌ You use surround sound. Like many other cheaper headsets, the Turtle Beach Recon 70 does not feature surround sound.
While there's little that's exciting exactly about the Turtle Beach Recon 70, you can't really fault the budget headset for how good it sounds and feels on your head.
In our testing, we found that the Turtle Beach Recon 70 did an above-average job of immersing us in gameplay despite the lack of anything fancy like noise canceling or surround sound. It's very much a case of you getting what you pay for with these, making them ideal for kids and families, as well as the wallet-minded gamer after something that won't break the bank this year.
Speaking of, shooter fans are particularly catered to with this headset. We found that this unit hit its stride in popular games such as Fortnite for both listening in on what those around us were doing and giving out commands ourselves. That's because the mic, despite sounding a little thin, was crystal clear where it mattered the most; commendable giving the humble sticker price all in all.
- Read more: Turtle Beach Recon 70 review
Best premium PS4 headset
✅ You appreciate sleek design. Both the headset and itself boast sleek designs to help save space on your setup while looking the part.
✅ You value the best audio you can get. We've selected this product as our top pick for a premium headset for good reason, and that's down to the fantastic audio it offers. It's unmatched in terms of performance, but obviously, you will also be paying for its quality.
❌ You need something for constant use. Since this headset is wireless, you'll need to charge it every now and then, and unfortunately the charge-up time for this one is pretty slow.
❌ You need separate audio channels. Unlike other premium headsets, this model does not feature separate audio channels for talk and game sound which could be an issue if you frequently use both at once.
Astro's reputation for gaming headsets has been the envy of other manufacturers for the better part of a decade now. Like all previous versions of the A50, this refreshed model is about as expensive as the market gets, but it's also right at the high-tide line for quality.
You would expect some pretty special build quality for the high price point. What you get is a design that not only looks great sitting on your desk, thanks to a combination of rubberized matte and a glossy aluminum finish, but it delivers exceptional comfort too. There's more cushioning here around the earcups and headband than on a corner sofa, but it's not heavy or stifling as a result.
The sound is definitely designed with games as a priority, so you get a pronounced bass response that makes itself known when bullets fly and combustible objects combust. But it's not tweaked to such an extreme at the driver level that it sounds artificially scooped when you bring up Spotify or Netflix - and that subtlety it retains outside games really sets it apart.
- Read more: Astro A50 review
Best wired PS4 headset
✅ You don't want your headset to be constantly tethered to a mic. The microphone this headset comes with is completely detachable, so you're free to plug in and play with friends, or remove the mic for a more solitary gaming experience, too.
✅ You want consistent, quality audio. This headset delivers quality audio across the board when using it for gaming. If you want a product to transport you directly into your favorite titles, then we'd highly recommend picking it up.
❌ You want to use it outside of gaming too. Although it boasts impressive sound quality while gaming, this headset doesn't sound its best when used for things like music or streaming videos and television.
❌ You want more flexibility in your movement around your setup. Since the HyperX Cloud Alpha is a wired headset, you are slightly more restricted in how you can maneuver around your setup, which is worth considering.
If you're all good with keeping tethered to your setup then the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset is hard value to argue against on your PS4 system. It's a tried and true formula that's frequently been upgraded over the years for a reason - it feels great on your head and sounds like a headset which should by all rights cost far more.
In our testing, we found that the latest version boasted not just quality design, but also excellent audio across the board, with a microphone that was one of the best in class for its price range.
What's more, with the 3.5mm connection, it's great for other platforms as well, not just PS4, adding to the versatility on offer. There's also an included extension lead cable which we found to be admirable when gaming further away from the desk. Given what you're paying here, there's little we can fault this latest effort for.
Best PS4 headsets FAQs
What are the best headsets for PS4?
We think some of the best headset brands on PS4 include SteelSeries, Turtle Beach, Astro, and HyperX. Others to consider in a similar vein include Razer and Gioteck, too. With the PS4 being almost a decade old now, many older models have since been discontinued or replaced, so we're keeping you up to date.
What are good wireless headsets for the PS4?
If you've got the cash for it, we think that the SteelSeries Arctis 9 and the Astro A50s are pretty unrivalled when it comes to the best wireless headsets available on PS4. While some others may undercut in terms of price, the sound quality of these are paramount.
How we test the best PS4 headsets
The testing process we follow when considering the best PS4 headsets is incredibly thorough to make sure they are worth featuring in our list of the best of the best. There's a lot that goes into seeing whether or not certain headsets meet the criteria, and with the number of products currently available on the market, it's important to know what to look for to be able to make the best recommendations.
With any audio device, sound quality and performance are always the first port of call. Making sure that both input and output are as clear and consistent as possible. However, outside of analyzing a product's auditory performance, things like battery life, comfort, and how easy products are to use are also factored into the testing process.
Our best headsets guides are updated as regularly as possible since new products are always coming onto the market, and we endeavor to deliver an honest recommendation on which are worth considering which is why we believe it's important to keep up to date with what products are relevant.
