A true gamer knows just how important it is to own the best gaming headset in the market, or at least a headset capable of reproducing in-game audio as real-sounding as possible in order to have an advantage over other players online. Even if you’d rather play solo, having a headset for gaming is the way to go if you’re looking for an immersive experience.
There is one very important aspect that gamers should consider whenever they’re going to get their hands on a headset. Headsets with removable or retractable microphones are much easier to carry around, and also very easy to store after you finish using them.
In fact, some headsets even have additional features when retracting the microphone. Certain mic builds, like those present in HyperX models, can be turned off simply by retracting them. These features might seem small, but they bring plenty of comfort to gamers.
Although some headsets are very expensive, other more affordable products can get the job done excellently without needing to spend a fortune in them.
Today we’ll be helping you decide which product to purchase by taking a look at the best multiplatform headsets for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Contents
Our 2018 Picks for Gaming Headphones with Removable Mic:
Best Overall Pick:
SteelSeries Arctis 7
Sound Quality: When you first plug these Arctis 7 headphones into any of your devices, you might notice that the sound is a bit flat. There’s a trick to it, though. All you have to do is use the SteelSeries software in your PC to change the equalizer settings of the headphones to your liking. Once you do that, they will start sounding incredibly good regardless of which device you connect them to.
Oh, and just to clear things up, once you change the headphones’ settings on your computer, you will be available to use the modified configuration on whichever device you choose, as the changes carry over.
Arctis is a well-known brand in the gaming market and some of their products are considered the best on the market, they even claim right on the box that pro gamers have won more prize money using their headsets than any other brand! While you may not be a pro video gamer or want to spend the money for a professional headset, the Arctis 7 as part of the Steel Series is a high-level set that comes close to what the pros wear at a more affordable price point.
Design/Comfort: The headset is designed to fit the user as well as possible with an adjustable headband and comfortable ear cups that manage to stay in one place when gaming. The buttons are placed well and the headset’s features are easy enough to use.
Build: The headphones are built very well in general, as they offer a good combination of functionality and sturdiness. They are basically structured to work better on a PC, though, so keep that in mind if you intend to use them on a console. The Arctis 7 also tend to sound better on PS4 than Xbox One.
Mic: We are aware that many of these gaming headsets are entirely focused on receiving sound rather than transmitting it. Microphones suffer as a consequence of this trend, and although the Arctis 7’s microphone isn’t anything too incredible, they’re still one of the best gaming microphones that you can find online. It is retractable and it’s also very easy to switch on and off.
Pros:
- These headphones have an incredible sound quality, which allows you to get immersed in your games.
- Your friends and teammates can hear you very clearly thanks to the microphone’s quality.
- The design and build make the Arctis 7 one of the most comfortable options in the market.
Cons:
- Might not work as well on PS4 and Xbox as it does on PC, although it does a good job nonetheless.
Here is a closer look at the Artis 7
Best Budget Pick:
Corsair HS50
Sound Quality: These headphones likely sound as good as any other high-end headset that you’ve ever tried. They are very well designed in this regard; the bass audio helps you pick up the slightest movements from enemies in shooting games. FPS gamers, these headphones are likely to please you.
Design/Comfort: The headset has a lean and simple design, but it looks very well on the wearer. It isn’t anything too extravagant, but it still manages to look fancy and well-made. The headset is extremely comfortable to wear as well, as it easily adjusts to the shape of most heads – even if you wear glasses.
Build: The build quality has to be one of the best you can find for the price range of this headset. The item isn’t particularly light, but that really isn’t a problem at all. The earcups are very well made and they allow the headset to feel even more comfortable than others thanks to their roundness.
Mic: The microphone is extremely flexible and it is designed just like the headset, which gives it a great aesthetic look. It picks up your voice perfectly, and it doesn’t pick up a lot of background noise. If you play games on PC, you shouldn’t have to worry about the microphone detecting your keyboard’s sounds.
The Corsair microphone is removable as well – be sure to keep it safe after you detach it!
Pros:
- The price makes this product one of the best cheap headsets on the market.
- It basically sounds as good as other high-end headsets thanks to well-balanced sounds and well-made bass.
- The microphone is ideal to be used in online multiplayer games.
Cons:
- It might start feeling a bit uncomfortable after wearing it for a long period of time.
- The headband is adjustable, but it still has a pretty big fit.
Razer Kraken 7.1 Chroma
Sound Quality: Although the sound quality of this “Kraken”headset by Razer is actually very good, the bass leaves a bit too much to be desired. Certain games might do better with bass-heavy audio, and the 7.1 Chroma isn’t the best model when it comes to that feature. In any case, audio quality is way above average and they do help you get immersed in most games.
Design/Comfort: As most Razer Kraken products, the design of this headset is actually very clean. The smooth black color makes the headphones look well. They are very comfortable to wear, even after long periods of time. Both the product’s design and comfort are complimented by an incredibly solid build as well.
Build: The product itself is made to last. When it comes to Razer Kraken products, build quality usually isn’t an issue. The materials and fabric feel very good.
Mic: This headset’s microphone sounds extremely well and it can be pulled up and down thanks to its retractable feature. The sounds it transmits are clear, and it doesn’t pick up any unnecessary background noise from the gamer’s environment.
Pros:
- The sound is great and it can be transmitted via USB, which makes it compatible with basically every device with USB ports.
- Setup is pretty easy if you want to use them on a PC
- The build is very solid and the headset itself should last for a very long time, even with daily usage.
- The headset can be worn for a long time without feeling uncomfortable.arctis
Cons:
- The cable is a bit too short – if you want to use this on a PS4, you might want to sit close to your TV.
- They don’t have a built-in volume control feature.
Some pro gamers like Ninja have switched over to studio headphones (he currently uses the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro studio Headphones), while these deliver excellent sound quality, the one major downside is that you have to buy a separate microphone. Because of this, many gamers are opting for headsets with detachable mics (or retractable as in the case of the Artis 7 mentioned above). If you are considering ditching the mic completely and going for something like the ones Ninja uses, you’ll want to check out our side-by-side comparison of the Beyerdynamic DT770, 880 and 990