QUESTION

What are the best headphones for gaming and music?

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Asked May 22, 2026Answers can change over time.

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Answer77% confidence

Best overall: Audeze Maxwell 2 — it’s the strongest pick if you want one headset for both gaming and music because it blends audiophile-style sound with gaming features.

My shortlist:

Audeze Maxwell 2 — best for gaming + music sound quality.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite — premium all-rounder for people who want a top-tier gaming headset.
Astro A50 X — great if you want a premium wireless console/PC setup.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro — strong premium choice with broad everyday appeal.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro — best if comfort, wireless gaming, and competitive play matter most.
Samson SR850 — budget wired option for gaming and movies, but not the best music pick.

If music quality matters as much as gaming, start with the Audeze. If you mainly game and want lightweight comfort, look at the Razer. If you want a high-end wireless setup for multiple gaming devices, compare the Astro and SteelSeries options carefully for platform compatibility.

Our pick

Audeze Maxwell 2

Best for music-focused gamers

Maars picked this for players who want serious music quality too: it stands out for combining audiophile-style sound with gaming features.

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At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	Audeze Maxwell 2	Arctis Nova Elite	Astro A50 X	Arctis Nova Pro	BlackShark V2 Pro	Samson SR850
Best use	Gaming and music sound quality	Premium all-round gaming	High-end wireless console/PC setup	Premium everyday gaming	Comfortable wireless competitive gaming	Budget wired gaming
Music fit	Strongest pick here	Likely strong, but gaming-first	Good premium option, gaming-first	Good premium option, gaming-first	More gaming-focused than music-focused	Not ideal for music
Connection style	Check current platform support before buying	Check current platform support before buying	Wireless-focused	Check current platform support before buying	Wireless over-ear	Wired
Main tradeoff	May cost more than mainstream gaming headsets	Premium pricing likely	Best value depends on your device setup	Premium pricing likely	Not the obvious choice for music-first listening	Needs a separate mic for a full headset-style setup

Also compared

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Best for premium gaming buyers

Maars picked this for shoppers who want a premium gaming-first headset: it has been singled out as a top overall gaming option.

Search on Amazon

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Astro A50 X

Best for console and PC gamers

Maars picked this for gamers with a premium multi-device setup: it is a strong high-end wireless option to compare against SteelSeries and Audeze.

Search on Amazon

Search on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

Best for premium everyday gamers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a proven premium headset experience: it is a strong overall choice if your budget allows.

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Search on Amazon

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Best for competitive gamers

Maars picked this for competitive gamers who want a lightweight wireless headset: comfort and gaming use are its main appeal.

Search on Amazon

Best budget approach

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Samson SR850

Best for budget wired setups

Maars picked this for budget buyers who are okay with wired headphones: it can work well for gaming and films, but it is not the music pick of the group.

Search on Amazon

Alternatives

Consider open-back or studio headphones plus a separate mic if you care more about music fidelity than wireless gaming features.
Best music-first alternative
Traditional headphones can sound better for music, but they usually lack console-friendly wireless features and built-in chat controls.
A wired headphone like the Samson SR850 can work well for gaming, especially if you add a separate microphone.
Best budget approach
It can keep costs down, though music performance and convenience may not match the premium headsets.

What could change this answer

Prices and availability can change quickly, especially for premium models.
Platform compatibility, wireless features, and console support may make one headset better for your setup than another.
Music preference is subjective, so tuning and sound signature could change the ranking.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

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Our pick

Audeze Maxwell 2

Best for music-focused gamers

Maars picked this for players who want serious music quality too: it stands out for combining audiophile-style sound with gaming features.

Search on Amazon

Search on Amazon

At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	Audeze Maxwell 2	Arctis Nova Elite	Astro A50 X	Arctis Nova Pro	BlackShark V2 Pro	Samson SR850
Best use	Gaming and music sound quality	Premium all-round gaming	High-end wireless console/PC setup	Premium everyday gaming	Comfortable wireless competitive gaming	Budget wired gaming
Music fit	Strongest pick here	Likely strong, but gaming-first	Good premium option, gaming-first	Good premium option, gaming-first	More gaming-focused than music-focused	Not ideal for music
Connection style	Check current platform support before buying	Check current platform support before buying	Wireless-focused	Check current platform support before buying	Wireless over-ear	Wired
Main tradeoff	May cost more than mainstream gaming headsets	Premium pricing likely	Best value depends on your device setup	Premium pricing likely	Not the obvious choice for music-first listening	Needs a separate mic for a full headset-style setup

Also compared

Search on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Best for premium gaming buyers

Maars picked this for shoppers who want a premium gaming-first headset: it has been singled out as a top overall gaming option.

Search on Amazon

Search on Amazon

Astro A50 X

Best for console and PC gamers

Maars picked this for gamers with a premium multi-device setup: it is a strong high-end wireless option to compare against SteelSeries and Audeze.

Search on Amazon

Search on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

Best for premium everyday gamers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a proven premium headset experience: it is a strong overall choice if your budget allows.

Search on Amazon

Search on Amazon

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Best for competitive gamers

Maars picked this for competitive gamers who want a lightweight wireless headset: comfort and gaming use are its main appeal.

Search on Amazon

Best budget approach

Search on Amazon

Samson SR850

Best for budget wired setups

Maars picked this for budget buyers who are okay with wired headphones: it can work well for gaming and films, but it is not the music pick of the group.

Search on Amazon

Alternatives

Consider open-back or studio headphones plus a separate mic if you care more about music fidelity than wireless gaming features.
Best music-first alternative
Traditional headphones can sound better for music, but they usually lack console-friendly wireless features and built-in chat controls.
A wired headphone like the Samson SR850 can work well for gaming, especially if you add a separate microphone.
Best budget approach
It can keep costs down, though music performance and convenience may not match the premium headsets.

What could change this answer

Prices and availability can change quickly, especially for premium models.
Platform compatibility, wireless features, and console support may make one headset better for your setup than another.
Music preference is subjective, so tuning and sound signature could change the ranking.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

Search Amazon Search eBay