Finding the right gaming headset
— -- Videogames are already a billion-dollar industry, with hundreds of thousands of copies of games sold every day. Many people turn to gaming headsets as a way to immerse themselves further in the experience. Gaming headsets typically combine better-than-iPod headphones with an attached microphone for communicating with teammates in multiplayer games.
But not all gaming headsets are created equal; if you don't know what you're looking for ahead of time, you run the risk of buying a headset with poor audio quality. To aid you in your search, we've tested a dozen different options and selected a few that stand out.
SHOOTING GAMES
If you like first-person shooter games, you'll probably want a headset that muffles the sounds of gunfire. Something like the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma ($89 MSRP) would protect you from extra-loud explosions. If you don't, you can sometimes miss the sounds of footsteps behind you, leading to your in-game demise. While this headset isn't ideal for most types of games — or listening to music on the side — it can help you navigate the unique issues posed by competitive first-person shooter play.
GENERAL CONSOLE GAMES
If you play a variety of games on Xbox or PS3, you may want a headset that works with pretty much anything under the sun. If this sounds like you, the Astro A40 headset ($199 MSRP) would serve your needs well. The Astro A40 performs well, can work with any console, and is customizable. The main drawback is the price: $199 gets you only the headset; console players have to fork over an additional $50 for an adapter.
GENERAL PC GAMES
If you like to play games on your PC or Mac, you have many headsets to choose from, but two less expensive models stand out from the crowd. The SteelSeries Siberia V2 ($89 MSRP) and the Razer Carcharias ($79 MSRP) provide some of the best performance for the price with any game.
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To read Reviewed.com's in-depth reviews of these and other gaming headsets, check out HeadphoneInfo.com. Reviewed.com is a division of USA TODAY.
