TOP 5 over-ear headphones for PlayStation 5

After the resounding success of the Cloud headset, developed in collaboration with the masters from QPad, HyperX management decided to strike while the iron is hot and launched a whole line of headphones for gamers that are based on the principles of the original model. Among all the variety, a specialized HyperX Cloud Blue model was released in the signature PlayStation colors, which connects to PS5 and PS4 controllers using a 3.5 mm port.

Like the original Cloud headphones, the Blue version is an extremely comfortable and reliable over-ear headphone with a durable aluminum frame and massive earcups with soft, enveloping ear pads. The design turned out to be extremely comfortable and reliable; many gamers and e-sportsmen were often surprised that despite the total weight of 322 grams, it sits on your head really comfortably and does not bother you, even if you play a little too hard. In addition to convenience, it is worth highlighting a high-quality microphone on a flexible boom and a rather pleasant, not too colored sound, which is quite suitable not only for games, but also for listening to music or watching movies.

Overall, HyperX has made an excellent headset that should be of interest to most PS4 or PS5 console owners. It will stand the test of time and remain comfortable during use, and will really help bring out the fine audio details in the game. Of course, you can always find a slightly more stylish and functional headset from Sony or SteelSeries, but it will cost 2–3 times more.

Immediately after the launch of the PS5 gaming console, the Japanese giant Sony immediately tried to saturate the market with gaming peripherals and themed gadgets. Among them were gaming headsets - advanced Inzone with complex dynamic drivers and more affordable and familiar models of the Pulse series with support for three-dimensional sound Tempest Audio Engine.

In its form, Sony Pulse 3D is a classic full-size closed-type gaming headset with a combined connection (example: 3.5 audio or radio). It has a fairly comfortable and soft headband with an auto-adjusting pad, fixed cups and large ear pads covered with leatherette. The headphones look beautiful, perfectly in harmony with the black and white colors of the PlayStation 5, weigh less than 300 grams and sit extremely comfortably on the head. But the quality of the plastic raises questions; I remember the Sony Gold headset for PS4 had a similar problem.

As mentioned above, the headphones support the Tempest 3D virtual multi-channel audio system implemented in PS5. The quality of virtualization is quite ok, but nothing fantastic. The same can be said about the sound of dynamic drivers - they play smoothly and loudly, detail is at the level, but in general the sound lacks sparkle and enthusiasm. But the autonomy is in perfect order - the battery holds a charge for about 12 hours, for a price tag below 100 Euros this is a decent result. The Pulse 3D also has pretty good built-in microphones and a fancy touch control system on the left earcup.

Immediately after the announcement of the current generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the esports brand Razer jumped in and announced the launch of a new line of specialized Razer Kaira headsets, tailored for a specific console. Unlike the black and green Kaira X headphones for Xbox with a wired connection, the Kaira Playstation model is painted black and white (with blue lining), uses either a Bluetooth receiver or a radio module for connection, and the built-in battery is designed to last for 30 hours. Thanks to the latter factors, the headset can be used in conjunction with a smartphone or Nintendo Switch.

Otherwise, these are the usual Razer headphones of recent years with a pack of proprietary developments of the brand. Massive Triforce diaphragms with a diameter of 50 mm are responsible for the sound. For speech transmission, a cardioid microphone on a flexible boom with support for Hyperclear technology is used. And the proprietary SmartSwitch wireless dongle allows you to switch between the radio and the Bluetooth module on the fly, as well as answer calls or block incoming calls if you play it on a smartphone. The design is quite comfortable, the ear pads with flow weaving and Flowknit foam remember the shape of the head, the cups fit quite tightly and isolate from external sounds, but do not put much pressure at the points of contact.

A good alternative for Kaira could be the Razer Barracuda X. It costs about the same and is also friends with the PS5, but sounds more spare and neutral, with a more developed midrange and slightly more realistic sound localization. Kaira's rich and booming sound is better suited for games and movies. Although this is all pure taste, there are reviews on the Internet in which they, on the contrary, are called boring and neutral. At the same time, the Kaira microphone, in our opinion, sounds a little cleaner and more sophisticated, especially when recording speech.

Delta S Wireless is a completely wireless modification of the popular Hi-End headset Asus ROG Delta. Like the original model, it stands out due to the well-recognized D-shaped cups, proprietary Asus Essence speakers and an AI Beamforming microphone with built-in intelligent noise reduction technology. With the difference that either Bluetooth 5.0 or a radio channel is used for connection. Thanks to the last factor, the headset can be used to play on a smartphone, PlayStation 5, iPad or Nintendo Switch.

Understanding the importance of ergonomics and convenience, Asus designers optimized the design and configuration of the headset as much as possible, using a durable metal base with a soft-touch coating that is pleasant to the touch and high-quality ear pads made of leatherette and velor (note: the kit includes replaceable ear pads). Particular attention is paid to convenient swivel bowls with optimal placement of control elements. The weight of the model is 310 grams, but thanks to the successful optimization of the design, they do not feel particularly heavy on the head, do not cause discomfort and allow you to enjoy using the product even after long hours of play.

The rest is also in perfect order. The proprietary 50mm Asus Essence speakers sound quite dense, detailed and balanced. Frequencies don't bulge, the soundstage doesn't fall apart, and powerful bass doesn't overwhelm everything else, as is usually the case with gaming headsets. In addition to the lows, the mids and highs stand out well. The microphone has good sensitivity and is equipped with a fairly high-quality noise reduction system. The powerful battery guarantees up to 25 hours of sound and supports fast charging technology. The wireless receiver boasts an increased range of up to 25 meters. For most wireless headsets, the receiver transmits the signal up to a maximum of 10 meters.

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Plus Wireless is a high-end gaming headset with a bunch of awards from the specialized press and an advanced 7.1 Sonar virtual sound system. A distinctive feature of the headset is its extremely balanced sound: 40 mm dynamic drivers provide rich and well-accented lows, well-developed mids and airy highs. Overall, the nature of the Arctis 7 Plus is in the middle between a typical gaming headset and Hi-Fi headphones. At the same time, the sound can be significantly changed using proprietary software, which contains a pack of diverse sound profiles for CS:GO, COD Warzone, League OF Legends and a dozen other popular online games.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 falls into the category of over-ear closed-back headphones with an automatically adjustable headband and swivel earcups. The metal headband with comfortable padding and 4-position band distributes weight evenly and ensures a comfortable fit for the headphones. AirWeave fabric ear pads allow your ears to breathe, and the foam filler remembers their shape. The entire design is quite lightweight and does not tire the user when worn for a long time. The build level is excellent, high-quality materials and neat design emphasize the premium status of the headset, despite the fact that it costs less than 200 Euros and in fact belongs to the middle class.

The advantages of Arctis 7 do not end there - the retractable microphone is hidden in one of the cups and then they are no different from ordinary outdoor headphones. In addition to the microphone, the cable has a ChatMix remote control, which is responsible for audio priority in games or voice chats. Thanks to the combined connection (minijack, radio channel, USB A and USB C), the headset can be paired with almost any gaming device, be it a gaming laptop, tablet, smartphone, PlayStation 5 or a conventional Nintendo Switch. The cherry on the cake is a long-lasting battery that holds a charge for 30 hours and replenishes 3 hours of work in 15 minutes of fast charging.