What many are calling the biggest game of the decade is nearly upon us, but there's still time to fill out your setup ahead of Rockstar's release. Finding the best headset for GTA 6 means working out what you want from your experience, and which audio features the game itself will actually be asking of your tech.
We now know GTA 6 will be making the most of Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Dolby Atmos on Xbox, and while rumors swirl around the engine's reconstructive audio, this could well be the launchpad for an audio upgrade. The best gaming headsets will take full advantage of each console's spatial audio capabilities while adding extra features like simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth (for running your own soundtrack over Leonida), ANC, and fine-tuned EQ settings.
Whether you're leaving the TV speakers behind for the first time or retiring an aging, failing set of cups, it's worth remembering you don't need to jump to the top of the price range to find one of the best headsets for GTA 6.
We've been ears-on with the biggest releases from Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries, Turtle Beach, Corsair, and more over the six years of current-gen consoles. That means hunting down the best PS5 headsets and best Xbox Series X headsets on the daily, and finding the best value among them. You'll find all the best headsets we recommend for GTA 6 specifically just below.
The best headset for GTA 6 overall
Just to clear something up straight out the gate. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is no longer at the top of our top headset recommendation list. That's because the successor, the Nova Pro Omni, has secured the top spot with its Hi-Res audio. That full 96kHz response is only available on PC, though, which means GTA 6 players on consoles won't be getting their money's worth. The Pro Wireless still packs some of the best audio we've heard so far (and is fully Tempest-compatible) with hot-swappable batteries, ANC, and a quick-swap hub.
PS5 players can get away with a slightly lower price on the PlayStation model ($289.99 at Amazon), while Xbox players are looking at $299.99 at Amazon here.
Pros
- Incredible SteelSeries audio quality
- Awesome DAC/hub with great options
- Superb build and design
- Excellent connectivity options
- Ingenius battery solution
Cons
- One of the most expensive premium gaming headsets going
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is our top recommendation for those upgrading their gaming headset for GTA 6. You're getting the bold, spacious, punchy audio we've been celebrating for years here, with a particularly strong bass response for those engine revs, a super clear mid-range for that soundtrack, and a ton of space in the upper ranges for more directional awareness.
This is the audio we've been comparing the best PS5 headsets against for years, sitting alongside features we're yet to see replicated successfully across the market. ANC keeps the rest of the world firmly away from your Leonida adventures, while hot-swappable batteries mean you'll never need to charge up before jumping into the action.
Is the newer SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni our first shout in general? Yes, it boosts audio slightly - but mostly for PC players with its Hi-Res certification. It adds an extra USB port on the charging / EQ hub it carries over from the original, and improves the microphone clarity to boot. Considering it's often a whole $100 more than the Pro Wireless, and its main feature upgrade is locked behind a PC, though, the best headset for GTA 6 remains old faithful.
More of the best headsets for GTA 6 on PS5
Just looking to upgrade from TV speakers ahead of GTA 6? The Turtle Beach Atlas 200 is our go-to budget headset for PS5. This wired connection keeps the price low but also removes the need for charging altogether. Don't let that lower price tag put you off the audio between these cups either. Times have moved on since the old days of cheap Turtle Beach headsets - we were impressed with the power and clarity of PS5 gameplay through these cans. As a fully licensed accessory, the Atlas 200 is also equipped for PlayStation's Tempest 3D engine as well.
Pros
- Funky official PlayStation design
- Comfortable glasses-friendly cushions
- Extremely lightweight
- Premium sound despite budget price
- Tempest 3D AudioTech supported
Cons
- Sub-par microphone quality
- Wired-only design
If the Nova Pro Wireless is looking a little pricey, the Nova 5 Wireless is our next best recommendation from the brand behind some of the best audio we've heard on PS5. This is a cheaper alternative, dropping the fancy hot-swappable battery and central EQ hub system, but still keeping a high-quality audio profile. The Nova 5 also includes access to the Arctis app - a massive collection of over 300 per-game presets created by sound engineers and developers.
Pros
- Excellent EQ support for console users
- Comfortable over longer sessions
- Durable build quality
- Extendable microphone
- Fantastic detailing in audio
Cons
- Not all presets are equally useful
- No direct control over EQ settings in-app
- Less powerful audio straight out of the box compared to competition
Don't want to spend the big bucks at the top of SteelSeries' range? There are plenty of cheaper alternatives that we still recommend every day. Turtle Beach even has an option readily found for less than $40 when the sales hit right.
What are you dropping from the experience? There are quality-of-life upgrades in the Nova Pro Wireless that you won't find further down the price scale. Hot-swappable batteries and active noise cancellation are two we've already looked at, but simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections can come in particularly handy if you're picking up calls or layering your own soundtrack over Leonida.
If you just want a set of great-sounding cups to accompany you on your next adventure without breaking the bank, though, we'd recommend the Turtle Beach Atlas 200 at the bottom of the price range and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 in the middle.
More of the best headsets for GTA 6 on Xbox Series X
The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a little more expensive than PlayStation GTA 6 players' budget option, but it sports a wireless connection, powerful sound, and a lightweight design for those longer sessions. If you're already coming from a more premium set of cups, this won't be an upgrade. If you're investing in a setup that leaves those TV speakers behind for the first time, though, this is an excellent starting point for Xbox.
Pros
- Impressive connection options for the price
- Solid, powerful audio
- Comfortable ski-band style design
- Lightweight form factor
Cons
- Clustered controls
- Muddied lower mid-range
- Lacks adjustability
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is the same as the PlayStation model featured above, but adds compatibility for Microsoft's systems while also retaining the same PC and PS5 connection. You're getting the same powerful audio from a pedigree headset brand, with the same use of the Arctis app and its wealth of per-game presets.
Pros
- Excellent EQ support for console users
- Comfortable over longer sessions
- Durable build quality
- Extendable microphone
- Fantastic detailing in audio
Cons
- Not all presets are equally useful
- No direct control over EQ settings in-app
- Less powerful audio straight out of the box compared to competition
Cheaper headsets are more difficult to come by on Xbox, but the overall best value budget option we've tested so far is the Turtle Beach Stealth 500. Just a little further up the price scale, you'll also find the Xbox version of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5.
That saved cash drops ANC, simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections, and hot-swappable batteries from the equation compared to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Both still provide impressively powerful audio (with Dolby Atmos for Xbox) for their price, though, in a far more affordable package.
Kitting out a whole setup? We're also rounding up the best controllers for GTA 6 as well as the best PS5 accessories on the market.
