Adding the best Xbox Series X headset to your new Xbox console-setup is one of the most astute things you can do right now. If you've bagged a new console, or are still chasing Xbox Series X stock, a quality new set of audio-givers is an easy upgrade to your kit. In fact, even if you haven't yet bagged the console, getting a top Xbox Series X headset is still a great move in preparation but also as a potential means to bag a cross-gen audio upgrade too.
Upgrading your audio is genuinely one of the easiest, best and most surefire ways to up your gaming experience and the best Xbox Series X headsets ensure this is the case for the latest generation of consoles too. Be you single-player or multiplayer-focused, a top headset will sweep you into adventures like never before, hearing detail in soundscapes that even speakers on the best gaming TVs just aren't able to deliver; for those that do play shooters online, expect to hear footsteps and directional cues to help you get the jump on foes no matter the arena.
Thankfully, because of Microsoft's backward compatibility pledge, many of the best Xbox One headsets also work on Xbox Series X.
How do you know if the device you've got your eye on will work with Series X? Simply put, if your headset has an audio jack or USB connection, you'll be set. Yes, you can bet on there being newer and fancier models coming soon that will take advantage of the Xbox Series X and S tech. But until then, headset champions from the last generation are your best option. Especially because some are being redesigned to take their place as the best Xbox Series X headsets.
As such, make sure you visit this guide every now and then; we expect it to grow and grow over the coming months. For example, we'd expect to see more of the likes of Razer headsets, Sennheiser gaming headsets, Turtle Beach headsets, Astro headsets, and Logitech headsets all throwing their hat into the ring this holiday season and beyond.
The best Xbox Series X headsets
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X is top of our current-gen guide for good reason, and it's specially engineered to work wirelessly within Xbox's ecosystem and hardware. It has a wonderfully rich audio experience and impressive battery life in addition to a seamless connection that's going to continue with the Series X and S console. While the headset comes with 40mm drivers (which are smaller than many similarly priced competitors), they're well-tuned and deliver audio that punches well above its weight while retaining a nice clarity and richness. It's a great package for anyone that's serious about sound and getting the most out of their Xbox games.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X's mic is also clear, comes with decent noise-canceling, and is retractable for when you're not using it. While you can never completely remove that microphone, it's hidden enough for you to use this headset as an everyday device, connecting to phones and tablets via a Bluetooth connection. That's a real bonus. You can even plug in via the 3.5mm connection if you want to connect to other consoles or devices - although you lose a number of features like 3D Spatial Sound if you do so.
Finally, the trademark SteelSeries 'headband' design offers good levels of comfort. This means you can play for hours without really noticing that you're wearing the headset (which clocks in at a respectable 1.2 lbs / 372g).
Revamping the Stealth 700 for Xbox Series X, this significantly upgraded variant - coined 'Gen 2' - is a substantial upgrade on its predecessor and well worth the price of admission. In fact, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 could claim the top spot in time.
First up, and importantly, the redesign means that they will work wirelessly with the Xbox Series X without a dongle - they'll connect directly to the console. This is a big plus.
The redesign upgrades the aesthetic too, with a subtle finish, and a flip-to-mute mic that folds neatly into the earcup. At the same time, the buttons have been reorganized and moved to just one earcup and are well sized and spaced out. This revamped design makes the headset incredibly comfortable, with supple memory foam cushions with Aerofit cooling gel being a highlight, ensuring you can wear them for hours at a time with no aches or pains.
However, the proof is in the pudding and the Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset sounds excellent. Its large drivers give you some great all-around sound, and the ability to fine-tune the audio to your liking with the Audio Hub adds depth to the possible soundscapes. The Superhuman Hearing feature is a worthy inclusion as well, and it can give you the edge in online shooters. At the other end of the scale, the bass boost can provide some serious rumble during a heart-pumping campaign mission.
A great headset that'll cover you for both Xbox One or Xbox Series X, and an early competitor for the best Xbox Series X headset.
The Corsair HS75 XB Wireless is a 'designed for Xbox' product and doesn't require a dongle to connect to your Xbox Series X. Unlike some other dongle-free Xbox Series X headsets though, the connection here is super smooth with no audio signal dropouts. A booming pair of 50mm drivers see the headset excel at the most enthusiastic of battles and you'll enjoy 20 hours of action between battery charges.
Premium audio enthusiasts will be keen to hear this headset comes with free access to the Dolby Atmos app on Xbox (usually $15/£15), complete with audio presets for gaming, movies, and music, and access to equalizer settings, which is especially handy as we found we wanted to adjust the treble down a touch as it was a tad piercing on a few occasions. Not many games support full-on Dolby Atmos audio yet, but the app's settings are worth experimenting with for any game, especially as you can switch on positional audio, offering a potential edge in online shooters.
If you enjoy online gaming, then Corsair's mic makes this a superb gaming headset for multiplayer. Not only is it super clear, but it offers some of the best mic isolation around, doing a great job at cutting down on background noise around you.
The build and design quality goes some way to justify the high cost with the brushed metal earcup yokes feeling like they'll protect the headset from any drops - on their sides at least - while looking good too. Leatherette coverings around the headband and cups, along with soft padding, make the HS75 XB a comfortable wear. They do feel quite large though, even on the smaller band settings it was quite a loose fit, especially over the ears - but then again this helped our ears stay cool and we weren't planning on taking them out for a run.
Read more: Corsair HS75 XB review
The SteelSeries 7X wireless gaming headset is a fantastic performer and is the best Xbox Series X headset we can recommend to all our friends. It's incredibly comfortable with soft padding around the cups that remain cool for hours and an elasticated band across the crown that feels light with no pinching. We're big fans of the 24-hour battery and that wireless signal is consistently reliable with zero dropouts during our testing.
The 40mm drivers might lack in bass a little compared to some of the 50mm efforts from the likes of Corsair and Razer, but overall we were more impressed with the audio quality across the range with a rich soundscape and the bass managed to maintain detail that some headsets often lose in favor of general, muddy loudness.
The mic quality is solid for multiplayer use and retracts into the headset itself when not needed - though even if you want to play without it hovering in front of your face it still does a decent job of picking you up in its retracted position. Volume controls and game/chat balance dials are easy to access without looking too.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X is marketed as a Series X headset, but it's actually one of the best buys for a true multiplatform headset thanks to the USB-C dongle (there's a USB-A adapter too) which can be plugged into PS5, PC, Switch, and Android mobiles.
Note: It would seem plenty of players are already enjoying the SteelSeries Arctis 7X as it's been very hard in stores to find of late which is why it's quite low down in this guide, it's easily a strong contender for the title of best Xbox Series X headset though in all reality.
The Audeze Penrose X are high-end gaming headphones for those of you looking for the very best build-quality, performance, and versatility. Of course, the device comes with a high-end price tag too, costing just $200 less than your Xbox Series X. Still, you're going to get a practically unrivaled audio experience out of the Penrose X; deep bass, incredible clarity, and a real depth and detail to the sound that helps to immerse you into your favorite virtual worlds and give you better insight into the action unfolding around you in multiplayer arenas.
When paired with Dolby Atmos on Xbox Series X, you should expect to find a virtual surround sound offering that will also elevate your favorite movies and TV shows too. The Penrose X doesn't disappoint, regardless of whether you're pushing the action in-game or settling in for some of the most audio-intensive media that Hollywood has to offer. The Penrose X is expensive, but it's also an investment for the future. It's a premium headphone offering from Audeze that delivers a quality, depth, and density in its sound that few of its peers are able to match, and for that reason, it really is one of the best Xbox Series X headsets you can get.
Read more: Audeze Penrose X review
The Razer Nari Ultimate is definitely a strong contender for the best gaming headset, but it demands a high price of admission. However, if any headset goes a long way to justify its cost, it's the Nari Ultimate.
In addition to bringing excellent surround sound, the headset also offers haptic feedback, which means it vibrates in time with the audio so you can literally feel the big noises (usually explosions). Initially thought of as a gimmick, it genuinely is successful and enhances immersion and how you experience a game. If you're big on action titles, this headset is definitely for you.
Elsewhere, it's worth noting that the Nari Ultimate is wireless and that the battery life is surprisingly good considering its wealth of features. Similarly, it's unexpectedly comfy, subtly designed, feels good if you're wearing glasses, and has a retractable mic. In fact, the only real issue is the mic; it doesn't offer the same premium sound quality as the rest of the headset.
If you can see past this and want one of the best audio experiences going, then there's nothing quite like the Nari Ultimate. If you have the cash, we'd recommend this for the feel of using it alone, as it's easily one of the best Xbox headsets we've ever tested.
Taking advantage of the audio jack connection again, and offering a solid budget choice to get you going with your new Xbox console, the Corsair HS35 is the headset for anyone looking to save money and still get a decent device. This is a thoughtfully designed piece of kit, with a sturdy yet comfortable build and some impressive audio qualities.
Thanks to memory foam ear-cups and a comfy headband, the Corsair HS35 is comfortable for long periods of play. Its design is also robust enough to withstand being pulled on and off your head with a carefree attitude and survive the odd bump or two.
The audio won't win sky-high awards, but it's on a par with most mid-range headsets and manages some snappy treble. In addition, the mic is clear and detachable, and there's a color-coded cable that plugs into any 3.5mm connection. Simple, easy, and very affordable, so perhaps a risk-free Xbox Series X headset.
The second generation of Turtle Beach Stealth 600's are a great low-to-mid level wireless headset compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC.
With nicely-tuned 50mm drivers, a solid-but-unspectacular 15-hour battery life, a comfortable fit - even with glasses - the bang for buck value is strong. Throw in an easy setup process, and a very accessible price tag, and you really are off to a winner. This is certainly a great choice for gaming on a budget, as the sound quality is top-tier and the microphone sensitivity is ideal for those who want to communicate without shouting. However, because of the reasonable price, the headset plastic does feel a bit cheap, especially across the headband and on the ear cups, and unfortunately, the ear cups do get a little uncomfortable in longer gaming sessions.
However, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2's are a good sequel to an affordable wireless headset. It looks pretty good, feels pretty good, and sounds great - a no-brainer if you're looking to get a pair of headphones ahead of the next-gen release that won't bankrupt you. This is definitely one of the best wireless gaming headsets, and certainly of the best Turtle Beach headsets.
Looking for something to use on the go or for your morning commute? Check out our best headphones guide.