The best audiophile headphones for gaming in 2024: my top recommendations for the best cans money can buy (2024)

The best audiophile headphones for gaming are excellent for immersive gameplay. You might think it's overkill to use high-end headphones for gaming, but they can transform your experience. They can simply make your games sound so much better than a cheap headset ever can.

In our learned opinions the best audiophile headphones are currently the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X. These marvels of audio engineering offer simply stellar sound quality and comfort, with rock-solid build quality and a name that simply can't be argued with. However, if you're looking for the best budget audiophile headphones, the Drop + Epos 38 PC38X are an affordable set of cans with fantastic audio quality and an easy to use microphone to boot.

The audiophile rabbit hole is something it's all too easy to fall down when you start chasing a sound that can't be caught, but can you really put a price on total audio immersion? No. And yet, we've tested and ranked the headsets below with pricing in mind, so you can better understand which will suit your audiophilic needs.

Curated by...

Curated by...

Dave James

Dave's been a born again audiophile since his time running Techradar's Home Entertainment channel around half a million years ago (give or take) and after his first taste of high-resolution audio, speakers worth tens of thousands of dollars, and $51,000 headphones, he's been all in on what sounds good. Having tested the whole spread of different quality gaming gear he's best placed to say which budget cans still sound good, and which high-end headsets are worth the cash.

The quick list

Best audiophile headphones

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The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X is the best set of audiophile headphones we've tried to date. Perfect for mixing and mastering audio, but brilliant for gaming, too. We'll get to sound in a moment, but let's kick off with the build quality and comfort.

Forget leather, the substantial pads are immensely comfortable compared to just about anything else you could wear on your head. Those gigantic velour cushions completely cover the ears and if you wear glasses, they're much more forgiving than most.

It's not just the pads, either. The spring steel headband has a good coating of memory foam, and the whole apparatus stays clamped to your head with a superb seal that makes for a perfect balance between comfort and sound isolation. You can still hear the world around you, mind, but it's decently muffled in a way that doesn't feel completely isolated, yet lets you disappear into your audio without distractions. It is worth noting that the clamping force is initially very strong, but over a few days of usage stretches out for a very comfortable, worn-in feeling fit.

Two cables come included, a 3m and a shorter 1.8m. There's no perceptible cable noise, and the low power requirement of 48ohms means you can use the DT 900 Pro X without a preamp, which means they're compatible with just about anything you can connect them to.

This is an open backed headset, which traditionally means you get a vaguer, if perhaps overall more accurate sound than a traditional closed back model. That's not the case here however, as while the DT 900 Pro X is immensely accurate, it also delivers punchy bass that makes other, bloated, gamer-focussed headsets sound plain bad by comparison. The flat response might be pin-point precise, but it's also got a surgical level of low-end accuracy that allows you to hear all the layers in a mix while still receiving a substantial kick.

Ghost of Tsushima sounded exceptional on this set, giving the game world a liveliness and organic quality that truly felt like it was being brought to life. As its open backed, the audio really feels like it has room to live and breathe, making for a natural sound that truly pulls you in to the experience. So much so, in fact, that you'll find yourself occasionally checking if what you heard was in the cans, or outside. It's seriously that good.

It's not all about ambience, however. We're not just recommending the DT900 Pro X for immersion, as if you're a fan of competitive shooters you'll be looking for something that reveals footsteps around corners, relative distance of opponents, and the sort of whizz-bang bullet-dodging action experience that doesn't just pull you into the game, but helps you become better at it, too.

With all the qualities mentioned above, it goes without saying that if you are into content creation, the DT 900 Pro X will help you create the most accurate audio for your audience. Since a lot of us are now dabbling in some form of creation be it streaming, podcasting or YouTube, these are a no brainer.

Bottom line? If you're prepared to pay the entry fee (and we have a great budget option, if it's a bit too steep) and can put up with the fact it isn't wireless, we highly doubt you'll be disappointed.

Read our full Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X review.

Best budget audiophile headphones

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Whether you consider this a pair of audiophile headphones is subjective. I'll admit 'cheap audiophile headphones' is an oxymoron, as audiophile status is mostly reserved for the high-end. But I do believe there is great audio quality on offer on a tighter budget, and these Drop + Epos (formerly Sennheiser's gaming division) PC38X headphones are prime example of that.

The PC38X is one of the best gaming headsets I've used in terms of raw audio quality. The sound from these PC38X's is superb. They're open-back, so I went in expecting a wide and open sound from the get-go, but even so I was initially surprised by how crisp and expansive these first sounded while listening to music. Whichever genre I throw at this pair sounds fantastic, although it must be said the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X does outmatch it, for a fair bit more cash.

The bass response delivers a surprising amount of punch, and while the classic Sennheiser defined high-end is still present, it doesn't detract from the substantial mids, thumping bass, and well-defined frequency response. You can really feel the lowest sub bass here, quite impressive for any set of cans.

It's not all about the tunes, however. When it comes to game audio, the PC38X shines with an atmospheric and spacious sound that allowed Elden Ring's spooky ambient audio to ring wide and true, while still showing just as much aplomb banging out music in Forza Horizon 5. Hunt Showdown was also a highlight, allowing the precise imaging of the set to come to the forefront.

The benefit of these headphones being a primarily gaming number, is that the microphone is also a high quality, and integrated, unit.

It's the same microphone and boom arm construction you'll find on any number of Sennheiser Gaming/Epos headsets today, but that's not such a bad thing. The flip-to-mute function works well and keeps the mic out of the way for regular use, while allowing a comfortable distance from your mouth while speaking. You can also bend it around a little, which makes accurate positioning all the easier.

It's a great sounding microphone, too, with decent bass response and an overall clarity that should help you cut through background noise to be clearly heard. It must be said, however, that it is a little prone to plosives, or "puh" sounds, and that's a bit of a shame. Still, overall its a good unit, and doesn't feel like an afterthought.

If you're foremost looking for high quality audio, but you're on a tighter budget than most of the audiophile headphones in this guide ask of your bank account, my budget recommendation is absolutely the PC38X.

Read our full Drop + Epos PC38X review.

Best mid-range audiophile headphones

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Sennheiser has made a mighty name for itself in the audio equipment game. That's primarily built on headphones like these: the Sennheiser HD 650. This quality pair of cans sets the standard for high-end home audio thanks to highly detailed drivers and a gorgeous open sound.

Jacob uses this exact pair of audiophile headphones at home. They're his pride and joy, so, yeah, he's been raving about them. But they really are very good for the money. He landed on the HD 650, as the tried and tested audiophile option.

The HD 650 is a prime advocate of the so-called "Sennheiser sound". That means it excels at the high-end and delivers superb clarity and definition right the way through the frequency range. I've found it is definitely lighter on the bass response compared to most gaming headsets and planar magnetics, though, and whether that flatter sound works will have to be up to you .

But you could say that lighter bass is because this pair of headphones isn't trying to augment your audio—only delivering something close to the real digital deal. For that reason, I think this is a great headset if you want to chase spotless audio delivered impeccably through a wide soundstage. That's also why it's a shoo-in for every aural experience, be that gaming or listening to music. For me, its a great fit for pretty much everything.

Those of you looking for some punchy bass, mind, may well be better served by our budget options, the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X, or perhaps the weighty yet defined low-end of the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X.

These also aren't cheap, but if you balk at the price, the Sennheiser HD 650 are very well built and the second-hand market is a great place to find a slightly cheaper pair. I wouldn't pay the full price as listed on the Sennheiser Hearing website today ($400!), as you will find a new pair for cheaper elsewhere. But don't expect any massive discounts (unless you're lucky); these headphones tend to hold their value.

One thing to note: Sennheiser recently sold off its audiophile headphone business to hearing aid company, Sonova. There's not been much of a change in how things are run since the acquisition has gone through, and you'll still find the same headphones as described under the Sennheiser brand. There's just been a corporate change-over in the background.

The best wireless headphones for audiophiles

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Audiophile headphones are not supposed to be wireless. There, I said it. However, the Audeze Maxwells are so ridiculously good that they make the cut, and it's all thanks to a pair of truly stunning 90mm planar magnetic drivers. If you're unfamiliar, these differ from the usual dynamic driver design found in most headphones by utilising a pair of magnets either side of a flat, rather than cone-shaped diaphragm.

Long story short, this method of sound reproduction is much broader and more natural to your ears, and the level of detail and punch these cans are capable of delivering as a result is genuinely astonishing. Beyond the way they wrap themselves around your music and deliver it in a wider and more detailed way than you've likely ever heard before, those fancy drivers and that super-wide soundstage means that the immersive nature of your favorite game worlds are delivered better than ever before, which makes them a superb way to lose yourself inside the experience.

Sonically, it's easy to keep gushing about these cans. Basslines punch through with a command and authority that most headphones simply cannot reproduce, while leaving the mid-range and treble wide open for infinitesimally small details that would otherwise get lost in a lesser set, by which I mean, most sets.

This is all delivered via closed back earcups, which (although there's no active noise-cancelling like the excellent Nuraphone) deliver excellent passive sound isolation that further adds to the immersion of the experience. They are all-encompassing in a very pleasing way, and you shouldn't have any problems hearing your music or your games over a noisy background environment.

Battery life? 80 hours. The included detachable microphone? Clear, defined, and well thought out (there's also a set of beamforming mics if you don't fancy the capsule being in your face while you're gaming).

It's not all roses, of course. They're really rather heavy, which (while adding to the overall feeling of quality) can get a little tiring after wearing them for long periods of time. The included software is fiddly, clunky even, and could definitely do with more tweakable options. But beyond that, the Maxwells are about as brilliant a pair of wireless headphones as you're going to find, and at a retail price of roughly $300/AU$549, you could almost call them good value given the level of audio experience they deliver for the money.

Aural nirvana, without the wires. Doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

Read our full Audeze Maxwell review.

The best noise cancelling headphones for gaming

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I've heard about the Nuraphone from folks who've backed it on Kickstarter for years now. As it turns out, people who like Nuraphone headphonesreally likeNuraphone headphones.

The Nuraphones have already gone through a handful of significant updates since their successful Kickstarter launch three years ago. Most notably, the introduction of active noise cancellation (ANC) software update and a gaming microphone attachment ($50) attempt to rival even the most premium gaming headsets.

You'll notice something slightly different about the Nuraphones from the images above, and I'm sure you're already asking, 'what's the point of thosethingson the inside?'

Aside from giving you two layers to block outside noise, the twinned design also offers parallel drivers on each ear. The uvula-like in-ears offer the upper-frequency goods and leave the low-tones and deep bass to the better-suited over-the-ear portion. It's like having a pair of speakers for both left and right channels.

The Nuraphones have already gone through a handful of significant updates since their successful Kickstarter launch some moons ago. Most notably, the introduction of active noise cancellation (ANC) and a gaming microphone attachment ($50) attempt to rival even the most premium gaming headsets.

The Nuraphone is, simply put, a beautifully designed headset with a lovely compromise of silicone and stainless steel. It's simple, modern, and isn't embarrassing to wear in public. The minimalist design gives me plenty of Bose NC Headphones 700 vibes with its slim headband and roomy ear cups.

As much as I dig the look of Nuraphones, there are limitations in the design that affect day-to-day use. The lack of controls or knobs puts you in this weird position of choosing what sort of headset controls matter to you the most. Each side of the headphones has one touch-sensitive button that relegates things to single and double-tap controls. I wear glasses, so whenever I fiddle around with the headphones to get the right fit, I accidentally tap the capacitive buttons. I find myself skipping tracks or suddenly playing music in the middle of a work call more often than I appreciate.

Despite these issues, the Nuraphone offers incredible sound. The personalized audio tuning feels like the headphones provide the 'right sound' for my ears.The Nuraphone is an excellent set of wireless headphones, and the gaming microphone attachment makes it a decent gaming headset.

It's one of the best-looking pairs of cans you find right now, and custom sound profiles offer rich and detailed soundscapes like no other thing out there. If you're looking for a headset for just gaming, the Nuraphones aren't it, though—$450 (adding in the microphone, which is a must for gaming) is simply too huge an ask if you are mostly looking for gaming-centric features.

Read our full Nuraphone headset review.

The best studio headphones for gaming

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These pro studio-grade cans feature large 50mm drivers and have a wide frequency response of 5Hz to 40kHz. They are excellent for music and, more importantly, gaming. My favorite thing about the M-200 is the light, compact design. At only 290 grams, it’s a great candidate for commute, work, and play.

But these are absolutely reference headphones, and that means you are getting a flatter EQ than a standard gaming headset. That's exactly what you want when you're trying to master a music track or edit the audio on your latest video, but such a neutral aural experience find can sometimes feel lackluster when it comes to a gaming experience.

Those of you looking for punchy sound would be better served by the Drop + Epos PC38X, while the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X will also work as a reference set, while still being pleasant for gaming and music listening, too.

If you're after sheer purity of sound, however, the V-Moda M-200 headphones really do deliver, and their closed-back design means you get good audio and decent noise cancelling too. The aim is to get you "closer to perfection," and they certainly do get mighty close.

My only gripes are that the headset can be a tight fit for those with big noggings (like myself) and the surprising lack of a Lightning/USB Type-C adaptor. V-Moda sells a Lightning cable for $100, which is pricey considering the headset already costs $350.

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