The best headset gives you superior audio to listen to, and makes your voice sound clear to others, both in terms of what you hear and the sounds other people get from you. So whether you’re podcasting, streaming or just making a video call, you’ll appear much more professional. And that means it’s worth spending a little more to get a decent model.

Headsets are distinct from the best headphones because they feature an integrated mic. That means that not only you can listen to music and videos, like with normal headphones, but you can also make your own, as well as take part in meetings, Zoom calls and games, with crisp and clear delivery.

To help you find the right choice for your needs, we’ve curated a list of the best headsets available today. Our selection features a variety of headset types, to suit a range of budgets. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, though, first read our section on How to choose the best headset.

In the meantime, why not complete home working kit with our guides to the best laptops and the best Chromebook. Plus, if you’re looking for peripherals, we have roundups of the best portable monitors and the best monitor arms too.

The best headsets in 2023

It may be technically aimed at gamers, but you can use the HyperX Cloud II in a variety of scenarios thanks to its strong emphasis on sound quality, mic quality, and wearer comfort. And that makes it the best headset we can recommend today for all-round use.

Large 53mm drivers deliver a healthy 15Hz-25kHz frequency response, while wide device compatibility is assured by the convenient 3.5mm connection. The drivers are capable of Dolby 7.1 virtual surround to enhance both gaming and movie immersion, and you don’t even need to install software to enable it.

Comfort is paramount with the Cloud II, as its large over-ear earpads are clad in soft leatherette and lined with memory foam. The focus on quality materials also extends to the solid-steel frame.

However, while this is great for toughness, it does contribute to the headset’s relatively heavy 350g weight. We’re also not that impressed by the mic’s 50Hz-18kHz response, but at least you do get noise cancellation to keep your voice sounding its clearest.

Here’s the best headset we can recommend for a low price. Again, it’s targeted squarely at gamers, but it’s just as versatile when used as a regular headset. The plush memory foam earpad cushions are as comfortable for a day’s home working as they would be during an evening’s gaming.

Underneath the left earcup is a conveniently placed volume slider and mute button, and inside are 40mm drivers with a respectable 12Hz-28kHz frequency response, and with a low 32-ohm resistance, they can be driven by any device and still produce plenty of volume.

Connectivity is via a good old wire (1.3m long) that terminates in a regular 3.5mm audio jack. The bendable and directional mic utilizes a cardioid pic-up pattern to zone in on your voice and exclude background noise, though there’s no active noise cancellation.

If you’re specifically looking for a gaming headset, then the Audio-Technica ATH-G1 Premium Gaming Headset is our top pick. Sound quality takes center stage here, with the relatively large 45mm drivers tuned to deliver studio-quality sound; something that’s backed up by the highly impressive 5Hz-40kHz frequency response. Even the mic boasts a respectable 30Hz-20kHz response.

The mic boom is also flexible for optimal positioning, it features a highly directional pickup to help zone out background noise and improve your voice clarity, plus it can be removed so you can use the headphones on the go.

You also get an in-line volume control and mic lock switch on the 2m cord, and the cable connects to your device with an ultra-compatible 3.5mm audio jack. The brushed aluminum headband helps keep weight down to a reasonable 257g while also helping the headset look like a quality product.

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our sister website, Techradar, had this to say after its time testing the ATH-G1: “The Audio-Technica ATH-G1 feels like a “grown-ups” gaming headset. It prizes accuracy and detail over bombastic tuning, likely coming closer to delivering what the sound engineers in a gaming studio hoped you as a gamer would hear. As a result, they’re versatile enough to make for a solid pair of headphones for other sorts of listening sessions too”.

If you regularly work from home and want to improve your voice clarity in video conferences, check out Jabra’s Evolve2 75 wireless headset. We were big fans of its predecessor, the Evolve 75. This new model adds USB-C connectivity, includes a better battery – which now promises 24 hours of talk time and 36 hours of music playback – and boosts audio quality with an 8-mic array.

This headset has been designed for professional use in an office environment, so its mic is blessed with advanced active noise cancellation, and it boasts official certification by the likes of Microsoft and Cisco.

There’s even a ‘busy light’ on the outside of the earcups to tell passing colleagues (or family members) that you’re on a call. Leatherette padded on-ear ear cushions have been sculpted to allow comfortable day-long use, and you get complete freedom to move thanks to Bluetooth wireless connectivity that enables up to 30 metres of roaming range.

Our sister website TechRadar’s Mark Pickavance had this to say after extensively testing the Evolve2 75: “Gorgeously made and designed, the Evolve2 75 represent a pinnacle for Bluetooth headsets for business users. Comfortable, easy to use, and effective noise canceling. The only downside to these is how much they cost. Overall, these sounded much better than we’d anticipated, and we can see no good reason why these couldn’t be used for other purposes than conference calls when the need arises”.