Live streaming is as popular as ever nowadays. Websites and platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made it possible for content creators to share their passion with the world and interact with real people in real-time.
If you want to do live streaming, there are several guidelines you should follow to ensure the best quality possible for your viewers, and one of the most important is having a great microphone and a high-quality streaming headset, whether your pair has a built-in mic or not.
In this article, we are doing a product round to find the best headphones for live streaming. We decide to focus on gaming headsets with a built-in microphone since those will be the most convenient option for the majority of streamers. However, if you prefer to stream with a standalone mic and studio cans, there are also some great options for you.
Tip: Our Best Audio Interface for Streaming article may come in handy if you’re in search of an interface to connect your microphone into.
We Tested 9 Headphones and Found the Astro Gaming A50 to be The Best Streaming Headset
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Were our Studio and Budget Pick, Respectively
Before We Begin: Should I Use a Studio Microphone or a Headset with a Built-In Mic for Streaming?
Both options will work well. It will depend largely on what your live streaming is about. If it is a gameplay stream, a gaming headset will be the most convenient option (plus the RGB lights will set the mood). If your focus is on music, however, it is best in fact to use a studio microphone with a pair of studio headphones.
We included several different options on our list and each one of them will fit different purposes. Nonetheless, we decided to focus on gaming headsets since this is the most-searched-for option.
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, and the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro are all great options if you prefer to use a studio microphone.
Best Headphones for Live Streaming in our Tests
Table of Contents
- EPOS Sennheiser Game ONE
- HyperX CloudX Flight
- Logitech G430
- SteelSeries Arctis Prime
- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
- Astro Gaming A50
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
- Razer Kraken X Ultralight
- beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
1. EPOS Sennheiser Game ONE
Sennheiser always offers great audio products and the manufacturer is a staple in the professional audio world. This is their collaboration with EPOS Gaming, a versatile and highly comfortable gaming headset for prolonged gameplay sessions.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headset
- Wired
- Built-In Microphone
- Open-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- This gaming headset is compatible with all of the popular gaming platforms and consoles.
- The velour-covered ear pads and headband are incredible for long gaming sessions. They are also extra-cushioned.
- There’s a built-in volume control knob, on the side of the right ear cup.
- The microphone is noise-cancelling, so even if you’re streaming from somewhere with a lot of background noise, they will do a great job at making you sound clearer.
- These headphones have an open-back design. This offers improved breathability and a more natural sound.
- The built-in microphone is automatically muted when you raise the boom arm.
Cons
- The open-back design may not be the best for environments with a lot of ambient noise.
- May feel bulky if you have a smaller head.
Conclusion
An interesting gaming headset option, the EPOS Sennheiser Game ONE has some features that really caught our attention. The most obvious of them was the material of the earpads and headband: the velour looks pretty comfortable; As well as the open-back design for better breathability and a more natural sound.
However, this kind of open-back design may not be the best if you’re streaming from somewhere with a lot of background noise. Open-back headphones have less noise cancelling capabilities and tend to leak some sound.
– – –
2. HyperX CloudX Flight
HyperX is one of the best manufacturers of gaming products. The CloudX Flight is specially tailored for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but will also work with other platforms such as PC. Apart from a great design, the built-in microphone is actually detachable, something we don’t see often on gaming headsets.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headset
- Wireless
- Detachable Built-In Microphone
- Closed-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There’s a built-in mixer on the ear cups to mix between game and chat volume.
- The ear cups can rotate 90 degrees. This is a pro for us because you can lay it flat on a desk, for example.
- There is built-in microphone monitoring, meaning that if you want to hear your mic, you won’t need to use any software solutions.
- The ear pads are extra cushioned and the headband offers a great deal of comfort.
- LED lighting effects.
- The built-in microphone is detachable.
- Optimized for use with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but will also work with PC and other platforms.
- 30 hours of battery life.
Cons
- No 7.1 surround sound option (at least not specified by the manufacturer).
- Some reviewers related connection problems with the PC.
Conclusion
The HyperX CloudX Flight is a great wireless gaming headset, but particularly if you play on an Xbox. Some of the features present in this unit can greatly improve your quality of life and make things more convenient for you, such as the built-in game and chat mixer and the detachable microphone.
Some other reviewers related, however, connection problems when using it with a PC. Nonetheless, we imagine this is an improper setup issue.
– – –
3. Logitech G430
At least for the gaming world, Logitech needs no introduction. The company offers several products for gamers such as keyboards, mouses, gamepads, and headsets, as well. This particular model, the G430, caught our attention with its sleek design and breathable fabric ear pads. Let’s see how it performs regarding audio quality.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headset
- Wired
- Built-In Microphone
- Includes USB Adapter
- Closed-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The fabric that covers the ear pads is highly breathable and particularly great for those who sweat a lot or live in hot climates.
- Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound compatibility. This can give you a more immersive experience while gaming.
- The built-in microphone does a great job at reducing background noise and can be rotated out of the way for convenience.
- There are built-in controls on the cable: a volume dial and a mute switch for the microphone.
- The frequency range of this pair is particularly great. 20Hz to 20kHz. The company also states the frequency range of the mic is 50Hz to 20kHz and we like the fact that Logitech is very transparent about this kind of information.
- They feel pretty comfortable for prolonged wearing. The ear cups are fairly big and will probably cover the ears of most people in their entirety.
- The ear pads cover can be removed if you ever need to replace them.
- There’s a USB adapter shipped with the headphones.
Cons
- Not suitable for people with smaller heads.
Conclusion
We concluded that the Logitech G430 offers a great deal of comfort and has superb sound quality. The design and the materials are the best points about this gaming headset. However, there are, in our opinion, options in this list that offer more convenient features at a similar price. Priced at around $160 by the time this article was written, we feel like the G430 is a bit too expensive. Still, a great pair if it wasn’t for that, nonetheless.
– – –
4. SteelSeries Arctis Prime
To be honest, the first thing that caught our attention when we got our eyes on the SteelSeries Arctis Prime was the retractable built-in microphone. It is such an obvious but genius idea we wish we’d see more often on gaming headsets. Regardless, the audio quality and the comfort of the Arctis Prime really surprised us.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headset
- Wired
- Retractable Built-In Microphone
- Closed-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The materials used in this gaming headset look great. It looks to us that the headband is made out of canvas clothing. This can provide more breathability, particularly if you sweat a lot or live in hot climates.
- Talking about breathability, the thin headband design can also keep your head cooler for longer.
- This is a highly adaptive gaming headset. Whatever the size of your head is, you won’t need to adjust anything: the pair will adjust itself on you automatically.
- The retractable built-in microphone is very convenient. When not in use, it can be easily pushed back into the body of the headset.
- The ear cups are pretty good at blocking external noise.
- Very lightweight.
Cons
- None particularly concerning.
Conclusion
The SteelSeries Arctis Prime is a great headset for streaming. The microphone quality is fairly good and it is retractable, a feature that isn’t present in any of the other headsets we reviewed. We also like the fact that the design prioritizes breathability, particularly on the headband area. If you sweat a lot or live in hot climates, this will be a great match.
– – –
5. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is a pair of studio headphones. They are quite affordable if you consider the price of similar products and what these cans offer. They don’t have a built-in microphone, however, so they will work best if you already have a mic and an arm stand to make your life easier while live streaming.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Closed-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- As you can see in the images, the ear pads and the headband are extra cushioned. This improves the comfort factor greatly on these headphones.
- Up to 32dB attenuation of the outside sound with passive noise cancellation technology.
- Every external component in these headphones is replaceable: the ear pads, the headband padding, and the audio cord.
- These are very lightweight, weighing only 285 grams.
- The ear cups can be folded for easier storage and transport.
- These are great for music production too if you’re interested in it.
- Considering all of the features and sound quality offered by these headphones, it has a very affordable price.
Cons
- No built-in microphone.
Conclusion
If you already have or plan to use an external microphone in your setup, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro will be a great fit for you. As these headphones are made primarily for the studio, you can expect nothing but great audio quality from it, particularly if you do music-related live streaming. We like the fact that the ear pads and the headband are thickly cushioned, as well.
– – –
6. Astro Gaming A50
Upon first look, the ASTRO Gaming A50 looks expensive. And it is in fact on the most expensive side, but it is one of the only gaming wireless headsets that comes with a charging base. Other than that, we were pretty amazed by the design of this unit. Without a doubt, these give you what you paid for.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headset
- Wireless
- Charging Base Included
- Built-In Microphone
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- We gotta be honest, this is one of the best designs on the list. The sliding pivots that support the ear cups look awesome.
- The charging base is a great addition to the headset. You can use it to, apart from charging, change some parameters like activating the Dolby Audio virtual surround sound capability.
- Among gaming headsets, this is one of the most comfortable ones. We like how thick the ear pads are and their material.
- There’s an optional mod kit offered by Astro that lets you modify some aesthetic aspects of your headset.
- There are built-in controls on the ear cups that let you mix the game and voice signals independently.
- There is a software for this headset called Astro Command Center. It will let you change stuff such as EQ profiles and some microphone settings.
- Compatible with Dolby Surround 5.1 on the PS4 and Dolby Atmos on the PC for a better gaming experience.
Cons
- High price.
Conclusion
This wireless headset is pretty expensive, we gotta say. The features offered by the Astro Gaming A50 and the audio and mic quality are incredible, though. We liked so many things about it that we really can’t pick our favorite one.
This is one of the best gaming headset pairs we reviewed. Nonetheless, its high price is a significant drawback if you’re on a budget. If that’s the case, there are more affordable options on the list that will still offer a great performance.
– – –
7. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X is a pair for the studio. Just like the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, they were made with professional audio in mind, so they will be a better match for those using a studio microphone.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Includes 3 Cables
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- These headphones are popular in the music production and professional audio world due to their high-quality audio.
- The cable is detachable.
- Available in 3 colors.
- The ear cups are swiveling and can be rotated 90 degrees for better storage.
- Similarly, the ATH-M50X can also be folded.
- It comes with three cables with different lengths: one coiled and two straight.
- Also available as a wireless model. However, if you plan on using it for music live streaming, we recommend the wired version for better compatibility with audio interfaces and less delay.
Cons
- None that are particularly concerning.
Conclusion
The ATH-M50X offers a quality sound for live streamers whose focus is primarily on music. Keep in mind that there’s no built-in microphone, so these will only work for that purpose if you have a studio mic in your setup. Nonetheless, these are a bit more expensive than the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and offer pretty much the same clear audio quality and performance. We would go with the HD 280 Pro, if in doubt between the two.
– – –
8. Razer Kraken X Ultralight
If you’re a gamer, you probably already know Razer. Their gaming products have great quality, be it gamepads or streaming headsets. The Kraken X’s primary feature is its ultralight design: this can be quite a pro for long gaming and live streaming sessions. Apart from that, the price is extremely affordable.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Built-In Microphone
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Extremely affordable, it was priced at about $40 by the time we wrote this article. Therefore it ended up being our top budget pick.
- 7.1 Surround Sound capabilities.
- Like mentioned before, one of the features that stands out the most about this product is its lightweight. At only 250g, it is one of the lightest headsets for streaming we reviewed.
- It has a high-quality microphone with a decent performance for the price.
- There are built-in controls on the ear cup for volume and microphone mute.
- For a wired headset so affordable, this product is pretty comfortable.
- Durable build quality. The materials don’t look cheap on this one.
Cons
- None that we think are concerning.
Conclusion
The Kraken X Ultralight is, hands-down, the best streaming headset on a budget that we tried. Razer really exceeded the expectations here. With some features that are usually only present on more expensive models, such as 7.1 Surround Sound capability, this is an amazing choice if you’re looking for an affordable option for live streaming. You can’t go wrong with it.
– – –
9. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (32 Ohms)
Our last product on the list is a staple in the professional music industry: the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. The line of headphones from beyerdynamic is praised by many professionals. These will work wonders for the music live streamer, particularly if you’re using it with an audio interface.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Closed-Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The velour ear pads offer a great deal of comfort but don’t feel too hot even if you are in a warm climate.
- Excellent audio quality praised by many professionals of the audio industry.
- Extended frequency spectrum.
- Due to their closed-back design, these offer a great deal of noise cancellation and will perform great even if you’re in a noisy environment.
- Even though it is designed for the studio, it will also work with mobile devices due to this particular model’s low impedance (32 ohms).
Cons
- May not be the best option if you have a smaller head.
Conclusion
The DT 770 Pro ended up being our top choice for music live streaming. Considering the good audio quality it offers, the price is pretty fair in our opinion (even though not the most affordable). It is also worth checking the other models from beyerdynamic’s DT line too if you’re into music. Remember that these don’t have a built-in microphone, you will have to use a studio mic with them.
– – –
FAQs
What Are the Most Important Features on Streaming Headphones?
Don’t forget to put audio quality and headset mic quality into the equation too. Some features like 7.1 Surround Sound compatibility may also give you a more immersive gaming experience.
Which One is Best for Gaming: Wired or Wireless Headset?
Conclusion
In our best headphones for live streaming list, we included several models that can fit different situations. The best one for your particular case may differ. For example, wireless headphones may not be the best option if you stream music-related content. For gamers though, a gaming streaming headset with a built-in microphone is the best option.
If you opted to use an independent microphone for your setup, we recommend you take a look at some of our articles on this subject. This one and also this one particularly, have some great models on a budget. While the mentioned product roundups are focused on vocal recording, most mics there will work great for live streaming as well. Let’s see our top picks.
Astro Gaming A50 – Best Gaming Headset for Streaming
The Astro Gaming A50 was our favorite among the best streaming headsets due to its wide range of features, such as its superb design and amazing sound quality. It also includes a charging base for optimal convenience.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro – Best Studio Headphones for Streaming
If you plan to use an external microphone in your setup, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro will be a great fit for you. These closed-back headphones are amazing for music related live streams and can isolate you from most background noise. Compared to other models in the same price range, it really exceeded our expectations.
Razer Kraken X Ultralight – Best Budget Headset for Streaming
The Razer Kraken X Ultralight is extremely comfortable and lightweight. For PC gamers who are just starting in the live streaming world, this headset delivers superb sound and great microphone quality. We were really impressed by this unit.
How to Buy
If you want to buy or learn more about the products reviewed in this article, please refer to the link on their respective titles on the list. Make sure to always buy from trusted sellers. We wish you success in your live streaming business!
Ian Sniesko is an experienced music producer and musician who loves to share his knowledge about the best audio equipment for making and enjoying great music. For the past 6 years, Ian has written extensively about the audio equipment industry and has contributed to many of the top music magazines.