Even though it’s tempting to buy a conventional headset for PC gaming, something doesn’t necessarily fit your needs just because it looks like it will. Whether it’s for video calls or game chat, a nice set of headphones and a stand-alone microphone will often provide a better experience.

This is due to the fact that specialized devices will nearly always perform better than any all-arounder, and you may obtain a variety of genuinely helpful audio quality enhancements without having to pay for the gaming gimmicks that headset makers prefer to include in their sets. Here are some reasons why I believe you should use headphones rather than a headset when picking up PC peripherals, while there may be some exceptions, such as the excellent Audeze Maxwell.

The sound quality is generally better

It’s hard to beat purpose-built devices with all-rounders

It might be challenging to draw generalizations regarding the audio quality of headphones or headsets. There are a lot of factors to take into account, and neither the measurements nor the specifications can accurately predict how they will sound to you when placed over your particular ears. A headset at the same price will typically sound worse than a pair of headphones.

Simple economics plays a role in that since headsets frequently include hardware and additional functions that must be funded from the overall budget. But driver tuning also plays a role. Since explosions and footsteps register in the low-end and upper-mid frequencies, which are crucial for multiplayer gamers, these are the frequencies that are typically prioritized by gaming headsets. However, most headphones are adjusted for a more balanced reproduction, which means you can enjoy movies or music without muddy or bright sound characteristics and with more clarity.

Gaming headsets manufactured by businesses that specialize in audiophiles or professional headphones are the only notable exceptions to this rule that I’ve encountered. Gaming headsets are available from companies like Sennheiser, Audeze, and Beyerdynamic. These headsets can be specially made or employ the drivers and design of standalone headphones with a boom mic attached. These are more expensive than headsets made by PC accessory manufacturers, and the microphones aren’t likely to be able to compete with a stand-alone USB microphone.

Using headphones and a dedicated mic is just better

No more sounding underwater or tinny

Audio input and output are the two issues that PC headsets are designed to address, although they frequently fail at least one of these duties. The microphone is frequently a different story, even if the drivers’ sound quality is acceptable and adjusted properly to avoid sounding muddy or tinny. Headset microphones have mediocre, if not poor, recording quality at best.

This is partly due to the low-cost microphone capsules that are employed to convert them from headphones to headsets. However, there are other considerations, such as the amount of bandwidth available over a wireless connection, and the manufacturer will give playback quality precedence over the microphone feed. Even with the greatest headsets, it’s never a good experience, and a $50 USB microphone will function far better than a boom mic. Additionally, if you decide to upgrade, the microphone can be utilized with many pairs of headphones, making it a better investment overall.

No dongles to keep track of

Gaming headsets either use tiny dongles or large docks for wireless connectivity

For wireless connectivity, computer headsets frequently use 2.4GHz, which requires specially linked dongles. It’s an additional hassle to have them replaced if you misplace one or they break. Wireless may be more convenient for some of you, but I detest having to keep track of dongles or the bigger base units that some gaming headsets have that also manage battery charging.

Furthermore, it’s an additional component that may malfunction and render your headset useless. Before you suggest that Bluetooth might be an option, keep in mind that gaming consoles do not support it, so wired headphones are a preferable choice. Additionally, gamers dislike the extra latency that Bluetooth adds. Furthermore, 2.4GHz dongles frequently only support a subset of the available gaming platforms at a time due to licensing and driver concerns.

Better comfort

It’s easier to find headphones that fit your head

A headset’s or headphones’ comfort level during extended use is frequently a personal preference. Weight is one consideration, along with the amount of cushioning on the earband and ear cups, the size of the earcups, the clamping force, and other factors that all add up. The size of the ear cups is crucial if your ears are as big as mine are, as it’s never enjoyable to have your earlobes compressed.

Finding headphones that fit my head and ears has been simpler for me, but it truly depends on the person. Headsets, which are frequently constructed with memory foam cushions that are appropriate for prolonged use, are equally pleasant for many people. Weight may be a bigger factor for regular users, as headphones are typically lighter in design, particularly when contrasted with gaming headsets that require internal batteries.

Headsets make you pay for gimmicks

You’ll get much better value with headphones

Because headphones just do what they’re supposed to do—replicate sound into your ears—they’re a better value overall. This indicates that every penny spent on their production goes toward practical elements like comfort, sound quality, and construction quality. In addition to being more fashionable, which allows you to wear them to work, they are frequently wired, which simplifies things and eliminates the need for Bluetooth or dongles. Since Windows has built-in spatial choices and game engines have their own spatial audio engines that are compatible with stereo headphones, virtual surround sound is no longer just available on headsets that sell their own version.

Feature creep comes next. In order to fit the brand’s style, gaming headsets in particular tend to include features like RGB illumination that you don’t need. I can’t argue against the simplicity of wireless connectivity, and some features of gaming headsets are really wonderful to have, like the ability to connect to numerous devices if you want to take phone calls while gaming. However, in general, headsets attempt to do too many things that don’t reproduce sound, which is why I always find headphones to be superior.

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