GAMING HEADSETS

What you need to know:

Audio is one of those categories where there's very little barrier to entry with a nearly limitless ceiling. It's also extremely subjective, so what may sound great to one person may sound terrible to another. On the other hand, it's one of those situations where if you've never heard anything of higher quality, you won't necessarily miss out. Whether you're watching a movie or playing a game, audio comprises half of that experience, so improving half of that can make for a pretty substantial difference. Communication is an important part of online gaming. Gamers are most likely either chatting with their friends or discussing gameplay with other players they meet online, which is why the majority of this list is comprised of headsets. There are a few things to consider before making a headphone purchase, first, being type and variation.
Types:
Circumaural: Large earcups that sit over your ears.
Supra-aural: Medium sized earcups that sit on your ears.
Variations:
Closed: Completely sealed earcups that don't leak sound. Generally have more bass.
Open: Vented earcups that have a more open and spacious sound. Generally have a larger soundstage.
Another factor to consider is whether or not you need to worry about sound leakage and if the sounds emitted by your headphones will disturb others. If this is a concern, We'd recommend a closed back, as it won't leak any sound. While most of what we're going to cover are of the headset variety, using audiophile grade headphones with additional equipment (required for console use) can definitely yield much higher quality results, but will leave your wallet feeling much lighter. Almost everything we've listed share a few common features. They're all cross-platform compatible and fit a wide variety of head shapes so any will make for excellent gift choices depending on your budget.

Budget: Tritton AX 180 Stereo Gaming Headset $69.99

Notable Features
-Circumaural/Closed
-PS3/360/PC Compatible
-Separate Game and Voice Volume Controls
-Voice Monitoring
-Detachable, Flexible Mic
The Tritton AX 180 Stereo Gaming Headset is an over-ear closed back headset compatible with the PS3, 360, and PC. Being a closed back headphone, it does a great job at isolation, meaning that others around you won't be able to hear the explosions and gunfire as you run rampant throughout the battlefield. Even though they isolate well, they still can hear you scream and yell if a particular game isn't going so well, but that's another problem altogether. Considering it only has two 40mm drivers (think speakers), it does an excellent job at providing directional cues within games, namely FPS titles. Being able to react fast enough to gunfire coming at you from various directions can mean the difference between having a good kill to death ratio or getting a better one. Having an in-line volume control that can adjust voice and game sounds independently is invaluable. What good is communication if you're can't hear what other people are saying? This feature allows you to lower game volume to allow you to hear voice chat more clearly or vice versa. The versatility of this headset alone makes it an outstanding value. It's an easy upgrade for any gamer on a budget.

Mid-range: Turtle Beach Ear Force DPX21 $149.95

Notable Features
-Circumaural/Closed
-Dolby 7.1 Surround
-Ear Force DSS2
-PS3/360/PC Compatible
The Turtle Beach Ear Force DPX21 is an over-ear closed back headset with an adjustable boom mic and comes packaged with the Ear Force DSS2 (DAC: Digital to Analog Converter). The DSS is the heart of this audio system. It converts the digital signal and simulates a full Dolby Surround Sound experience. Many audio enthusiasts will argue that simulated surround sound provides more accurate and higher quality sound than a headset with multiple drivers, but that's another discussion on its own. The easiest way to sum up the DSS is that it's an external soundcard (similar to some aftermarket PC offerings) that improves your overall sound experience and also allows you to use any headphone or headset with your consoles. The DPX21 not only provides excellent directional cues, but also adds enough weight to the low-end (bass) to prevent some game sounds, namely explosions, from feeling stale. Not only does it excel on the gaming front, but it makes movies more enjoyable to boot. Cross platform compatibility combined with the DSS2 ($79.95 value on its own) make the DPX21 an excellent jack of all trades.

Premium: Turtle Beach Ear Force Sierra $279.95

Notable Features
-Circumaural/Closed
-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
-State of the art fully programmable Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
-PS3/360/PC Compatible
The Ear Force Sierra is a part of a new line of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 branded headsets by Turtle Beach. Instead of the DSS2, this particular headset comes with DSP unit which is pre-programmed with audio presets designed by Treyarch to enhance your Black Ops 2 gaming experience. The presets consist of Flat, Bass and/or Treble boost, Action Enhancer, Footstep Focus, and more. Like the DSS2, the DSP allows you to pair it with any analog headphone or headset for console use. Not only does it work well with Black Ops 2, it'll be sure to make any game that much better to play. The Sierra, which only features two 50mm drivers, is a prime example that multiple drivers are not required for an absolutely amazing and immersive sound experience. You can easily hear sounds change position as you move through a level or around particular objects. This headset, for the most part, is very comfortable, but again this is relative to the individual. It has some noticeable clamp, which is useful as it provides better isolation and improved seal to help it sound full and robust, but depending on head size and shape it has some potential to be uncomfortable for some. If the clamp is an issue, it's easily fixed by throwing a handful of games in between the earcups to stretch it out while it's not in use. The overall sound experience of the Sierra easily rivals that of the A50, and may be arguably better, but it's not as comfortable (out of the box) and is still wired. If you're looking for a heavily customizable and immersive sound experience, look no further.

Premium: Astro A50 $299.99

Notable Features
-Circumaural/Closed
-Wireless
-Dolby Digital 7.1
-Multi-system Compatibility (360, PS3, PC)
-Astro Mixamp

Astro's products are widely used within the competitive gaming scene, and for good reason. The A50, their current flagship model, is a fully wireless circumaural closed back headset combined with the MixAmp 5.8 TX unit providing Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound that is compatible with multiple platforms. Similar to what was mentioned about the Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS2, the MixAmp 5.8 does the same and then some. With the addition of a MixAmp 5.8 RX unit , it will allow up to three of your friends (additional headphones required) to join in on Dolby Digital Surround Sound bliss which you can also converse about through a private voice network. Another key feature of the A50 system is that it's mostly wireless, with only two wires required to connect the MixAmp to your console or PC. Non-wireless headsets can end up making a mess of your gaming station really quickly. Directional cues are impressively accurate and the Dolby Digital Surround Sound experience is quite immersive. For a closed back headset, the soundstage is surprisingly wide, especially in comparison to some of the other headsets on the list. Considering how substantial this headset looks, it's surprising light, which also yields to more comfort, especially for those long gaming sessions. The A50 is definitely a large investment, especially for someone new to premium headsets, but there is no doubt that it's worth every penny.

Accessory: Turtle Beach Ear Force DSS2 $79.95

Notable Features
-Dolby Digital Surround Sound
-Adjustable Surround Sound Angles
-Auxilary and Analog Inputs
-Equalizer Presets
-USB Powered

This relatively small device packs quite a punch. It has features found in premium headsets, such as Dolby Digital Surround Sound, plus some extras, such as adjustable sound angles and equalizer presets. If you already own a headset or audiophile headphone, the DSS2 will allow you to not only use them with your consoles, but it will also convert it to Dolby Surround Sound. Unfortunately, an additional adapter is required for voice communication if you're using an analog microphone, otherwise you might as well hang your Xbox mic around your neck. For the audiophiles out there looking to use their favorite headphones on their console, look no further. The DSS2 is all you need to satisfy your hi-fi audio tastes for your gaming needs.
Audio is highly subjective and can easily become an addicting hobby, because it not only encompasses gaming, but movies and music as well. If there are any other headsets, and headphones for that matter, Brian Kim, Ryan Taljonick