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Wirecutter's top pick and Tom's Guide's best budget headset. For about $50 it is comfortable and sounds better than its price suggests. The trade-offs are a flimsy all-plastic build, a cable and mic that can't be detached, and a mic that Tom's Guide found quiet.
Top complaints
- Flimsy, plastic build
Tom's Guide lists 'flimsy design' as a con. The chassis is all plastic and the earcups swivel loosely, which it expects to limit durability. Wirecutter says it feels cheaper and more rickety than its upgrade pick.
- Cable and mic are permanently attached
Wirecutter flags the built-in 3.5 mm cable: if it breaks after the two-year warranty, you'd have to open the earcup and solder in a new one. SoundGuys lists the non-detachable mic as a con and says the cable can be awkward to manage. Tom's Guide calls the fixed mic cumbersome.
- Quiet mic for some testers
Tom's Guide found the mic clear but 'remarkably quieter' than most, so friends may need to turn you up. Wirecutter and SoundGuys, by contrast, rate the mic well.
Source: Tom's Guide review
What owners love
- Sound beats its price
Wirecutter says it sounds better than many headsets that cost three times as much and keeps its detail at low volume. Tom's Guide calls the sound from its 50 mm drivers rich and clear for almost everything.
- Comfortable for hours
Wirecutter says most people can wear it for hours, and the leatherette pads can be swapped for third-party ones. Tom's Guide and SoundGuys also find it comfortable.
- Works with everything
Wirecutter and SoundGuys say the 3.5 mm plug works with PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and phones. Wirecutter notes it includes a two-year DTS spatial-audio license for PC and Xbox.
- You're rough on gear (plastic build, fixed cable)
- You want wireless, software or EQ
- You stream and need a loud, clear mic
- A cheap wired headset that works on every console
- Long sessions on a budget
- Players who want a flip-up-to-mute mic
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick for most people (updated 2026-09-02). The only flaw listed is the built-in cable.
- Tom's Guide: Best budget pick (updated 2026-09-25). The cons are a cumbersome, quiet mic and a flimsy design.
- SoundGuys: 6.4: a good budget choice. The cons are limited features, some poor design decisions and a non-detachable mic.