The best Xbox Series X/S headsets in 2025, from the audiophile-grade Audeze Maxwell to the value-packed Xbox Wireless Headset. Tested for spatial audio, comfort, and connectivity.
if you've ever tried to play a round of Call of Duty or Halo Infinite through your TV speakers while your teammates are barking callouts, you already know: the Xbox Series X/S deserves a proper headset. A good gaming headset gives you spatial audio — hearing footsteps behind you, grenades clattering to your left — and a clear mic so your squad actually understands you.
we tested the top contenders, from planar magnetic beasts to budget-friendly wireless options. here's who wins for each type of player.
| headset | connectivity | driver type | price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| audeze maxwell wireless | xbox wireless + bluetooth + usb-c | planar magnetic | premium |
| steelSeries arctis nova pro | xbox wireless + bluetooth | neodymium | high-end |
| xbox wireless headset | xbox wireless | 40mm neodymium | mid-range |
| razer blackshark v2 | 3.5mm wired | triforce 50mm | budget |
| steelSeries arctis 1 wireless for xbox | xbox wireless | 40mm neodymium | budget wireless |
best for: players who want the best sound quality money can buy on Xbox.
the audeze maxwell is the headset that keeps topping every serious roundup — and for good reason. it uses planar magnetic drivers, a technology usually found in $500+ studio headphones, to deliver deep, distortion-free bass and crystal-clear mids and highs. on the xbox series x/s, that translates to immersive explosions and pinpoint positional audio.1
it connects via native xbox wireless, bluetooth (for Discord or music on your phone), or USB-C. battery life is a massive 80+ hours. the trade-off? it's heavy — about 490g — and expensive.
best for: gamers who want simultaneous game audio and chat audio from two devices.
the steelSeries arctis nova pro connects directly to your xbox via the wireless base station and simultaneously pairs with your phone via bluetooth.2 that means you can take a Discord call while still hearing in-game footsteps — no cable juggling.
the sonar audio software (on PC) gives you granular EQ control, and the retractable mic sounds clear enough for streaming. it's comfortable for long sessions thanks to the ski-goggle suspension band.
best for: anyone who wants a seamless, no-fuss Xbox experience without spending a fortune.
microsoft's own xbox wireless headset connects the same way your controller does — press the pair button and you're in. no dongles, no base stations. it supports dolby atmos and windows sonic spatial audio out of the box, and the mic auto-mutes when you flip it up.
for the price, it's the best bang-for-buck wireless option on the platform. battery life is around 15 hours, which is fine but not class-leading.
best for: competitive players who want clear audio separation and a lightweight build.
the razer blackshark v2 is a wired headset with razer's triforce 50mm drivers, which tune highs, mids, and lows independently. the result is cleaner audio separation — you'll hear footsteps and reloads more distinctly. it's also one of the lightest headsets around at just 260g, so you can wear it for hours without fatigue.
the downside: it's wired (3.5mm to your controller), so you're tethered. but for competitive play where every millisecond matters, wired is still the lowest-latency option.
best for: getting wireless freedom on Xbox without spending over $100.
the steelSeries arctis 1 wireless uses the native xbox wireless protocol — no dongle needed — and still manages to come in at a budget-friendly price. it's lightweight (250g), has a clear mic, and works with PC, PlayStation, and Switch via the included USB-C dongle.
battery life is around 20 hours. you're not getting planar magnetic drivers or simultaneous bluetooth, but for a clean, reliable wireless headset that just works, this is the one.
the xbox series x/s does not support standard bluetooth audio — it uses a proprietary xbox wireless protocol. that means:
xbox series x/s supports both dolby atmos for headphones and windows sonic. both are spatial audio technologies that simulate 3D sound.
headsets that use native xbox wireless (like picks 1, 2, 3, and 5) offer the lowest-latency wireless connection with no dongle. if you want a clean setup, prioritize this feature.
we rely on expert testing from sources like RTINGS.com1 and Digital Trends2, plus our own hands-on evaluation. we don't recommend products we haven't verified against real-world use cases.
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