QUESTION

What are the best headphones for gaming and music?

24 upvotes0 downvotes

Asked May 22, 2026Last updated June 11, 2026Answers can change over time.

Answer87% confidence

Best picks for gaming and music in 2026:

Audeze Maxwell 2 — best overall if you want strong music quality plus proper gaming features.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite — best premium gaming-first choice, especially if you want a polished wireless headset.
Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro — best audiophile-style wired pick for sound quality and positional detail.
Astro A50 X — best living-room / multi-platform wireless setup if console switching matters.

If music matters as much as gaming, start with the Audeze Maxwell 2 or Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. If convenience, wireless features, and console/PC gaming come first, look at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite or Astro A50 X.

Our pick

Audeze Maxwell 2

Best for gaming and music balance

Maars picked this for players who want one headset for both games and music: it is known for pairing high-quality sound with gaming features.

Search on Amazon

At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	Audeze Maxwell 2	SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite	Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro	Astro A50 X
Best fit	Gaming and music balance	Premium wireless gaming	Audiophile-style wired sound	Multi-platform wireless setup
Music priority	Very strong	Strong, gaming-focused	Very strong	Good, convenience-focused
Gaming priority	Strong gaming features	Very strong gaming feature set	Great sound and positional detail, fewer headset conveniences	Strong for console/PC switching
Main thing to check	Price and platform support	Price and whether you need its premium features	Wired setup and mic/input compatibility	Console/PC compatibility and desk/TV setup

Also compared

Search on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Best for premium wireless gamers

Maars picked this for gamers who want a premium wireless headset first: it stands out as a polished all-around gaming choice.

Search on Amazon

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Best for sound quality fans

Maars picked this for sound-quality-focused players who prefer a more audiophile-style listening experience for games and music.

Search on Amazon

Astro A50 X

Best for multi-platform players

Maars picked this for players with multiple gaming systems who want a premium wireless setup built around convenience.

Search on Amazon

Alternatives

Consider open-back or audiophile headphones plus a separate mic, but verify gaming latency and whether you need console compatibility.
For pure music first
Traditional audiophile headphones can sound more natural for music, but they often lack wireless gaming features and built-in chat controls.
Prioritize imaging, comfort, low latency, and mic quality over heavy bass or cinematic tuning.
For competitive gaming first
Footstep placement and long-session comfort matter more than music warmth in competitive play.

What could change this answer

Current prices and stock can change which model is the best buy.
Your platform mix (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, living-room use) can shift the top pick.
If you prefer open-back sound or already use a separate microphone, a different headphone may fit better.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

Search Amazon Search eBay

Our pick

Audeze Maxwell 2

Best for gaming and music balance

Maars picked this for players who want one headset for both games and music: it is known for pairing high-quality sound with gaming features.

Search on Amazon

At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	Audeze Maxwell 2	SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite	Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro	Astro A50 X
Best fit	Gaming and music balance	Premium wireless gaming	Audiophile-style wired sound	Multi-platform wireless setup
Music priority	Very strong	Strong, gaming-focused	Very strong	Good, convenience-focused
Gaming priority	Strong gaming features	Very strong gaming feature set	Great sound and positional detail, fewer headset conveniences	Strong for console/PC switching
Main thing to check	Price and platform support	Price and whether you need its premium features	Wired setup and mic/input compatibility	Console/PC compatibility and desk/TV setup

Also compared

Search on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Best for premium wireless gamers

Maars picked this for gamers who want a premium wireless headset first: it stands out as a polished all-around gaming choice.

Search on Amazon

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Best for sound quality fans

Maars picked this for sound-quality-focused players who prefer a more audiophile-style listening experience for games and music.

Search on Amazon

Astro A50 X

Best for multi-platform players

Maars picked this for players with multiple gaming systems who want a premium wireless setup built around convenience.

Search on Amazon

Alternatives

Consider open-back or audiophile headphones plus a separate mic, but verify gaming latency and whether you need console compatibility.
For pure music first
Traditional audiophile headphones can sound more natural for music, but they often lack wireless gaming features and built-in chat controls.
Prioritize imaging, comfort, low latency, and mic quality over heavy bass or cinematic tuning.
For competitive gaming first
Footstep placement and long-session comfort matter more than music warmth in competitive play.

What could change this answer

Current prices and stock can change which model is the best buy.
Your platform mix (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, living-room use) can shift the top pick.
If you prefer open-back sound or already use a separate microphone, a different headphone may fit better.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

Search Amazon Search eBay

What are the best headphones for gaming and music?

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Tags

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Tags

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Audeze Maxwell 2

Compared picks

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

Astro A50 X

Alternatives

What could change this answer

Ask Maars another question

Related questions

Tags

Ask Maars another question

Related questions