Gaming earphones dominate the gaming sound industry. Bulky headphones from brands like Beats dominate over 70 percent of the headphones market share today.
No doubt, headphones have the added functionality of noise reduction and are often regarded to be better than earbuds when it comes to directional sound. However, many professionals use earbuds instead of headphones. The primary reason behind this is the fact that most LAN events, conducted throughout the world, use earbuds for their games.
Apart from the pros of the game, amateurs have also started using earbuds, due to their lightweight, portability, and sneaky design. Yes, the very gaming experience is incomplete without gaming earbuds and headphones creating its own dynamic virtual space.
Keeping this in mind, in this article, I have done a full research based on my own personal experience and also some of my friends and also the top winners of 2020. These are my personal recommendations when it comes to gaming. So, if you are considering a buy for new impactful gaming earbuds, you might like to take a look at my experience with the following products.
Quick Picks
Top Gaming Earbuds Product Reviews
The quality, and standard of the sound output from the headphones have always been a step ahead of earbuds; however, using headphones for more extended periods can cause irritation and excessive sweat around the ears.
Now, in an industry saturated and dominated with headphones, it can be a task to choose the best gaming earbuds. One has to keep in mind the – budget, design, usability, and sound quality of the earbuds.
Don’t worry, we can help you choose the best gaming earbuds for you.
#1 – HyperX Cloud Earbuds
- Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in...
- Optimized for handheld mode
- Signature HyperX comfort
The HyperX Cloud earbuds are one of the most top-rated gaming earbuds you will come across. The HyperX cloud earbuds justify their place as one of best in the business as they cater to all the basic problems of a gamer.
You can choose from as many as 3 different sized ear tips, made from the best quality of silicone. You get to be comfortable even after hours of gaming. Another innovation used in the HyperX Cloud is that they use a 90-degree angled plug coupled with cables which are tangle-free.
The solid metal structure renders it that regal look altogether boosting its durability. Honestly, for me it was completely a low, maintenance gadget. The body is sleek and attractive – sporting trendy colors like a gorgeous red and black – just as you want from a good gaming earbud.
In addition, this pair of earbuds is universally compatible with all gaming consoles, smartphones and PCs, thus being a one stop destination for all your gaming earbud needs.
You will love everything from the multi-platform compatibility to the silicone ear tips offering maximum comfortability. There is also a rubberized cable to ensure a tangle-free experience. Did we add the Multi-function inline mic and the travel case for ease of carrying? Combine that with the excellent sound quality and an enhanced bass.
Pros
- Tangle free cables
- Multi-function in line mic to ensure communication on the go
- Robust physical features, making it long-lasting
- Microphone with 3, 1 touch commands
Cons
- Mic quality is better in some competitors.
#2 – Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud
- 12 millimeter dome type driver units deliver powerful deep bass. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Integrated microphone and smartphone playback control
- Hybrid silicone earbuds for secure, comfortable fit
There are some earbuds that can do more than a single job – like this one from Sony. Ideal for both gaming and music lovers, the earbuds offer a comfortable fit. The 12 mm dome shaped driver headphones offer an impactful and powerful bass, which enables you to hear the minutest of movements around you.
This Sony earbud uses a bass duct design; this duct allows the earbuds to have a better noise reduction and better sound isolation. Contrary to a lot of other contemporary brands and products, the earbud uses hybrid silicone. Hybrid silicone provides a very comfortable and light feel to the earbud owing to its compressive properties.
The Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud takes care of another problem faced with a lot of wired earbuds, that is tangling of the wires. This is a problem that we all have met, and sometimes this tangling also leads to aggressive untangling, further leading to malfunction in the product.
Experience a mighty bass and fall in love with the smartphone playback control – which has an inbuilt microphone. Add to that the specially designed hybrid silicone that offers a much better feel. Did we add the tangle-free cable to our list?
Pros
- Sound isolation
- It’s tangle-free!
- Tangle-free cables
- Noise Cancellation
- Powerful bass coupled with balanced sound
- Enhanced and clear bass boost
- Extremely light and comfortable for long time use
Cons
- You have better bass on some others
#3 – GranVela V1S High Definition Dual Dynamic Driver In-ear Earbuds
- [GENUINE DUAL-DRIVER ]: Parallel dual 6mm neodymium moving coil drivers . Hi Fi sound loved by hundreds of our music...
- [ MADE FOR MUSIC ]: Features Higher sensitivity and wider frequency response. Overall Balanced in full range with Quick...
- [EROGNOMIC COMFORT]: The V1s conform to the shape of your ears and provide incredible noise isolation
What if we told you that your gaming earbud could fit right into your ear at a 45 degree? All without falling off and offering the best gaming experience?
The GranVela V1S High Definition Dual Dynamic Driver earbuds deliver on just that. With dual 6 mm drivers, you get the professional music tuning experience you are looking for. Love it for the full sound range on offer or the gold-plated 3.55 mm adaptor that can fit in with all your smart devices and gaming consoles – there is a lot going on for this pair of earbuds.
Though primarily constructed for enhancing the music listening experience, these earbuds are being used extensively by many pro gamers. They love its ability to cancel noise and provide directional sounds.
There are dual sound drivers ensuring High Definition sound and providing for a much better directional sound. The earpieces of the V1s take the shape of your ear, thus providing a much better noise reduction. It’s extremely lightweight too and you wouldn’t run out of the soft gel ear tips – you get as many as three pairs with each shipment.
Pros
- High Definition sound output
- High tensile wires offering improved performance
- In line mic for call answering
- Accurate directional sound output
- Lightweight
- Very low response time
Cons
- Durability in question, especially if you are a rough user.
#4 – KLIM Fusion Earbuds with Mic Audio Wired Earbuds
- ✅ COMFORTABLE. KLIM Fusion are fitted with memory foam which will retain the shape of your ear for a perfect fit. Some...
- ✅ BUILT TO LAST + WARRANTY. There’s a problem with earphones: they often tend to simply stop working after a few...
- ✅ HIGH QUALITY AUDIO. You will surely get a higher quality audio output with $100 earphones. But KLIM Fusion offers...
Are you unable to hear what your team member’s saying when playing the game? Troubled with all the muffled sounds?
You might want to give the KLIM Fusion earbuds a go. Promising a buzz-free and muffle-free experience, the earbuds are made for you – with as many as four different replacement sizes.
KLIM is a start-up founded in 2015 and is dedicated to making electronic products to optimize your overall gaming experience. One such example of these devices is the KLIM’s Fusion Earbuds.
Though being a comparatively new player in the audio equipment industry, KLIM’s Fusion Earbuds have gained exponential popularity off late. The main aim of KLIM is to provide users with quality durable products.
The KLIM’s Fusion Earbuds eliminate the two worries every earbud buyer has – durability and comfortability over a long period use.
They pride themselves in serving the needs of its users; the earpieces are made up of memory foam and offer the most comfortable earbud experience you will ever have.
It’s also got the best sound quality for earbuds in the same price spectrum. The Integrated microphone ensures you don’t need to look at another earbuds, especially if you are looking one for gaming. Looking for something more portable? You will love the KLIM carrying bag, small, compact and yet comfortable to hold and take with you where you want.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Immaculate sound output
- Good noise cancellation
- Extremely comfortable for use over a long time.
- Integrated Microphone enables you to communicate within games
- Has a crystal clear, noise cancellation.
Cons
- Wires are short and can result in tangling.
- Volume adjustment is made by a slider and not a button. Not everyone will like it
#5 – Turtle Beach Battle Buds
- CRYSTAL CLEAR CHAT - Removable high-sensitivity mic picks up your voice loud and clear or use the built-in inline mic...
- HIGH-QUALITY 10MM SPEAKERS - 10mm speakers produce crisp highs and thundering lows
- MULTIPLATFORM COMPATIBILITY - Designed for Nintendo Switch and mobile gaming on the go. Also works great with PS5, PS4,...
It’s small at just 10 millimeters. It’s compatible with all your devices. And it’s aesthetically designed with a multi-function in-line controller. There is a lot going in for the this gaming headset, which isamong the best gaming earbuds you can find out there.
Why do we say this? These earbuds are compatible across almost all the consoles, smartphones, desktops, and eliminates the need to buy any other extra earbuds. You can use it with mobiles, Nintendo, Xbox One, or even your PS4. When playing, you will love the crisp highs. When listening to music, you will be awed with the clear and bass-full lows.
Experience crystal-clear voice – the earbud is extremely sensitive and makes your voice audible and clear.
You will love the multifunction mic for master volume control and mic mute. Plus, weighing at just 3.6 ounces, this one is exceptionally light.
Pros
- Crisp and crystal-clear voice chat.
- Interchangeable earbuds to ensure comfort
- The Multifunction microphone is a one-stop console for volume master control, mute
- Compatible with almost all gaming consoles, desktops, and mobiles.
Cons
- Has high sensitivity, and can catch a lot of ambient sounds, resulting in echo.
Buying Guide: How to choose the Best Gaming Earbuds
Do you go for a wired or wireless option?
The primary choice you have to make when scouting for the best gaming earbuds is to decide whether you want your earbuds to be wired or wireless.
No wonder wireless earbuds save you from the hassle of tangled wires and worn out audio jacks, but all wireless devices come with a particular battery backup. Some more than others, therefore, if you consider yourself to be a hardcore gamer and find yourself dominating opponents for more than 5-6 hours a day, chances are that your earbuds will be more at the charging station than your ears.
However, wireless gaming earbuds are ideal for users who not only do not spend a lot of time gaming but also want to utilize them for everyday access such as jogging, cycling, etc.
Therefore, if you have some extra bucks up your pockets and do not consider yourself a super committed gamer and do not want to use your gaming earbuds for gaming exclusively, you can opt for the wireless earbuds.
1. Acoustic specifications
The acoustics of an earbud refers to the overall sound engineering of the earbud. The two primary acoustic specifications used are –
- Open Acoustic System
- Closed Acoustic System
The open acoustic system refers to a system where people can easily hear what you are hearing.
Contrary to the open acoustic system, a closed system does not allow the passage of noise to the outside world.
2. Impedance
The impedance of an earbud refers to the maximum sound capability of an earbud. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for earbuds with higher impedance ratings.
3. Frequency range
As the name suggests Frequency range of an earbud refers to the frequency, it is capable of emitting. Generally, a sound which is audible to the human ear can range from anywhere between 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
However, some earbuds support frequencies of sound higher and lower than the above value. A lot of users have reported these earbuds as irritating. Therefore, it is essential to keep in mind the output frequency range of your earbuds.
4. Noise cancellation
While being devoted to the game, the last thing you want is to listen to your sister watching TV or your younger brother crying. It’s a good idea to study and analyze the noise cancellation capabilities of an earbud before buying one.
5. Sensitivity
The sensitivity of an earbud is measured as decibel/mini watt. Which simply means the amount of sound that an earbud can generate per unit power.
Higher sensitives imply higher sound volumes with much better directional sound indicators.
6. Sound Output
Another essential factor, one must keep in mind while buying the best gaming earbud is the sound profile. The sound profile basically defines the various properties associated with a particular sound. These include treble, bass, and sharpness.
To choose the best gaming earbud, it is essential to ensure that the ratio of the bass and treble capabilities of an earbud is almost in a 1:1 ratio.
7. Platform Support
If you find yourself playing games across platforms, find an earbud that can cater to all your needs.
The Turtle Beach Battle Buds In-Ear Gaming Headset is a perfect example of earbuds that are supported across platforms.
8. Fit
Most of us have different ear hole sizes and hence, a pair of earbuds, which may seem to be perfect for a user, maybe utter garbage for the other.
Even though most earbuds today are accompanied by various attachments catering to each ear hole size, choosing the perfect fit is still essential.
9. Durability
If you consider yourself to be a rough user and often wake up with your earbuds tangled in your pockets or often find yourself drying your earbuds after they have been washed in the washing machine, one factor you must keep in mind is the durability and warranty period of the earbud.
FAQs
The perfect bass to the treble ratio for gaming earbuds should be 1:1
The sensitivity and the overall impedance of a headset determine the earbuds sensitivity to direction
Gaming earbuds can be wired and wireless.
KLIM Fusion Earbuds with Mic Audio Wired Earbuds are one of the most durable pair of earbuds. They also provide a warranty of 5 years.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to game seriously, you need more than just the right device and controller. A gaming earbud can help make all the difference, ensuring you and your team members communicate quick, which can make a world of difference in some games.
Yes, every gaming enthusiast wants to choose the best gaming earbuds. This list mentions some of the pioneers of the audio industries. However, it is fascinating to see so many variations in such a small market segment.
The right earbuds can differ. We all have our expectations and needs. With this list and guide, we hope to help you choose the best gaming earbuds so that you can ace all the games you participate in.
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Sources:
- 10 Best Bass Earbuds {From Budget to High-End}
- 5 Best Gaming Earbuds
- Best Gaming Earbuds 2020 – Comprehensive Buying Guide and Gaming Earbuds Reviews
- Video, BEST 5: Gaming Earbuds 2019
- Best Gaming Earbuds 2020 – Noise Canceling, Microphone, and More
- Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds
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