The best headset for racing will no doubt capture the essence of what it's like to race in real life through fully immersive audio and sound quality. However, finding the right one for you can be a little tricky at times, especially considering the wide variety of options to choose from.
Fortunately, we've done some of the research for you to compile a list of the best gaming headsets around based on price, reviews, and any features that make these top headsets stand out from the crowd.
In terms of features, we'd recommend something that can deliver 360-degree audio to truly immerse yourself in the racing action and to help you become more aware of your surroundings to minimise the risk of causing a racing incident.
We'd also advise you to pick up something that's going to be comfortable to wear, especially if you enjoy a longer sim session. A good amount of padding and a lightweight build are must-have qualities for a more enjoyable audio experience.
With this in mind, if you're looking for something over-ear, like this SteelSeries Arctis Pro, or a top set of gaming earbuds, like the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid, then we've got you covered right here.
Best headset for racing
click to enlarge
+ 51. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
Best headset for racing overall
Noise Control: Advanced Passive Noise Isolation
Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Android & iOS
In our opinion, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro stands out as one of the top headsets available for racing due to its emphasis on positional audio, which can help you stay aware of your surroundings on the track, communication clarity, great for online competition, and noise cancellation for increased immersion.
More specifically, the headset boasts 50mm titanium drivers that wield impressive power, particularly alongside Razer's triforce technology. This innovative feature enables the drivers to produce exceptional high, mid, and low frequencies, resulting in enhanced trebles, vibrant sound, and deep bass.
Moreover, the headset incorporates titanium-coated diaphragms, which contribute to improving in-game clarity. With Advanced Passive Noise Isolation as well, you won't have any trouble immersing yourself in the action as this technology, along with the closed earcups, helps to block out distractions.
So, if you're after a gaming headset that can transport you into a truly immersive audio environment, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is unquestionably a compelling choice worth considering.
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click to enlarge + 52. SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Best PlayStation headset for racing
Noise Control: Sound Isolation
Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro stands out as a premium headset, specifically for the PS5, featuring top-of-the-line wireless 2.4G audio and advanced 40,000Hz solution speakers. These cutting-edge components are meticulously crafted to deliver unparalleled realism and crystal-clear sound clarity, ensuring an exceptional racing experience.
The headset also boasts a ClearCast microphone, engineered to elevate vocal quality while effectively reducing background noise. With this feature, your friends will be able to hear your enthusiastic celebrations as you zoom past them in online races without any distractions.
Moreover, the Arctis Pro impresses with its extensive 20-hour battery life for wireless gaming, making it an excellent choice for fulfilling all your racing game needs.
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click to enlarge + 53. Razer Kraken V3
Best Xbox headset for racing
Noise Control: Passive Noise Cancellation
Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
If you're on Xbox, the Razer Kraken V3 is a fantastic choice. Its abundance of soft cushioning ensures lasting comfort throughout the day and longer racing sessions.
More specifically, it features memory foam cushioning on both sides, delivering exceptional comfort and improved sound isolation. The headband is also cushioned to minimise pressure on the top of your head.
In terms of performance, the headset boasts 50mm Triforce titanium drivers that provide 7.1 surround sound. This results in lifelike and accurate sound reproduction, immersing you in the roars of an engine and cheers from a crowd.
On the whole, the Razer Kraken V3 excels in comfort and sound quality, all at a relatively inexpensive price. Its compatibility with PCs further solidifies its position as one of the best gaming headsets available, particularly for racing games.
Read More: Best wheels for Xbox Series X
click to enlarge + 54. ASTRO Gaming A50
Best PC headset for racing
Noise Control: Sound Isolation
Compatibility: PC, Xbox
For those who prefer gaming on a PC, the ASTRO Gaming A50 headset is an ideal choice, especially for racing games.
Equipped with ASTRO's Audio V2 technology and Dolby Audio, this headset can deliver an immersive audio experience with clear highs, controlled mids, and distortion-free bass, ensuring exceptional sound quality across the entire spectrum.
With a remarkable battery life of over 15 hours as well, the A50 proves to be a reliable companion for extended gaming sessions, making it a strong candidate for enthusiasts who enjoy playing games like Forza for long periods.
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click to enlarge + 55. EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid
Best earbuds for racing
Noise Control: Noise Isolation
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox
For those who prefer in-ear headphones as opposed to over-ear headsets, we'd recommend checking out these EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds.
With a total of twenty hours of battery life, you can race for nearly a full day without needing to recharge. They're also highly versatile as you can connect seamlessly to the PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, and smartphones through Bluetooth and a low-latency USB-C dongle.
When it comes to sound, the GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds can deliver deep bass, rich mid-tones, and remarkable directional audio so you know exactly where your opposition is around you on the track. Additionally, they offer noise isolation for those times when you want to tune out distractions and focus on your racing.
One minor drawback is that the built-in microphone is only compatible with Bluetooth connectivity, not the USB-C dongle that comes with the headphones. However, this is because the dongle prioritises low-latency audio to avoid delays, thus adding to the realism of your sim racing experience. So, considering their price and performance, we'd say these EPOS earbuds are an excellent pick.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When it comes to finding the right headset for gaming, there are usually a few questions that pop up, we're here to answer some of the more common queries.
How much should I spend on a headset for racing?
As racing games aren't so much about listening out for footsteps and gunshots like FPS games are, a high-end headset may not be entirely necessary for improving your in-game performance.
Therefore, how much you spend really depends on you and your budget.
If you're looking for a headset to use solely for racing games, then you're probably better off going for one of the slightly more affordable options as you'll only really need the mic to talk to your friends online.
However, if you're after something to hear all the sounds of your favourite titles in exceptional quality, then you may be more tempted by one of the more premium options out there.
Do headsets improve racing games?
For FPS games, headsets can improve your in-game performance as they can allow you to gain a better understanding of your surroundings to outperform your competition.
However, for racing games, a headset's primary use would be to enhance the sound quality whilst giving you the ability to minimise the sound produced whilst gaming.
This is ideal if you prefer to game at night and want to keep the noise to a minimum to avoid disturbing neighbours, but won't necessarily improve your racing ability.
Is a bigger driver size better for a headset?
The size of a headset's driver refers to the size of the diaphragm, the component which vibrates to produce sound.
In general, larger drivers produce stronger sound waves, particularly in the bass, but this doesn't mean they sound better as it's just one factor among many that influence sound quality.
Impedance, damping and tuning; frequency response; driver positioning, and the headphone signal amplifier all play roles in the sound and bass response, so it's worth finding a good balance between all components if you're looking for the best sound.
Having said that, we'd recommend 40 - 50mm drivers as a good starting point for exceptional audio quality.
What does noise cancelling do?
Noise-cancelling headsets are designed to reduce unwanted background noise using active noise control, making it easier to listen to your surroundings and car on games like Gran Turismo.
This is also beneficial when talking to your mates online as you don't want your mic picking up unnecessary noise over your voice.
Do I need surround sound for racing?
As previously mentioned, if the main reason you wear a headset is so you can listen to the game audio rather than through the TV then purchasing a headset with surround sound might help you become more immersed in the atmosphere of your racing games.
However, surround sound isn't essential, particularly if you just need a headset so you can chat with your friends whilst playing online, so the choice is really down to you and your personal preference.
Should you get a wireless or wired headset for racing games?
Ultimately, this will depend on a number of factors surrounding your racing setup.
For example, if you're a PC gamer, then we'd recommend going down the wired route as there will be no latency between the outputted game audio and when you hear it, thus delivering crisp and smooth audio quality.
However, a wireless headset has the advantage of providing you with more freedom to game either at your racing rig or from the comfort of your own sofa.
Also, due to recent advances in technology, latency shouldn't be too big of an issue with a wireless headset these days either.
Are all headsets compatible with both Xbox and PlayStation consoles?
Unfortunately no, not all headsets are compatible with both consoles, therefore, you'll often find devices that have versions for PS4 and PS5, and separate headsets for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Some devices do cross over, notably, those with 3.5mm wired connections, but the difference is mainly due to different audio firmware, inputs, and capabilities between consoles.
We'd advise checking each manufacturer's website to see if any given headset is compatible with the console in question.
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