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 our top picks, 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.
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With this in mind, if you're looking for something lightweight, like this Logitech G435, or for one of the best headsets for FH5, like these Razer Hammerhead Duos, then we've got you covered right here.
We've also highlighted some of the latest news surrounding upcoming headset releases so you're kept in the loop with the most recent technology.
Best headset for racing
- SteelSeries Arctis Pro
- Razer Kraken
- ASTRO Gaming A50
- Razer Hammerhead Duo
- Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED
- Razer Blackshark V2 Pro
Best all-round headset for racing - Logitech G433
This Logitech G433 looks to be a great pick to upgrade any setup as it includes many characteristics to help engross yourself in the action.
For example, it comes with 7.1 Surround Sound, designed to capture the highs and lows of engine roars and your surroundings accurately to then relay back to you for the ultimate audio experience.
Moreover, you get a noise-cancelling to chat with your mates whilst racing. However, you can detach the mic when you want to get down to some serious racing that requires full concentration, making it the ideal device for games like F1.
Best PlayStation headset for racing - SteelSeries Arctis Pro
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is designed to be a premium headset, especially for the PS5, thanks to wireless 2.4G audio and 40,000Hz solution speakers which, SteelSeries boasts, deliver exceptional realism and clarity.
Additionally, this headset comes with a ClearCast mic, designed to enhance vocal quality whilst minimising background noise, so your friends can hear your celebrations distinctly as you race past them online.
Also, it's worth noting, the Arctis Pro comes with a 20-hour battery life for wireless gaming, which is another reason we feel this headset is well worth considering to fulfil your racing game needs.
Best Xbox headset for racing - Razer Kraken
There's a lot to like about the Razer Kraken headset, most notably its unique cooling-gel infused ear cushions, engineered to minimise heat build-up for when you want to buckle yourself in for a long evening of racing.
It also comes with a retractable mic so you can choose when you want to communicate in-game, plus 50mm drivers which should give you a wide soundscape to hear every detail of your racing surroundings, including nearby competition.
On the whole, we feel this Razer Kraken is a great option to consider, especially if you play on Xbox One/Series X.
Best PC headset for racing - ASTRO Gaming A50
If you're chosen device for racing games is a PC, then this ASTRO Gaming A50 headset may be the one for you.
It comes with ASTRO's Audio V2 technology plus Dolby Audio which, ASTRO states, provides crisp highs, controlled mids, and distortion-free bass for crisp and clear audio throughout the entire sound spectrum.
Furthermore, it features 15+ hours of battery life, making the A50's a solid contender if you're looking to play games like FH5 for long, extended periods of time.
Best earbuds for racing - Razer Hammerhead Duo
Back to Razer now and the Hammerhead Duo earbuds, which should be more suitable if you find over-ear headsets uncomfortable.
They come with an in-line mic for in-game chat, plus Razer's dual-driver technology, engineered to provide full-range audio whilst you game.
Moreover, they come with three different-sized silicone earbuds to ensure they fit comfortably, and the 3.5mm jack means they're compatible with nearly all consoles and PC so no matter what you play on, these earbuds should have you covered.
Best lightweight headset for racing - Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED
We've previously featured the G435 LIGHTSPEED headset in our list of the best headsets for Gran Turismo, so it may come as no surprise we're including it again here.
What we like about this device, in particular, is its lightweight design. In fact, the headset weighs just 165g, making it one of the lightest headsets on the market and, therefore, a great choice for extended racing sessions.
In terms of connectivity, you'll find it supports Bluetooth or Logitech's Lightspeed USB-A dongle that should offer a pretty much zero latency connection to your games console to help increase your immersion in the wheel-to-wheel action.
It's also worth pointing out the headset comes with 18-hour battery life as well, thus adding another reason why we think it's a top pick for longer racing sessions.
Best premium headset for racing - Razer Blackshark V2 Pro
The Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is on the pricier side; however, it's up there as one of the best gaming headsets on the market today.
Firstly, its titanium 50mm drivers are designed to deliver powerful audio, with Razer's triforce technology allowing them to deliver excellent high, mid and low frequencies. For added clarity, you get a titanium-coated diaphragm as well.
To communicate with your friends, you get a hyperclear supercardioid mic that offers more noise rejection from the sides than regular microphones, thus resulting in a truer presentation of your voice.
This headset also features passive noise cancellation from the closed earcups to reduce background noise. Plus, the earcups are made from breathable memory foam to keep you comfortable during long racing sessions.
Overall, we'd say this premium Razer device is certainly worth checking out to get the most out of your favourite racing titles.
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.
More racing accessories
It's important to get your setup right in order to beat your competition. Check out some of our other top racing accessories picks right here to help you build the ultimate racing environment.
- Best monitor for racing
- Best wheels for Xbox Series X
- Best wheels for PS5
- Best racing seats
- Best triple monitor arms for racing
- Best racing gloves
Read More: Best budget racing equipment - Our top picks