Best Headsets For Racing 2024

The best headset for racing can 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, especially with the wide variety of options to choose from.

Fortunately, we've compiled a list of the best gaming headsets for racing around based on price, reviews, and any features that make these devices stand out from the crowd.

In terms of features, we'd recommend something that can deliver 360-degree audio to immerse you in the racing action and to help you become more aware of your surroundings. We'd also suggest going for something that's going to be comfortable to wear, especially if you enjoy a longer racing session. A good amount of padding and a lightweight build are must-have qualities as a result.

Bearing these factors in mind, these are some of the best headsets for racing around. From options for the likes of the PS5 and Xbox to alternative earbuds, we've got all bases covered.

Best headsets for racing

1. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro - a well-rounded choice for most people
2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro - best choice for PlayStation
3. Razer Kraken V3 - a superb alternative for Xbox
4. ASTRO Gaming A50 - top pick for PC
5. EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid - best earbuds for gaming

Credit: Razer

1. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

Best headset for racing overall

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 great wireless gaming headset that can transport you into a truly immersive audio environment, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro is unquestionably a compelling choice worth considering.

Reasons to buy:

• Big 50mm titanium drivers can produce impressive sound
• Advanced Passive Noise Isolation technology keeps you focused

Read More: Best racing wheels

Credit: SteelSeries

2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Best PlayStation headset for racing

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 and, in turn, one of the best headsets for the PS5 around.

Reasons to buy:

• 40,000Hz speakers
• ClearCast mic for online chat

Read More: Best wheels for PS5

Credit: Razer

3. Razer Kraken V3

Best Xbox headset for racing

If a top Xbox headset is what you're after, 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.

Reasons to buy:

• Memory foam cushioning
• 7.1 surround sound

Read More: Best wheels for Xbox Series X

Credit: ASTRO Gaming

4. ASTRO Gaming A50

Best PC headset for racing

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.

Reasons to buy:

• Dolby Audio creates an immersive soundscape
• Big battery life

Read More: Best monitors for racing

Credit: EPOS

5. EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid

Best earbuds for racing

For those who prefer in-ear headphones as opposed to over-ear headsets, we'd recommend checking out these EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds - arguably some of the best gaming earbuds around.

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.

Reasons to buy:

• A great in-ear alternative
• Compatible across all platforms

Read More: Best racing seats

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 that 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, 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.