The reason why this is such a good thing, in particular, is because not a lot of third-party headsets + microphones tend to work properly with consoles. But this isn’t a problem with the Astro A50 or its mic, as both of them work well. At least, this is the case most of the time. The CloudX also lives up to its namesake, with a cloud-like fit and weight making it one of the most pleasant headsets to wear on the market. There's a reason this headset has only received minimal changes since its introduction over five years ago — if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Elite Pro 2 as a wired headset doesn't sport a huge amount of features that a fully wireless system often does, deferring to 3.5mm connectivity through an Xbox controller as its primary interface with your console. Where it does deliver is big, cavernous sound which works incredibly well coupled with Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos. The sound profile is cinematic while also giving you tactical spatial awareness, and is one of the few headsets I can definitively attribute additional kills to in games like Battlefield and Call of Duty. The microphone is no slouch either, although you probably won't be creating content on it, it does the job for communication online. The Stealth 600 audio punches well above its weight, with great bass and treble. The headset also has decent software for added configurations, with decent mic-monitoring side-tone atop a flip-to-mute microphone. Turtle Beach's audio profiles tend to skew toward tactical play, emphasizing sound effects that might give you an edge in games like Call of Duty. I can safely say I have gotten kills as a result of Turtle Beach's headsets due to their sound tuning. My personal favorite Xbox headset right now, which I use as my primary device. The versatility of the Arctis Nova Pro is unmatched, with a hot-swap battery feature and easy multi-platform support, owing to dual USB connections. (Image credit: Jez Corden | Windows Central)

Wired headsets on Xbox also come with some basic spatial sound for free using your console's Windows Sonic algorithm, and also some basic mic monitoring through Xbox party chat — although on-board solutions tend to be better, they're usually exclusive to more expensive wireless headsets. Indeed, the main downside of a wired headset is that they often sport less features than wireless headsets. In addition, using a wired headset with an Xbox controller that is plugged in and charging also can introduce nasty distortion into your sound mix, and also for those listening to you through party chat on your microphone. Wireless headsets sidestep some of these limitations, but it comes at a price. Just hold down the red power buttons on both until they start turning white. Once they are fully white, the syncing process will be complete. Plug the headset into the Xbox again and then try to see if the mic is working this time around. In my Turtle Beach Stealth Pro review, I described how this headset attempts to do a lot, which is often a recipe for disaster. Sometimes in these scenarios, we find that key features have not been given the attention they need, with products that try to do too much. Thankfully, this isn't the case here. The software will not detect any other ASTRO Gaming products prior to the generations of products mentioned above, and is not compatible with the C40 TR Controller Or A20 Wireless Headsets. Leatherette cups and headband, a detachable boom-style microphone, in-line audio controls, a high-quality braided cable, with audio and ergonomics that feel like they belong on a far more expensive product — this is the ideal entry-level gaming headset for Xbox users.

Next up, we have our roundup for best wired Xbox headsets. If you don't fancy wireless for whatever reason, whether you just prefer the versatility of 3.5mm across multiple devices like PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and so on, there are other benefits to getting a wired headset. The Astro A40 TR + MixAmp is a great set up for content creators, given that you can mix a PC source with a SPDIF optical source (like direct from a TV) and mix the sound devices into a single stream. It's essentially the wired version of the Astro A50, although it's a bit too expensive to recommend generally. (Image credit: Future) How to choose You could force the Xbox One to recognize your Astro A50 headset and sure that both the audio output as well as input through the microphone work perfectly. To do so, head on over to the settings of the console and try to locate an option named “Kinect and Devices”. Choose this option and then try to locate the settings for the headset from within the new menu that’ll appear on the screen.

The two main differences between Xbox headsets in 2023 boil down to wired, and wireless. Although in a way, all Xbox headsets are wireless, since you even connect wired headsets directly up to your wireless controller, generally. The upside of a wired headset is that they're generally cheaper than the wireless counterparts since they don't need batteries or wireless radio transmitters to connect to your console. They use a 3.5mm cable that plugs into the underside of your Xbox controller. Where this headset really shines is the overall sound. I had to tweak it a bit to get it into a place I liked it, but the software gives you a large degree of control over the EQ experience and even has some presets for specific games. You can tune the headset very easily between a more immersive and realistic cinematic experience to something more tactical, with a good soundscape and solid sound reproduction. You can get even finer quality sound by connecting it to the receiver using the included 3.5mm cable too if you want to get really serious about your sound experience. The software experience could be a little better, and the microphone audio is a disappointment for a headset that costs as much as this, but it more than does the job. The construction is also impeccable. I really love the similar Arctis Nova Pro (which is another headset I use as my primary when visiting my parents' place), but the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is more generous with its size range, which is better for people with a large head like me. The over-ear cups are also bigger, roomier, and offer what I'd consider to be a broader sound stage. The audio quality is just luscious too, and something I've always been a fan of Turtle Beach for. Their tactical tuning is just great for games like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty, accentuating sound ranges that give away enemy positions and the like. You can also turn it off for a more cinematic, bassy sound, which makes movies, music, and single-player games really shine. It's very, very rare that I give 5-star marks to a headset, but the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro more than earned its pay grade here. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro follows a recent tradition of higher-end headsets to include Bluetooth, so you can mix sound from a second mobile source with Xbox gameplay. This is great for content creators since sometimes you need to use multiple sound sources for streaming etc, but also just general users if their friends are on other platforms. Usually, this kind of feature is susceptible to interference owing to the proximity of the Xbox wireless radios to the Bluetooth radios. The Stealth Pro is the first headset I've used in my extremely radio-congested office that offers a solid signal across both sound sources over long periods of time.For those who think the multi-receiver, ANC-enabled, Bluetooth-laden Arctis Nova Pro might be overkill for their gaming needs, the Astro A50 is the next-best option. The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 2) is arguably the best entry-level wireless headset for Xbox users, with direct-to-Xbox connectivity and a decent array of features. It's not to be confused with the Stealth 600 Gen-2 MAX however, which is a different headset entirely (although, confusingly named). The Gen-2 MAX is a fair bit more expensive owing to its monstrous 48-hour batteries and multi-platform USB dongle. This regular Gen-2 is a pure Xbox wireless headset, and I am recommending it for those who want to ditch the cables without ditching their bank liquidity. The Razer Kaira X has on-ear controls as opposed to in-line controls often seen on wired headsets, and sports a braided cable and a detachable cardioid mic that has no business being this good at this price point. This headset has the best price-to-quality ratio of any wireless Xbox headset out there, and should be the first thing you consider if you don't need Bluetooth, and don't want to break the bank.