Best Mini PC Overall Apple Mac mini (2018). In Ethernet port make this one of the best mini PCs around, regardless of the design. NUC is a mini PC that delivers desktop-gaming-grade.
One of our top-rated PC headsets for gaming is 20% off at Amazon right now. Sure, it's expensive, but this is a great pair of cans and the GameDAC offers extra control and takes the processing away from your PC. What makes a great PC headset? Well, aside from the quality of the sound, there are a few other things to consider. Do you need noise cancelling? If you're in a busy area, using a laptop, you'll need noise cancelling.
Comfort is also a factor, because you'll be wearing your headset for hours at a time, as you play whatever you play. If you stream, or flip between watching videos and gaming on your PC, you'll not only need a headset comfortable enough to sit on your head for hours, but one that has adaptable sound settings, to make the most of whatever you're listening to.
Videos demand different types of audio to games. Finally, price: when it comes to PC headsets for gaming, you get what you pay for, but some are better value than others. If you're investing in the you can, you should go the extra mile and get a headset to match. We test all the PC headsets we recommend here, and use them for everyday life too, so if we recommend something you know we've actually used it.
The best PC headset for gaming 1. Razer Kraken Tournament Edition. Volume controls are so-so If you're looking for a mix of quality and great value, the Edition is the best PC headset for gaming right now.
You can pick it up for less than $100 / £90 at the moment, and that's a hell of a lot of headset for your money. Essentially, this is a PC-optimized version of the Razer Kraken Pro V2, which is our top pick in both our best PS4 headset and best Xbox One headset guides. You actually get enhanced audio with the Tournament, which offers THX Spacial sound instead of the Kraken Pro V2's regular stereo audio. The result is that the surround sound, and your placement within the gaming world is better here. This headset comes with a USB connection too, which is handy for PC play.
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What sets the Krakens apart is their comfort and value. You can wear this headset for hours and it feels better than most other gaming headsets you can buy, even the vastly more expensive high-end models. And the sound the Kraken TE delivers punches well above its weight when you consider how cheap (relatively) this is. There's even a volume control box that you can stick to your PC desk, to stop it shifting around if you move your head. There are downsides - the mic isn't the highest quality (a problem with all modern Razer headsets), and the volume control button is the least well-designed aspect of the whole headset. But if you're looking for something top value and high quality for your PC set-up, this is tough to top unless you start spending way more money. Steelseries Arctis Pro with GameDAC.
Quite expensive If you're looking for a higher budget headset, designed with PC in mind, the Steelseries Arctis Pro with GameDAC is the one to buy. While the drivers are smaller, they deliver an excellent frequency response range (10-40,000Hz), which is actually more than the human ear can perceive.
The result is audio far richer than most other gaming headsets, which makes the Arctis Pro a great all-rounder, ideal for anyone who switches between gaming and other PC usage. Which we all do, right? The design of the Arctis Pro is unusual too, offering more of a headband style than other headsets, which makes it comfortable in a different way. It's still very wearable after hours of play, although becomes a little looser after months of use (the headband can be replaced cheaply and easily, however). What makes this model stand-out, however, is the GameDAC, which fulfils a number of roles. It not only lets you change volume and audio settings, but it also takes the processing of the headset away from your PC's hardware, so you don't have to take any knocks in performance while you use it.
The mic is great too - better than the Razer headsets - so if you're doing a lot of talking in team-based games, or you want better personal audio for streaming, the Arctis Pro performs better than the competition. A great PC headset, then, but one that comes at a serious price. Razer Nari Ultimate. Mic is less good The is a wonderful, feature-packed wireless headset that - unlike many other PC headsets - actually justifies the asking price.
And that's saying something, because this is an expensive piece of kit. Let's start with the sound. It's not just loud, but crisp, and there is virtually zero artefacting (little incidental noises or sound cut-outs) from the wireless connection, thanks to an impressive 2.4GHz connection. The THX spacial means that the sensation of being inside the gaming world you're playing is near unparalleled, and you can pinpoint where each sound is coming from in your game - whether they be incidental noises, or approaching enemies hoping to shotgun you in the back. What sets the headset apart is the haptic feedback, which means the ear-cups actually vibrate as you play. It's not the most essential feature, but it's a cool extra that does slightly enhance the way you listen.
While you undoubtedly pay a little extra over the regular Razer Nari for the Hypersense tech, there are enough boosts over the vanilla model to justify the Ultimate's 25% higher price. The drivers are bigger, and frequency response range better, and the Ultimate's mic is retractable, so you can remove it completely from view if you're not using it. We're not keen on the mic, and did have a couple of issues with our voice cutting out, but it's not a huge issue. The charging time of the headset's battery has been decreased too, and now takes about 4 hours from zero to full. It's an exceptional headset that only loses out to the Razer Kraken Tournament on account of its higher price making it a more 'luxury' purchase.
If you can afford a great, high-end wireless headset, this is the one to get. Turtle Beach Elite Atlas. No USB connection The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is a headset aimed squarely at PC players, but at a reasonable price.
It's a little cheaper than the Elite Pro and Pro 2, but very much cuts down on the frills to deliver in areas that truly matter. It's a super comfortable PC headset, especially if you wear glasses (thanks to the actually good Glasses-relief system), and the sound quality is high thanks to some quality 50mm drivers. No, it doesn't quite match the Razer Kraken in this department, or the Steelseries Arctis Pro, but the audio is still above average for a mid-priced pair of gaming cans.
As ever, the mic is good quality - something Turtle Beach does well - so this headset is perfect for team-based online play. Combined with the Windows Sonic sound, which gives excellent directional audio, this makes for a great eSports and competitive gaming choice. Although, to be honest, we'd recommend it for everyday players too.
The only real drawback is that the sound range can't match better 'mixed use' headsets, so this isn't as great for video and music audio. As a pure gaming headset, at a competitive price, it's a winner. HyperX Cloud Alpha. No USB connection The HyperX Cloud Alpha is an archetypal gaming headset. While it isn't pretty, or filled with fancy features, what it does is deliver superior sound and comfort at a reasonable price. You could just as easily pick up the HyperX Cloud 2 and get a similar experience, but we recommend the Alpha for a couple of key reasons.
The biggest one is that the frequency response range is slightly better in the Alpha, so it offers a slightly richer sound for all different uses. While it doesn't have the 7.1 audio of the Cloud 2, its stereo sound is pretty much as good, so there's no issue with working out where sounds come from in the gaming environment. The audio is further enhanced here by the dual-chamber drivers, which essentially separate the bass from the other sound types, allowing for a slightly richer audio. It's a comfy headset too, and feels nice and chunky, so you're unlikely to break it. There's an in-line control, instead of a separate box, and it's fully adjustable for all head-sizes and shapes. The mic, which performs well, can be detached too if you're playing offline. This is a good mid-range pick, with audio and durability at the heart of the design, making it perfect for everyday PC play.
Steelseris Arctis 7. Not as clear as the Arctis Pro There's a lot to love about this mid-range wireless gaming headset. The Steelseries Arctis 7 is an elegantly designed wireless PC gaming headset, but one that has enough versatility to be used with any of the wireless (or wired) audio devices in your home. While it isn't the very best gaming headset on this list, it's one that can be taken outside the PC and into the wider world. Or at least used with your game consoles.
So what's the deal with it? As with most Steelseries drivers, the 40mm ones in this gaming headset perform extremely well, although this doesn't have the frequency response range of the Arctis Pro, so the audio isn't quite as rich.
What does seriously impress is the battery life, which offers nearly 20 hours of use before you need to charge it again. Combined with the decent wireless connection - where the audio isn't quite as pure as the Pro, but is still excellent - this is a great wire-free option for busier PC set-ups. The headband design is comfy, the price is great for what you actually get, and the design of this headset is so lovely you could wear it out and about.
It's a great wireless option. Logitech G Pro.
Few features If money is tighter, but you still want a great PC headset, you should look to grab the Logitech G Pro gaming headset, especially if you can find it at a reduced price. While it lacks the bells and whistles of the high-end headsets, this one is light (it actually weighs in at 259 grams) durable, and well designed for lengthy gaming sessions with your PC. There's no extra control box or fancy features, but the G Pro does the basics very well. Sound quality is good, without being stunning, but you still hear an incredible amount, especially online. This headset is endorsed by several competitive CS:GO players, and it's easy to see why; the fidelity of the sound combined with the light weight makes it ideal for long, stressful online games rather than rich, immersive single player adventures. The microphone is generally very good, and we had no problems while testing it, but there have been complaints online about it being inconsistent. So make of that what you will.
If you find this headset for $60 / £55, we recommend snapping it up, because that's the sweet spot for price. And if you do, it's a genuine hardware bargain. Corsair HS50. Few features If you're going seriously budget, get the Corsair HS50.
Other headsets in this price range - with the exception of the Turtle Beach Recon series - are often cheap, uncomfortable, and offer sub-par sound. Not so with the HS50, which manages to deliver comfort and decent sound for a price that hovers around $50 / £45. The 50mm drivers don't offer the biggest frequency response (although they are rather good), but they're nice and loud, delivering booming bass and swelling scores in most games. The audio only really suffers in sound-rich environments and with dialogue. It's very comfy too, and chunky enough that you don't worry about breaking them if you put them down on your desk too hard. While there aren't many features, you do get on-ear controls, and the built-in mic is reliable enough to see most people through an online session or two of Destiny 2.
Overall, this isn't the most accomplished, exciting PC headset you'll find. But it's cheap and does a great job with the stuff that actually matters. Some online stores give us a small cut if you buy something through one of our links. Read our for more info.
By. 12:24 pm, March 11, 2016.
Tell us, Apple! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac Mac users needn’t bother pre-ordering an Oculus Rift headset because they can’t use it. According to Oculus founder Palmer Luckey, that’s because to meet its recommended specifications.
They’re not powerful enough to play the latest games at high-settings, either. Even if you spend thousands on a high-end Mac Pro, you’re going to be disappointed with its gaming prowess — especially if you want to drink in some of those sweet, sweet 4K graphics.
So, is it about time Apple built a Mac that’s good for gaming? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over this and more!
Killian Bell — Writer, Cult of Android: When I decided to upgrade my MacBook to a desktop a few years, I knew I wanted enough power to play games. I have a PS4 and I play it often, but I think a lot of genres are better played with a keyboard and mouse. It didn’t take me long to decide that I would have to move away from Apple machines. None of them have a GPU that’s suitable for playing the latest titles at high settings. As noted by Luckey, you can spend $6,000 on a Mac Pro and you still wouldn’t have enough power to use the Oculus Rift.
Even with two AMD FirePro D700 GPUs, you’re going to struggle to play recent titles in 4K. Yet a custom-built PC that cost just $1,000 can power Oculus Rift, and you wouldn’t need to spend much more to get a smooth 4K experience, either. Now, I know Apple’s high-end machines are built with professional content creators in mind, and they do a great job at catering to that market. But with more and more people using Macs and virtual reality on the rise, I feel like Apple is missing out by not offering at least one desktop that’s suitable for playing games. So, my question to you is this: Should Apple be doing more to accommodate gamers? Luke Dormehl — Writer, Cult of Mac: This is a tricky one. Normally, I feel like I can spend our Friday Night Fights session arguing something that I believe to be true for both myself and Apple users in general.
This week, I’m forced to admit that, as much as I’d love to see a high-end games PC equivalent made by Apple — particularly one that could be used for Oculus — it’s not necessarily something Apple should be in a hurry to pursue. To start by addressing your Oculus Rift point, while it’s certainly true that even a Mac Pro couldn’t run Oculus, Palmer Luckey’s point does leave out a few things. It is highly likely that the spec for running Oculus will change over the coming years. I have no doubt that, if bringing it to Mac was a priority, Oculus’ creators could optimize for Mac. The fact that the team apparently paused development for OS X (and Linux too) isn’t purely limited to the technical capabilities of Apple’s computers. Oculus also isn’t the be-all and end-all of VR.
After all, you can get a passable VR effect on your smartphone or PS4, so the idea that a Mac wouldn’t be able to do the same thing is, frankly, ludicrous. Macs will play games, but not like PCs. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac As for whether or not Apple should do more to accommodate gamers, it’s a shame they don’t — but I understand why. It’s hard to believe now, but during the Apple II era, Apple’s computers were some of the best games machines around. Some of the biggest developers working today got their start on Apple machines. In that sense, it would be nice for Apple to embrace its heritage, but Apple is no longer focused on that crowd. Today, Macs are more targeted at creatives and casual users.
The priority is on making a computer that’s thin, silent to run, and — in the case of MacBooks — has a long battery life. An expandable Mac with an external GPU goes against Apple’s philosophy so much that it’s virtually impossible to imagine Tim Cook, Jony Ive and co.
It’s hard to blame them either, particularly when you look at the way that the PC market is declining, while. PC gamers are a passionate, vocal crowd — but they still represent a niche, and Apple’s shown that it’s not interested in catering for niches, and nor is it interested in creating a wide variety of different machines (as you would find with PCs), each addressing slightly different use-cases. It would be great to have a games PC with the attention to detail that Apple puts into its computers, and personally I’m convinced that VR is going to represent the next big game-changer in tech, but is it something Apple should do right now? I don’t think so. Killian: I’m sure the specifications for Oculus Rift will change over the years, but they’re not going to go backwards. If anything, the headset will just require even more powerful processors and GPUs to run even more impressive games.
And yes, you can get VR on smartphones, but it’s not the same experience. Smartphone headsets costs under $100 for a reason, while Rift costs $599. I wouldn’t want to splash out on the latter for a subpar experience that’s been watered-down for Mac. I don’t agree that it’s against “Apple’s philosophy” to offer an expandable Mac, either. Just four years ago, it was selling a Mac Pro that was more like a traditional PC, with PCIe slots that allowed for standard desktop video cards that could be upgraded. Why can’t it offer another Mac that offers the same? Why has it become so adverse to upgradeable computers?
I know Mac sales aren’t declining yet, but they will. They’re not going to die out anytime soon due to that creative market, which needs Macs no matter what, but there’s another market that will keep buying PCs regardless — and that’s gamers.
A large number don’t want to play games on a tablet or even a console — they want the superior experience a PC brings. Mac users are missing out on VR.
Photo: Ste Smith / Cult of Mac Luke: You seem very convinced that Mac sales are going to crash some time soon. In fact, it’s pretty much a repeated argument from you whenever we have these fun Friday get-togethers: “Yes, Apple’s doing okay now, but just you wait until insert doom scenario.” As I’ve said, I’d love to see a high-end Mac that could run Oculus and play top games. As it is, most of my gaming has to be done on consoles, since I’ve not taken your leap away from Macs and back into PCs. But I don’t think it’s something Apple is likely to do, and given the success it’s currently enjoying with its Mac sales, I don’t think there’s any reason to do it, either. Let me put it to you another way: do you genuinely think a top-spec games iMac would really be anything more than a niche product for Apple? Executed correctly, I can see it appealing to a core group of gamers. But casual customers?
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Killian: Well, whether the Mac business crashes or not, surely Apple would want more sales if it can get them? What if Mac Pro sales fall because those buying them decide that can get a more powerful PC and an Oculus Rift for half the price? Virtual reality is taking off, and Apple is yet to do anything about it. You can buy a Google Cardboard headset for iPhone, but very few apps are available for it. If you want a greater experience — whether that’s with a smartphone or a desktop PC — you need to move away from Apple products. I don’t disagree that it would be somewhat of a niche, but probably more so than the current Mac Pro.
And if Apple could position it in between the iMac and the Mac Pro, many of those buying the former might consider paying extra for the machine that is capable of playing the latest games at respectable settings. Let’s turn this over to the readers now. Would you like Apple to offer a Mac you can game on, or is it unnecessary?
Is a series of weekly death matches between two no-mercy brawlers who will fight to the death — or at least agree to disagree — about which is better: Apple or Google, iOS or Android?