Razer Kraken
RRP: £54.99
The Kraken is a solid all-rounder, offering 2.0 stereo and a regular 3.5mm jack for maximum compatibility. With chunky 40mm neodymium drivers, sound quality is clear and vibrant, and although not explicitly noise cancelling, the large padded cups kept out most background noise. What elevates the Kraken above the pack is the optional GameBooster software (£11.99), which does a startlingly good job at virtualising 7.1 surround. Hardcore audiophiles may know the difference, but for a good, sub-£100 surround sound experience, this is hard to top.
Mad Catz Tritton Kunai
RRP: £69.99
Sitting somewhere between entry level and mid-range, the Kunai makes up for its meagre 2.0 stereo speakers by offering wireless compatibility with practically anything you can throw it at. A Wi-Fi hub does all the grunt work, coming with a jungle of cables to connect it to your preferred format. Aesthetically, the blocky Kunai is one of the least appealing from Mad Catz, but audio levels are surprisingly good, and the convenience of having one headset for all formats is a major plus.
Mad Catz Tritton Pro+ True 5.1
RRP: £82.49
The Tritton Pro+ “only” offers 5.1 surround sound. While that’s a couple of channels fewer than others here, it does so with four actual speakers in each ear cup – 30mm for front and rear, 23mm centre, and 40mm for the subwoofer. The result is an authentic, rather than virtual, audioscape that sounds divine. Crystal clear in fact, with almost tangible depth and distinct bass. Compatible with PC and Mac, it’s USB powered and incredibly comfortable to wear, though the included 3.7m cable feels redundant.
Turtle Beach Stealth 500P
RRP: £99.99
This PS4/PS3 wireless headset (the 500X is, unsurprisingly, the Xbox One version) delivers 7.1 surround without the messy cables.
Simple set up using the console’s optical out and an included wireless dongle has you playing in minutes, while the 50mm speakers boom even when the battery is running low. Luckily, it’s rechargeable while playing, though you’ll want a longer micro USB cable than supplied. It’s great for online gaming thanks to the included mic, and can be used (via included cable) with mobile devices too.
Turtle Beach Ear Force Z60
RRP: £99.99
This absolute beast uses DTS Headphone:X 7.1 tech with mighty 60mm speakers to create one of the best aural experiences you’ll hear on PC. The bass on it is tremendous, and the overall sound quality through its distinct channels makes it one of the best on the market for competitive shooters. For all its power, it’s incredibly simple to set up, with the in-line control box handling separate volume settings for audio and chat, as well as switching surround profiles. Superb performance, especially for its price.
