Top 6 Budget Gaming Headsets With Mic

Gaming headsets today pack several exciting features. Right from sporting snazzy RGB lights to bundling virtual surround sound and noise cancellation features, the list is pretty much endless. All that goes for a toss if your teammates cannot hear your voice from your gaming headset. Imagine the situation: you tell your mates to cover you from the side in Call of Duty Warzone. You continue yelling, but they don’t respond. And it turns out that the microphone had gone silent from your side. Catastrophic!

If you play multiplayer games, you must know the importance of in-game chats along with clear and crisp audio. And that’s the reason we have curated a list of the best performing budget headsets with quality mic.

So, without further ado, let’s get started. But first,

• Take a look at these budget gaming mice under $100
• Here are the best 144Hz FreeSync gaming monitors

1. Corsair HS35

• Mic Type: Detachable

Corsair HS35

View Price

The Corsair HS35 is a closed-back affordable option if you do not want to spend much on a gaming accessory. As you may have expected, it’s a wired headset. But the good thing is that it comes with its share of memory foam padded ear cups, making it comfortable to wear these headphones. More importantly, the mix of matte and gloss finish gives it an elegant look for its price.

Interestingly, it sports a detachable noise-canceling mic like its premium counterparts. And this Discord-certified mic does its best to minimize external noise. You can rely on it to deliver a clear and detailed audio to the other side. The best part is that it stays anchored when you move it to a specific position.

However, the audio output is a little underwhelming when you compare it to the mic performance. You’ll be able to make out the audio directions without any issues. For instance, you will be able to figure out if a player is walking close-by. However, the heavy bass may overpower it at times.

Moreover, even though the ear cups are heavily padded, the mesh does little to provide noise isolation.

For the price, the Corsair HS35 provides a good performance. If you can spare a few bucks, look at the other options.

2. Turtle Beach Recon 70

• Mic Type: Fixed

Turtle Beach Recon 70

View Price

Another headset that makes for a good pick if you are on a tight budget is the Turtle Beach Recon 70. Though it’s compatible with the popular gaming consoles, you’ll benefit the most of you play on Windows 10. This headphone supports Windows Sonic spatial audio, meaning these can emulate virtual surround sound. Aside from that, it brings a secure and comfortable fit. The earcups and the band are breathable, and both ensure that you will be able to game for a long time without the headset making your ears sweat.

When it comes to the sound, the Recon 70 delivers a decent sound. The audio is well detailed, and you will be able to pinpoint sound sources. On the downside, the noise isolation is average, and you might hear some background noise. However, considering the price, you won’t have the same noise isolation as the premium headsets.

The mic also delivers decent audio performance. All will be relayed with accuracy and minus any additional noise – from your sighs of exasperation to regular voice chats. In fact, the folks at SoundGuys state that these headsets deliver more accurate audio than most of the gaming headsets.

However, it has its share of cons. For one, the cable is relatively short, and you will need to have a tight set up for it to work well. Secondly, the plastic build tends to bring down the looks.

3. ASUS TUF Gaming H3

• Mic Type: Fixed

Asus TUF Gaming H3

View Price

The ASUS TUF Gaming H3 combines the best features for the price and is the best budget earphones if you do not care for the look. These wired headsets are light, comfortable and sound excellent. They provide an immersive sound quality. On top of it, it supports Windows Sonic to give you a virtual surround sound experience.

More importantly, they have a solid build and weigh just 0.6 pounds. You can wear the headband for long thanks to the wider grip on it.

As noted above, they deliver an impressive sound quality for the price. The sound is crisp, clear, and has an immersive feel to it. You won’t find the typical high bass usually associated with most headphones at this price point. The same can be said of the mic as well. It picks up accurate sound and delivers it to your teammates without background noise. So you can pass on the instructions to your teammates without worries or repeating them several times.

Out of the 50-odd reviews on Amazon, it has managed to amass a decent number of positive results. The majority of users like its noise cancellation and sound quality.

However, the ASUS TUF Gaming H3 is not without its share of flaws. They are not foldable, which makes it a tad difficult to carry them. But if you can ignore its average looks, these are a great set of budget gaming headsets.

4. Astro A10

• Mic Type: Fixed

Astro A10

View Price

Most budget headsets sacrifice eye-catching aesthetics for a decent, if not great, sound, and the Astro A10 is no different. However, you can rest assured that you will get a solid sound for the price. From movies to gaming audio, it delivers solid audio with accurate and highly detailed audio. The primary highlight of this headset is its flip to mute mic. Yes, you read that right. The mic mutes automatically as soon as you push it out of your face. Cool, right?

If you must know, this feature is available on Astro’s premium models and is a welcome addition on a sub-$60 headset. Aside from that, your mates will be able to hear you loud and clear.

Astro 10 is not a looker, and the plastic body can take down it looks by several notches. At the same time, comfort is also a huge factor. If you wear it for long periods, the headband can bear down on your head.

5. Razer Kraken

• Mic Type: Fixed

Razer Kraken

View Price

The Razer Kraken brings the gaming vibes to the table thanks to its snazzy aesthetics. This one bears a look similar to Razer’s premium headsets, such as the Pro V2. The mix of the black and colored surface and the texture gives it a premium look. And that’s not the end of the story. It also delivers a solid build, and these gaming headsets are truly comfortable, especially for the price. The ear pads and the headband are well-cushioned, and the odds are that you will get through your gaming sessions without your head feeling sore.

However, Razer does cut a few corners, and in this case, it’s the sound. It handles the bass well and delivers a decent and well-balanced sound, and that’s about it.

You won’t find anything extra that is usually associated with most Razer headsets. On the upside, these gaming headsets perform great in every type of game.

Furthermore, the mic also delivers a good job with your voice and reaction sounding clear to your teammates, although the output tends to be a little tinny. Plus, it doesn’t entirely minimize background noise.

6. SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired

• Mic Type: Detachable

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired

View Price

Last but not least, we have the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wired. This one fits the bill and brings the best of both worlds. For just around $50, it gives you a comfortable fit and sounds equally great. And the design is not bad either. If you recollect, the wireless version (Arctis 1 Wireless) is considered one of the best performing gaming headsets out there. It sports a removable mic, which you can take off when not gaming.

When it comes to performance, it delivers impressive results. The audio is detailed, and the directional audio is great for the price. The best part is that it performs well across all the game genres. Nevertheless, the bass is a tad on the lower end, and you might find the thump missing when you play fast-paced games.

On the other hand, the detachable mic delivers a clear and crisp sound, though it tends to pick up background noise a bit. On the upside, it’s not distracting, and you should be able to carry on your gaming without any issues.

However, the Arctis 1 Wired fit has received a mixed pot of reviews, with some users complaining about the notches on the headband, which makes the headsets a little inflexible.

Let the Noise Start

If you have been gaming for quite some time, you must know that gaming accessories do not come cheap. Thankfully, there is a healthy mix of both premium and budget accessories in the market.

The latter comes to play since investing in a good gaming laptop, or a good graphics card can empty your bank account. The idea here is to look for a piece of accessory that will last you a long time and at the same time do justice to the rich and immersive game audio.