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After all, its the workhorse behind everything you hear.

However, more and more driver options are entering the mainstream.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox gaming headset

How do gaming headsets produce sound?

These vibrations produce the soundwaves you hear through your headset.

Dynamic drivers are cheap, easily produced, and efficient, making them a go-to for mainstream brands.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro…

Its being drawn towards one charge and then another in rapid succession.

The result is a gaming headset with a powerful bass and a wide dynamic range.

The diaphragm and attached wires is slotted between two magnets.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro…

That means the resulting audio is far less likely to distort.

Theres also far more room for lower ranges, providing more detail and greater accuracy in basslines.

However, planar drivers are typically more expensive and their construction means headsets are generally larger and bulkier.

SteelSeries Headphones with…

Each tiny driver consists of a rod-like component called an armature, which carries an electrical current in itself.

The rod is placed between two magnets and becomes electromagnetic when a current is applied.

The push and pull of the surrounding magnets causes it to swing up and down rapidly.

Audeze Maxwell gaming headset leaning on PS5 console

However, it still needs to reach a diaphragm, so a driver pin is attached to one end.

This makes fast impact with the diaphragm placed elsewhere, which in turn vibrates and produces sound waves.

Theres also less muddle in between ranges, as each driver is working separately.

Audeze Maxwell (PS5) Wireless…

Youre also relying on the tuning quality of each array, an aspect that scales with price.

Due to their size, balanced armature drivers are less adept at stronger basslines.

DetailingBalancingPortability

Low-range powerCost-efficiency

Examples of balanced armature gaming earbuds include theRazer Morayand 1More Triple Driver.

Scan

One of these metal plates holds a positive charge, and the other a negative one.

This piece of film is so tiny it can easily be swayed by static electricity alone.

The resulting vibration produces the soundwaves.

HyperX HX-HSCOS-GM/WW Cloud…

Electrostatic gaming headsets are incredible, producing super accurate, super rich audio with incredibly low distortion.

The speed achieved by this driver makes for incredibly fast response times with incredible detail across all ranges.

There are, of course, drawbacks.

Razer Moray review image Of the earbuds lying on a desk mat with the left earbud facing upward

These headphones are as expensive as they are impressive - often reaching for four-figure price tags.

This is a serious investment, especially considering they also require a separate amplifier to run.

DetailingSpeedAccuracy

Cost efficiencyEase of use

Does size matter?

Razer Moray - Ergonomic…

Youll find driver sizes ranging from 10mm in earbuds all the way up to 90mm in larger devices.

Were also rounding up all thebest wireless headsetson the market, as well as thebest PC headsetsandbest PS5 headsetsavailable.

1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear…

Razer BlackShark V2…

EE Store

CORSAIR HS35 Stereo…

Astro A50X

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless in white being held in front of a PS5

SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds on a wood table with PS5 controller, Nintendo Switch, and Asus ROG Ally

Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed with Nintendo Switch console

SteelSeriesArctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset

Razer Barracuda X gaming headset with Nintendo Switch

Corsair Virtuoso Pro headset on a stand

Photo of the Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless headset sitting on a white desk, taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe.

Photo of the Corsair Void Wireless V2 wireless gaming headset taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe in a pink and white office.

Photo of the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds on a white desk, taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe.

Photo of the Corsair Void Wireless V2 gaming headset, taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe.

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