The best headphones for streaming - headsets and headphones in comparison 2024
Construction: Open, semi-open or closed streamer headsets or headphones?
Open, semi-open and closed models each offer different advantages and disadvantages. Open models have an open back of the ear cups, which allows the sound to be emitted unhindered into the surroundings. This results in a more natural and airy sound, which is particularly appreciated by music lovers. As a streamer, you could also benefit from this if you are in a quiet room anyway, as the surroundings will sound more natural to you. However, the sound insulation of open models is very poor, which means that ambient noise can be heard loudly and the music being played can also be clearly heard by people nearby.
Closed models, on the other hand, have a closed back of the ear cups, which largely keeps the sound inside. This provides better sound insulation and is therefore better suited to noisy environments or situations where ambient noise needs to be minimized. In addition, very little sound is emitted to the outside. This means you won’t hear any of the noise you hear through your headphones in the streaming microphone.
In the example of a stream with another person, the voice of the person who is connected remotely is not emitted into the environment. This is a decisive advantage, as your track is clean and there is no cross-talk. Closed models tend to have a stronger bass response, but can also offer a less natural sound stage. This design is perfect for streaming.
Semi-open models are a middle ground, but this is usually not a good compromise, as manufacturers are unable to combine the advantages of both designs. This is mainly due to physical reasons.
Bluetooth, wireless or wired streaming headsets?
In this case, we would advise against wireless headphones as a matter of principle, as they are often inferior in terms of quality and price-performance ratio to wired versions. There is also another important point:
Wireless technologies tend to be asychronous! And they are usually more expensive. If you have AirPods Max anyway, you can of course still try them out, but you’ll probably have to set a video offset to ensure synchronicity. Even if Bluetooth models are super practical, they don’t have such a secure connection and poorer sound quality.
As a streamer, you also have the disadvantage that the battery life of a wireless gaming headset is a limiting factor! So in case of doubt, you may not be able to stream or game for as long as planned.
In-Ear or Over-Ear?
In-ear headphones can and may of course be used! However, over-ear products are usually preferred as they are more comfortable to wear and provide a better sound image. They also make a more professional impression, as you as a streamer will be seen all the time. It is not for nothing that over-ear models are always used in professional studios.
Streaming headset or streaming headphones? Our recommendation: separate microphone!
We would not recommend headsets for streaming. Even if it sounds very tempting that you can also cover the microphone with just one purchase, there are some disadvantages. These mainly concern the built-in microphone. This is because they usually don’t sound very good and are often very poorly positioned. Directly in front of the mouth, they promote loud breathing noises, pop and wind noise when speaking, and you often sound like a pilot. We want to prevent this.
A large diaphragm microphone makes much more sense here, as the diaphragm also has more physical space to reproduce your voice naturally, and we have also selected the best streaming microphones for you!
Nevertheless, we have rated the 5 best streamer headsets for you below.
How do streamer headsets differ from gamer headsets?
Since as a streamer you also need to speak into a microphone in the best possible quality, we recommend closed models so that the output sound is not picked up by the microphone.
The 5 best streamer headphones
AKG K72 (approx. 43$) - An affordable all-rounder
The AKG K72* offers a reasonably priced sound that is more than sufficient for an entry into the podcast world. The mids are a little too emphasized, the bass and mid-range sound a little unbalanced. In terms of wearing comfort, the AKG K72 impresses with large ear pads and an adjustable headband that ensures a comfortable fit. The ear pads are relatively soft and the K72 is comfortable on the ears in most cases, even after several hours. At 190 grams, it is also pleasantly light. The AKG K72 is in the lower price segment and offers good value for money. The workmanship is appropriate for the price. For beginners with a limited budget, the K72 is a good choice, as this model focuses on the basic characteristic of sound.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x (approx. 59$) - A good entry-level model
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x* delivers a precise and balanced sound that is ideal for streaming and listening to music. In this price range, the ATH-M20x offers good audio quality that is suitable for beginners. The adjustable headband ensures a comfortable fit and distributes the weight evenly so that there is no uncomfortable pressure even when worn for long periods of time. So you can wear the ATH-M20x for a few hours at a time. Located in the lower price segment, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x offers a good price-performance ratio, especially beginners get good sound for relatively little money. Streamers who don’t pay particular attention to sound can use the Audio-Technica for years.
Beyerdynamic DT240 Pro (approx. 69$) - Compact and robust model
The Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro* impresses with a precise and neutral sound. The bass is tight and well controlled, while the mids and highs are detailed and clear. In its price range, the DT 240 Pro offers remarkable sound quality. In terms of price, we are slowly entering an area where the quality is getting better and better, and the DT240 stands out here with its good workmanship and pleasant comfort. It offers excellent value for money. The little brother of the professional DT models performs very well in a price comparison and can be recommended.
Røde NTH-100 (approx. 135$) - High quality and innovative
The Røde NTH-100* sounds super natural, with little distortion and a fairly accurate frequency response. Thanks to the Cool-Tech gel, the NTH-100 stands out in terms of comfort. Røde is setting an example with this, because you often sweat a lot with other earcup-enclosing models. The NTH-100 offers excellent value for money. The excellent audio quality, the high level of comfort and the robust construction are really good in this price range. If you are willing to invest a little more money in your streaming equipment, the NTH-100 is a very good choice that offers high audio quality and reliability.
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (approx. 139$) - The choice for professionals - OUR RECOMMENDATION
The DT 770 Pro* is very popular in studio productions, and of course there’s a reason for that: you can rely on it. If you want a natural and clear reproduction of the sound, this is the right choice! The model is of super high quality, lasts for many years and the ear pads can be replaced. In addition to the closed DT770 Pro headphones, a semi-open DT880* could also be interesting for streamers, depending on the content. For streamers who do not yet have a streaming microphone, Beyerdynamic also offers the FOX USB microphone*.
The DT 770 Pro is super comfortable, sounds surgically clean and is well shielded so that you don’t have any crosstalk. We have been using the DT770 Pro ourselves for almost 10 years, for music production, studio work, field recording and also in our free time. So you will have a lot of fun with this quality product for a long time. So we can give it an absolute recommendation!
You can find more good models in our blog article: Podcast headphones
The 5 best Streamer Headsets
Entry-level headset for small streamers: e.g. Razer Blackshark V2X (approx. 45$)
In addition to other gaming equipment, Razer is known for its gaming headsets. With the Blackshark family, Razer offers a range of wired headsets to suit everyone. The Blackshark V2X* with 50 mm driver is a great way to get started, as you can use the headset not only on a PC but also on consoles such as Playstation 4, PS 5 and Xbox. If you want RGB lighting, you could be happy with the models in the Kraken series, for example the Kraken V3 X* (45€) These models are not all that expensive, which is also noticeable in the sound comparison. You should not use these headsets as an ambitious or large streamer, and if you do, only with a few adjustments in EQ and compressor to make the sound a little more natural. Nevertheless, the price makes these models suitable for beginners.
If you want to invest a little more, you can go for a Kraken V3 Pro* (additional function: USB sound card + THX Spatial Audio) or a Blackshark V2* (additional function: USB driver + THX Spatial Audio), for example. Pay close attention to the name of the headphones, the different names from Razer can be confusing!
There is a large selection in this price segment, the HyperX Cloud II* is also comparable in terms of quality
Excellent sound - with a good microphone: The Røde NTH-100M (approx. 157$)
As we have already written about the NTH-100 above, this is the version with microphone. The price difference between the two models is around 20 euros, which means that the microphone quality is not extremely good. This means that this headset is also more suitable for beginners. The microphone is a condenser microphone and is detachable if you don’t need it. This quickly makes the Røde NTH-100M* a robust and good headset (see above)
Not to forget: Logitech Astro A40 TR (approx. 169$)
Logitech should not be missing in a list of headsets, because Logitech has been making good gaming headsets for years. The Astro series is particularly recommended here. We have selected the Logitech Astro A40 TR* here, which is a good wired choice alongside the Logitech G Pro X (approx. 189$)*. The Astro A50* offers the wireless version.
Best sound quality with the Beyerdynamic MMX300 (approx. 222$)
Here, too, there is no getting around the Beyerdynamic brand. The MMX gaming headset series has something for everyone. The Beyerdynamic MMX300* is a wired, digital, closed headset. The comfort is super comfortable thanks to the velour ear pads. The model is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch and comes with a hard case if you want to store the headset safely. The MMX300 also has a lot to offer in terms of sound: The cardioid condenser microphone with rich characteristic gives you a clean, high-quality sound. No comparison to the classic “headset sound”.
By the way: In addition to the MMX300, there is also the MMX200 as a wireless headset* and the MMX100* as an affordable, analog entry-level model with leatherette ear cups.
Please note that we do not recommend wireless headsets for streaming! (battery life and asynchronicity)
High-End Headset: Sennheiser HMD 300 Pro (approx. 320$)
A (slightly more expensive) alternative to the MMX300 is the HMD 300 Pro from Sennheiser*. The headset is suitable for streamers, as the quality of the microphone is very good for a headset. As you would expect for this price, the comfort and sound output is also very high quality. The comfort here is excellent, as the headset does not pinch even after long periods of wear. The closed design ensures that there is no cross-talk to the microphone. A really good headset for streaming! The headset is also used in professional productions in the broadcasting sector (radio and TV), so you can rely on the quality and durability. A good choice for streamers for whom a headset and its audio quality are very important! There are no unnecessary sales arguments such as 7.1 surround sound or active noise reduction, this is a professional headset with high-quality transducers and no unnecessary extras.
Conclusion: What you should look out for when buying a streaming headset
Summarized once again: You should pay particular attention to comfort and sound quality when buying a streaming headset. If you then use a good streaming microphone with your headphones, you can really call your stream professionally equipped! We hope we have been able to help you get an overview of headsets and headphones. We still recommend the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro*.
Are you not a streamer, but a gamer? Take a look at the best gaming headphones and gaming headsets. And if you don’t yet have a good microphone for voice recording, take a look at our comparison of podcast microphones.
Links marked with * are affiliate links. There are no additional costs for you, some of these links are with an automatic discount for you. We mark these links for transparency and would never recommend bad products!
