Mad Catz E.S. PRO 1 Gaming Earbuds
If you are an avid gamer and play a lot of console or computer games, there is a good chance you need the best gaming earbuds. It is important to differentiate earbuds from headsets in that earbuds are much smaller and portable and fit into your ear canals. Headsets go over the ears and are bigger and therefore less portable. Generally speaking, headsets can provide more power and better sound since the unit is bigger, especially when it comes to bass.
Headsets also don’t hurt your ear canals as much and filter out external noise very well. For earbuds, the main advantage is that they are light, flexible, and portable. They also don’t affect your hair or don’t get in your way if you wear glasses. You can easily take them with you when you travel. However, in terms of performance, you are probably better off with a headset, especially if you are concerned about bass. Luckily, for gaming, earbuds are pretty good since you don’t need that much bass compared to something like listening to music.
And since they are less distracting and generally easily to manage, they are often preferred over gaming headsets for the convenience factor. Gaming earbuds are different from normal earbuds in that they include superior noise isolation and a good attached mic. They also should have all sorts of connections to be able to easily connect to various consoles and computers. Most gaming earbuds will have a versatile audio cable and even include a splitter. There should be volume up and down buttons on the earbuds and the microphone should be high performance.
Best Gaming Earbuds Reviews
- Mad Catz E.S. PRO 1 Gaming Earbuds (Top Pick)
- Tt eSPORTS ISURUS PRO Detachable Microphone In-Ear Gaming Headset
- Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II Elite Mobile Gaming Earbuds
Mad Catz E.S. PRO 1 Gaming Earbuds
The Mad Catz E.S. Pro 1 is the best gaming earbuds for those who want great audio with two microphones. That’s right, there is a pair of microphones on these earbuds that completely captures your voice during gameplay. The primary mic is an omnidirectional boom that filters out the noise in your environment so that your voice comes through strong and crisp without distortion.
The second mic is on the volume control button and is great in case you don’t want to deal with a mic that protrudes out. It is similar to the mic on your iphone earbuds and allows you to talk into it while controlling the volume up and down. We like the fact that you get three earbud options with this so you can explore different sizings and really hone in on the right fit for you.
There is a nice clip that securely fastens to the top of your ears as well so that your earbuds don’t accidentally fall out. These earbuds are nice, durable, comfortable, and even include a microfiber traveling pouch so that you can bring your gaming on the road. You don’t have to use these for gaming as they are also pretty good for listening to music. There is a versatile 3.5mm audio cable that directly links to various consoles, mobiles, and computers. Oh and did we mention audio quality, which is not too bass heavy and well balanced, so perfect for gaming. Overall, the Mad Catz E.S. Pro 1 is great for those who want clear mic quality with lots of comfort and durability.
Tt eSPORTS ISURUS PRO Detachable Microphone In-Ear Gaming Headset
If you want a detachable microphone, the Tt eSPORTS ISURUS PRO is the best gaming earbuds for you. There are actually two microphones on these earbuds: one is inline with the cord and the other is detachable and goes on the left earpiece. The detachable microphone really comes in handy when you don’t want to use it to play games and just want to listen to music.
Also, if you don’t like a microphone dangling in front of your face, you can choose to detach it and still be able to speak through the inline mic. In terms of audio quality, this unit is awesome as it delivers balanced trebles, mids, and bass with its 13.5mm neodymium drivers. It has great soundstaging and so you will definitely be able to tell what direction sounds come from in your game.
There is a built in volume control along one of the wires and a pause play button. Believe it or not, we really like the cable in that it is built in a way that doesn’t tangle easily. This is one of those little details that is actually a huge inconvenience is other earbuds in that the wires just start twisting together after use. It often becomes very annoying to try and untangle them. With the Tt eSPORTS ISURUS PRO, you don’t have to worry about any of that.
Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Black Ops II Elite Mobile Gaming Earbuds
The Turtle Beach Special Edition earbuds are the best gaming earbuds if you want a pair of cool looking sleek earbuds. It is specifically tailored towards playing video games and has a great fit to handle long hours of gaming. There are many different sized ear gels to choose from so that you can ensure that you get a great fit. It has great noise reduction and blocks out most outside noise, but not everything in case there is some kind of emergency in your house.
It is made of quality materials and is extremely durable. We even accidentally dropped these and stepped on them without doing any damage to them. Unforunately, there is no microphone sticking out but instead the mic is built into the cord. But don’t worry, this inline mic makes your words very clear and you will be able to communicate with people online without too much added noise in the background. Audio quality is pretty good with its 10mm neodymium magnet drivers. And best of all, it has a cool looking design, with the Call of Duty logo on it and a very nice finish.
Choosing the Best Gaming Earbuds
You may need a gaming earbud if you are trying to play your video games and you don’t want distract others around your house or if you need to use a mic to communicate with other players. There are many gaming earbuds on the market and without testing all of them, it is hard to really hone in on the best ones. Luckily we have done this for you and have helped you filter through all of the junk. Gaming earbuds differen from gaming headsets in that they are more portable, flexible, light and don’t really get in your way when you are gaming.
Often times, people who wear headsets for a long time feel that their ears are getting squished and prefer something that is less noticeable. Although it can also be uncomfortable to have earbuds in your ear canals for a while, they are light enough such that they don’t wear down on your head and neck over time. We have considered factors such as soundstaging/audio quality, noise isolation, mic quality, portability, and durability and comfort are important things to consider when shopping for the best gaming earbuds.
Audio quality/soundstaging: Like with any earbuds, we think audio quality is extremely important. However, when it comes to gaming, soundstaging is even more important. For those of you who don’t know, soundstaging is the ability for you to determine what direction sound is coming from. Ideally you want gaming earbuds with great soundtsaging so that you can tell if something is coming from the northwest or the southeast.
The best gaming earbuds should be good enough to fine tune at least within a 45 degree accuracy where sound is coming from. In terms of audio quality, sure you want gaming earbuds that deliver a wide dynamic range of sounds that is nice and crisp. It is nice to hear explosions and whatnot with great audio quality. Also, it would be nice to have a surround sound system instead of stereo earbuds.
Microphone: Half of the reason people get gaming earbuds is so that they can commicaute with other players in a game. This works very well with multiplayer online games like first person shooters. Ideally, you should get a omnidirectional microphone that picks up signal and your voice even if you whisper. A good mic will project you voice clearly so that you teammates will understand your commands. This is especially important if you do any kind of competitive multiplayer gameplay.
Noise Isolation: You may consider noise reduction an important factor when searching for the best gaming earbuds. If you are playing games with lots of noise in the background or someone playing lots of music through loud speakers, you could have a terrible experience and be distracted. If your earbuds are completely noise cancelling, it makes for a crystal clear playback and adds to your gaming experience. However, some people don’t like earbuds that totally cancel noise because it presents a safety hazard. If you are focused on playing a game at home, you risk the chance that you don’t hear something important.
Comfort: The comfort level of your earbuds are quite important. Since everyone’s ear canals are built different, it is important that you find earbuds that have different sized earpieces so that you have a better chance to find one that fits your ears perfectly. If you are gaming for long periods of time, comfort is especially important as a misfit earbud can really dig into your canals and make you feel uncomfortable.
Durability: The durability of earbuds is also important as you don’t want a cheap pair that would just break when you accidentally sit on them. Also, you should find earbuds with won’t tear up easily and those that don’t collect dirt and debris. Some earbuds pick up a lot of dirt and germs and if you don’t wash them and stick them in your ears, you risk the chance of getting an ear infection.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headset_(audio)