What Defines Premium?

In this context, a "premium" gaming headset refers to models that are at the higher end of a brand's range, priced at a minimum of $199. While this excludes many good headsets, the aim here is to evaluate the very best in the market. If companies charge $200 or more for their products, they should deliver exceptional performance. Moreover, I am focusing on wireless options, as this is where most innovation is currently happening in gaming.

This past year didn’t meet my expectations. While there were several decent releases, the top contender was not the one I initially anticipated. Without further ado, here are my selections, starting with the winner followed by a few models that disappointed me despite their potential.

The Champion — Sony Inzone H9 — $299 (Official Site Here)

Sony made a significant entry into the PC gaming headset market last year, and their debut was impressive. With years of experience in headphone and product design, expectations were understandably high.

While I wasn't particularly fond of the budget-friendly Inzone H3, the premium H9 model stands out.

"Wait a minute, are you really awarding the title of 'best' premium gaming headset to something you originally rated 7.5 out of 10?"

Indeed, I am. This just reflects the overall landscape of the industry this year. The H9 has grown on me over time, and a closer examination of my initial review reveals its numerous strengths.

The Sony Inzone H9 meets all my expectations for a high-end headset. It features a robust wireless connection, supporting both Bluetooth and dongle usage simultaneously. It is fully compatible with the PS5 and offers system notifications through a toggle on the USB dongle. The dongle is quick, and utilizing the headset's equalizer and surround sound capabilities on PC doesn’t introduce any noticeable latency—unlike some other models discussed later.

Comfort is exceptional, thanks to the earpads adapted from Sony's high-end 1000X ANC headphones, a gentle clamping force, and a lightweight design. Although the sound profile may not be as detailed or treble-oriented as audiophiles prefer, it effectively delivers a bass-heavy tuning ideal for most home listening scenarios.

The Inzone H9 also boasts some clever features. It includes a complete noise-canceling system inspired by the Sony 1000X series, with a tuning specific to common household noises like PC fans. While it may not perform as well in commuting situations, the noise cancellation is still impressive. Additionally, there’s an ambient mode for external awareness, complete with a voice toggle to help you hear when someone is calling you to dinner.

The microphone quality is decent for the price, having improved post-launch due to firmware updates.

Why the hesitation to declare it the best if it’s so impressive? It has minor drawbacks. The battery life is average by today’s standards, lasting about 20 hours with ANC enabled. Although it lasts longer with ANC off, that significantly diminishes the enjoyment.

The design is also a point of contention. While I generally appreciate Sony's aesthetics, the Inzone H9's bulky structure is hard to ignore. It’s one of the largest gaming headsets I’ve used, providing excessive space for my larger-than-average head. While its profile exudes a nostalgic eSports vibe, it’s not exactly discreet enough for use in a trendy café. The permanently attached microphone is puzzling for a headset at this price point, and the predominantly plastic build raises concerns about durability—though I’ve experienced no issues during months of use.

For its impressive performance, ANC capabilities, and comfort, the Sony Inzone H9 takes the top spot. The following two headsets could have easily secured this honor had they not faltered in critical areas.

2nd Place — HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless — $199 (Official Site Here)

I had high hopes for this headset, combining the iconic HyperX design with an astonishing 300-hour battery life. What could possibly go wrong?

Unfortunately, the sound profile underwent considerable changes to accommodate the wireless technology. The larger microphone capsule is a minor improvement over its predecessor. The absence of wired or Bluetooth backup connections limits its versatility, and a clunky software design introduces noticeable latency with some core features. Although HyperX promised a fix, they merely added a warning in their software instead.

The Cloud Alpha Wireless should have been a straightforward win. The 300-hour battery life is genuine, thanks to a new internal audio chip that conserves power. The bass-heavy sound signature differs from the original model, but it remains satisfactory for the price range.

With software issues resolved, or a return to the hardware-based DSP of the original Cloud II Wireless, this headset would easily be a top recommendation—as long as you have a compatible platform. I expect broad compatibility at this price, but the USB-dongle-only connection limits options. Moreover, HyperX has yet to fully embrace Bluetooth or Xbox connections beyond a few isolated attempts.

3rd Place — Razer Barracuda Pro — $299 (Official Site Here)

The Razer Barracuda Pro is among the finest sounding headsets available, featuring ANC comparable to the Inzone H9 and a comfortable, stylish design.

However, Razer’s decision to use a single internal microphone for both noise cancellation and voice chat creates issues. When ANC is active and you engage in voice chat, the bass in your audio drops significantly as the microphone prioritizes your voice, leading to processing confusion.

While you can manually disable ANC during chats, this should ideally be automated. Additionally, the microphone’s quality suffers due to its positioning, and the built-in sidetone feature is laggy and inaccurate. I've also encountered problems with Razer Synapse failing to sync with the headset, despite multiple firmware updates.

A version with a detachable boom mic, similar to the Razer Kaira Pro, would be nearly unbeatable in this premium category. Razer's audio tuning has seen remarkable advancements, making it frustrating to see the Barracuda Pro hindered by its design choices.

This headset feels more like a Bluetooth headphone that transitioned to a gaming product later in development, rather than a dedicated gaming experience.

Honorable Mention — SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless — $349 (Official Site Here)

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless should have been an easy choice for a win, but it launched with several issues. Firmware updates have addressed some Xbox connectivity problems, but a number of minor issues persist, preventing it from achieving perfection.

On a positive note, the Nova Wireless has introduced an ANC system, though it doesn't match the effectiveness of the Inzone H9 or Barracuda Pro. Additionally, the microphones within the ear cups are quite large and may press against some users’ ears, impacting comfort.

While the connectivity options are appealing, many functionalities that were integrated into the hardware of previous models have shifted to the SteelSeries Sonar software, complicating use on consoles.

Lastly, the design still incorporates the same hinge that caused significant breakage issues in earlier models. Although I haven't personally experienced this problem, its prevalence is surprising given SteelSeries didn't make more substantial design changes.

The wired version of the Nova Pro is more comfortable and provides better value, but it seems odd for a premium headset to lack wireless capabilities, so I'm excluding it from this review. The more affordable Nova 7 performs similarly to the Nova Pro in most respects but lacks ANC, undermining the premium model's standing.

At $349, one would expect these small issues to have been addressed during development. The core performance remains excellent, and the swappable battery is a unique feature, but if that’s a priority for you, you may feel stuck. I hope SteelSeries will consider implementing their more affordable dual-fork support design in their premium models in the future to finally put the hinge concerns to rest.