The Best Headphones for VR: What Your Setup Is Missing
If you want to get the most out of your virtual reality experience, you need the best headphones for VR at your disposal. Most people are excited to step into this new digital world and start their own fantastical adventures. But without the right tools, this virtual environment might not live up to your expectations.
Virtual reality tricks your brain into thinking what you see through the headset is real. To work, VR needs to be immersive: everything you see, feel, and hear should belong to the virtual world.
Unfortunately for many gamers, sounds from the real world can instantly break this immersion.
Imagine being in a virtual forest filled with dinosaurs, only to hear cars honking from the streets outside. Or living out a zombie apocalypse but hearing your friends laughing at your spastic movements.
If you think you're doomed to settle for subpar virtual reality, you're wrong. In fact, the best headphones for VR can provide sensory immersion that rivals your actual VR headset!
So which pair should you buy for your own VR setup?
Product | Image | Rating | Check Price |
---|---|---|---|
Cowin E7 Pro | No products found. | No products found. | |
Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones | No products found. | No products found. | |
Bose QuietComfort 35 II | |||
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones | |||
iJoy Logo Headphones | |||
Meidong E8 | No products found. | No products found. | |
Symphonized NRG 3.0 | |||
Mpow 059 | No products found. | No products found. |
The Best Headphones for VR: How We Narrowed It Down
When compiling our list of the best headphones for VR currently on the market, we first looked at each model's built-in features and other specifications. Combined with each pair of headphone's pricing, this allowed us to weed out the average products from the top contenders.
We also researched customer reviews for each of our top picks. Using information from these reviews, it was clear which headphones stood up to the test and which fell short of expectations.
The Best Headphones for VR: Our Top 8 Picks
Whether you've waited your whole life for VR or are just a casual fan, investing in some of the best headphones for VR is crucial for a top-quality gaming experience.
Ready to learn which headphones made our list? Here are the best headphones for VR currently on the market (heads up, our list is in no particular order):
Cowin E7 Pro
No products found.
The Cowin E7 Pro features active noise canceling that helps reduce ambient sounds. With this technology, you can experience VR without distraction.
You can use the Cowin E7 Pro two ways: wired and wireless.
If you're worried about tripping on wires while navigating your virtual world, you can go wireless. You can also use the included AUX cord to connect to a non-Bluetooth device, but the headphones still need to be charged to work.
These headphones feature 45mm large-aperture drivers for incredibly deep bass. Even at 75 to 85 decibels, you'll still get crisp and powerful sound. In short, these are some of the best headphones for VR if you care about overall sound quality.
This headset offers soft ear cushions for extra comfortable wear. Combined with the 90-degree swiveling earcups, protein earpads, and the light weight, these are headphones that you can wear all day.
The Cowin E7 Pro contains a long-lasting battery that gives you up to 30 hours of play in Bluetooth mode. The 800 mAh battery pretty much ensures that you can escape to your VR-powered world for more than a day without charging.
The Cowin E7 Pro gets an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from almost 3,500 reviewers on Amazon. Plus, these headphones come with an 18-month manufacturer's warranty.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$ |
Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones
No products found.
The Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones use a dome-type driver to deliver deep bass. These wired earbuds include in-line controls and a convenient microphone.
You might look at these earbuds and wonder if they're really the best headphones for VR. But when it comes to moving around your favorite virtual world, this comfortable and mobile design blows larger headsets out of the water.
Despite their lightweight and low-profile design, Sony's MDRXB50AP Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones can handle loud sounds without distortion or breaking. The frequency response rating of 4 to 24,000 hertz can handle almost anything your favorite VR game throws at it.
And if you're concerned about style, you have three color options: black, blue, and red.
The Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass In-Ear Headphones get an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from more than 4,300 Amazon customers.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$ |
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Three levels of world-class noise cancellation for better listening experience in any environment
- Alexa-enabled for voice access to music, information, and more
- Noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear sound and voice pick-up
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II has a dual microphone that picks up voice and sound. It also has an excellent audio performance regardless of the volume. This wireless headset uses Bluetooth to connect to any compatible audio source.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on the opinions of over 2,800 Amazon customers.But when discussing such a high-end model, it's also important to look at the potential downsides.
Some customer reviews mentioned various problems cropping up after a mandatory software update. Others reported that the Bluetooth connection is unreliable and that their headphones often disconnect at random.
Finally, several customers found the Bose QuietComfort 35 II incredibly uncomfortable to wear, despite the name
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones
- Critically acclaimed sonic performance praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers
- Proprietary 45 millimeter large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
- Exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep accurate bass response
Like many of the other best headphones for VR on our list, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones sport a large aperture driver with rare earth magnets and copper-coated aluminum wire voice coils.
With this design, you get excellent audio clarity, a wide frequency range, and precise bass response. The sound quality is so good that even professional audio reviewers and engineers express awe over it.
These headphones completely cover the ears and help keep ambient noise out from the start. The 90-degree swiveling earcups also offer the option to use just one side of these headphones while playing games or enjoying other media.
These Audio-Technica headphones come with a set of coiled and straight detachable cables. But don't let that confuse you, because you cannot use these headphones wirelessly.
If you care about specs, these feature a maximum input power of 1,600 megawatts, an impedance of 38 ohms, and a sensitivity of 98 decibels. Plus, they also offer a frequency response rate of 15,000 to 24,000 Hertz.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones hold an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 5,400 Amazon customers.
However, as mentioned by some reviewers, these headphones do not include a microphone of any kind. If you enjoy playing co-op games with friends, these probably aren't the best headphones for VR to add to your setup
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
iJoy Logo Headphones
- Deep, accurate bass response,Extended frequency range, Rechargeable
- 5-button control, including Play/pause/answer/hangup,Equalizer,Next track/volume up, Previous track/volume down
- Ear cups fit around ears to help isolate audio, Foldable design for easy carry, noise canceling design
If you're looking for something that stands out more than the usual black, silver, or red, then you should give the iJoy Logo Headphones a chance.
These wireless headphones come in 13 different colors, including gold, violet, and pink. There are also metallic hues available if you're feeling particularly fancy.
On top of the diverse color choices, you'll also love the value you get for your money. These are some of the best headphones for VR for gamers on a budget. And you won't even lose the features offered by more expensive products!
For one, these rechargeable headphones feature an over-ear design and deliver strong bass tones. They also offer a wide frequency range and noise-canceling tech elements.
As far as comfort is concerned, you'll find these headphones offer cushioned earpads and an adjustable headband.
Though the rechargeable battery doesn't last as long as some competitors, you can still game for up to eight hours before reaching for a charger.
The iJoy Logo Headphones have an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars from more than 6,100 Amazon reviewers. Since iJoy offers a 180-day risk-free warranty, you can test them out for yourself and see if they really are the best headphones for VR.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$ |
Meidong E8
No products found.
The Meidong E8 uses an active noise-canceling (ANC) system that keeps out ambient sounds both in and outside of your gaming room. On top of blocking distractions from around you, the sound quality alone will leave you impressed with these headphones.
Aside from the ANC technology, these headphones keep it clean and basic when it comes to features. But all the essentials are covered, including soft ear cushions, 90-degree rotation, and a built-in voice mic.
These wireless headphones use Bluetooth to pair with your computer, gaming console, and other devices.
If you're wondering about color options, these headphones flaunt a sleek, all-black design accented by red, gold, orange, rose, or silver highlights.
The Meidong E8 headphones have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from more than 700 Amazon reviews
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
Meidong E8
No products found.
The Meidong E8 uses an active noise-canceling (ANC) system that keeps out ambient sounds both in and outside of your gaming room. On top of blocking distractions from around you, the sound quality alone will leave you impressed with these headphones.
Aside from the ANC technology, these headphones keep it clean and basic when it comes to features. But all the essentials are covered, including soft ear cushions, 90-degree rotation, and a built-in voice mic.
These wireless headphones use Bluetooth to pair with your computer, gaming console, and other devices.
If you're wondering about color options, these headphones flaunt a sleek, all-black design accented by red, gold, orange, rose, or silver highlights.
The Meidong E8 headphones have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from more than 700 Amazon re views.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
Symphonized NRG 3.0
- Premium Audio Quality - Enjoy premium sound quality without delay with our ear buds wired by Symphonized. These bass...
- Genuine Wood Earbuds - Our wired earphones with microphone feature hand-made wood inserts with natural acoustic...
- Durability & Satisfaction Guaranteed - Don't worry about breaking your earbuds with mic again with these wired 3,5mm...
Searching for the best headphones for VR but also want to look your best while gaming? The Symphonized NRG 3.0 headphones are here to help.
These one-of-a-kind earbuds are crafted from genuine wood. The outer material offers an elegant look while still blocking out ambient noises from your surroundings.
The wood exterior also provides some natural acoustic qualities, providing a crisp and clear sound to your game audio or music.
According to customers, these noise-isolating in-ear headphones are very comfortable to wear.
The perfect fit means you can isolate and reduce ambient noise and explore VR without worrying about losing your earbuds. To help ensure a proper fit for everyone, the silicone ear tips come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
The Symphonized NRG 3.0 earns an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from more than 2,600 Amazon reviewers.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
Mpow 059
No products found.
The Mpow 059 offers everything you want from the best headphones for VR.
For starters, the sound quality is nothing short of impressive. The Mpow 059 headphones are also very comfortable to wear and feature memory-protein cushions to help prevent excess sweating.
You can use the Mpow 059 wirelessly, which is perfect for exploring the corners of your favorite virtual world. But if you're going to use this with your desktop computer or non-Bluetooth device, you can use the included cables.
These headphones offer up to 20 hours of playtime with a single charge.
However, if the charge runs low, you can always plug in your headphones and keep going via the wired mode. This feature alone makes these some of the best headphones for VR because many other wireless headphones will only work when charged.
The Mpow 059 holds an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 22,000 Amazon customers.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
---|---|---|
$$$ |
What You Should Look for in the Best Headphones for VR
While most of the leading virtual reality headsets have their own headphones, some people still want to replace these with something better.
The best headphones for VR offer a cleaner, richer sound than most regular gaming headphones. They're also built specifically with noise cancellation in mind, keeping you firmly in the virtual world.
Aside from offering excellent sound quality and superior noise-cancellation technology, the best headphones for VR gaming should possess certain characteristics.
For optimal comfort, they need to be ergonomically designed and lightweight.
You should also consider investing in a wireless model. While gaming from your chair or sofa doesn't require much movement, the last thing you want is to trip over a cord in the middle of your VR sword fight!
Ready to Take Your Virtual Reality Immersion to the Next Level?
If you're just starting out in the world of virtual reality, you might think a quality headset is all you need. But what your eyes see is just part of a truly immersive experience.
Investing in some of the best headphones for VR can help you experience virtual reality like never before. You might not even realize how much your current headphones are impeding your experience until you try one of the headphones on this list.
And the best part? No matter what your budget or specific needs might be, there's something on our list for everyone!
What are your favorite VR games to play at the moment? Do you have any other tips for attaining a fully immersive experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Featured Image via Pixabay
Last update on 2023-02-08 at 09:50 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API