The best audiophile headphones for gaming in 2025 are currently the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro, praised for their stellar sound quality, exceptional comfort, and robust build, making them ideal for immersive gameplay and long sessions. For a budget-friendly option, the Drop + Epos 38 PC38X offers fantastic audio quality and a high-performing microphone at $140.
Other top recommendations include the Grado SR225X, known for its clarity and precision in competitive gaming, with a recessed low-end that preserves detail during loud in-game events like explosions. The HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth stands out with its expansive soundstage and balanced tuning, delivering accurate imaging and clarity without listener fatigue. For those seeking high-end performance, the Sennheiser HD800S and Focal Clear MG are exceptional choices, offering elite soundstage and imaging, though the HD800S requires a dedicated amplifier to reach its full potential.
In-ear monitors (IEMs) are also viable for gaming, with the Sennheiser IE200/IE600/IE900 and Final A4000 offering excellent clarity, imaging, and portability, particularly suited for competitive play. The Hifiman Arya Stealth is another top contender, noted for its responsiveness to EQ and superior gaming performance at around £450. Open-back designs like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 and DT 800, as well as the Philips Fidelio L2, provide wide soundstages ideal for spatial awareness in FPS games, though they offer less sound isolation and may cause audio leakage.
For what it's worth .. I went from Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro to AKG K712 Pro and thought I found my endgame headphones. I mostly play games and jam music(all types) About a month ago I saw some videos on YT about these Sennheiser HD490 Pro headphones for gaming. So I pulled the trigger. I snagged the HD490 Pro Plus set. (Carrying case and extra ear cups for mixing) Plugged them into my JDS Labs Atom stack (amp/dac) and played a few songs. The music was wonderful. So I jumped in a few games to check that out. Amazing sound on the battlefield of Warzone/Battlefield/Apex I could hear footsteps like I never have. The soundstage is perfect for me. Blew my K712 pros out of the water. These are the lightest and most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. Honestly they make you feel like nothing is in your head. The clamp force is light and feels great for hours. I ordered from Amazon just in case I did not like them. Plus the wife couldn't believe how much a set of new headphones was costing. (I showed her the HD800 price and she was ok with the HD490 Pro) Whatever you choose to get, I hope you can try these HD490 Pros at some point in life! Answer from smellinsweet on reddit.com
PC Gamer
pcgamer.com › hardware › gaming audio › earbuds & headphones
The best audiophile headphones for gaming in 2025: my top recommendations for the best cans money can buy | PC Gamer
July 18, 2025 - They can simply make your games sound so much better than a cheap headset ever can. In our learned opinions, the best audiophile headphones for gaming are currently the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/headphoneadvice › best audiophile headphones for gaming
r/HeadphoneAdvice on Reddit: Best audiophile headphones for gaming
February 8, 2025 -
Wondering whats recommended for a good pair of headphones for listening to music and play FPS. I'm stuck between AR5000, HD490 pro and have mixed feelings about the DT1990 MK2. Thinking of pairing with a schiit gunnr for easy Mic control. Currently using razer black shark V2 pro wireless which are fine but id like to try open back with increased sound stage.i live in the UK and Budget with a dac is around £700. Priory is hearing crispy footsteps while playing fps and i enjoy a wide range of music with a lively bassy sound. Don't have ability to sample any which is a bummer
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For what it's worth .. I went from Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro to AKG K712 Pro and thought I found my endgame headphones. I mostly play games and jam music(all types) About a month ago I saw some videos on YT about these Sennheiser HD490 Pro headphones for gaming. So I pulled the trigger. I snagged the HD490 Pro Plus set. (Carrying case and extra ear cups for mixing) Plugged them into my JDS Labs Atom stack (amp/dac) and played a few songs. The music was wonderful. So I jumped in a few games to check that out. Amazing sound on the battlefield of Warzone/Battlefield/Apex I could hear footsteps like I never have. The soundstage is perfect for me. Blew my K712 pros out of the water. These are the lightest and most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. Honestly they make you feel like nothing is in your head. The clamp force is light and feels great for hours. I ordered from Amazon just in case I did not like them. Plus the wife couldn't believe how much a set of new headphones was costing. (I showed her the HD800 price and she was ok with the HD490 Pro) 🤣 Whatever you choose to get, I hope you can try these HD490 Pros at some point in life! ☮️🎧
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The Hifiman Arya Stealth is around £450 new on Amazon. It's extremely good for gaming. I promise you nothing else comes close at that price. It's also great for music, and it responds beautifully to EQ if you want to tailor it with more bass, tame any highs, etc. Edit - it's jumped up by £100 since yesterday. But it'll go back down, it always does on Amazon. Edition XS is also a very solid option, but if you get one, get a comfort strap from Custom Cans (they have a website). It makes the headband fit a lot better.
Which "audiophile" headphones would be best for gaming?
Recently my Turtle Beach px21 headset broke so I'm looking to get a replacement. I have been researching many different "gaming" headsets, as well as "audiophile" headphones. I am trying to determine whether or not a cheaper audiophile headset + microphone would be worth it compared to just a... More on forums.tomsguide.com
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August 23, 2015Best audiophile headphones for gaming?
Hello! I have had many "gaming headsets" in the past including the Logitech g633. But now i want to get something better. I want to get some audiophile headphones that sound better than the overpriced gaming headsets. So which headphones are good for gaming? Are audiophile headphones just as... More on forums.tomshardware.com
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May 8, 2018audiophile headphones for gaming on pc under $200
Sennheiser 560s are great gaming headphones. Incredibly accurate with and an excellent sound stage that really places sounds around you. More on reddit.com
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January 6, 2025Budget $300, Best (Audiophile) Headphones for gaming on PC mainly Valorant and csgo and Overwatch 2?
If you wait for a sale you can probably get the R70x for under $300, I ordered a pair for $250 from Amazon last week. I can't personally speak to their quality yet, but a lot of people say they're top tier as far as imaging goes and they're often a strong recommendation for gaming. I do have the HD 560s and don't think you can go wrong with those for gaming either. More on reddit.com
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March 6, 2023Videos
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TechRadar
techradar.com › gaming
Forget gaming headsets, the best audiophile headphones for gaming are where it’s at if you want the best audio – here are 5 of our favorites | TechRadar
September 19, 2025 - Today's best prices on some of our favorite audiophile headphones for gaming ... The new Sennheiser HD 550 headphones have been somewhat of a revelation to me this year, and have become my go-to device on PC for work, music, and gaming.
RTINGS
rtings.com › home › headphones › best
The 6 Best Audiophile Headphones of 2026 - RTINGS.com
November 20, 2025 - The best audiophile headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These open-back over-ears have an outstanding soundstage that's large, natural, and spacious.
Audiophile ON
audiophileon.com › news › best-gaming-headsets
The Best Gaming Headsets and Headphones in 2025 — Audiophile ON
November 18, 2025 - Even though he could easily make millions of dollars endorsing a custom headset of his own, these were the ones he chose for good reason. ... If we take audiophile headphones off the list and just focus purely on gaming headsets, the Astro A50 is ...
Audeze
audeze.com › pages › gaming
Audiophile Gaming Headphones | Audeze Gaming
Audeze Planar Magnetic drivers provide the best sound quality of any audiophile gaming headphone in the world. Our patented innovations and passion for audio have earned us more than 100 awards and glowing critical acclaim from experts and audio ...
VLR.gg
vlr.gg › 61611 › audiophile-level-headphones-for-gaming
Audiophile level headphones for gaming? | VLR.gg
... oh also Shure Se215, Shure Aoinic 4 or 5, and Shure Se846, they are in ears headphones, and one of those models are used in VCT Champions, so yeah Shure it´s one of the best ...
Amazon
amazon.com › audiophile-gaming-headset › s
Amazon.com: Audiophile Gaming Headset
Sennheiser HD 560 S Over-The-Ear Audiophile Headphones - Neutral Frequency Response, E.A.R. Technology for Wide Sound Field, Open-Back Earcups, Detachable Cable, (Black) (HD 560S) · New! VZR Model One MKII Audiophile Gaming Headset – 3D Audio for First-Person Shooter/FPS Gaming, Patented ...
Home Studio Basics
homestudiobasics.com › gaming › gaming headphones › the best headphones for gaming [in depth guide]
The Best Headphones for Gaming [In Depth Guide] - Home Studio Basics
August 12, 2025 - The Audiophile Headphone vs. The “Gaming Headset” · The truth of the matter is this: A “Gaming Headset”, while a popular choice, isn’t the best choice.
Audio46
audio46.com › blogs › audio46-guidepost › the-best-audiophile-headphones-for-immersive-gaming-and-music
The Best Audiophile Headphones for Immersive Gaming and Music | Audio46
July 19, 2025 - The added bonus of Grado's large ... enthusiasts. Another standout audiophile headphone that I recommend for gaming is the HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth....
Tom's Guide
forums.tomsguide.com › home › electronics & wearables › audio
Which "audiophile" headphones would be best for gaming? | Tom's Guide Forum
August 23, 2015 - please do not bump posts, be a ... headphones which makes them either boring/dull or not-fatiguing based on what your personal preferences are. the ad500x is a good choice for gaming....
MMORPG
mmorpg.com › hardware › audiophile-vs-gaming-headsets-which-is-better-2000125746
Audiophile Vs Gaming Headsets: Which Is Better? | MMORPG.com
August 5, 2022 - Then, as we were brainstorming this article, Chris sent over the HIFIMAN Devas, as well as worked with Drop to send the Sennheiser HD58X headphones, giving me some more audiophile-grade choices to compare.
Audio46
audio46.com › blogs › audio46-guidepost › best-headphones-for-gaming-in-2025
Best Headphones For Gaming In 2025 | Audio46 | Audio46
July 18, 2025 - ... These next two entries are quite the price jump, but if you absolutely must have the best audio quality in your games, consider something like the Audeze LCD X. For around ten years now, the Audeze LCD X has been a staple audiophile headphone ...
TechRadar
techradar.com › gaming › gaming accessories
I ditched my premium gaming headset for audiophile headphones – here's why I might not go back | TechRadar
June 25, 2025 - However, if you're after a set of audiophile headphones because you mainly play single-player games, don't mind being tethered, and maybe have a separate mic solution too, then something like the Sennheiser HD 550s will be absolutely perfect ...
Tom's Hardware Forum
forums.tomshardware.com › home › electronics › home audio & theater
Best audiophile headphones for gaming? | Tom's Hardware Forum
May 8, 2018 - 😉 Most gaming headsets are cheap drivers with boosted high and low frequencies so games are exciting. Some, not all, good headphones do it better and still sound good with music. The Audio Technica ATR-MSR7 mentioned above is one of them. HD 598s are a great choice. I still use mine for gaming.
Gadget Review
gadgetreview.com › home › gaming › gaming headset › audiophile headphones vs gaming headset
Audiophile Headphones Vs. Gaming Headset | Which Is Better?
February 8, 2024 - When it comes to authentic sound reproduction, audiophile headphones are always the best bet. Audiophile options are the way to go if you have a great sound card on your computer. A pair of headphones made specifically for gaming will be more affordable.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
The 10 Best Audiophile Gaming Headphones To Buy! - YouTube
Get the Superlux HD 681: https://www.rtings.com/afflink/AqsAAAHXAAA=Get the Philips SHP9500: https://www.rtings.com/afflink/AqsAAAFzAAA=Get the Philips SHP96
Published July 23, 2025
Creative Bloq
creativebloq.com › tech › headphones & earbuds
These new $350 gaming headphones use spatial tech from a $5,000 model | Creative Bloq
6 days ago - With 80 hours battery and a new comfort band, the Audeze Maxwell 2 sound like endgame audio to me. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Moon Audio
moon-audio.com › home › expert advice › expert advice
The Best Audiophile Headphones $1000-$3000
July 4, 2024 - We've gone through our collection ... of the best audiophile headphones from $1,000-$3,000. We know that everyone hears differently and depending on your budget, style of listening, the music you like to listen to, and more, there's probably a headphone in here that just might be your perfect fit. These audiophile headphones are neither entry-level nor the most expensive, but all are phenomenal and any one of them could easily be your end-game ...
beyerdynamic
global.beyerdynamic.com › headphones-headsets
Headphones and headsets with perfect sound I beyerdynamic
beyerdynamic offers hi-fi and high-end headphones as well as in-ear headphones and headsets for home and on the go. Gamers and creators get their money's worth with our gaming headsets and studio headphones, because our headphones stand for ...