In Battle Royale games like Warzone, threats can come from any angle. Professional Warzone players know that a good gaming headset is vital to maintain spatial awareness and enhance hearing for important audio cues like footsteps. Our headset list, informed by pro pick rate and in-house testing, can hopefully help you find your next gaming headset for Warzone.
Which headsets do Warzone pros use?
Sennheiser and Astro headsets are two of the more popular gaming headset brands picked by Call of Duty players, as detailed in our chart below, which breaks down brand pick rates for Call of Duty players we track on Setup.gg.
Best headset for Warzone
The Astro A40 TR (tournament-ready) is a legendary headset within the Call of Duty community. With so many similar headsets on the market, why do Warzone pros and content creators swear by A40 TR? The secret is the A40’s sound, which is perfectly balanced for Call of Duty, and makes it feel like you’re wearing a cheat code on your head.
Two core components of the Astro A40 make it incredible for playing Call of Duty; the headset’s design and audio tuning. The A40 TR uses an open-back design, which simulates a larger soundstage than closed-back headsets. A large soundstage makes game audio feel like it’s happening around you instead of inside your head. The open-back design’s enhanced sound stage makes it easy to pinpoint the direction and distance of audio cues like footsteps.
The A40 TR also has ideally tuned audio for Call of Duty. The loud game sounds like gunshots and explosions are dampened, while footsteps feel isolated and enhanced. This is in stark contrast to some other headsets we tested, where the volume of gunshots and explosions overwhelmed our ears and often drowned out more critical audio cues.
The A40 TR was built to take a beating. The headset features easily replaceable components like the audio cable, microphone, ear cushions, and headset cushion. The A40 also has a pliable mostly plastic construction, which can be twisted and manipulated without fear of breaking.
I hardly noticed the A40 TR on my head, thanks to its spacious cloth ear cups that leave ample room around the ears. Some headsets can feel suffocating after prolonged use, but I never felt like my ears were gasping for air while wearing the Astro A40s.
If you’re looking for a headset to earn more Warzone wins, look no further than the Astro A40 TR. The A40’s audio quality, durability, and comfort make it ideal for sending other players back to the lobby.
The BlackShark V2 Pro is one of the most popular headsets used by Warzone pros tracked on Setup.gg, and for good reason. The BlackShark has everything you’d want in a wireless gaming headset: multiple wireless connectivity options, all-day comfort, and pinpoint directional audio.
Our favorite thing about the Razer BlackShark lineup is how comfortable they are to wear. The BlackShark utilizes thick padding on the headband and earcups, covered in a breathable mesh weave. The mesh earcups don’t block out as much background noise as leatherette, but they do a better job of dissipating heat.
The BlackShark can connect to audio sources via 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth, and their SmartSwitch feature allows you to quickly swap between multiple connections with a simple button press. The headset doesn’t feature a wired connection, which would have been a welcome addition.
We were impressed that the BlackShark V2 Pro can go 70 hours without needing to recharge. The newest generation of the BlackShark also upgraded the charging port to USB-C from Micro USB, which helps to reduce charging times.
Directional audio is important to every gamer, and the BlackShark V2 delivers. When we tested the BlackShark V2 (wired) in Warzone the headset’s spacious sound stage made it easy to determine the location of footsteps and other audio cues.
Studio-quality in-ear monitors, like the Linsoul Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, have experienced a fast ascension in recent years as gamers seek an alternative to bulky over-ear headsets. The Linsoul Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite is a popular pick among Warzone pros because it offers exceptional audio for gaming in a compact design that’s comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Designed for audio professionals and audiophiles, the Kiwi Ears produce neutral, balanced audio that stays true to the source. This makes the Kiwi Ears a top choice for competitive gamers who must accurately differentiate sound cues.
Each Kiwi Ears earbud features a 2-pin connection point for the included 7N oxygen-free copper cable. The cable can easily be replaced for a different length or in the event it becomes damaged.
The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite comes in a variety of colorways, and the hand-crafted faceplate designs mean no two sets are the same. Included in the box are a zippable carrying case and 9 sets of earbud tips so you can find the right size and shape for your ears.
The Orchestra Lites have an impedance of only 18 ohms so you won’t need an amp. You will need a microphone, however, if you want to chat with teammates while using the Kiwi Ears.
The Sennheiser HD 660S is a studio headset for the Warzone player who wants to take their audio experience to the next level. These premium cans cost a premium price, but it may be worth it to the hardcore competitive gamer.
The HD 660S is popular with Warzone players tracked on Setup.gg because its open-back design creates a spacious soundstage and allows for the precise localization of sounds. The outside of the earcups are covered in perforated metal that allows air to pass freely through to the 42mm drivers.
Thick padding on the headband and earcups, covered in soft fabric, helps secure the headset to your head. At only 260 grams, the HD 660S is lightweight and comfortable enough to wear for long gaming sessions.
Studio headsets like the HD 660S don’t include features you’d find on typical gaming headsets like onboard controls or a microphone, but what they lack in convenience they make up for in sound quality.
The HD 660S has an impedance of 150 ohms and a sensitivity of 110.1 dB/V SPL, which means an amplifier isn’t necessary, but you may want one to get the most out of the headset. The Sennheiser headset includes a 3.5mm TRS, 1/4 inch TRS, and 4.4mm TRS to connect to practically any amp or device.
The Logitech G Pro X 2 is a professional-grade wireless headset with a neutral sound profile that’s excellent for esports and gaming.
The quality of the G Pro X 2 is immediately noticeable when you remove the headset from the box. The G Pro X 2 is heavier than some wireless headsets due to the premium metal and leatherette construction. Even the plastic components of the G Pro X 2 are first-rate and soft to the touch.
Esports professionals value the durability of gaming peripherals. Streamers with thousands of viewers, and pros with the tournament on the line, can’t risk equipment failure. Durability is one of the reasons the G Pro X 2 is so popular among pros. The G Pro’s metal headband frame can safely twist in any direction, and the boom mic is detachable for quick replacement.
The G Pro X 2’s audio is geared towards esports, with an emphasis on sound clarity over heavy bass. Reducing the volume of bass-heavy sounds is especially useful for Warzone because it helps other more important audio cues, like footsteps, shine through in the audio mix. The free Logitech G HUB software includes EQ tuning, among other features, which makes it easy to find the perfect audio mix for Warzone.
The Logitech G Pro X 2 is a reliable, well-built esports headset with satisfactory audio for Warzone. Check out the HyperX Cloud III Wireless for a similarly designed wireless headset that’s less expensive.
The JBL Quantum One is one of the most popular wired headsets used by Warzone players tracked on Setup.gg. We were impressed by the Quantum One’s long list of features that help set it apart from other gaming headsets.
The Quantum One is a wired over-ears headset with closed-back earcups that help to isolate sound. The headset is unmistakably designed for gamers with flashy coloring on the exterior, which may not appeal to those seeking office or travel use.
A myriad of buttons and dials on the side of the Quantum One control features like volume, mic mute, and active noise canceling. A large dial on the headset’s USB audio cable works as a mixer to control volume between gaming and chat audio.
One of the most unique features of the JBL Quantum One is QuantumSPHERE 360 spatial audio, which uses head tracking to localize sounds. Turn your head, and QuantumSPHERE 360 adjusts audio relative to the direction of your ears, increasing immersion in games.
Audio on the JBL Quantum One packs a punch thanks to powerful 50mm drivers. The headset has plenty of bass, which combined with large earcups, creates an incredibly immersive experience in-game.
Some of the Quantum One’s features, like head tracking and RGB lighting, are only available on PC with the USB audio cable. Console owners may want to check out the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for a headset with similar features that’s more compatible with PlayStation consoles.
Warzone headset buying tips
Buying a new gaming headset can be daunting with so many models available. Below, we break down the types of headsets and features to look for when buying a gaming headset for Warzone.
Wired vs. Wireless
Connectivity is one of the first things to consider when shopping for a gaming headset. Headsets can be wired, wireless, or both, with each type having advantages and disadvantages.
Wired headsets connect via a 3.5mm or USB audio cable and deliver the lowest latency audio. Wired headsets are usually less expensive than wireless headsets, lighter, and don’t require batteries.
Wireless headsets connect via Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless. 2.4 GHz achieves lower latency than Bluetooth, making it the best option for wireless gaming. Xbox consoles need a special wireless connection. If you’re an Xbox owner, make sure the wireless headset you purchase is made specifically for Xbox.
Closed-back vs. Open Back
Over-ear headset design can be classified into two categories: closed-back and open-back.
Closed-back headsets have coverings over the back of the drivers and offer better sound isolation. Open-back headsets allow air to pass through the back of the headset to the drivers, have a more open sound stage, and usually feature better neutral sound.
Consider your environment when choosing a headset design. Open-back headsets are great if you have a quiet room to listen in, while closed-back perform better in loud surroundings.
Dual connection & channel mixing
Dual-connection headsets allow multiple devices to connect at the same time. Headsets like the Logitech G735 and Arctis Nova Pro Wireless can connect via Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, simultaneously enabling audio from two sources.
Channel mixing headsets, like the HyperX Cloud II and Logitech G735, feature controls to quickly balance the volume between two audio sources. This is especially useful to balance the game and chat audio levels without adjusting each source individually.
Surround Sound
Most gaming headsets use stereo audio, where sound is split between the left and right speaker channels. Some gaming headsets offer virtual surround sound, which virtually splits the audio into multiple channels to simulate the experience of listening to a 7.1 or more speaker setup.
Microphone
The microphone is a key component separating a gaming headset from a regular pair of over-ears. Look for microphones with a wide-ranging frequency response that can adequately suppress background noise to ensure clear communication with teammates.
