Editor's Pick: Top Gaming Headphones You Need To Check Out

2022 has ended but what a year it has been, especially for the gaming industry. Be it gamers, game developers or gaming equipment manufacturers, the year was transformational, to say the least. Honouring the year that has been and the year that is yet to happen, we bring you the top picks for the best gaming headphones that you cannot miss out on. Pay attention now.

Cosmic Byte Equinox Kronos

After going through a barrage of gaming headsets, I was convinced that no product on the market can surprise me anymore. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Cosmic Byte Equinox Kronos was to me what enlightenment was to Buddha. From the moment I put these headphones on, my perception of the ideal gaming headset has been in shambles. Kronos has forced me to rethink what a good gaming headset should be like. The Cosmic Byte Kronos has an advantage over its international contemporaries in performance, build quality and feel.

The gaming headset comes equipped with Dolby Atmos 7.1 sound along with 50mm drivers. Each and every beat and drop is picked up perfectly. Falling bullet shells, the wind blowing through grasslands, approaching footsteps, you name it. The battery is a big plus and so is the mic. The mic is impressive because of its ENC (environment noise cancellation) feature and the absence of any latency whatsoever. The headphones can be connected via a dongle that can be connected to any PC and X Box or PlayStation console. The Cosmic Byte Kronos can also be connected to mobile devices via AUX and USB-Type-C cables.

I really want to find a con for the pros and cons list but I cannot find anything. This is a genuinely good product from Cosmic Byte and it is here to disrupt the audio experience segment, a space that has been primarily ruled by international players.

JBL Quantum 350 Wireless

The JBL Quantum 350 Wireless gaming headset is a product that aces all of the basics. However, it does fall a bit short of being the perfect audio solution for gamers. Don’t get me wrong, though. I love this headset. Its simplicity is something that the gaming market can actually use. The sound quality is good with emphasis on bass. Plus, you can adjust the audio with an equaliser on the QuantumENGINE software. The microphone is detachable and it works just fine. The Quantum 350 Wireless gaming headphones have a light body weighing just a little over 250 grams. JBL aces the mids and highs while delivering truly amazing bass.

The USPs of this headset are its lossless wireless connectivity, sound quality and its spatial surround sound. The headset can be connected via a 2.4GHz USB dongle and can be charged with a USB type-C to USB type-A cable, which can also be used as a USB type-C audio connection.

The headset did slip a few times when I shook my head or bent forward. The volume control is located in such a position that it becomes an issue when you try to adjust the left ear cup. You can accidentally turn the volume up or down. In addition to that, the quantum 350 Wireless does not have active noise cancellation (ANC), so audio isolation is not what you’d get from a headset that has this feature. The spatial surround sound is great almost all the time. It beautifully reproduces ambient environmental sounds and enhances gunshots and blasts.

In terms of playtime, the headphones can last for up to 22 to 25 hours on a full charge, which will take a few hours as there is no fast-charging option.

Lastly, contrary to the popular opinion about this headset, I found the JBL Quantum 350 Wireless excellent for music and entertainment. The spatial surround sound in the QuantumENGINE is spectacular and enriches music and movie experiences manyfold. Overall, this is a very versatile product from JBL that is definitely built for gamers.

Cosmic Byte Equinox Neutrino

Following the footsteps of Kronos, we have another pair of gaming headphones from the house of Cosmic Byte, the Equinox Neutrino. High-fidelity 50mm drivers clubbed with a detachable mic with ENC capabilities are always an impressive package. What impressed me the most about this gaming headset is that despite being a wired headset, there is no apparent difference in performance at all.

The body is aluminium, the ear cups are made of faux leather and the metal armband is not rigid. This smooth criminal of a gaming headset has multiple inputs, namely, USB type A, USB type C and AUX. The Cosmic Byte Neutrino is powered by Dolby Atmos 7.1 as well so as far as the audio is concerned, it is top-notch. Comfort is something that really caught my attention. In some ways, I found the Neutrino more comfortable than the Kronos headphones. It might have to do with the thick memory foam used in the former.

In terms of functionality, the controls for audio are situated on the left-hand side. Volume, a mute button for the mic, controls for turning on or off the surround sound and connectivity options (USB type C and 3.5mm port). The LED light really adds to the aesthetic. The bright golden light lights up as if the headphones are breathing in a slow and calm manner, much like a dragon on its hoard of gold. These can be turned off as well by long pressing the surround sound button.

The gaming consumer tech market is only going to heat up going forward in 2023. Stay tuned for more such reviews.