Sound is a pretty big deal when it comes to playing games. Sure, an average pair of headphones can do the job, but they obviously can’t do it well. And bad sound quality can have a huge impact on your immersion. So, getting the best wired gaming headphones or earbuds for the job is vital for getting the best experience. But instead of focusing just on headphones, let’s talk about an option that’s less talked about.
In-ear earbuds are the second option you have besides headphones, and they have a lot of positives in comparison. Headphones are often big and bulky, and it can be tiring to wear them for hours on end. Earbuds are much lighter, and more versatile in so many ways. But getting a good pair is arguably a bit more challenging since they’re the less popular option. So, let’s go through 7 of the best wired gaming earbuds you can buy.
JBL Quantum 50
Image via JBL
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: No | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $29.95
We’re starting this list off with an option that’s incredibly cheap at just $29.95. Don’t let the low price deter you from checking them out, though. The JBL Quantum 50 earbuds sit comfortably in the ear and offer surprisingly great audio quality. Again, these are very cheap earbuds, but the quality here is genuinely impressive. The microphone isn’t amazing, but at this price point it’s hard to expect it to be. It’s definitely not unusable but does sound a bit muffled and background noise will be heard quite clearly.
If you want something cheap that still delivers good audio, then this is a good choice. It’s still at the low end of what you could get, though. So don’t expect it to rival some of the other options here. This isn’t exactly the best out of all the wired earbuds for gaming, but it’s a strong contender for a low price.
Turtle Beach Battle Buds
Image via Turtle Beach
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: No | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $29.99
Here’s another cheap option that’s well worth checking out. The Turtle Beach Battle Buds cost $29.99 and look more like a deconstructed pair of headphones. They’re unique in that they have the microphone extend outward from the earphones, rather than be located somewhere on the cord. Admittedly the sound quality here is not amazing, and the microphone isn’t spectacular, but it’s neat for the low price.
These aren’t the sort of gaming earbuds you’d wear on the commute to work, and the sound quality makes that clear. But if you’re gaming with your friends and need something to communicate with, these are a pretty cool option.
HyperX Cloud
Image via HyperX
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: No | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $39.99
HyperX makes a selection of solid headphones at affordable prices. But their gaming earbuds aren’t quite as popular. This is likely due to their earbuds lacking the same quality found in their headphones. With that said, the HyperX Cloud earbuds are still a strong contender here. They offer solid sound clarity and comfort for just $39.99. But just like other earphones in this price range, it has a below-average microphone and next to no noise isolation.
This is another option that fits the bill if it’s all you’re looking for. And in fairness, these are still a great pair of earbuds. They’ll suit someone who isn’t too fussy with their sound, and at their low price, it’s hard to argue with them.
Logitech G333
Image via Logitech
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: No | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $49.99
The Logitech G333 earbuds are a step-up in both price and audio quality. However, what we’ve got here are still relatively cheaper earbuds at $49.99. Most people probably don’t consider Logitech an amazing option for audio hardware, but the G333 solid and comfortable option. It sports a dual-driver design with one driver delivering the bass, and the other supplying the mids and highs. It ultimately creates an audio profile that matches most other gaming headsets. But if that’s all you’re looking for then it shouldn’t be a surprise.
These wired gaming earbuds sit just above the less-than-average mark when it comes to earbuds. And that’s exactly what you should expect at this price. But they’re also really solid in their own right, too. They do the job, and if that’s what you’re after you can’t go wrong.
Cooler Master Masterpulse MH710
Image via Cooler Master
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: No | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $54.99
With these earbuds we’re starting to enter the not-so-cheap section of the guide. But that also means that we’re getting a jump in quality, too. Cooler Master’s Masterpulse MH710 earbuds come in at $54.99, and you get quite a bit for the money. They come equipped with 10mm Neodymium audio drivers, and that allows it to supply plenty of bass and excel with lows, mids, and highs. Plus, with the more well rounded audio profile, you could reasonably use them for things outside gaming and have a good experience,
Alongside the solid audio quality, you also got media controls that allow you to pause, play and skip a song. This is also where the microphone is located and while it’s not amazing it does do the job. These are another solid choice for a midrange pair of wired gaming earbuds.
Razer Hammerhead Duo
Image via Razer
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: Yes | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $59.99
The Razer Hammerhead Duo is well known for being one of the best pair of gaming earbuds around. It brings excellent sound quality, a sleek design, and a decent price. They come in at $60, which isn’t cheap but also isn’t absurd. Each earbud has two drivers which helps to deliver a more balanced sound profile. And when you’re playing a game, balanced sound is key. It’s not perfect, but the sound quality is very good. The general aesthetic and build quality is excellent too, with the braided cable and simple black and green looking very cool.
If you want a decently affordable pair of gaming earbuds, you can do much worse than the Razer Hammerhead Duo. This is easily of the better choices out there when it comes to wired gaming earbuds, so it’s definitely worth a look
ASUS ROG Cetra
Image via ASUS
Product Specs:
Type: In-Ear | Frequency Response: 20 – 40,000 Hz | Noise Cancelling: Yes | Microphone: Yes
Average Price: $79.99
The ASUS ROG Cetra sits at the high end of wired gaming earbuds, and with that comes a larger price tag. At $79.99, you get earphones with active noise cancellation, 10mm drivers that pack plenty of bass, and a fit that’ll let you comfortably game for hours. It’s worth noting that this is the only pair of earbuds on this list that has a USB-C jack instead of the 3.5mm. So bear that in mind if you plan on using it on a device that doesn’t have a USB-C port.
Other than great sound quality, you’ve got media controls, and an option to switch noise-cancelling off, which helps if you’re out and about listening to music. As far as wired gaming earbuds go, this is one of the best options out there.
A wide variety of wired gaming earbuds to choose
Wired gaming earbuds come in plenty of varieties. A lot of them don’t really do their job all that well. But the ones we’ve gathered here are some of the best gaming earbuds you can find. Your options open up even more when you look at wireless gaming earbuds, which have their own characteristics to look out for. But for now, when it comes to wired gaming earbuds, these are some of the best choices you’ll find.
