The Best Audiophile Headphones for Gaming

On driver size it leads this guide at 100mm, ahead of the Fosi i5 (97mm). It shares an open-back planar magnetic design with the Fosi i5 and Sundara; the HD 599 goes with an open-back design. It is the only pick here with an on-cable MEMS boom mic microphone; the INZONE H6 Air has an included microphone instead.

Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. Worth noting too: no charging or pairing needed. When we checked, only the INZONE H6 Air and cheaper picks cost less, and the Fosi i5 cost more.

It also offers a 97mm driver size. Its 97mm planar diaphragm is 2 microns thin with a sputtered silver alloy coating. A memory-steel headband, multi-axis pivoting cups and silicone sliders handle the fit.

Its 97mm driver size ranks second of 3 here, behind the ROG Kithara (100mm) and ahead of the INZONE H6 Air (40mm). Like the ROG Kithara and Sundara, it has an open-back planar magnetic design, while the INZONE H6 Air uses an open-back design. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the ROG Kithara.

Sony adapted its drivers from studio monitor headphones and adds a custom equalizer for RPG and adventure games. Its 40mm driver size is the smallest in this group; the ROG Kithara leads at 100mm. Like the HD 599, it has an open-back design, while the ROG Kithara uses an open-back planar magnetic design.

You get an included microphone here, which sets it apart from the ROG Kithara and its an on-cable MEMS boom mic microphone. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper HD 599 and the pricier ROG Kithara, at the time of writing.

The metal headband and weight-spreading strap suit long listening. Being open-back, it leaks sound and lets room noise in, so it suits a quiet room. Its metal headband and weight-spreading strap keep pressure off the top of the head.

HIFIMAN recommends about 150 hours of burn-in, and the 3.5mm connectors are sturdier than earlier versions. Like the ROG Kithara and Fosi i5, it has an open-back planar magnetic design, while the INZONE H6 Air uses an open-back design. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise.

It undercut the HD 599 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the ROG Kithara comes in at 100mm.

It has no mic, so pair it with a separate one. It is the only pick here with a wired 3.5mm and 6.3mm connection; the ROG Kithara has a wired connection instead. Like the INZONE H6 Air, it has an open-back design, while the Fosi i5 uses an open-back planar magnetic design.

A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Sundara and the pricier INZONE H6 Air, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the ROG Kithara comes in at 100mm.