Buying Guide
The Best Dolby Atmos Gaming Headsets
From the HS65 Surround to the Virtuoso MAX: four headsets ranked on battery life and driver size, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Dolby Atmos for Headphones places sounds above and around you, which helps locate footsteps. Every pick supports Dolby Atmos, ordered by driver size.
We sorted these picks by battery life, driver size and connection, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips battery life, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Corsair HS65 Surround Wired Gaming HeadsetA lower price than the Void v2 and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $100.
Check price for Corsair HS65 Surround Wired Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair Virtuoso MAX Wireless Gaming HeadsetActive noise cancellation at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the HS65 Surround costs less.
Check price for Corsair Virtuoso MAX Wireless Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Longest Battery Life
Corsair Void v2 WirelessThe longest battery life here (70 hours).
Best for: Long sessions away from a charging cable.
Check price for Corsair Void v2 Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Included Microphone
Xbox Wireless Gaming HeadsetAn included microphone.
Best for: Buyers who want an included microphone.
Check price for Xbox Wireless Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lower price than the Void v2 and the rest when we checked. | Keeping the cost under $100. | Check price for Corsair HS65 Surround Wired Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Active noise cancellation at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the HS65 Surround costs less. | Check price for Corsair Virtuoso MAX Wireless Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The longest battery life here (70 hours). | Long sessions away from a charging cable. | Check price for Corsair Void v2 Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An included microphone. | Buyers who want an included microphone. | Check price for Xbox Wireless Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
Corsair HS65 Surround Wired Gaming Headset
The HS65 Surround is the wired value pick, with 50mm drivers, 3.5mm and USB connections and flip-to-mute.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $100.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
Leatherette memory foam cups with a soft fabric layer sit on an adjustable headband reinforced with aluminum. Its custom-tuned 50mm neodymium drivers support Dolby Atmos spatial audio on PC. No other pick in this guide offers a flip-to-mute microphone; compare the Void v2, which has an omnidirectional boom microphone.
USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. You also get this: no charging or pairing needed. It makes the most sense for keeping the cost under $100, since it offers a lower price than the Void v2 and the rest when we checked. It cost the least of the 4 picks at the time of writing, with the Void v2 the next step up.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 50mm
- Weight
- 282g
- Connection
- Wired 3.5mm, USB
- Microphone
- Flip-to-mute
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- Dolby Atmos support
- Flip-to-mute microphone, the only one here
The catch
There is no published battery life figure, whereas the Void v2 runs for 70 hours.
Premium Pick2 of 4
Corsair Virtuoso MAX Wireless Gaming Headset
The Virtuoso MAX is Corsair's premium wireless headset with ANC and Dolby Atmos support, at the highest price here.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the HS65 Surround costs less.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its battery life before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Its 50mm graphene drivers and Dolby Atmos spatial audio on PC suit story games, and ANC blocks room noise. It connects over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. Its battery and wireless range suit moving away from the desk mid-session.
It connects over low-latency 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, and the mic handles voice chat. Its battery covers several days of play between charges. You also get active noise cancellation.
On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Xbox Wireless Headset the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed battery life, look to the Void v2 instead: it runs for 70 hours, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 50mm
- Connection
- 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
- Active noise cancellation
- Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- No published battery life
- Costs more than the HS65 Surround at the time of writing
Longest Battery Life3 of 4
Corsair Void v2 Wireless
Corsair's Void v2 offers up to 70 hours of battery life, Dolby Atmos support and NVIDIA Broadcast mic support.
Best for
- Long sessions away from a charging cable.
Skip if
- The maker gives no driver size, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It connects over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. It runs 2.4GHz for gaming and Bluetooth for phones, with up to 70 hours per charge and 6 hours from a 15-minute top-up. It lists up to 70 hours of battery, Dolby Atmos spatial audio and switching between PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile.
An omnidirectional boom microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the Xbox Wireless Headset uses an included microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. Its price falls between the HS65 Surround and the Xbox Wireless Headset, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed driver size should compare it with the HS65 Surround, which comes in at 50mm.
Key specs
- Battery life
- 70 hours
- Connection
- 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
- Microphone
- Omnidirectional boom
Pros
- Up to 70 hours of battery life
- Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
- Dolby Atmos support
- NVIDIA Broadcast mic support
Cons
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the HS65 Surround at the time of writing
Included Microphone4 of 4
Xbox Wireless Gaming Headset
Microsoft's Xbox Wireless Headset connects straight to the console and adds Bluetooth LE for a phone, with Dolby Atmos spatial audio support.
Best for
- Buyers who want an included microphone.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: shorter 20-hour battery.
Why we like it
Its 20-hour battery is the shortest here, so it suits shorter sessions or a nearby charger. It is the only pick here with an included microphone; the HS65 Surround has a flip-to-mute microphone instead. It also offers dual wireless connectivity.
It connects to Xbox consoles over Xbox Wireless; on a PC, check the product page for the connection it supports, since Xbox Wireless on Windows usually needs Microsoft's adapter or a built-in radio. When we checked, only the Void v2 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Virtuoso MAX cost more. If you want a confirmed driver size, look to the HS65 Surround instead: it comes in at 50mm, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Battery life
- 20 hours
- Connection
- Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth LE
- Microphone
- Included
Pros
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio support
- Dual wireless connectivity
- Included microphone, the only one here
Cons
- Shorter 20-hour battery
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the HS65 Surround at the time of writing
How We Chose These Dolby Atmos Gaming Headsets
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side four headsets on battery life, driver size, connection and microphone from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and battery life and driver size are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the HS65 Surround to the Xbox Wireless Headset, state connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The HS65 Surround and the Virtuoso MAX give no battery life; the Void v2 and the Xbox Wireless Headset give no driver size.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the HS65 Surround ($50 to $100) to the Virtuoso MAX ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Dolby Atmos Gaming Headset
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much battery life you need
Across these 2 picks battery life spans 20 hours (the Xbox Wireless Headset) to 70 hours (the Void v2). If battery life is your first filter, the Void v2 sets the ceiling at 70 hours. The HS65 Surround and the Virtuoso MAX give no battery life figure, so 2 of 4 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The HS65 Surround: Dolby Atmos support. The Void v2: NVIDIA Broadcast mic support. The Xbox Wireless Headset: dual wireless connectivity.
Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the HS65 Surround; $100 to $150 buys the Void v2 and the Xbox Wireless Headset; $150 to $250 buys the Virtuoso MAX at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the cost under $100: the HS65 Surround. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the HS65 Surround costs less: the Virtuoso MAX. Long sessions away from a charging cable: the Void v2.
A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor Open-back or closed-back
Open-back headphones sound more spacious and feel cooler, but they leak sound and block little outside noise. Closed-back models isolate better in shared rooms.
Choose open-back only if you play in a quiet room on your own.
How to Choose a Dolby Atmos Gaming Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $100 | HS65 Surround | A lower price than the Void v2 and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the HS65 Surround costs less | Virtuoso MAX | Active noise cancellation at the highest price in the group |
| Long sessions away from a charging cable | Void v2 | The longest battery life here (70 hours) |
| Buyers who want an included microphone | Xbox Wireless Headset | An included microphone |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Void v2 leads on battery life at 70 hours, ahead of the Xbox Wireless Headset at 20 hours. "Not listed" marks battery life where the HS65 Surround and the Virtuoso MAX leave the figure out.
| Headset | Battery life | Driver size | Connection | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS65 Surround | Not listed | 50mm | Wired 3.5mm, USB | Flip-to-mute |
| Virtuoso MAX | Not listed | 50mm | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth | Not listed |
| Void v2 | 70 hours | Not listed | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth | Omnidirectional boom |
| Xbox Wireless Headset | 20 hours | Not listed | Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth LE | Included |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the HS65 Surround, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Virtuoso MAX at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | HS65 Surround |
| About $100 to $150 | Void v2, Xbox Wireless Headset |
| About $150 to $250 | Virtuoso MAX |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Xbox Wireless Headset compare with the Void v2 on battery life?
The Void v2 leads at 70 hours, with the Xbox Wireless Headset at 20 hours. The HS65 Surround and the Virtuoso MAX are left out of this ranking because their battery life isn't stated; 2 of 4 picks are ranked.
What makes the Void v2 the Longest Battery Life?
It earns the label for the longest battery life here (70 hours). The Xbox Wireless Headset is next on battery life at 20 hours, so this pick's 70 hours is 250% further out. The HS65 Surround, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits long sessions away from a charging cable.
Do the HS65 Surround and the Void v2 differ on microphone?
The HS65 Surround uses flip-to-mute; the Void v2 uses Omnidirectional boom; the Xbox Wireless Headset uses Included. The maker of the Virtuoso MAX doesn't state microphone, so 3 of 4 picks are covered here.
Beyond the specs, what sets the HS65 Surround and the Virtuoso MAX apart?
The HS65 Surround: Dolby Atmos support. The Virtuoso MAX: active noise cancellation. The Void v2: Dolby Atmos support.
Who should choose the Xbox Wireless Headset?
The Xbox Wireless Headset carries our Included Microphone label for an included microphone. It ranks fourth of 4 here and sat in the $100 to $150 tier at our last price check; it suits anyone who wants an included microphone.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the HS65 Surround, chosen for a lower price than the Void v2 and the rest when we checked. Look at the Virtuoso MAX for active noise cancellation at the highest price in the group and the Xbox Wireless Headset for an included microphone if those matter more to you.
Check whether the Atmos license is included or a separate purchase.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Headsets Right Now
- Related guideThe Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Now
- Related guideThe Best Budget Gaming Headsets Under $50
- Lower budgetThe Best Cheap Gaming Headsets
- Similar guideThe Best Headsets for a Gaming PC
- ExplainerHow to Choose a PC Headset
- ExplainerHeadset connection types for PC, PS5 and Xbox
- Also see: microphonesUSB vs XLR microphones: what each needs and what each gives you
- Similar guideThe Best FPS Gaming Headsets
- Topic hubAll headsets and headphones guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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