Buying Guide
The Best USB Headsets
Five headsets compared, from the Vliveaudax to the KZ ZS12 PRO 2, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A USB headset brings its own sound card, which helps on PCs with noisy onboard audio. Every pick connects over USB, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by driver size, connection and design, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips driver size, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Vliveaudax USB Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround
The cheapest way into this group, below the Ozeino Wired.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Vliveaudax USB Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Ozeino Wired Gaming Headset
A 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles.
Best for: Buyers who want 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles.
Our take Check price for Ozeino Wired Gaming Headset (opens in a new tab)
In-ear Design
Moondrop CHU II DSP USB-C In-Ear Monitors
An in-ear design.
Best for: Buyers who want an in-ear design.
Our take Check price for Moondrop CHU II DSP USB-C In-Ear Monitors (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset
A USB DAC with 7.1 surround.
Best for: Buyers who want USB DAC with 7.1 surround.
Our take Check price for Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
KZ ZS12 PRO 2 USB-C In-Ear Monitors
A six-driver hybrid per side at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for KZ ZS12 PRO 2 USB-C In-Ear Monitors (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Vliveaudax USB Gaming Headset with 7.1 Surround on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Vliveaudax's headset connects through a USB sound card with 7.1 virtual surround.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It is the lowest-priced USB headset here. Its noise-cancelling mic and ear-cup volume control are plug-and-play over USB-A or USB-C. On driver size it ties with the G432 at 50mm.
A wired USB sound card connection is unique to it among these picks, while the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 uses a wired USB-C connection. Like the Ozeino Wired, it has a boom mic microphone, while the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 uses an included microphone. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Ozeino Wired was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 50mm
- Connection: Wired USB sound card
- Microphone: Boom mic
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- USB sound card
- 7.1 virtual surround
Also Consider2 of 5
Ozeino Wired Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Ozeino's wired headset uses a 3.5mm plug for PC and consoles, with USB powering only the lighting.
Best for
- Buyers who want 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles.
Skip if
- Its driver size is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It sits in the entry-level price tier. Its mic rotates 360 degrees with noise cancellation, and breathable protein ear pads keep it comfortable. RGB lights the ear cups.
It shares a boom mic microphone with the Vliveaudax; the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 goes with an included microphone. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. Worth noting too: no charging or pairing needed.
On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Vliveaudax and the pricier CHU II DSP, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the Vliveaudax comes in at 50mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: Wired 3.5mm (USB for LED only)
- Microphone: Boom mic
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles
- USB plug used only for lighting
- Entry-level price tier
Cons
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the Vliveaudax at the time of writing
In-ear Design3 of 5
Moondrop CHU II DSP USB-C In-Ear Monitors on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Moondrop's CHU II DSP uses a USB-C cable with built-in DSP and an inline mic.
Best for
- Buyers who want an in-ear design.
Skip if
- Pass if a published driver size matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
The 0.78mm cable can be swapped. Its aluminium-magnesium dome diaphragm sits in a cast alloy shell, and a USB-C DSP cable handles the tuning. It plugs straight into USB-C handhelds and phones.
It shares a wired USB-C connection with the KZ ZS12 PRO 2; the G432 goes with a wired USB DAC and 3.5mm connection. No other pick in this guide offers an inline mic microphone; compare the G432, which has a 6mm flip-to-mute boom microphone. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC.
It was priced above the Ozeino Wired and below the G432 at the time of writing. There is no published driver size figure, whereas the Vliveaudax comes in at 50mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: Wired USB-C
- Design: In-ear
- Microphone: Inline mic
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- USB-C DSP cable
- Inline mic
- 0.78mm interchangeable cable
Cons
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the Vliveaudax at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's G432 is a wired headset with a USB DAC for 7.1 surround and a 3.5mm plug for consoles.
Best for
- Buyers who want USB DAC with 7.1 surround.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Vliveaudax was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its 6mm mic flips up to mute. On driver size it ties with the Vliveaudax at 50mm. A wired USB DAC and 3.5mm connection is unique to it among these picks, while the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 uses a wired USB-C connection.
It is the only pick here with a 6mm flip-to-mute boom microphone; the Vliveaudax has a boom mic microphone instead. It also offers 50mm drivers. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. When we checked, only the CHU II DSP and cheaper picks cost less, and the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 50mm
- Connection: Wired USB DAC and 3.5mm
- Microphone: 6mm flip-to-mute boom
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- USB DAC with 7.1 surround
- 6mm flip-to-mute mic
Cons
- Costs more than the Vliveaudax at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
KZ ZS12 PRO 2 USB-C In-Ear Monitors on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
KZ's ZS12 PRO 2 uses six drivers per side and a USB-C plug with a mic.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Skip it if driver size matters most to you; the Vliveaudax offers 50mm.
Why we like it
It connects directly to phones, handhelds and PCs with a USB-C port. Its 10mm driver size is the smallest in this group; the Vliveaudax leads at 50mm. Like the CHU II DSP, it has a wired USB-C connection, while the Vliveaudax uses a wired USB sound card connection.
You get an included microphone here, which sets it apart from the G432 and its a 6mm flip-to-mute boom microphone. You also get a six-driver hybrid per side and a 10mm dynamic bass driver. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the G432 and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 10mm
- Connection: Wired USB-C
- Design: In-ear, 5BA+1DD hybrid
- Microphone: Included
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- Six-driver hybrid per side
- USB-C plug
- 10mm dynamic bass driver
Cons
- Driver size trails the Vliveaudax (50mm)
- Costs more than the Vliveaudax at the time of writing
How We Chose These USB Headsets
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up five headsets on driver size, connection, design and microphone, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Vliveaudax to the KZ ZS12 PRO 2, state connection and microphone.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ozeino Wired and the CHU II DSP give no driver size; the Vliveaudax, the Ozeino Wired and the G432 give no design.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Vliveaudax (under $50) to the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a USB Headset
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Driver size across these picks
Here driver size runs from 10mm on the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 to 50mm on the Vliveaudax. The Vliveaudax is the pick for driver size. No figure for the Ozeino Wired and the CHU II DSP.
What to check at home
It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller.
Features beyond the spec table
The CHU II DSP: an inline mic. The G432: 50mm drivers. The KZ ZS12 PRO 2: a USB-C plug.
Budget
Under $50 buys the Vliveaudax, the Ozeino Wired, the CHU II DSP and the G432; $50 to $100 buys the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Spending as little as possible: the Vliveaudax. Buyers who want an in-ear design: the CHU II DSP. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor: the KZ ZS12 PRO 2.
Battery life claims vary with lighting
Makers quote battery life under their own conditions, often with RGB lighting off. A 50-hour claim can drop noticeably with lighting on.
Compare figures at similar settings, and look for fast charging if you forget to plug in.
How to Choose a USB Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | Vliveaudax | The cheapest way into this group, below the Ozeino Wired |
| Buyers who want 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles | Ozeino Wired | A 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles |
| Buyers who want an in-ear design | CHU II DSP | An in-ear design |
| Buyers who want USB DAC with 7.1 surround | G432 | A USB DAC with 7.1 surround |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | KZ ZS12 PRO 2 | A six-driver hybrid per side at the highest price in the group |
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Key specs side by side
The Vliveaudax leads on driver size at 50mm, ahead of the G432 at 50mm. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Headset | Driver size | Connection | Design | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vliveaudax | 50mm | Wired USB sound card | Not listed | Boom mic |
| Ozeino Wired | Not listed | Wired 3.5mm (USB for LED only) | Not listed | Boom mic |
| CHU II DSP | Not listed | Wired USB-C | In-ear | Inline mic |
| G432 | 50mm | Wired USB DAC and 3.5mm | Not listed | 6mm flip-to-mute boom |
| KZ ZS12 PRO 2 | 10mm | Wired USB-C | In-ear, 5BA+1DD hybrid | Included |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Vliveaudax was the lowest-priced pick and the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Vliveaudax, Ozeino Wired, CHU II DSP, G432 |
| About $50 to $100 | KZ ZS12 PRO 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 worth paying more than the Vliveaudax?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the Vliveaudax still leads on driver size (50mm). The Vliveaudax was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
What makes the Vliveaudax the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ozeino Wired. It suits spending as little as possible.
Do the Vliveaudax and the CHU II DSP differ on microphone?
The Vliveaudax and the Ozeino Wired use boom mic; the CHU II DSP uses inline mic; the G432 uses 6mm flip-to-mute boom; the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 uses Included.
What should I check before buying the G432?
USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. In this guide it ranks fourth of 5.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Vliveaudax and the Ozeino Wired apart?
The Vliveaudax: a USB sound card. The Ozeino Wired: a 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles. The CHU II DSP: a USB-C DSP cable.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Vliveaudax, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ozeino Wired. Look at the Ozeino Wired for a 3.5mm connection for PC and consoles, the CHU II DSP for an in-ear design and the G432 for a USB DAC with 7.1 surround if those matter more to you.
Set it as the default device in Windows so calls and games use it.