Razer is awful, they are about as proprietary as it is possible for a consumer electronics company to reasonably be. Avoid them at all costs.
Logitech is generally a better choice when available.
Steelseries, although I don't generally love their build quality, has worked well on Linux for me. I can't speak for their cheaper headsets but I specifically am using a Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless in Bluetooth mode with a magnetic-tip USB cable for charging (leaving the Micro-USB tip in the headphones at all times, because fuck Micro-USB).
I assume the non-Bluetooth USB dongle works fine as well but I'm too lazy to use it and have probably lost it somewhere along the way so I can't personally confirm that. Bluetooth is my jam though.
I want to first say that if it was 2005, hi-fi was expensive. Today hi-fi is cheap and you quickly run into diminishing returns at like ~$300 for around ear headphones but IEMs are cost effective and you get good quality starting at like $20. The gist of the history is that ChiFi changed the whole audio market for quality at affordable prices
Any bluetooth headset will work from what I've tried. You don't have to spend a lot. You can use the Anker brand Soundcore bluetooth noise cancelling headsets
https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Cancelling-Headphones-Comfortable-Bluetooth/dp/B08HMWZBXC
https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Adaptive-Active-Cancelling-Headphones/dp/B0B5VHRX7F
Not sure if anything beats the Q30 at its price point but bumping up to the Q45 is an increase in build quality so even though my Q30 are multiple years old, I've heard from others who are more abusive of their gear it breaking. You can also use wireless TWS earphones. Like I have moondrop and earfun brand TWS (category of earphones that Airpods are). They're cheap and are adequate at low prices though you can jump to the higher priced ones they have and get better mic quality. Examples such as
https://www.amazon.com/EarFun-Canceling-Snapdragon-Bluetooth-Detection/dp/B0D5M9SH1X
https://www.amazon.com/Moondrop-Space-Travel-Noise-Canceling-Low-Latency/dp/B0FGDBP2ZZ
The IEM market is insanely competitive. You can google best IEM's for $30 and see dozens of brands you've never heard of but if you aren't deep in the placebo, you'll probably find any of them pretty good
The one I use was discontinued years ago, so instead of sharing it, I'll offer a suggestion:
Don't look for "gaming" headsets. Look instead for well-regarded headphones and mic, or for a telephony (VoIP) headset from a brand that specializes in them, on sale. You'll be more likely to find something that sounds good in both directions and lasts a long time.
My Sony XM3 headset works really well
Ploopy headphones have software that's Linux native. The downside is that a kit is ~$200 and that they aren't wireless. But apparently they're high quality.
I know it's not exactly what you're looking for, but figured I'd toss it out there as an option to look into
Ewww, I mute people that talk. Wtf.
I have never liked headsets. I wear glasses so over the ear headsets aren't comfortable for me. Not to mention, headsets are often overpriced and dont sound as good as a dedicated mic with headphones IMO, but I also make music so audio is a bit more important to me. I also just like having separate devices so that if something breaks, I don't have to throw out a whole device.
xlr mic paired with audio interface and whatever flavor of headphones you want is my go to.
I use a mxl 770 mic with a focusrite 2i2 interface and I use shure se215-K in ear monitors for headphones. I also use this setup for making music or for talking with friends over discord.
Focusrite works great on Linux on I haven't had any issues with this setup. This is a more expensive upfront but I haven't bought a new mic or headphones in years so I think it works out to be more cost effective over time.
For a wireless setup, if you're OK with your mic being wired, you could get a decent USB mic and pair that with a pair of wireless headphones.
I have a Corsair HS55 Wireless. I needed it to be low latency and this one comes with a USB for wireless 2.4GHz. It's overall pretty good.
The only issue is that I'm very sweaty and the climate here is wet and hot. The skin of the headphones foam started to fall off after a year.
Are you married to the idea of wireless? The old suggestion of decent headphones and a mic are imo the best way to do things. I've got an old blue yeti I use when I need a mic, but been considering getting a modmic to attach to my headphones. I ran with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-880s for over a decade as my daily drivers with a FiiO DAC/amp combo, use a k5 pro now with some DT 1990s and found that to be a great combo.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS (https://www.audio-technica.com/en-eu/headphones/type/gaming-headsets/ath-m50xsts) . Works great, looks normal, no RGB, no BS. Used with external sound card.
If you need a good wireless headset that can do audio and microphone at the same time, you’re forced to get a WiFi (2.4Ghz) dongle enabled headset, or get an aftermarket dongle. Bluetooth cannot support high quality audio and microphone use at the same time due to the intrinsic limitations of Bluetooth (which may change in the future)
I used to own a HyperX Cloud Flight. It's the best wireless headset I've ever tried. It comes with a USB dongle, no Bluetooth. Worked out of the box on Arch. I bought mine before HP infested HyperX, but my sister uses a post-buyout one and she says it's perfect.
Pros:
- Audio quality is great for fun (games and films), decent for music and critical listening. The frequency response has a common V shape, but the bass doesn't blow out the top ends (eat a dick, Raycon).
- Eight-hour battery life, can be used while charge cable is connected.
- Aux input that bypasses the internal DAC.
- Signal can penetrate several solid brick walls.
- Comfortable even on my melon head.
- Mic is detachable. Quality is as good as an Aussie wanker can expect.
Cons:
- Micro-USB charger port.
- Volume control is a click wheel that sends volume up/down keystrokes to the PC. I had to remove it from mine because it wore out and would "bounce" and send several keystrokes every time I touched it.
- The earpads are covered in shitty leatherette that will fall off in a few months.
In general, avoid anything "Gamer". You're paying for the brand, not the quality. Even the cheapest "audiophile" headphones are better.
Wireless headsets will always be limited by their internal DAC. Another option is to get a decent wired headset and a dedicated wireless DAC. I currently use a modded Beyerdynamic DT770 and an AKG K-240, and if I need them to be wireless, I clip a Fiio BTR5 to the headstrap and connect it with a short cable.
avoid anything "Gamer"
to be honest I'm looking for general purpose headset to also use for work, but looking for business headsets landed me in some crazy price ranges, so I've been looking for gaming headsets since. gonna look into HyperX, thanks!
It's less about the concept of a game-centric headset and more about the brands that sell themselves as "We Are Gamers" with angular shapes and RGB out the ass. Steelseries, Razer, Alienware, Aorus, ROG... I've had many bad experiences both personally and professionally. The only one I didn't end up regretting was Logitech G. The G502 mouse is a beast.
I love my Steelseries Arctis 7. It doesn't need any software to configure at all, works out of the box in Linux. Has a nice hardware mixer right on the headphone so you can lower game sounds to hear voice chat better and vice versa.
Is it corded? I think I have a 3, and got the one with 3.5mm plug. Never had an issue.
Wireless with a USB dongle. Analog will never have issues, but this fancy wireless one doesn't either :)
Linux Gaming
Discussions and news about gaming on the GNU/Linux family of operating systems (including the Steam Deck). Potentially a $HOME away from home for disgruntled /r/linux_gaming denizens of the redditarian demesne.
This page can be subscribed to via RSS.
Original /r/linux_gaming pengwing by uoou.
No memes/shitposts/low-effort posts, please.
Resources
Help:
- ProtonDB
- Are We Anticheat Yet?
- r/linux_gaming FAQ
- Fork of an earlier version of the above
- PCGamingWiki
- LibreGameWiki
Launchers/Game Library Managers:
General:
Discord:
IRC:
Matrix:
Telegram: