By use · for music listening
Best headphones for music and gaming
Ranked by how many public comments recommend each pair for music and gaming: 142 comments across 12 headphones.
A comment counts when it names the headphone, recommends or owns it, and mentions music and gaming. Harvested Sep 2026. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
- 1
Sennheiser HD 650 (also sold as Drop HD 6XX)
#2 overall · 127 recommendopen-back wiredVocalsJazzRelaxed18comments recommend it for music and gamingThe one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; the safe buy for long, relaxed music sessions.
“Been using HD6XX for years and I love them for gaming”
A commenter under What GAMING Headphones AUDIOPHILES Use: 2024 Update! (BadSeed Tech) · Jun 2024
- 2
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80 ohm)
#5 overall · 96 recommendclosed-back wiredClosed-backBassBuilt to last17comments recommend it for music and gamingClosed-back for people who want something that lasts a decade and blocks the room out.
- 3
Sennheiser HD 600
#3 overall · 116 recommendopen-back wiredNeutralVocalsLong sessions16comments recommend it for music and gamingThe reference headphone for people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening.
- 4
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
#4 overall · 102 recommendclosed-back wiredClosed-backPortableBass16comments recommend it for music and gamingA tough, portable closed headphone for people who want bass and will use it on the move.
“I use my m50x for music production and gaming”
A commenter under Don't buy a gaming headset. Get these instead! - Audio Technica ATH M50xSTS (ShortCircuit) · Apr 2023
- 5
Sennheiser HD 800 S
#7 overall · 71 recommendopen-back wiredClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp16comments recommend it for music and gamingClassical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone.
- 6
HIFIMAN Sundara
#6 overall · 80 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanar detailHomeAmp helps13comments recommend it for music and gamingBest planar-magnetic sound under $200 for someone who already has, or will buy, a small desktop amp.
- 7
Philips SHP9500
#9 overall · 46 recommendopen-back wiredFirst open-backSpaceNo amp12comments recommend it for music and gamingFirst open-back headphone for someone who wants space and clarity on a tight budget.
- 8
Koss Porta Pro
#8 overall · 60 recommendopen-back on-ear wiredBargainHomeNo amp9comments recommend it for music and gamingCheapest genuinely musical headphone you can buy for home listening; a spare-pair favourite.
“I can highly recommend the Porta Pro communication headset for gaming”
A commenter under The $35 Gaming Headset Killer (Hardware Canucks) · Nov 2024
- 9
Sennheiser HD 560S
#13 overall · 35 recommendopen-back wiredAccurateHomeFirst serious pair9comments recommend it for music and gamingThe safe first serious open-back for accurate music listening at home.
“im rocking my hd560s for gaming mostly cod luv them”
A commenter under AUDIO ENGINEER Tries the WORLD'S BEST HEADPHONES for the First Time | Sennheiser HE-1 (This is Tech Today) · Jul 2023
“i love my hd 560s to play apex legends and other games”
A commenter under What GAMING Headphones AUDIOPHILES Use: 2024 Update! (BadSeed Tech) · Jun 2024
- 10
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth Magnet)
#10 overall · 44 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanar end-gameSpace7comments recommend it for music and gamingThe planar end-game most people can actually afford now that it sells for about $600.
- 11
HIFIMAN Ananda / Ananda Nano
#15 overall · 20 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanarSpaceUpgrade5comments recommend it for music and gamingPlanar upgrade path for people who liked the Sundara and want more space.
- 12
Koss KPH30i
#12 overall · 39 recommendopen-back on-ear wiredDeskBargain4comments recommend it for music and gamingThrowaway-price open sound for a desk or a second room.
