Browse by budget and use
By use · for music listening
Best headphones for music and gaming
Ranked by how many public comments recommend each pair for music and gaming: 274 comments across 19 headphones.
Ranking evidence:Strong274 qualifying comments.What the levels mean
Sennheiser HD 650 leads this list with 30 comments recommending it for music and gaming. In plain words: we read public comments under headphone review videos, kept the ones that name a headphone, say the writer recommends or owns it, and mention music and gaming, then counted them. A higher number means more people said it, not that it sounds better. Evidence for this page is strong (274 such comments). Use the loves and complaints on each row to decide whether what those people care about matches what you care about, and check the live price before you buy.
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)
#1 overall · 152 recommendopen-back wiredVocalsJazzRelaxed30comments recommend it for music and gamingThe one headphone almost everyone in the hobby has owned; recommended as 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)
#3 overall · 121 recommendclosed-back wiredClosed-backBassBuilt to last24comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as a closed-back that lasts a decade and blocks the room out.
- 3
Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm)
#8 overall · 75 recommendopen-back wiredOpen-backBass and trebleBuilt to last24comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended for big, spacious sound on a budget by people who like sparkle and do not mind an amp.
- 4
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
#5 overall · 99 recommendclosed-back wiredClosed-backPortableBass21comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as a 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
#10 overall · 71 recommendopen-back wiredClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp19comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone.
“If you want the best "Headphone" for gaming, Sennheiser HD800s open back”
A commenter under Did I just make a $3,000 mistake? Or the best decision ever..... (Bitwit) · Jan 2022
- 6
Philips Fidelio X2HR
#21 overall · 35 recommendopen-back wiredOpen-backBassNo amp19comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as an open-back with bass by people who found the Sennheisers too polite.
- 7
Sennheiser HD 600
#4 overall · 117 recommendopen-back wiredNeutralVocalsLong sessions17comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening.
- 8
Sennheiser HD 660S2
#12 overall · 60 recommendopen-back wiredWarmVocalsUpgrade16comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the modern Sennheiser 6-series by vocal-first listeners who found the HD 600 too lean.
“using the sennheiser hd 660s for gaming and i absolutely LOVE them”
A commenter under 5 of the Best Headphones Under $500 (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
- 9
Philips SHP9500
#14 overall · 51 recommendopen-back wiredFirst open-backSpaceNo amp15comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as a first open-back for someone who wants space and clarity on a tight budget.
- 10
HIFIMAN Sundara
#7 overall · 79 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanar detailHomeAmp helps13comments recommend it for music and gamingThe planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp.
- 11
HIFIMAN Arya (Stealth Magnet)
#13 overall · 53 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanar end-gameSpace13comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the planar end-game most people can actually afford now that it sells for about $600.
- 12
Sennheiser HD 560S
#20 overall · 35 recommendopen-back wiredAccurateHomeFirst serious pair12comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the 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
- 13
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
#9 overall · 74 recommendclosed-back wiredClosed-backBudgetFlat10comments recommend it for music and gamingThe cheapest closed-back that owners keep recommending for a first proper pair.
- 14
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO (now sold as MKII)
#17 overall · 38 recommendopen-back wiredDetailTwo pad setsNeeds amp10comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended to detail-first listeners and home producers who want a headphone that will outlast several amps.
- 15
Koss Porta Pro
#11 overall · 62 recommendopen-back on-ear wiredBargainHomeNo amp9comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the cheapest genuinely musical headphone for home listening; a spare-pair favourite among owners.
“I can highly recommend the Porta Pro communication headset for gaming”
A commenter under The $35 Gaming Headset Killer (Hardware Canucks) · Nov 2024
- 16
HIFIMAN Edition XS
#22 overall · 27 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanarSpaceValue8comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the planar to buy when you want Arya-style space for a fraction of the price.
- 17
Koss KPH30i
#18 overall · 37 recommendopen-back on-ear wiredDeskBargain5comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as throwaway-price open sound for a desk or a second room.
- 18
HIFIMAN Ananda / Ananda Nano
#25 overall · 21 recommendopen-back planar wiredPlanarSpaceUpgrade5comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended as the planar upgrade path by people who liked the Sundara and want more space.
- 19
Sony WH-1000XM4
#2 overall · 133 recommendwireless ANC over-earCommuteNoise cancellingBattery4comments recommend it for music and gamingRecommended for daily commuting on trains and buses by people who want one headphone that does everything.
