Gaming headset vs headphones: here's what I'd recommend as an audio expert this Black Friday

Date:
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:52:43 +0000

Description:
Ive compared all the Black Friday deals on gaming headset and headphones to see which bargains offer you the best bang for your buck.

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As both an audio expert and gaming nerd, the main Black Friday deals I've had my eye out for this week are reductions on gaming headsets and headphones.
And there are some serious discounts in both verticals. But I have been
asking myself: which category currently offers the better value for gamers?

Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

Well, on the headset side, there's some meteoric savings. Probably the most striking is the fact that you can buy Turtle Beach Stealth Pro from Amazon
for $164.99 (was $329.99). But, in my mind, the biggest shock is the fact
that you can already get the HyperX Cloud III S from Amazon for $119.99 (was $179.99) not bad when you factor in that it's only been available for just six months.

So how do headsets in terms of value? Well, one of the cheapest bargains I've found is that you can buy the 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 from Amazon for $61.18 (was $71.99) which is great value given their massive 100-hour battery life. But if you want seriously pro sound at the heart of your home gaming setup, then I'd recommend you buy the audiophile-grade Sennheiser HD 660S2 from Amazon for $429.95 (was $599).

Also, don't panic if you're based in the UK: I've tracked down all the equivalent reductions where you are below. So you'll be able to access sweeping sonic discounts as well. Gaming headset Black Friday deals quick links Corsair HS65 Surround: was $69.99 now $54.99 at Amazon HyperX Cloud III S: was $179.99 now $119.99 at Amazon SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: was $199.99 now $149.99 at Amazon Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: was $329.99 now $164.99 at Amazon SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: was $379.99 now $289.99 at
Amazon Today's best gaming headset Black Friday deals

This wired headset is already darn impressive for its price. But on top of
its super-comfortable build, flip-to-mute mic, and ace 7.1 surround sound via USB adapter, it's also had a hefty amount of its price shaved off with this $15 discount.

UK price: 79.99 at Amazon View Deal

Honestly, it's hard to know what I find most impressive about the HyperX
Cloud III S. It offers both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz low-latency connectivity, a frankly absurd 200 hour max battery life and plush memory foam padding for
top comfort. But, if I was pushed, I'd have to say its the fact its only been out six months and already got a third off its price.

UK price: was 129.99 now 114.98 at Amazon View Deal

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have so many features crammed into their tiny frame it's honestly astounding. They're capable of low-latency connectivity via the enclosed USB-C dongle, offer ANC, 360-degree spatial audio and over 100 different gaming presets. And they can now be yours for just $149.99.

UK price: was 159.99 now 99.99 at Amazon View Deal

A must for aspiring esports players, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro boasts a Superhuman hearing mode that actually lives up to the name it makes weapons and footsteps much easier to perceive, while maintaining exquisite audio quality. It's also had its price slashed right in half, meaning there really is no excuse not to pick it up.

UK price: was 279.99 now 209.00 at Amazon View Deal

The Arctis Nova Pro doesn't just have awesome gaming features like spatial audio, dual channel connectivity and hot-swappable batteries. It can also rival the best headphones with astounding sound and impressive noise cancelling. And while it's undeniably premium, this $90 discount does makes
it much more accessible.

UK price: was 329.99 now 229.99 at Amazon View Deal Headphones Black Friday deals quick links 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51: was $71.99 now $61.18 at Amazon Sony WH-1000XM4: was $349.99 now $159.99 at Best Buy Cambridge Audio
Melomania P100 SE: was $299 now $249 at Amazon Sennheiser HD 550: was $349.95 now $249.95 at Sennheiser Sennheiser HD 660S2: was $599 now $429.95 at Amazon Today's best headphones for gaming Black Friday deals

The 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 offer impressively bassy, well-rounded sound, they're far more comfortable than headphones this cheap have any right to be, and they have a truly absurd 100-hour battery life. And with this 10% off deal, you'll get them even cheaper.

UK price: was 90.99 now 77.34 at Amazon View Deal

OK, the Sony WH-1000XM4 have received not one but two upgrades since their release. So why am I recommending them? Because, honestly, with more than 50% off their price, they're some of the best cans you'll get for your buck, with polished sound and still suitably impressive ANC.

UK price: was 349 now 178 at Best Buy View Deal

The sequel to one of my favorite pairs of headphones for gaming on the go,
the P100 SE offers up to 100 hours of battery life, great ANC, and an impressively detailed soundstage. And now, with $50 off, their price is much closer to their predecessor's, making them a bit of a bargain.

UK price: was 249 now 199 at Amazon View Deal

This is simply a great discount to see on the brilliant HD 550 headphones. Supremely comfortable, with brilliant Sennheiser audio quality, these really could be a gaming headset killer for you as long as you don't mind being tethered. And there's also a new record-low price in the UK, meaning the
value has never been greater.

UK price: was 249 now 179.99 at Sennheiser View Deal

I've had my eye on the HD 660S2 for months now, and this $169.05 discount makes them much more tempting. Not only does their wired connection make them perfect for high-fidelity, low-latency audio, but that open-backed design gives them excellent dynamics and separation.

UK price: was 499 now 348.99 at Amazon View Deal Gaming headset vs headphones: which *does* have the better deals this Black Friday?

So what's the answer? Should you pick up one of the top gaming headsets, or will you find in the long run that a pair of the best headphones offer you better value? Well, I'm going to be really annoying here and say 'it
depends'.

When you're looking for specialist gaming features to give you the edge in competitive gameplay, like extra hearing modes and low-latency connectivity, these gaming headsets will give you the edge. For example, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro above offers that stellar Superhuman hearing mode for boosting sounds like footsteps in game, while the ten-band EQ really lets you tailor the sound to your needs.

In contrast, I'd argue that if you care most about sound quality, some of the headphone deals I've recommended will give you the best return on your spend. The open-backed design of the Sennheiser HD 660S2 above is also capable of fantastically dynamic and spacious sound, whether you're fighting your way through the surreal worlds of Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 or listening to hi-res audio. Feature-packed, they ain't, but they offer truly fantastic fidelity.

Fundamentally, then, which category offers you the best return on your investment probably relies on what your biggest priority is. Fortunately, though, there's one thing you can count on: whichever category you go for,
you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to access some truly fantastic Black Friday gaming deals ! More Black Friday deals in the US Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119 Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools Samsung : up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17 Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69 Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor More Black Friday deals in the UK Amazon : up to 66% off tech & essentials AO : up to 500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense Argos : up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys Boots : save on 1,000s of beauty products Currys
: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo Dell : laptops from 279 Dyson : up to 550
off vacuums EE : Switch 2 bundles from 20/month John Lewis : up to 50% off tech & fashion Lego : sets & accessories from 2.99 Samsung : deals on appliances & phones Very : up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/gaming-headset-vs-headphon es-heres-what-id-recommend-as-an-audio-expert-this-black-friday


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