Headsets come in all sorts of shapes and with a wide variety of functions, and it's going to be up to the end user to decide what they want to use when it comes to those functions and extra features.

In the end the two most important factors to consider when buying a headset are comfort and sound. You could have the best sounding set of cans in the world, but if it's going to be physically uncomfortable for you to wear then it's not gonna be an option.

Most gamers tend to go for a real headset (i.e. something with a mic attached to it) because it's often way more portable and convenient, but if you're someone who's mostly gaming at home behind your own desk you can certainly opt for a regular pair of headphones along with an external microphone. You don't need a gaming branded headset for gaming, after all.

In any case, it's clear to see that the majority of Fortnite pros prefer a headset over the combo solution, but it is definitely interesting to see that a regular pair of studio headphones is ranked so high too.

HyperX have long been known for producing great headsets that don't break the bank. Their Cloud lineup is featured heavily in every pro list that we've got, and the seemingly omnipresent Cloud II is heavily represented in the Fortnite scene too. Logitech is a gaming peripherals giant, so it's not strange to see them represented on this list here either.

beyerdynamic (that's how it's stylized, so we write it like that) is an outlier though. Their DT 990 Pro doesn't even come with a mic. There's obviously nothing wrong with that but it's interesting to see something that's not a headset rank so highly in these lists. Fortnite is unique in that regard, and it's proof that you don't need a dedicated gaming headset in order to compete in your game of choice (though you do obviously need a separate microphone if you're buying an audio solution that doesn't have a built in microphone).

Logitech's G Pro X is one of the newer entries in their line aimed at pro and competitive gamers, and it seems to be yet another product in that line that hits the mark. It's also the first headset to beat the HyperX Cloud II to the throne in a very, very long time.

The G Pro X might look a bit unassuming and pedestrian but it's really anything but. It's packing Blue VO!CE microphone technology, for starters. You can tweak the settings of that mic as well so that you can ensure that your voice is coming through with the required clarity whilst still eliminating any background noise or other unwanted factors.

The frame of the G Pro X is made out of aluminum and steel so it's plenty durable. There's also memory foam cushioning for that comfortable feeling even after hours of gaming so there's absolutely no need to worry about the build quality either.

The actual sound is very respectable too; the G Pro X comes with DTS HEADPHONE:X 2.0 technology and a host of available EQ presets to choose from so that the sound profile of the headset matches the game you're playing perfectly. In short: this is a great headset for competitive gamers who want a great sounding headset with a very good mic and don't care about flashy aesthetics or anything of the sort.

If you look at our pro settings and gear lists you'll find that most of them have at least one thing in common, and that's the fact that they all heavily feature the HyperX Cloud II, so HyperX must be doing multiple things right with this headset.

If you look at it on the surface you can already sort of understand it: it's a no-nonsense headset that's built with premium, nicely finished materials and it doesn't feature any overly 'gamery' design elements which, along with the detachable mic, make it great to use as an on-the-go headset as well.

The Cloud II also includes two sets (leatherette and velours) of interchangeable ear cups, which is great if you don't like the feeling of leatherette or you just want to change out to the more airy velours pads in the summer. Whatever it may be; the Cloud II is a nicely designed headset that seems to be a comfortable fit for the vast majority of gamers out there.

But design alone isn't enough to catapult a product to the top of any 'most used' list (let alone multiple) so the Cloud II also has great sound and it comes with virtual 7.1 surround sound for PC. The Cloud II's can be used (in regular stereo mode) on console or mobile as well, which further emphasizes the 'industry standard' feeling you get with this particular product.

One of the possible downsides here is that it doesn't come with any software, so if you want to quickly switch between something like a more bass-heavy cinematic gaming profile and a flatter music profile you're out of luck with the Cloud II's as there is no EQ software to go along with the product.

The mic is more than decent as well, it's not overly loud or quiet and does a great job of filtering out annoying background noises.

All of this means that this is basically the ultimate gaming headset if you just want a solid, dependable all-in-one audio solution without a plethora of extra functions or crazy design cues.

The beyerdynamic (this isn't a typo; beyerdynamic doesn't capitalize their name on their website either) DT 990 Pro is the odd one out. Whereas the other four entries in this list are all gaming headsets complete with a (detachable) mic the DT 990 Pro isn't something that's even marketed towards gamers.

The DT 990 Pro is actually an open-back pair of studio headphones, which is made primarily for producers and professionals in the music industry. It shouldn't come as a surprise that people who work in this industry need their sound to be as clear and precise as possible, so if it's good enough for professional musicians it should be good enough for professional gamers, right?

The DT 990 pro offers a very open soundstage thanks to it's open-back design. Open-back headphones aren't completely sealed around the back, meaning that air (and noise) can freely travel through the earcups. This results in a broader and more 'wide feeling' soundstage when compared to closed-back products, which to a lot of people sounds better, but there are tradeoffs.

Open-back headphones are (obviously) open, which means that sound can and will come in, so if you're often gaming in a noisy environment or you want to hear as little outside noise as possible when gaming you probably don't want to go for an open-back pair. If sound can come in it can also get out, so whatever you're listening to will be much more audible to people around you if you're rocking an open-back as well.

All in all the DT 990 Pro is a professional-grade pair of headphones, and it's gonna be a fantastic option if you're willing to invest in a separate external mic and if you're gaming in a low-noise environment where there's no one around you to disturb.

The Razer BlackShark V2 (and V2 Pro, which is the wireless version) is one of Razer's most successful headset releases of the past couple of years. It could be argued that this headset line has managed to get this many users behind it due to the fact that Razer has finally stopped producing so many different lines and editions of headsets, leading people to flock to one product line, but it cannot be denied that the BlackShark V2 is an impressive product.

This BlackShark is aimed at competitive and professional gamers who desire a reliable, straight to the point gaming headset that doesn't come with all too many bells and whistles. You get great sound quality, a fantastic mic, decent passive noise isolation, and (perhaps most importantly) all of this comes in a comfortable and sturdy frame that you can keep on your head for many hours without any issues.

If you want to go for a no frills type of headset but you want to go for a slightly higher tier market segment than what you'd get out of the usual suspects such as the Cloud II then this is a headset to look towards.

The HyperX Cloud Alpha is one of the newer Clouds, and it tries to improve on the Cloud II by housing dual drivers which improve the audio quality and also implementing a slightly better microphone, though contrary to the number one on this list it doesn't offer virtual 7.1 surround sound.

Other than that these headsets are basically the exact same. There are some minuscule differences in design, and the Alpha doesn't come with any additional earcups, but other than that it's up to you to decide what you prefer. Some people absolutely want the virtual 7.1, while others prefer the slightly better sounding (7.1-less) Alphas.

This headset is also fully compatible with consoles and mobile (as well as PC, obviously) so if you're primarily a console gamer you can definitely go for this one, as the virtual 7.1 surround won't work on console anyway.