Introduction
It’s a known fact that the positional audio in CS:GO isn’t always the clearest out there, but that does not mean that you should settle for a subpar audio solution. Having a good audio solution is of vital importance in any competitive game, and that goes double for a game where getting hit in the head means that you’ll be sitting out the remainder of the round more often than not.
In this list we have compiled the most popular headsets among our analyzed CS:GO professionals, and we’ll give you the rundown on why these particular models are so popular. So whether you’re shopping for a new set of cans or you’re just curious: let’s dive in.
Our Guide
The most used headsets by CS:GO players
The most popular headsets are calculated based on 532 professional players.
What makes a headset good for CS:GO?
A headset, by definition, has a mic attached to it but that doesn’t mean that you have to get a headset in order to play CS:GO. Lots of players (both professionals and casuals) opt to go for a regular set of headphones in combination with an external mic, for example.
Whatever you decide on: you will want something that’s going to offer at least decent audio quality (you don’t need super expensive high tier audiophile headphones for CS:GO) so that you can clearly distinguish the important stuff in the game. You’ll want to be able to hear what you need to hear: what kind of weapons the enemy team is using, how many people are running through tunnels, where that grenade bounced first, and so on. So even though the positional audio in the game can sometimes be confusing (Vertigo can be a real mess, for instance) it does pay off to get a decent quality set for your ears.
Aside from that you’ll definitely need a mic. Whether that’s an external one or not depends on your preferences, but if you want to be even moderately serious at CS:GO you will need a microphone to communicate with your teammates. No one likes a mute teammate, and not being able to callouts actively hinders your chances of winning.
And last, but certainly not least, you’ll want something that’s comfortable for you. Different people have different preferences and if you’re going to be gaming for hours on end you want to make sure that your headsets remains comfortable and doesn’t pressure your noggin too much.
Top headset brands in CS:GO
| Rank | Name | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
43.05% |
| 2 |
 |
21.05% |
| 3 |
 |
7.14% |
| 4 |
 |
6.39% |
| 5 |
 |
4.14% |
Fun Fact
HyperX Cloud II
With the Cloud II the people over at HyperX seem to have found the perfect gaming headset recipe. What’s in that recipe, you ask? A sturdy no BS design, comfortable fit, more than decent audio quality, and a solid and detachable mic.
At first glance the Cloud II might not seem like anything super special and in many ways it isn’t, but its main draw doesn’t come from any special features or crazy cutting edge technology. The Cloud II thanks its popularity to the fact that it does everything it sets out to do in a reliable and more than decent manner.
The rather subdued and subtle design (if you go for the plain black/grey version, that is) also won’t turn any heads in case you decide to take off the mic and use the headset for your daily commute, and couple that with the comfortable headband and interchangeable ear cups and you’ve got a headset that’s going to be very comfortable for a wide variety of people. The cherry on top is that it can be used on all platforms thanks to the included connectors.
It’s not the absolute best out there when it comes to sound quality (though the sound is fantastic for the price) and people who like to fiddle around with various EQ settings (or even have their headset change settings depending on which program they’re in) will find this plug-and-play headset lacking a bit but as far as gaming headsets go the sound quality that the Cloud II offers is definitely up there.
Summarizing: the Cloud II is an excellent ‘jack of all trades’ (don’t take this negatively) headset that’ll you’ll be able to rely on for years and years.
HyperX Cloud II
Used by 148 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
YEKINDAR
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honda
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fox
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neaLaN
The HyperX Cloud II has been the ‘industry standard’ headset for many, many years now. It has earned that reputation thanks to its reliable build quality, comfortable design, and friendly price.
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 300cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 320g |
Pros
- Sturdy design
- Two choices of earcup material
- Industry-proven
Cons
- Rather barebones when it comes to functionality
- Not the best mic
- Sound quality isn’t the best these days
Logitech G Pro X Headset
Logitech’s G Pro line is aimed at the most competitive gamers among us. It’s for those who don’t need fancy lights or eye catching designs and who only want to focus on competitive performance.
One of the standout features of this headset is the fact that it comes with Blue VO!CE microphone technology. You might know Blue from their Yeti and Snowball microphones. Those are widely lauded as great sounding desk mics and are used by a variety of streamers and other professionals who need their voice to come through as clearly as possible and thus can’t settle for a regular headset mic. There’s a whole lot of options to tune the mic so you won’t have to worry about sounding too quiet or having a lot of background noise bleeding through.
Aside from that it’s a durable and comfortable headset made from steel and aluminum, complete with memory foam cushioning. It’s also packing DTS HEADPHONE:X 2.0 surround sound and its got a pretty great sound quality that can further be tuned through their software.
If you’re looking for a premium gaming headset that focuses on all the right things for competitive gamers this could very well be your dream solution.
Logitech G Pro X Headset
Used by 92 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
s1mple
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m0NESY
-
b1t
-
dev1ce
❝The wired G Pro X is a great piece of equipment, delivering great audio, supreme comfort, and one of the best mics in the business, all packed into a stylish and attractive design.❞
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 200cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 338g |
Pros
- Great microphone
- Good audio quality
- Comfortable fit
- Blue VO!CE technology improves mic quality even further
- Good build quality
Cons
- Relies on software for most of its functionality and is therefore not as suited for console use
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Everything that you’ve read and know about the ubiquitous Cloud II goes for the Cloud Alpha, except for the 7.1 virtual surround sound.
The Cloud Alpha does improve on the Cloud II by offering a slightly better microphone (and ditto sound, thanks to some changes in the chambering) but it does so by leaving out the 7.1 surround and additional velours ear pads that you get with the Cloud II, so depending on what you’re expecting from your headset this’ll either be an upgrade or a downgrade.
The Cloud Alpha is a solid and reliable no-nonsense headset that doesn’t exactly stand out it any way, but it’s precisely that straight-to-the-point, no frills type of design that attracts so many people to this kind of headset.
If you like to also play games on your console then this could be a good all-round option, as the 7.1 surround that the Cloud II offers won’t work on consoles anyway.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Used by 22 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
xsepower
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keiz
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CRUC1AL
-
rallen
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a barebones and straight-to-the-point offering by HyperX. It’s made for people who don’t want to be bothered with tuning EQs and the likes, and this plug-and-play headset is well-respected for its excellent durability and solid audio quality.
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 200cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 298g |
Pros
- Sturdy and reliable design
- Decent audio quality
- Comfortable
Cons
- Pretty much no customization options
Razer BlackShark V2
Razer was absent from these ‘most used’ lists for a bit when it comes to headsets and that was, in part, due to the fact that they had so many headset lines running at the same time. This changed when the BlackShark V2 released.
The BlackShark V2 is aimed at competitive/professional gamers who want a premium audio experience, and it seems to hit the mark. The BlackShark V2 offers great sound quality, decent (passive) noise cancellation, and a comfortable, yet sturdy build.
The BlackShark V2 isn’t the most advanced gaming headset on the market, but it doesn’t want to be. What you get is a reliable package that offers great audio for (competitive) gaming in a comfortable and attractive package that’s available as both a wired and a wireless product.
This is for people who want a competition-focused headset that offers a more high tier experience than some of the more basic products in this list.
Razer BlackShark V2
Used by 22 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
gAuLeS
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xertioN
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k0nfig
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es3tag
The Razer Blackshark V2 is Razer’s take on the ‘no frills’ type of gaming headset. This more headset is aimed more towards the budget side and it gives you a great bang-for-your-buck performance if you’re looking for a plug-and-play headset from Razer.
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 180cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 240g |
Pros
- Sturdy build quality
- Good (passive) noise isolation
- Good sound quality
- Good value/performance proposition
Cons
- Headset cable isn’t detachable
- Microphone is a little subpar
Sennheiser GAME ZERO
Disclaimer
The Sennheiser GAME ZERO is a headset made made by a brand that’s been in the audio business for decades. This closed-back headset offers a very basic experience when it comes to features and customization options (there aren’t any) but the sound profile has been tuned specifically for competitive gaming, meaning that the bass has been toned down a little bit in favor of the far more important mid and high registers.
With its lightweight and super comfortable design you can be sure to be gaming in comfort for many hours, and the same goes for your teammates thanks to to the very decent microphone. Microphones quality isn’t that important if you’re just going to be shouting some callouts every now and then, but it’s always nice to know that your teammates’ ears won’t start bleeding if you go a little further than that.
If you want a premium audio experience packed into a headset that’s made by a serious and respected audio brand for competitive gaming, then you should look towards the GAME ZERO.
Sennheiser GAME ZERO
Used by 16 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
byali
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Walco
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morelz
-
motm
The Sennheiser GAME ZERO is a perfect choice for people who want a no-nonsense type of headset without compromising on the sound quality. Sennheiser has been doing audio for many years at this point, and the GAME ZERO proves that they also know how to handle ingame audio.
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 300cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Non-Detachable |
| Weight | 300g |
Pros
- Great, neutral sound
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Tweaked for gaming audio
- Good microphone
Cons
- The bass isn’t as pronounced, making it less suitable for content consumption
- Not very versatile due to a non-detachable mic and lack of customization options
HyperX Cloud II Wireless
The Cloud II Wireless came quite some time after the wired version was released, and usually companies like to make big changes between products over time, but not so with the Cloud II Wireless. What you’re getting here is basically just the original Cloud II, but with the wire cut. If you’re someone who wants to make the swap to a wireless headset without giving up everything that you love about your trusty Cloud II then this is a great option.
These days, the Cloud II Wireless can be bought for extremely friendly prices, making this one of the very best budget headsets for people who want to cut the cord and are interested in a headset that’s made for competitive gaming.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless
Used by 19 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
tudsoN
-
JamYoung
-
Starry
-
eraa
❝If you’re looking to go wireless and you love everything about the wired Cloud II this is a match made in heaven.❞
Specs
| Connection | wireless |
|---|---|
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Detachable |
| Weight | 320g |
Pros
- Comfortable
- Great build quality
- Decent battery life
- Great sound for gaming
Cons
- Microphone is subpar
- Only one set of ear cushion (the wired version has two)
- Not very customizable
- Sound isn’t very suited for content consumption or music listening
Sennheiser GSP 600
Disclaimer
The GSP 600 is one of EPOS’ flagship headsets for gaming, and if you’re looking for a no-frills dedicated gaming headset with fantastic sound quality then this might be right up your alley. Do note that the sound cannot be customized, and that it is very much tuned for (competitive) gaming. The bass response of this headset is on the lower end, which can cause movies and music to lack that ‘oomph’ that you’re sometimes looking for.
When gaming competitively, however, that ‘oomph’ is just about the last thing you need (prominent bass levels can drown out important higher sounds such as reloading and footsteps) so this GSP 600 performs absolutely beautifully as a gaming headset. Couple that with a fantastic mic, stick it in a headset that’s build really nicely, and you’ve got yourself the GSP 600.
Sennheiser GSP 600
Used by 13 CS:GO players (May, 2023)-
aizy
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kressy
-
waterfaLLZ
-
kolor
The EPOS Sennheiser GSP 600 is a premium no-nonsense gaming headset made by a company that has been making audio products for decades.
Specs
| Type | closed-back |
|---|---|
| Connection | wired |
| Cable Length | 250cm |
| Noise Cancelling | No |
| Microphone | Non-Detachable |
| Weight | 395g |
Pros
- Very good mic
- Good build quality
- Great sound for gaming due to the great-sounding highs and mids
Cons
- Expensive
- Bass response is on the low side, making it less suited for content consumption and music listening
Best headset for CS:GO – Conclusion
Most headsets on this list don’t feature endless tuning options and extra dials and knobs, but they all have one thing in common and that is that they all have great positional audio. It should come as no surprise that professional gamers go for headsets with a great sound, but all of the models on this list are at least somewhat known for their great and accurate portrayal of sounds as opposed to going for a more ‘cinematic’ bass-heavy sound that some gaming headsets tend to do.
As we mentioned in the intro: having clear and precise sound is of vital importance in a game such as CS:GO, and this list seems to indicate that the pros agree with that. It makes sense as well; CS:GO isn’t a game that thrives on cinematic experiences or anything of the sort. It’s a basic (at least on the surface) and to the point shooter game, so you’ll want your sound to be as straight and to the point as possible.
We hope this list has been informative for you, but if you have any questions then please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!