Razer Headphones

The BlackShark V2 X is the budget cut of Razer's esports line, and it's quietly one of the best $40 headsets you can buy. You keep the important parts of the pricier V2: the 50mm TriForce drivers with strong positional audio, a light 240g frame with a steel-core headband, and thick memory foam pads that passively block a surprising amount of noise. Owners are consistently impressed by the mic for the price — clear enough that teammates don't complain, which is not a given at $40 — though it's fixed to the headset rather than detachable. Because it's a plain 3.5mm analog headset, compatibility is universal: PS5, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck, PC, and phones with a jack all just work, no dongles or pairing. The honest caveats: the 7.1 surround requires a Windows-only app that owners frequently describe as finicky (stereo sounds fine anyway), there's no EQ software, the cable doesn't detach, and the leatherette pads get warm. Sound leans bass-heavy out of the box, which suits action games more than music. If you want maximum competitive performance per dollar and don't care about wireless, this and the Corsair HS55 are the two names that keep coming up — the Razer wins on isolation and mic.

Best for Budget competitive players on any platform