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

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Spend less dough on gaming audio

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset and the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones in front of an orange background featuring the words 'TechRadar Black Friday Deals'.
(Image credit: Future / SteelSeries / Sony)
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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

Gaming headset Black Friday deals – quick links

Today's best gaming headset Black Friday deals

Corsair HS65 Surround
Save $15
Corsair HS65 Surround: was $70.49 now $55.49 at Amazon
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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

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HyperX Cloud III S
Save $60
HyperX Cloud III S: was $179.99 now $119.99 at Amazon
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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

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SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Save $50
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: was $199.99 now $149.99 at Amazon
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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

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Turtle Beach Stealth Pro
Save $165
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: was $329.99 now $164.99 at Amazon
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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

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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Save $90
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: was $379.99 now $289.99 at Amazon
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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

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Headphones Black Friday deals – quick links

Today's best headphones for gaming Black Friday deals

1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51
Save $10.81
1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51: was $71.99 now $61.18 at Amazon
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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

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Sony WH-1000XM4
Save $190
Sony WH-1000XM4: was $349.99 now $159.99 at Best Buy
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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

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Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE
Save $50
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE: was $299 now $249 at Amazon
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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

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Sennheiser HD 550
Save $100.50
Sennheiser HD 550: was $350.45 now $249.95 at us.sennheiser-hearing.com
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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

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Sennheiser HD 660S2
Save $169.05
Sennheiser HD 660S2: was $599 now $429.95 at Amazon
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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

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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

More Black Friday deals in the UK

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Josh Russell
Josh Russell
Reviews Editor

Josh is Reviews Editor at TechRadar. With over ten years of experience covering tech both in print and online, he’s served as editor of T3 and net magazines and written about everything from groundbreaking gadgets to innovative Silicon Valley startups. He’s an expert in a wide range of products from Spatial Audio headphones to gaming handhelds. When he’s not putting trailblazing tech through its paces, he can be found making melodic techno or seeking out the perfect cold brew coffee. 

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