The Best Headphones for Oculus Rift S | Buyers Guide + Top Picks
There’s nothing quite like virtual reality when it comes to gaming. Nothing comes close to the level of immersion and sense of wonderment that comes when you play a great VR game. And with the technology having had a good few years to develop, there are tons of great experiences to try out. Whether you’re a horror fan or want to try out some interactive puzzle games. VR has something just for you, but the tricky thing that a lot of gamers struggle with is immersion. Let’s get into our list for the Best Headphones for Oculus Rift S.
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The Best Headphones for the Oculus Rift S
VR is great up until you start to notice that the audio quality on most headsets isn’t really that great. Especially on the Oculus Rift S, where the speakers often make your experiences even less immersive. But luckily there’s a really easy world around that is going to get you the best possible audio you can get. Simply put, you can just wear a pair of really good headphones while using your VR headset and you’re good to go. But it can be tricky figuring out which ones you should get. So we’ve put together a list of some of the best headphones that you can right now!
Sony MDRZX110/BLK ZX Series
We’re starting things off on this list with an option that is very affordable and a small improvement over the Rift S audio. We’ve gone for these Sony headphones for their low price and lightweight build. Now the first thing to note here is that these are really cheap headphones, which indicated a couple of different things. Firstly, the sound quality here won’t be anything special. You aren’t going to get great clarity, deep bass, or anything like that. The main thing you get with these headphones is decent sound at a very decent price. So if you want a pair of headphones with great sound quality first and foremost, check out some of the other options on this list. Because while these are good headphones, audiophiles are going to be let down by the quality here.
What you do get with these headphones is something that is going to be pretty desirable to some. Which is a very lightweight pair of headphones. Since they don’t really have any fancy bells or whistles you get a really simple, lightweight plastic frame. This means that long VR sessions shouldn’t get so tiring and won’t end up putting a strain on your neck. And while the sound quality here isn’t the best it is still a definite improvement over the built-in audio you get on the Rift S. The biggest downside here is that these headphones are wired. So if you stand up to play VR games then you won’t be able to use these. But if you sit at your desk and play VR that way, then these will do just fine. They are a great and cheaper alternative to the built-in audio on your headset.
Pros:
- Very Affordable
- Lightweight
- Simple Design
Cons:
- Average Sound Quality
- Wired
Skullcandy Riff On-Ear Headphones
Our next option on this list is a little bit of a step up in a few areas. We’ve gone for these headphones from Skullcandy for their affordability and good quality. These headphones share a few similarities with our previous choice. They’re similarly priced so you can expect to have a similar experience. Again the sound quality isn’t amazing in comparison to more expensive headphones. But they are still a huge upgrade over the built-in headphones on the Rift S. These headphones do offer a pretty good sound though, especially for the price point. With the sound being fairly clear and maintaining a lot of bass. But again, check further down the list if you want something with a higher fidelity of sound.
This is another pair of headphones that are really lightweight and you’ll barely notice them after a little while. For those who have rather large heads, you might find these headphones a little uncomfortable. Since they seem to be designed for those with smaller heads. But if that isn’t an issue then these headphones are pretty comfy and fit well. The other most notable aspect is a trademark of Skullcandy products and that is the aesthetics. Here you have headphones that have a nice black and blue color scheme. With a sort of paint splatter effect on the ear cups. So if you’re a fan of the Skullcandy aesthetic then you’ll be right at home with this option. But if you want something a little more plain or subdued, you may want to look elsewhere. Oh and these are also wired so it’s not the best option for those who prefer to stand and play in VR. But these are another good, affordable choice for those who want better sound at a low cost.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Good Aesthetic
Cons:
- Average Sound Quality
- Wired
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x
This next option on the list is going to be a great option for the audiophiles out there. We’ve gone for these headphones from Audio-Technica, and if you know anything about sound, you’ve heard of them. Usually, that’s for good reason since they make a lot of the best audio equipment out here and these headphones are especially good. Especially at the price point, which is exceedingly cheaper than a lot of the higher-end headphones out there. Are these the absolute best headphones you can get? No, but that doesn’t mean that these aren’t a fantastic choice. Especially if you’re someone who isn’t familiar with the best audio equipment on the market.
Let’s start with the good things about these headphones. For starters, you get great sound quality with this pair, and instantly your VR sessions are going to be a whole lot more immersive. They block out enough sound coming in from the outside to not break your immersion too much. Then you have the build quality, which is really good here. All the pieces and components feel really high quality and should last you a good while. It also maintains that lightweight build that is a must for VR since you don’t want to have too much weight on your head. But in terms of the negatives here, this is another corded pair of headphones. Meaning that you won’t be able to play VR standing up and you’ll be stuck playing it while sitting down. But if that is something you don’t mind and can look past, you’re getting a great pair of headphones here. It’s especially great if you plan on using them outside of VR and want headphones to use daily.
Pros:
- Great Sound Quality
- Good Build Quality
- Simple Aesthetics
Cons:
- Wired
Sennheiser 506298 RS 135 Wireless Headphone System
The next option on this list is another great option for those who want headphones that focus on audio quality. We’ve gone for these Sennheiser headphones for their great sound quality and wireless capabilities. That’s right, there’s finally a pair of wireless headphones on this list and this means that you’ll be able to do a whole lot more in VR. Whether you use VR sitting or standing, these headphones are going to do a great job. Though being a wireless pair of headphones can bring its own issues which we’ll touch on in a second. But if you want a pair of great wireless headphones, this is a great place to start.
Starting with sound quality, it’s really great and has pretty much everything you’d want. Really clear and crisp tones with great-sounding bass. So in terms of sound quality, there are no issues. These headphones are also once again really lightweight. This is very important for those extra long VR sessions where you don’t want too much weight on your head. The build quality is also really good, but for those who love a lot of padding on their headphones, it may be a little disappointing. The padding is pretty sparse on the top of the headphones which might make it uncomfortable for long sessions. Now, this is a wireless set, which is fantastic but that comes with its own drawbacks. Firstly you’ll have to make sure it is charged and ready for use every time you want to use them. And if one day you forgot to charge them for a VR session, that’s going to be really annoying. Audio over Bluetooth can also lose a lot of its quality depending on the quality of the Bluetooth connection so bear that in mind.
Pros:
- Great Sound Quality
- Wireless
- Good Aesthetics
Cons:
- Uncomfortable for Long Sessions
- Needs Charging
Razer Opus Active Noise Cancelling ANC Wireless Headphones
Our final choice on this list is a pair of headphones that combines a lot of the features that make VR even better. We’ve gone for this option from Razer, which is well known for making gaming peripherals that are high quality. And these headphones are no different. Offering fantastic sound quality with tons of nice little features. One feature being wireless functionality, which means you can use VR whether you’re sitting or standing. Either way, you’re going to get a fantastic experience here and that’s thanks for all of the little features that this pair has.
Apart from being great wireless headphones, these are also noise-canceling. So if you want to be truly immersed in whatever game you’re playing in VR, these are the way to go. The sound quality here is also fantastic with a really crispy edge to a lot of the tones and great bass. So in terms of just pure sound quality, you really can’t go wrong with this pair. It also has media controls on the right earcup so that you can freely alter the volume while playing. Meaning you won’t have to mess around with taking your headset off or anything like that. Now, these headphones are definitely in the more expensive range and whether or not they’re worth that much is up to you. But if you want a pair of one of the best headphones available, you can’t go wrong with these. Apart from that, the only other negatives stem from the wireless nature of the headphones. Though if you can get past that then these are a must-have.
Pros:
- Fantastic Sound Quality
- Wireless
- Great Build Quality
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Headphones for Oculus Rift S Buying Guide
If you’ve come this far in the list and you still have no idea which headphones you should buy, don’t worry! In this section, we’ll give you some extra information and some handy tips to help you out with your purchase.
Different headphones for sitting and standing
Virtual reality has an interesting issue where it can be played in two completely different ways. You can either experience VR while sitting at your desk or just on a chair or you can stand. Whichever way you prefer to play is going to have a massive effect on what kind of headphones you can get. If you sit down to play in VR then you can either have wired or wireless headphones and the experience won’t be so different. That decision comes down to whether or not you want to deal with a load of cables all over the place. But if you stand and play VR, then you need to get wireless headphones.
Now you could probably use a wired pair of headphones as long as the cable is very long. If that’s the route you want to go down, make sure your headphones have a female port so that you can swap out the cables. Still, this isn’t really recommended because more cables mean more chance of potentially tripping over them. Especially with VR that’s kind of a risky thing to do. So if you do plan to play VR standing up, spend that extra bit to get a pair of decent wireless headphones. It’ll make everything a lot easier in the long run.
Think about using them outside of VR
So if you’re going to be buying a fancy new pair of headphones, the chances are that you’ll want to use them for more than just VR. In that case, then you want to think a lot more about the sound quality and aesthetic of the headphones. A lot of gaming headsets have pretty poor sound quality when it comes to listening to music, but during a game, you just wouldn’t notice. So if you want to use headphones for both music and VR, look for really good headphones. Look for a pair that gives you great sound quality for music and you should be good for when you need to put some gaming hours in.
Buying Tips:
- Check out what kind of headphones your friends and family have. Get their opinions on them and even try them out too. There’s no better way to figure out which kind of headphones are the right ones for you.
- If you’re prone to getting neck pain, aim to get a pair of headphones that are really lightweight. There are some great ones out there that you won’t even notice you’ll have on after a little while.
- Check out your nearest tech store and see if they have any headphones that you can try out. This is another great way to see if the headphones you want are a good fit for you.
- You don’t need to spend a ton of money on headphones to get good quality. There are a lot of budget headphones on the market that also do a really good job. Double-check reviews and get a wide range of opinions before settling on an expensive pair that you don’t really need.
- Wireless headphones are usually more expensive than their wired counterparts. So if it’s a wireless pair you need, make sure it meets your expectations and check a lot of reviews.
- Stay away from lesser-known brands unless you know that their products are of high quality. Money spent on a cheaper pair of headphones from a worse company could be better spent on better ones.
Verdict – The Best Headphones for Oculus Rift S
That’s been our list for The Best Headphones for Oculus Rift S. If it’s helped you out at all with finding your next pair of headphones, let us know! Thanks for reading.
