It is a weird time to be a console gamer. Everyone is talking about the PS5 Pro or the next generation of handhelds, but if you look at the actual data, the PlayStation 4 ecosystem is still massive. Millions of people haven't moved on. And honestly? They shouldn't have to. One of the biggest questions I get from people still rocking their trusty Slim or Pro models is whether it’s actually worth dropped a hundred bucks on wireless PS4 gaming headphones when a pair of cheap earbuds plugged into the controller technically "works."
Here is the thing.
The DualShock 4 controller uses Bluetooth to talk to the console, but that 3.5mm jack on the bottom is a bottleneck. It compresses audio. It drains your controller battery faster than a leaked faucet. If you have ever felt like the audio in God of War or Warzone felt a bit "thin," that’s why. Stepping up to a dedicated wireless headset—usually via a USB dongle—changes the entire experience. You aren't just cutting the cord; you’re bypassing the controller's mediocre digital-to-analog converter (DAC) entirely.
The Technical Reality of PS4 Wireless Audio
Most people assume all wireless tech is the same. It’s not. If you try to use your standard AirPods or Bose QC45s with a PS4, you’ll realize the console doesn't natively support Bluetooth audio out of the box. Sony did this on purpose to reduce latency. Instead, wireless PS4 gaming headphones use a 2.4GHz radio frequency (RF) signal.
This matters.
A lot.
2.4GHz is significantly faster than Bluetooth. When you’re playing a twitch-shooter like Apex Legends, a 100ms delay in hearing a footstep is the difference between a win and a trip back to the lobby. Dedicated gaming headsets use a tiny USB transceiver that creates a direct pipeline. It’s basically instantaneous.
Why "Official" Isn't Always Better
Sony’s own Pulse 3D or the older Gold and Platinum headsets are fine. They’re fine! But they aren't the gold standard anymore. The Gold Wireless headset was famous for its hinges snapping if you breathed on them too hard. I’ve seen dozens of them taped together with electrical tape.
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If you want something that actually lasts, you have to look at brands like SteelSeries or HyperX. The SteelSeries Arctis 7P+, for example, was designed for the PS5 but is fully backward compatible with the PS4. It uses a USB-C dongle (with a USB-A adapter for the older console ports) and offers a much better frequency response range than the official Sony gear.
Understanding the Virtual Surround Sound Myth
You’ll see "7.1 Virtual Surround Sound" plastered all over the box of almost every pair of wireless PS4 gaming headphones.
Let’s be real for a second: you only have two ears.
And the headset only has two drivers (speakers).
Everything else is just software trickery. On the PS4, Sony’s proprietary VSS (Virtual Surround Sound) only works with official PlayStation headsets through the "Headset Companion App." If you buy a third-party headset like a Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, you are mostly relying on the headset's internal processing to simulate space.
Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Companies like Turtle Beach have "Superhuman Hearing" modes that boost the frequencies of footsteps and reload sounds. It sounds tinny and metallic—honestly, it’s kind of ugly—but it’s a competitive advantage. If you care more about immersion in The Last of Us Part II, you’d want a headset with a flatter, more natural soundstage rather than one that prioritizes "gaming" EQ presets.
The Battery Life Trap
Early wireless headsets lasted maybe six or eight hours. That was a nightmare. You’d sit down for a Friday night session and get the "Battery Low" beep forty minutes in.
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The industry has moved on. We now have headsets like the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless that claim—and actually achieve—up to 300 hours of battery life. That is insane. You could play for weeks without plugging it in. Most mid-range wireless PS4 gaming headphones now hover around the 24 to 30-hour mark. If a headset offers less than 15 hours in 2026, it belongs in a museum.
Comfort is More Important Than Drivers
I’ve tested headsets with massive 50mm neodymium drivers that sounded incredible but felt like a literal vice grip on my skull.
If you wear glasses, this is even more critical.
Look for "prospects" or "glasses-friendly" designs. Some brands use dual-foam ear cushions that are softer where your glasses frames sit. If the clamping force is too high, you’ll get a headache long before the battery dies. This is where the SteelSeries "ski goggle" headband design wins—it distributes the weight across the top of your head rather than pressing the earcups into your jawbone.
Microphones: The Weak Link
Almost every wireless headset microphone sounds "just okay." Because the bandwidth of the 2.4GHz signal is prioritized for the audio coming into your ears, the audio going out from your mouth gets compressed. It’ll sound a bit like a walkie-talkie.
- ClearCast mics (SteelSeries) are decent at cancelling background noise.
- Flip-to-mute mics (Turtle Beach) are incredibly convenient for when your dog starts barking.
- Detachable mics (HyperX) are great if you want to use the headphones for music on your phone without looking like a pilot.
If you are a serious streamer, don't rely on your headset mic. Get a dedicated USB condenser mic. But for trash-talking in a lobby? Any modern wireless set is plenty clear.
What About the "PS5 Ready" Labels?
You'll see a lot of marketing now for "PS5 + PS4" compatibility. Don't let this confuse you. The PS4 uses standard USB audio protocols. Almost any headset that works on PS5 via a USB dongle will work on your PS4. The only thing you might miss out on is the PS5's specific Tempest 3D AudioTech engine, but the headset itself will still function perfectly at a high level on your older hardware.
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In fact, buying a "PS5" headset for your PS4 is a great way to "future-proof" your setup. When you eventually find a deal on the newer console, your headset moves with you.
Real World Testing: The "Budget" vs "Premium" Gap
I recently compared a $50 "no-name" wireless set from an online marketplace to the $150 Astro A50. The difference wasn't just in the sound quality. It was the "connection stability."
Cheap wireless PS4 gaming headphones tend to drop the signal if someone in the kitchen turns on the microwave. They share the same 2.4GHz frequency as many household appliances. Premium headsets use frequency-hopping technology to stay on a clean channel. If you live in an apartment building with dozens of nearby Wi-Fi signals, the "budget" option will drive you crazy with pops, clicks, and dropouts.
Actionable Steps for Choosing Your Pair
Don't just look at the star ratings. Follow this checklist:
- Check the Dongle: Ensure it is USB-A (the rectangular port). If it’s USB-C, make sure a USB-A adapter is in the box, as the PS4 doesn't have USB-C ports.
- Mic Monitoring: This is a feature that lets you hear your own voice in the headset. Without it, you’ll end up shouting because the earcups isolate you from the room. It’s a dealbreaker for most.
- Physical Controls: You want a physical volume wheel and a mute button on the earcup. Digging through PS4 menus to change volume in the middle of a fight is a death sentence.
- The "Wired" Backup: Make sure it has a 3.5mm backup port. If the battery dies mid-game, you can just plug it into the controller and keep playing in wired mode.
Stop settling for the pack-in mono earbud that came in the PS4 box. Switching to a proper wireless setup isn't just about losing the wire; it’s about finally hearing the sound design the developers actually spent years perfecting. Pick a pair based on your head shape and how long you play, and you’ll realize how much of the game you’ve been missing.
For those ready to buy, start by measuring your current headset's earcups. If you have larger ears, avoid the "on-ear" designs and stick strictly to "over-ear" (circumaural) models to avoid painful pinching after hour two. Check for firmware updates as soon as you unbox them; manufacturers often patch connection stability issues that exist in the "out of the box" software. Adjust your PS4 settings to "All Audio" under the "Output to Headphones" menu to ensure you aren't just getting chat sounds. You're now set for a significantly better gaming experience.