Although most gamers and streamers often prefer over-ear headphones for their better overall sound quality and immersion, they’re not easy to carry around and can be tough to use in certain cases. That’s where this list of best earbuds for streamers in 2022 comes in.
Earbuds are much more portable and can offer great sound quality if you choose the right one. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or something premium that’s used by the most popular streamers out there, I have something for you in this article…
Before You Buy
One of the many benefits of earbuds over headphones is better sweat resistance, wider compatibility, and easier portability. However, with that being said, the wide range of options available out there makes it easy to buy a pair of earbuds that don’t fit your requirements. So, let’s go through three absolutely essential features that make a pair of earbuds worth your hard-earned money:
Audio Drivers and Frequency Response
When it comes to almost any kind of sound system, you’ll often hear the term “driver” being thrown around quite a lot. Based on the context, it refers to either the software running it or the actual hardware that produces the sound you’re hearing.
More often than not, most headphones have several drivers per earcup, each of them responsible for a specific audio frequency range. Just as more pixels make a clearer picture on a screen, more drivers produce a crisp and realistic sound in an audio device.
Unfortunately, due to their smaller form factor, earbuds can’t have multiple drivers, and generally, only have one per bud. So, keep an eye out for this feature. A bigger driver will at least improve the sound quality by a bit, making it more fun to play games and stream them.
High Quality Built-in Microphone
Of course, as a streamer, you probably have a professional microphone in your setup. However, if you’re a mobile streamer and like to share gameplay on the go, having a pair of earbuds with a decent built-in mic can be a huge help. You don’t need to set up anything, just plug and play.
It also goes beyond that. Having a good mic that doesn’t pick up background noise, records clear and crisp audio, and captures your voice without distortion can also be beneficial for chatting, planning match tactics, and online meetings when using other devices too.
Active Noise Cancellation
Since earbuds sit directly on top of the ear canal and have no kind of sponge surrounding each bud, nothing’s stopping any outside noises from leaking in and disturbing your audio immersion.
So, using a pair of earbuds with Active Noise Canceling (ANC) capability can definitely come in handy, although it’s not absolutely essential.
These three features are only specific to earbuds. There are also other general factors to consider: build quality, budget, RGB, and brand value. With this valuable information now out of the way, let’s get to the list…
Top 5 Best Microphones For Streamers in 2022:
1. Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Gen 2 – Best Overall
SPECS:
- Drivers: 10mm
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Noise Canceling: Yes
- In-built mic: Yes
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Gen 2 is probably the best pair of gaming earbuds you can get right now. Being from Razer, they’re focused on gamers and thus offer some gamer-friendly features on top of being easy to use and reproducing crisp sound.
The ANC feature along with an in-canal seal on both earbuds guarantees minimal environmental sound leakage into your audio experience too. Of course, one of the main concerns with wireless peripherals is latency. You’ll be happy to know that these come with only 60MS input latency, making them optimal for fast-paced FPS matches.
You get all of this audio goodness packed into a premium body and a long-lasting battery life of over 32 hours. Overall, these are a solid pair of earbuds, both for live streaming and general use-cases like music and entertainment.
Pros
- Smart apps for Android and iOS
- Cool RGB lighting
- Touch-sensitive controls
Cons
- Slightly expensive
2. Roccat Syn Buds Core – Best on a Budget
SPECS:
- Drivers: 10mm
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Noise Canceling: No
- In-built mic: Yes
Coming in under $30, the Roccat Syn Buds Core are a good option for those considering a budget-friendly pair of earbuds. They don’t feature RGB, touch-sensitive controls, or a sporty design, but they deliver decent sound and feature an inline mic.
Although these will work just fine with most games, as many users have pointed out, they struggle to keep up with more complex soundscapes and have trouble handling directional audio. The resulting audio feels a bit washed out. So, if you’re playing a story-driven game and need clear and detailed audio, you might want to opt for a more high-end option.
All in all, even though the Roccat Syn Buds Core are not very well-rounded when it comes to audio quality, for the price point they still offer solid value and look good too. As an extra, they also come with a carrying bag and standard two extra sizes of silicone eartips.
Pros
- Wallet-friendly price tag
- High-quality inline mic
- Includes volume controls
Cons
- Not wireless; comes with 3.5mm connector
3. HyperX Cloud Buds – Best Value for Money
SPECS:
- Drivers: 14mm
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Noise Canceling: No
- In-built mic: Yes
Designed on the outset by HyperX to rival other Nintendo Switch-focused earbuds, the Cloud Buds are great for gaming and streaming in general whether you’re on a PC or console.
When it comes to audio, you get impressive 14mm drivers. According to most users, although the bass is awesome, the mid and high points are mediocre and a bit too sharp for some ears. The in-line mic is decent for live matches and calls, and the multi-function button enables you to pick up calls, change songs, and use digital assistants on your smart device.
In terms of the overall build quality and ergonomics, the cable is tangle-free and you also get silicone ear tips in three different sizes. In addition to that, you can also run these for around ten hours with a full charge, which should be more than enough for a fun day of gaming.
As you might agree, these also stack perfectly with HyperX’s line-up of gaming peripherals with their aggressive red and black accents. Go for these if you need a gear pair of earbuds without shelling out a lot.
Pros
- Impressive 14mm drivers
- Mesh travel pouch included
- Trendy design
Cons
- Lacks ANC
4. Apple AirPods Pro – Best from Apple
SPECS:
- Drivers: Apple custom-made
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Noise Canceling: Yes
- In-built mic: Yes
I know, you probably didn’t expect the Apple AirPods Pro to be on this list. They’re very popular when it comes to music and video sites like Netflix and Hulu. However, when you think about it, they can be great for gaming and streaming as well.
The custom-made high-excursion drivers from Apple sound great, there’s solid onboard ANC, touch-sensitive controls, and you can always call on Siri if you need anything. The AirPods Pro can also work great for those who own a Nintendo Switch for some quick on-the-go gaming.
These are also a suitable option if you’re a member of the Apple ecosystem and already own other headphones. They can be a quick and portable backup option. Although they’re not designed specifically for gaming, like the Razer Hammerheads or the HyperX Cloud Buds, they’re decent in that regard and will of course do well in music and entertainment too.
Considering all of this, they’re just a solid pair of buds for any streaming session, and Aceu will back me up on that.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Premium build quality
- Clear and crisp audio
Cons
- Expensive
5. SteelSeries Tusq – Best In-Built Microphone
SPECS:
- Drivers: Hypha-fiber diaphragm
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Noise Canceling: No
- In-built mic: Yes
It’s easy to find a pair of earbuds these days that offer decent sound quality. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about microphone quality. Most of the products you see out there have mics that are only good enough to be used on Zoom meetings and voice calls. SteelSeries is changing that with Tusq.
These earbuds feature a dual microphone system with a detachable boom mic. This is great for eliminating random clicking sounds and making the audio much cleaner and easier to understand. It mic by itself probably can’t replace your Blue Yeti or Razer Seiren, but if you ever want to stream on the go, it’ll do the job.
These earbuds also excel in terms of ergonomics, featuring flexible ear hooks and three sizes of silicone ear tips. For fans of Bluetooth, the 3.5mm connector wouldn’t be good news, but at this price point, it’s an understandable compromise.
Another point to keep in mind is that many users have complained about the boom mic port being a bit loose, making it fall if moved suddenly. Other than that, definitely consider these if you’re looking for a great pair of earbuds with plenty of microphone versatility.
Pros
- Detachable boom mic for high-quality audio recording
- Flexible ear hooks for extra stability
Cons
- Lacks ANC
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Earbuds Better for Hearing Compared to Headphones?
There’s always been a belief in the tech community that earbuds are much worse for ear health compared to headphones, and there is some truth to that statement. There are two reasons for this.
Firstly, since earbuds by design deliver sound straight into your ear canal, the risk of hearing loss over long periods of time is higher. Secondly, because of limited airflow, they also tend to create more bacteria in your ears and push earwax deeper down, creating blockages.
Although this is part and parcel of using earbuds, you can avoid these issues by taking some simple measures. Try to be mindful to keep the volume at safe levels (buying an ANC-enabled pair can help with this), maintain ear hygiene, and take frequent breaks.
Can Wireless Earbuds Also Be Used for Smartphones and TVs?
If you’re going to buy a pair of expensive earbuds, you’d want to use them with devices other than your gaming PC. So, it’s worth considering how widely compatible these devices are. You’ll be happy to hear that all of these can be used for smartphones and TVs too.
The Bluetooth-enabled ones, like the Razer Hammerhead or the HyperX Cloud Buds can easily be connected to any smart device. If you have wired ones, like the Roccat Syn Buds Core or the SteelSeries Tusq, you can use a 3.5mm to Bluetooth adapter instead to gain the same functionality.
Wrap Up
While browsing this list, you might’ve been wondering which of these earbuds most gamers and streamers out there actually use. The answer to that is, pretty much all of them! I’ve created this list based on a mix of popularity and good user ratings.
So, if you want a great pair of earbuds and buy from this list, you should do just fine. Here’s a quick summary of all the ones I mentioned in this article:
- Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is Best Overall
- Roccat Syn Buds Core is Best on a Budget
- HyperX Cloud Buds is Best Value for Money
- Apple AirPods Pro is Best from Apple
- SteelSeries Tusq is Best Built-in Microphone
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