Top 6 Best Gaming Headphones Without Mic in 2023

Have you ever tried searching for gaming headsets without microphones? I bet you can’t find a single one. In today’s gaming world, every maker assumes that you want to have a microphone to chat with your teammates or talk smack to the competition.

But a mic costs extra money and can get in the way. And it can also be a point of failure for otherwise decent headphones.

Well, if you’re a lone wolf or don’t ever play games that include chat, you may find you can get an excellent pair of headphones without a mic for a great deal. That’s why I’m going to look at some of the best gaming headphones without mic onboard to help you see what’s outside the world of regular gaming headsets.

Top 6 Best Gaming Headphones Without Mic in 2023

1 Panasonic RP-HT161K Lightweight Long-Corded Over-Ear Headphones – Best Budget Gaming Headphones without a Mic

Let’s start off softly. I mean really softly. The RP-HT161K Lightweight Long-Corded Over-Ear Headphones from Panasonic are going to set you back a measly $15 or so. That makes them a great starting point for evaluating headphones – are these good enough, or do you have to pay a whole lot more?

The answer is a bit complicated…

Truth be told, these headphones sound pretty good, and I’d say excellent for the price. They’re driven by 30mm neodymium drivers, which give a frequency range of 10Hz to 27,000Hz. That’s well outside the range of human hearing in both directions.

They feature Panasonic’s XBS or Extra Bass Boost System, and that does give you a bit of oomph. The mids and high-end seem well-balanced and, for the most part, clear. Turned up to max volume; although, you will hear some distortion, and they may also hurt your ears pretty badly.

The construction is nothing to write home about…

These are cheap plastic headphones with vinyl covering over the foam ear cups. The cups are fixed and don’t swivel to conform to your head. The headband is adjustable, but it’s not padded, so if you’re going to be wearing these for longer than 1 hour, they’re going to start to get uncomfortable.

The good news is that they feature a 6.5-foot (2m) long cable that you can easily plug into a gaming console or computer and have a lot of room to move. Basically, this is a decent-sounding and cheap gaming headphones without a mic that’s just OK in every way. And probably won’t last longer than a year or two.

2 Edifier H840 Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones – Best Affordable Gaming Headphones Without a Mic

With our next gaming headphones, we’re going to look at the H840 Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones from Edifier. Priced around $40, these are more than twice as expensive as the Panasonic, but they’re still definitely in the “cheap” category.

Let’s see how they compare…

Unlike the Panasonic, this headphone set has swiveling ear cups that can move to conform to your head, and that makes them a lot more comfortable. They’re still plastic, but the steel sliders inside help to reinforce the headband and let you set your size properly. You can twist and bend these headphones a lot, and they’ll stand up to a beating.

The headband is also padded with foam and covered in leatherette like the ear cups. These are closed-back headphones which means they keep your sound well but also can get hot, especially with the leatherette covering. If you wear them for a long time, anyway.

The sound will make you forget about any stuffiness…

Big 40mm drivers power these phones and deliver a smooth, clean sound all through their frequency range. The mids are a bit boosted, so you’re not looking at pure natural EQ, but it’s close.

Crank up the volume, and you can hear great definition for the tiniest in-game sounds, but also experience solid thumping bass. Meaning, they are some of the best bass gaming headphones without a mic on the market.

The connection here is a regular old 3.5mm audio jack. However, it’s at least gold-plated here to reduce line noise. The cord is six feet long (just under 2m) which should be plenty for gaming. However, I would like to see it better reinforced for greater durability. All in all, excellent sound and solid quality for a very low price.

3 Sennheiser Pro Audio HD280 Pro Headphones – Best Noise Isolating Gaming Headphones Without a Mic

With our next headphones, Sennheiser’s HD280 Pro Headphones, we double the price again to about $80. So what do you get for double your money?

First off, the cable here is a single-sided, reinforced cable that resists twisting and tangling. It’s more durable than the Edifier’s and is also replaceable, while the Edifier’s cable is not. That cable, by the way, is coiled and can stretch from 3.3-9.8 feet (1.3-3m), so it’s good and long when you need it.

For comfort, I have to give these headphones near full points. The ear cups are huge and can accommodate just about any ears, I would think. They swivel and can also fold up for easy storage and transport. The cups are lined in leatherette, though, which can get warm as these are also closed-back headphones.

The best part here is the headband…

Though constructed from durable plastic, the metal sliders are tough and strong. The band has thick padding on top; however, at the very peak of your skull, there’s a gap that prevents too much pressure up there.

This makes them extremely comfortable to wear, even for multiple-hour gaming sessions. In turn, these are some of the most durable gaming headphones without a mic you can buy.

The sound is pretty comparable to Edifier…

Although a bit more natural and less curved in equalization. You get a nice, flat, natural sound with these but still have the power to make your listening experience immersive.

Another nice feature is that with a good fit, you can block out a whole lot of environmental noise with these on. I’d say outside noise can get reduced by something like 50%. That is a big deal if you’re gaming in a loud and busy environment with people talking, music, etc.

4 Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones – Best Value for the Money Gaming Headphones Without a Mic

Once again, we’ll come up in price and see what that gets you. In this case, it’s the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones. These headphones used to retail for nearly $200 but have come down in price considerably to about $120, which is already a huge deal.

Let’s have a look at what they’re all about…

This headset is in the audiophile category, and that means clear, natural sound reproduction with no significant boosts in the EQ curve. You get a flat response which is great for high-quality musical recordings, and for gaming, this is also surprisingly satisfying.

With big 53mm drivers and 700W of max input power, you can get some serious power from these headphones. At the same time, they’re open-backed, and that means the sound pressure doesn’t build up and batter your ears producing fatigue.

This makes them comfortable to wear, just so long as you don’t mind your gaming noise leaking out a fair bit. Other people in the room will hear it.

Speaking of comfort…

Audio Technica has done something innovative with the design of the AD700X. The headband connecting the ear cups is made from two thin but sturdy wires. But the part that touches your head isn’t a full band.

Instead, they’ve split it into left and right side padded “3D wings”. These allow the headset to sit comfortably on your head rather than squeeze it. The result is some of the most comfortable gaming headphones without a mic you can buy.

The ear cups here are leatherette on the outside but soft cloth on the insides. This keeps your ears from getting hot, and so do the open-backs. And a 9.8-foot (3m) cable gives you tons of room to move. I think these are some of the best long session gaming headphones without a mic currently on the market.

5 Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Over-Ear Studio Headphones (80 Ohms version) – Best Sound Quality Gaming Headphones Without a Mic

The next-to-last item on this list of the best gaming headphones without mic is the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Over-ear Studio Headphones. While not designed with gaming in mind, these headphones can still be used in more than just their intended editing and mixing music applications.

At about $150, the DT7770 Pro is a bit more than the Audio Technica we just saw. While it’s getting up there, this is a great price for what you get.

The design is big and definitely proud. You’ve got huge ear cups that are covered in soft velour fabric to keep your ears from getting too warm. They are closed-back, and that means they still keep more heat in than open-back models. That also means they keep your sound in and block out outside sounds quite effectively.

It’s always a trade-off…

These headphones were designed with studio mixing and monitoring applications in mind. But that doesn’t mean they’re not great for gaming. You get a fair bit of deep bass here and a lot of volume, with a maximum sound pressure level of 96 decibels.

The bass is solid, and the mid-range is clear and detailed. The high-end does get a bit of a boost, and that makes it loud and fairly sharp. While that might allow you to hear more detail in your games, the sharp, high-pitched noises can be grating and fatiguing over time.

Are they comfortable?

The huge padded ear cups are soft and fluffy and fit like a dream. The cup covers are also replaceable, which you should expect at this price point. The headband is a sturdy metal band covered with a removable/replaceable cushy padded cover. They are a bit heavy due to the size, but still nice and comfortable to wear even for a few hours.

You get a high-quality, sturdy cable here. It’s also 9.8 feet (3m) long to allow you to move around and play from all sorts of positions. The connector is, of course, gold-plated, and you also get a gold-plated ¼-inch adapter.

6 Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphones – Best Premium Gaming Headphones Without a Mic

We’re not done yet. The price stays the same as we get to our last offering – the Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphones by Philips. These guys used to retail for $300 but are now available at half that price.

We’re seeing some real steals of deals here…

The X2HRs are tremendously comfortable, beaten only by the Audio Technica AD700X, and then just barely. The big ear cups are made from fluffy, thick memory foam and covered in velour, so they feel great and don’t hold in a lot of heat.

The open backs help there, too, although, as usual, they have their pros and cons. You get a lot of sound without the pressure on your ears that a closed-back headphone can produce. However, your audio will leak out a lot, and that can be an issue. They also don’t do a great deal to block out sounds in the room.

Like the AD700X, the headband here is made from two sturdy wires, though in this case, they’re covered with a leatherette band. But the hammock that sits on your head is different. It’s a full band covered in a breathable mesh fabric. This feels light and airy, though it does put more pressure on your head than the AD700X.

How about sound?

Big 50mm drivers are tilted slightly to aim well into your ears. They produce a very smooth, clear high-end that’s detailed without being piercing. The mid-range is OK, and the bass is powerful. However, as you push the volume, you’ll find the bottom-end loses clarity and starts to muddy up the mids.

Do they still work for gaming?

Yes, the sound is deep and immersive, if not all that detailed. The big bonus here is a high-quality 9.8 foot (3m) cable with a gold-plated connector. You also get a ¼-inch adapter here.

But the best part is that the cable, as well as the ear cups, are replaceable. So, you can use these headphones for years with a simple new cable purchase once in a while if it ever fails. As a result, these are some of the best long lasting gaming headphones without a mic you can buy.

Guide to Buying the Best Gaming Headphones Without Mic

When you’re looking for gaming headphones, and you’re not bothered about having a mic, your options can open up significantly. But with more options, you may have a harder time choosing the best headphones for you. Here are some factors to consider that can help make your choice easier.

Comfort

Comfort is a huge issue for gamers as we normally wear headphones for a few hours at a time. If you’re worried about getting hot and sticky ears, look for fabric rather than leatherette-lined ear cups. Open-back ear cups can also help to keep things from overheating.

However, be aware that they don’t work well to block out background noise. They also let your gaming noise out a fair it, and this can annoy others.

Padded headbands are great, but hammocks or “3D wings” are different innovations to improve comfort. If your ear cups and headband padding can be replaced, that’s a huge bonus.

Sound Quality

How much do you want to spend on headphones? Well, how important is a great sound to you? And do you want rumbling bass or just a very clear, accurate representation of the sounds in your games? The more accuracy you want, generally, the more you’ll have to pay. But an expensive pair of headphones can last for years and so may well be worth it.

In general, the best gaming headphones reproduce the sounds in your games fairly flatly. This means they don’t have much of an EQ curve so that nothing is boosted or diminished. Instead, you get the sounds from your games as they were meant to be heard.

Cable

A sturdy cable is a must, especially if it’s long like the 6 to 10-foot cables we’ve looked at. Make sure that you have the cable length that you need for your setup. A shorter 6-foot cable might work if you’re sitting in front of a PC. But you may need longer, up to ten feet, if you’re plugging into a gaming console and sitting on the sofa away from your screen.

You want to find a cable that’s thick and tough with quality connections. And if possible, can be replaced or removed for transport, which is another huge bonus. You can get decades out of a good pair of headphones with replaceable parts.

Need Some Great Gaming Headphones?

We can help you with that. Check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Gaming Headset, the Best Nintendo Switch Gaming Headsets, the Best Xbox One Headsets, the Best Wireless PlayStation 4 Headsets, the Best PC Gaming Headsets, the Best Razer Gaming Headsets, and the Most Comfortable Gaming Headsets you can buy in 2023.

Also, have a look at our detailed HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset Review, our Astro A40 TR X-Edition Review, our Razer Kraken Ultimate Review, our PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset Review, our Sennheiser Game One Review, our Logitech G432 Review, and our AmazonBasics Pro Gaming Headset Review currently on the market.

What are the Best Gaming Headphones Without Mic?

If you’re not fussed about having a mic on your headphones or definitely DON’T want one, you have a whole lot of options for excellent headphones. The best would be something with clear and accurate sound, good volume, and extreme comfort.

That is why I have to give the prize to the…

Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones

While they might not be for everyone because they’re open-backed, and that means loud noise in and out, these are hands down the most comfortable headphones around. They sound great, giving you all the detail you need for superior gaming. They’re made from quality components and have a very long cable that gives you tons of room to maneuver.

Whichever headphones you choose, enjoy excellent sound and great gaming for the years ahead.

So, until next time, game on.