Gaming headsets have come leaps and bounds in recent years, and today, you don't need to spend more than $100 to get a decent set of cans for awesome immersion. But it isn't surprising that many people are reluctant to buy a cheap headset, because they believe — naturally — that the pricier the cans, the better the sound.
In some cases, that's true, but in many, it isn't. Of course, you shouldn't expect a $69 headset to carry the same features and pack the same tech as a $299 headset — but that doesn't mean the former is all bad and not worth your money. I should give those two headsets names now, to make this article easier to understand, right?
The $69 PowerA LucidSound LS500 replaced my $299 Razer BlackShark V3 Pro for a week to see if the wallet-friendly wonder could take on one of the best gaming headsets I've had the pleasure of testing. I've been pleasantly surprised by the LS500's sound quality and comfort, and I've also been not-so-surprised by some of its shortcomings — obviously, given the price. Allow me to take you through it all.
Comfort and design? 10/10
The PowerA LucidSound LS500 is a mighty comfortable headset — despite feeling too plasticky in places, yes. Weighing just 9.34 ounces and utilizing a lightweight metal in its frame, the LS500 sits comfortable atop your head and its mesh headband helps relieve some pressure you'd otherwise feel. The earcups are spacious and they're made of... moisture-wicking cloth liner.
"What the heck is moisture-wicking cloth liner?" I hear you ask. Fret not, I've done my research. This material pulls sweat and moisture away from your skin and spreads it across the fabric’s outside so that it evaporates quickly. In practice, this means that your ears don't feel irritated or itchy from pooling sweat, so you can wear the LS500 for hours and hours without feeling uncomfortable.
Alongside feeling ridiculously comfortable, the LS500's design hasn't given me much to complain about either — though it isn't officially licensed for PS5, so you don't get the swanky console logo. What I love most about the design is the clever controls. Two wheels located around the "LS" logo on each earcup can be rotated to adjust volume, playback, and other settings.
You're probably wondering why I'm so excited about something that doesn't even sound that enthralling, but it's because most cheap gaming headsets I've tested sport the same old tired control scheme. They don't do anything different, but PowerA has, and that's what has me jumping up and down. It's practical and it's clever — and it makes the headset fun to use and control.
Great sound... for the most part
Now we get to the meat of this article: does the PowerA LucidSound LS500 sound any good? For the most part, yes, and if you're a casual gamer who just wants a comfy headset for FPS or racing titles, you'll be more than happy with it. The LS500's 50mm dynamic drivers cover a frequency response range of 20Hz to 20KHz (the entirety of the human hearing spectrum) so in theory, you should be able to hear soft footsteps as well as loud explosions.
And you can certainly hear one of those. In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I appreciated the neoclassical operatic and heavy rock soundtrack not overpowering the combat sounds and vice versa. I could still hear my sword slashing against enemies, and I clearly understood my party members when they yelled, “Parry it” or “Watch out, Verso.” Balanced soundstage? Check.
Hear me out...
I, of course, have a lot more to say about the LS500's sound profile, but that's what the full review is there for! Check out my PowerA LucidSound LS500 review for the in-depth analysis.
In Control, the LS500's directional audio worked excellently as I could pinpoint the exact direction in which the enemies spawned. I loved being able to hear the suction-like sound objects made when I grabbed them with Jesse’s Launch ability, even when surrounded by supernatural entities making weird sounds. Crisp treble? Check.
But powerful bass? Bass that you feel in your soul? That reverberates through your head? Yeah, that's not really there. To be fair, I wasn't expecting the bass to sound room-shaking simply because the LS500 is a budget headset, and it's something my Razer BlackShark V3 Pro delivers — but it's also a lot pricier. Through the LS500, bomb-like attacks in Expedition 33 didn't land with enough oomph and sounded tinny. It was a similar story with throwing objects at enemies in Control, too.
It's great for the price, really
There's no denying it: the PowerA LucidSound LS500 is one of the best cheap gaming headsets you can buy today. It's available for $69 at Amazon U.S., with worldwide availability expected later this year. For just under $70, you're getting a comfortable headset that boasts immersive sound (for the most part), decent mic performance, and a clever control scheme.
While you miss out on the most powerful bass and a companion app, those are trade-offs I'd be willing to make given how cheap the LS500 is. I've tested budget cans from Asus and Turtle Beach, and the LS500 takes the fight to them — and it comes out victorious.
More from Tom's Guide
- The $69 PowerA LucidSound LS500 is a fantastic PS5 headset — and it’s coming for Turtle Beach’s crown
- I gave the new Razer headset 5 stars — say hello to my dream gaming cans
- ‘The most absurd and wonderful keyboard I’ve ever typed on’: I tested the typewriter-style Epomaker Glyph and it’s earned a permanent spot on my desk
