We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a featherweight, closed-back headset with a detachable boom mic and genuinely flexible cabling for both PC and console, choose Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK; if you need a PlayStation-licensed headset tuned for competitive shooters with Tempest 3D Audio support and a quick flip-to-mute mic, choose Nacon RIG R5.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest strength: at under 230 grams with 45 mm drivers and a detachable, highly directional boom mic, it's built for long sessions and clean voice chat.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK — biggest trade-off: it's a wired, 3.5 mm-only headset with no PlayStation licensing or spatial-audio tuning, so console-specific features aren't part of the package.
• Nacon RIG R5 — biggest strength: officially licensed for PlayStation, with graphene-coated 40 mm drivers tuned for competitive shooters and optimized for Tempest 3D Audio.
• Nacon RIG R5 — biggest trade-off: at 336 grams it's noticeably heavier than the Audio-Technica, and its tuning leans toward competitive play rather than neutral listening.
• Who the Audio-Technica is for: players who value low weight, isolation and a removable mic they can strip off for music or calls.
• Who the Nacon is for: PlayStation players who want a plug-and-play, competitively tuned headset with a fast mute.
The ATH-GL3BK's headline number is its weight: less than 230 grams. That sounds like a spec-sheet detail until you've worn a headset through a six-hour session. Light headsets don't create pressure hotspots the way heavier ones do, and Audio-Technica backs that up with a detachable earpad and headpad design, so worn-out pads can be replaced instead of forcing you into a new headset. In my opinion, that repairability is the most underrated thing here.
The audio side is a 45 mm dynamic driver with a 10 Hz to 35,000 Hz frequency range and 98 dB sensitivity. That's a wide range on paper, and combined with the closed-back, stainless-steel-enclosed design, it points to strong sound isolation — the kind that muffles room noise and keeps game audio in your ears rather than leaking out. The microphone is the other highlight: a flexible boom with highly directional pickup and a windscreen, detachable when you don't need it. Volume dial and mute switch sit right on the left earcup, so you're not digging through menus mid-match.
Buy it if you want one headset that covers PC and console without fuss. It ships with two cables — a 3.0 m cable with separate 3.5 mm mic and headphone plugs for PCs, and a 1.2 m TRRS cable for modern consoles — and it works with PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X controllers. Skip it if you specifically want PlayStation-licensed spatial audio or swappable cosmetic plates; those aren't part of this package.
The RIG R5 Spear PRO HS is a PlayStation-first headset, and it says so plainly: officially licensed for PS5 and PS4, with a universal 3.5 mm TRRS plug on a 1.5 m cable and in-line volume control. If you mostly play on a PlayStation, that licensing matters — it's the difference between "works on PlayStation" and "designed around PlayStation," and this one is tuned for Tempest 3D Audio, Sony's spatial audio system. The graphene-coated 40 mm drivers are the mechanism behind that, with the brand claiming enhanced directionality and localization.
The tuning is deliberately opinionated. Nacon describes a boosted upper mid-range aimed at making game-critical sounds — footsteps, reloads — stand out, and names shooters like Call of Duty, Battlefield and DOOM as the target. That's a competitive-gaming signature, not a flat, neutral one. If you play a lot of FPS and want to hear an enemy before you see them, this is the design intent. The 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz range and 117.5 dB sensitivity suggest it gets loud easily from a controller or phone jack, and the sub-0.5% harmonic distortion figure speaks to clean output at those levels.
The mic is a 6 mm flip-to-mute design with a 50 Hz to 15 kHz range — you flip the boom up and you're muted, no button hunting. The headband and ear cushions are memory-foam lined, with adjustable size sliders and a durable frame, and the SNAP+LOCK Mod-Plate system lets you swap cosmetic plates across the R5 series (extra designs sold separately). Buy it if you're on PlayStation, play competitive shooters, and want a fast mute. Skip it if low weight is your priority — at 336 grams it's meaningfully heavier than the Audio-Technica — or if you want a detachable mic you can remove entirely.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for long sessions → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Under 230 grams versus 336 grams is a real difference over hours.
• Best for competitive shooters → Nacon RIG R5. Its upper-mid boost is purpose-built for footsteps and reload cues.
• Best for sound isolation → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Closed-back design with a stainless-steel enclosure.
• Best mic flexibility → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. The boom mic detaches completely for music or calls.
• Best for quick muting → Nacon RIG R5. Flip the mic up and you're muted.
• Best for PC plus console in one box → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. Two included cables cover both.
• Best for personalization → Nacon RIG R5. SNAP+LOCK Mod-Plates let you change the look.
I'd buy the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK. The weight, the detachable mic and the two-cable setup make it the more versatile headset for someone who games on PC and console and also wants to use it for calls or music. If you're a PlayStation player who lives in shooters and wants spatial audio plus instant muting, I'd point you to the Nacon RIG R5 instead — it's the more specialized tool and it knows exactly what it's for. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one thing this comparison can't tell you.
how much gaming headphones
There's no single answer, because gaming headphones span a wide range from budget wired models to premium wireless sets. What drives the cost is usually driver quality, wireless tech, licensing and build materials — the Audio-Technica uses 45 mm drivers and a stainless-steel enclosure, while the Nacon uses graphene-coated 40 mm drivers. Check the current price on Amazon for either one.
how to game with bluetooth headphones
Bluetooth headphones can work for gaming, but latency is the usual problem for competitive play. Both headsets here are wired over 3.5 mm, which avoids that entirely — the Audio-Technica includes a 3.0 m PC cable and a 1.2 m console cable, and the Nacon uses a fixed 1.5 m TRRS cable. If you want zero-lag audio, wired is the safer route.
is gaming better with headphones
In my opinion, yes — especially with closed-back designs like the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3BK, which isolates you from room noise. A dedicated headset also gives you an integrated mic, so voice chat doesn't need a separate solution. The Nacon's upper-mid tuning is a good example of audio designed around game cues rather than general listening.
are gaming headphones good for calls
They can be. The Audio-Technica's detachable boom mic with directional pickup and a windscreen is well suited to voice calls, and you can remove it when you don't need it. The Nacon's 6 mm flip-to-mute mic covers a 50 Hz to 15 kHz range, which handles speech fine — just flip it up to mute instantly.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Audio-Technica ATH-E70 vs Jabra Evolve2, Easilent Work Headset vs AOC Gaming Headset: Headphones with, Xmenha Gaming Open Ear vs Conyat Open-Ear Headphones