Do Regular Headphones Work on PS4?

Any diehard PS4 player will tell you; the sound maketh the game. Brim the amazing soundtrack, to the subtle noises that alert you of a nearby zombie – you really can’t play a PS4 game without great sound.

That being said, playing PS4 isn’t always a family affair, and you might need to tone down the volume from time to time – which sucks. There is a solution, though, could your headphones work on your PS4?

Luckily, the answer is a resounding YES! For the PlayStation 4, you could technically use any old regular 3.5mm headphones plugged into the port on your controller. But, would you really want to? PS4 is an experience, and the sound is a part of it. You haven’t played PS4 games until you’ve played them with the best PS4 Headsets on the market.

There is an incredible range of headsets available that will take your PS4 setup, and experience to the next level. I’ll get to those at the end of the article – so keep reading.

If you need to use your regular headphones while you wait for your new headset to be delivered, I’ll help you get set up.

How to Use Your Regular 3.5mm Headphones with a PS4

Which headphones work with ps4? Well, you can, in fact, easily set up your 3.5mm headphones to work with your PS4 – and if you were wondering, you don’t need a ridiculously long cord – it plugs into your controller.

For the settings, simply go to your PS4 Menu, open the settings, and navigate to devices. In devices, choose audio devices and select output to headphones.

The last thing you need to make sure of, is that while your headphones are plugged in, you select “all audio” instead of “chat audio”.

If you’re wondering, will headphones with a mic work on PS4, the answer is yes, you can chat and listen via your headphones, or turn on “chat audio” to use your headphones for multiplayer communication only.

Remember to just test your audio with the “Adjust Microphone Level” function before starting the game.

If You Want to Use Wired Headphones with Your PS4

While wireless headphones for PS4 are great in terms of comfort and user-friendliness, wired headphones do have some added advantages:

■ Better Sound Quality

This isn’t true for all headsets, most of the highest quality headsets (which I’ll be sharing with you at the end of this article) are great.

No, they’re better than great, they’re mind-blowing. But, with cheaper headsets, the wire gets the electrical signal to the headset, no delay.

Whereas in comparison, wireless headphones work with frequencies that travel through the air.

■ Wired Headphones Could Be Less Likely to Make You Sick

We’re not saying headphones cause cancer, but some people are worried, so if that’s you –  you can read more about in my article were I really dig deep to answer the question: Do Bluetooth headphones cause cancer?

■ You Don’t Have to Worry about Charging Your Headphones

This is great because games can get long, and when you’re just about to get the final clue to win the game, you don’t want your audio cutting out on you.

For me, I don’t mind. In fact, all I care about is sound quality, and comfort – I’ll be wearing them for a few hours.

If You Want to Use Wireless Headphones with Your PS4

Ok, so here comes the kicker. The PS4 design team didn’t really consider that players would want to connect multiple Bluetooth devices to their consoles.

The PlayStation 4 box only has one Bluetooth port, and let’s face it, we all really like our wireless controllers.

To overcome this issue, there are a few options:

■ Bluetooth Adapter Dongle

Which wireless headphones work with your ps4? If you want to use wireless headphones simultaneously with your wireless controller, you’ll need to buy a Bluetooth adapter dongle that will allow multiple devices to connect.

Having the dongle inserted, you simply need to redo the settings with all the devices switched on.

You should get a message confirming that the set up was successful and that your devices are paired.

■ Bluetooth Controller Dongle

One other way you can overcome this issue is by purchasing wireless headphones with a Bluetooth controller dongle.

This connects directly to your controller, as a normal wireless headset would – minus the wires.

If you’re looking for the best wireless headset for your PS4, I’ve listed the top 5 PS4 Headsets at the end of the article.

What Headphone Mics Can Be Used with PS4

There have been many reports of microphones not working, or producing a highly irritating (to everyone else in the game – you can’t hear it) buzzing noise when you use your microphone.

If this has happened to you, there is an explanation. It seems that the biggest issue was with Apple Headphones and was caused by the fact that Apple cords are wired differently.

There are two major standards when it comes to wires, the one is the OMTP standard, and the other is the CTIA.

If you ask me which came first, the OMTP chicken or the CTIA egg, it’s gonna be the chicken. OMTP is the oldest standard, which your PS4 still follows, and go figure, and Apple follows CTIA – the newest standard (they always need to be different).

In the past, the CTIA headphones still “worked”, if you ignored the biz and your swearing friends.

But a recent update brought all of this to an end. PS4 is now blocking all headphones that don’t follow the OMTP standard.

Most headphone mics will work, though.

How to Make Your Headphone Mic Work with PS4

Usually, just plugging the jack into the controller and setting up your headset in the settings should be enough.

However, if you are experiencing technical difficulties – there are a few tricks you could try (be gentle though, no need to break anything).

■ Try Disconnecting and Connecting Again

This is a long shot, but it has worked for some. Push your jack in fully and wait for it to connect, then gently pull it out a few millimeters (you should feel a click), until it disconnects. Push it back in and that should solve the problem.

■ Test Your Headphones on a Different Device

If your mic isn’t working, it could be that your headphones are broken. Test this theory by plugging them into another device to test the mic function.

■ Check That Your PS4 Settings Are Correctly Configured

As mentioned earlier in the post, your output to headphones should be set to “All Audio”. It is possible that somehow something went wrong, and just resetting or checking your settings could help.

You can also do a quick check-in your settings menu to make sure everything is working.

In the “Adjust Microphone Level” option, you will be able to calibrate your microphone. If your mic is picked up on the screen, it means it’s working.

This might mean that the problem lies with your network connection or other chat settings.

If that doesn’t fix it, it might be time for a new set of headphones for PS4, and I have the top 5 headsets of 2022 that will blow your mind.

Best PS4 Headphones in 2022

Headphones have come a long way, and for gamers, 2022 promises to blow your audiophile minds.

Whatever PS4 game you play, the right headphones will increase your immersion in the game, give you the advantage of super hearing, and boost your gaming experience.

Prepare for a whole new experience with 2022’s best PlayStation 4 headphones.

The Best Audiophile PS4 Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

Steelseries is known for premium headsets, and the Arctis Pro Wireless does not disappoint.

This unparalleled gaming headset is probably one of the best I’ve personally tried, the sound is off the hook, and the sturdy design mean it’s going to last.

With its high-resolution speaker drivers, you hear everything. Honestly, I was blown away by the details I could pick up.

The Arctis Pro headset has high-density neodymium magnets to deliver Hi-Res audio up to 40,000 Hz, that’s impressive, and nearly double what most standard headsets are capable of.

The Arctis ClearCast microphone also ensures perfect voice clarity and background noise cancellation, making the experience better for you as well as everyone else in the game.

An easy to use chat mix dial means you can control the game volume vs. the chat volume – perfect for those moments when you need to get a message through in the chaos.

And probably my favorite feature – the new Arctis pro is DTS enabled, which means it simulates a surround sound experience. I promise, once you try this baby, there’s no turning back.

The Best “Wired” PS4 Headset: HyperX Cloud Alpha S

Way ahead of the game in terms of distortion control, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is on my 2022 list of top gaming headphones for its insane sound clarity and amazing custom features – like the detachable microphone.

What I really love about this headset is the unbelievable sound quality that you get from the dual chamber 50mm drivers. They minimize distortion and improve sound quality like you’ve never experienced.

Beyond the engineering genius, these guys went all out to maximize comfort. I mean, I could wear these things for days.

With the award-winning premium red memory foam, your ears are cushioned on air, and the expanded headband distributes the weight while the soft leather cover just adds to the luxuriousness of it all.

But it doesn’t stop there, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is compatible with almost everything out there – PlayStation, PC, Xbox, you name it!

HyperX is also backed by the best gamers in the biz – I mean Daigo “The Beast” Umehara – the Japanese arcade fighting video game player and Emmalee “EMUHLEET” Garrido – the all American CS:GO sweetheart both serve as brand ambassadors.

You can’t go wrong with this sleek, premium wired headset. It’s a headset for every occasion and boasts exceptional functionality. I loved it, and I guarantee you will too.

The Most Comfortable Headset for PS4: Razer Nari Ultimate

This wireless beauty takes gaming to the next level. With its exceptional comfort, you won’t even know you’re wearing them, but you’ll literally feel your surroundings.

With Razer HyperSense, an intelligent haptic technology, this headset converts sound signals into dynamic feedback, you can feel.

That means as a bomb goes off to your left, you feel it in your headphones, and as the shrapnel zooms past your head, you’ll know it.

This is because this revolutionary gaming technology accurately picks up the flow of activity all around you, calculating and delivering different intensities, based on where the audio cues are coming from in the game.

In addition, this is a wireless headset, giving you the ultimate freedom and comfort.

The battery is practically never-ending, giving you 8 hours of interrupted game time when haptic feedback is enabled (20 hours when it’s off).

Light and comfortable, this headset stands miles above the rest by combining comfort with unique gaming features. For me, it was a whole new experience, and it’s hard to go back once you experience it.

The Best Wireless PS4 Headset: Astro A50 Gen 4

This might be the ultimate wireless gamer headset – and -It just looks really, really cool. The Astro A50 Gen 4 has it all and then some.

Let’s start off with the wireless functionality. Usually, the main concern with wireless is the battery life, but with the Astro A50 Gen 4, not only does it include a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, which lasts for 15+ hours, you also get a really cool base station for recharging.

The base station also has a dual function; it functions as a housing station, keeping your headphones safe and charged until their next use.

While this seems pretty straight-forward, almost no other manufacturer has this feature, and trust me; it’s useful when it comes to a wireless headset that can easily end up anywhere except the charging cable (very frustrating when you want to quickly jump in on a game with some friends).

Once you’re in the habit of docking it, you’re very unlikely to just leave it lying around, and your headset will always be charged and ready to go.

The sleek design is also very attractive, and the flip-to-mute microphone is great. As for sound quality, it’s by far one of the best on the market when it comes to wireless headphones.

The Original and Best PS4 Headset: Sony PlayStation Wireless Platinum

You know it’s going to be good when it’s designed by the masters themselves, and Sony hasn’t disappointed. This is the ultimate in PlayStation Headphones, and if you’re a diehard PS4 gamer, then look no further.

The Sony PlayStation Wireless Platinum boasts 7.1 virtual surround sound audio, giving you the ultimate gaming experience.

The 3D effect means you feel the sound, while the 50mm drivers deliver that crisp sound when you need it. Built-in mics capture your voice and other background noise, to offer exceptional noise-canceling capabilities.

The design is lightweight and comfortable, allowing you to play for hours and forget you’re wearing it.

And while the Sony PlayStation Wireless Platinum is designed with the PS4 in mind, they have been kind enough to include multi-device Compatibility – meaning you can use it with your PC, or smartphone wirelessly or via the included 3.5mm audio cable.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to the ultimate PS4 experience, a headset made specifically for PS4 is bound to take things to the next level.

All in all, 2022 has delivered some of the best headphone technology and innovations to date.

The sound is powerful, alive, and will take your game to new levels. Choosing the right headset can ultimately change the way you experience gaming.