Seventy dollars. That's what the PowerA LucidSound LS500/P costs, and it's the number that makes everything else about this headset worth talking about. At a price point where most headsets either sound hollow or fall apart after a month, the LS500/P is making a genuinely strong case for itself.
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What you're actually getting for under $70
The LS500/P ships with 50mm audio drivers, a flip-to-mute boom mic, and a dual-connector USB dongle that handles both Type-A and Type-C, which covers pretty much every setup you'd want to plug into. The 2.4 GHz wireless connection activates by holding the ear cuff button, and you can flip to Bluetooth via the power button. The two modes can't run simultaneously, but at this price that's a fair trade.
Weight comes in at 261 grams. For context, that's lighter than most mid-range competitors, and the mesh headband construction helps it stay that way during long sessions. There are also dedicated glasses slots cut into the ear cushions, which is a small detail that makes a real difference for anyone who spends four-hour stretches in front of a screen.
Battery life is rated at 70 hours. That figure holds up in real-world use, with extended testing across many sessions without needing a charge.
The audio performance that surprises at this tier
Here's the thing: the LS500/P sounds noticeably better than its price suggests. Directional audio works reliably, which matters far more for gaming than raw loudness. Tracking audio cues in open-world environments and locating sound sources in combat scenarios both performed accurately. The soundstage has genuine width, and both treble and bass come through clearly, though the low end is a little restrained compared to headsets tuned specifically for bass response.
Music listening is competent rather than exceptional, but that's not what this headset is built for. For gaming, the frequency balance is well suited to picking up footsteps, environmental audio, and directional cues without any single range dominating.
Where the budget shows up
The plastic construction is the most obvious trade-off. It keeps the weight down and the price low, but it does feel less premium than headsets in the $100-$150 range. That's not a surprise, and most users will stop noticing it quickly once the headset is on their head.
The mic is the other area where the LS500/P pulls its punches. It works fine for in-game voice chat, with decent pickup and reasonable voice isolation. What it won't do is serve streamers or content creators well. The boom mic also appears to stop functioning in Bluetooth mode, only responding during the 2.4 GHz dongle connection. For standard gaming sessions that's a non-issue, but worth knowing before you buy.
LS500/P specs at a glance
The dongle itself is on the larger side physically, but the dual-connector design means it works without an adapter on both older and newer hardware setups.
Who this headset is actually for
The LS500/P is a focused product. PowerA and the LucidSound brand stripped out noise cancelling, companion app features, and any other extras that would push the price past $70. What remains is a wireless headset with strong audio performance, a comfortable fit, and battery life that most users will never stress.
What most players miss when shopping at this price is that the extras they're comparing on spec sheets rarely matter as much as how a headset actually sounds and feels after three hours of continuous use. The LS500/P gets both of those right.
For streamers or anyone who needs a broadcast-quality mic, the budget will need to stretch further. For the majority of players who want wireless audio that works well across PC, PlayStation, or Xbox without spending over $100, this is a strong pick. Our latest reviews cover the full range of gaming headsets if you want to compare options across different price tiers before committing.
