Sometimes the greatest wi-fi gaming headset in your particular console or platform is the first-party possibility – say, the Pulse Elite for PlayStation 5 or the official Xbox Wireless Headset for, properly, Xbox. They have a tendency to supply essentially the most seamless expertise, and from my time utilizing the aforementioned headsets, I can attest that they sound unbelievable whereas bringing helpful options native to their platform. Microsoft not too long ago put out a refresh of its flagship Xbox headset, and it’s nonetheless a incredible selection. Even with among the similar shortcomings (and a $10 worth hike), it’s a neatly designed headset that brings nice sound high quality together with some slight enhancements to the microphone and battery life.
Xbox Wireless Headset – Design and Comfort
Like the earlier mannequin that got here out in 2021, this new model sports activities a smooth and minimalist design with out loud branding. It’s much more understated in its all-black colorway, which ditches the inexperienced trim across the earcups discovered on the outdated model, and is simply recognizable as an Xbox headset from the brand on the correct earcup. It’s a successful design and I don’t see a purpose to repair what isn’t damaged.
I nonetheless love that every earcup works as intuitive quantity dials, with the correct one controlling the grasp quantity and the left one dealing with the in-game and chat quantity stability. The chat-mix dial has a tactile notch proper on the center to point the 50-50 level for default stability as properly. There aren’t many buttons to fiddle with on the headset itself – a small inexperienced button doubles up as the facility and pairing mode button, and microphone mute sits on the base of the mic itself. The proper earcup prices by way of USB-C, and that’s all there’s to it.
The mic sports activities an analogous snake-like design – it curls into the left earcup to relaxation flush to the headset whenever you don’t wish to use it and unfurls outward whenever you do. It’s a brief arm so it stays to the facet of your face with out getting in the way in which of your mouth, but doesn’t sacrifice its means to select up your voice.
Although the body is made with a examine plastic, the headset can bend and contort fairly a bit and provides a powerful sense of sturdiness; it doesn’t really feel fragile when dealing with it. This is a reasonably small headset, nevertheless. I needed to prolong every arm to its most size to get it to suit correctly, which I not often need to do on different headsets – if you happen to are likely to have hassle with headphones becoming, be cautious. This is one space through which I anticipated enchancment, and whereas it isn’t a dealbreaker for me, a change right here may have addressed one of many headset’s current points.
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The headset clamps a bit tightly, however fortunately its padding is excellent, letting me put on it for hours on finish with out feeling any discomfort. The leatherette upholstery of every earpad might make issues somewhat sweaty the longer you put on it, however that comes with the territory of utilizing the fabric. The headband makes use of the identical plushy padding to let the headset relaxation comfortably atop my head, and the entire unit sits firmly in place so I not often needed to modify it as soon as I put it on.
Those in search of a flexible headset could also be conflicted, relying on what you’re in search of. For one, the Xbox wi-fi headset has Bluetooth connectivity along with the intuitive dongle-free reference to Xbox consoles. However, this headset doesn’t include a 2.4GHz dongle. Granted, that is largely an issue for PC avid gamers (like me) who would want the low latency and sound high quality of a 2.4GHz connection – dongles for Microsoft gadgets could be bought individually, however in fact provides to the overall value.
Xbox Wireless Headset – Software and Battery Life
With this being the official Xbox headset, you don’t want any exterior app or software program suite to customise its core settings, such because the EQ profile or a easy bass boosting possibility, when utilizing it on Xbox programs. While you solely have entry to a five-band EQ, it really works effective for tuning the headset correctly (which I like to recommend doing to get the very best audio expertise).
You even have native entry to Windows Sonic, DTS Headphone:X, and a free license for Dolby Atmos, that are applications that convey out extra theatrical sound profiles and emphasize spatial audio expertise. I don’t discover them notably attractive for gaming, particularly for aggressive eventualities the place a pure sound profile is extra advantageous, however it’s a pleasant choice to have for TV and flicks.
The Xbox wi-fi headset’s battery life isn’t spectacular on paper, particularly in comparison with the greatest gaming headset on the market proper now, though it has improved over the earlier mannequin. It clocks in at round 20 hours from a full cost, which is sufficient to final greater than a whole day. You’ll need to plug it in additional steadily than even one thing just like the Pulse Elite, however on no account is that this prohibitive. To make up for that, the Xbox wi-fi headset prices very quick, roughly getting 4 to 5 hours of battery life from a 30-minute cost when it’s not getting used.
Xbox Wireless Headset – Sound Quality
When it involves sound high quality, there isn’t a lot distinction between this new model of the Xbox Wireless Headset and the earlier mannequin. And that’s effective, as a result of it sounded nice to start with. Out of the field, the lows are likely to get overshadowed by the opposite frequencies, however a little bit of tinkering with the EQ gave me a greater and extra balanced sound profile with robust bass. While it’s not going to stack as much as the wealthy element you’ll be able to hear in one thing just like the higher-end MetalSeries Arctis Nova Pro, for instance, this first-party Xbox providing nonetheless packs a punch worthy of its price ticket.
I’ve been utilizing the brand new Xbox Wireless Headset for the previous week when enjoying video games on my Xbox Series X, which has included STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Elden Ring, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Having already completed and reviewed STALKER 2, I went again to wash up remaining facet missions and poke round areas beforehand unexplored, and the eerie ambiance that’s supported by its audio got here via properly when exploring The Zone once more; rustling leaves, mutants grunting as they method, and gunfire from all instructions all sounded nice. Elden Ring has rather a lot happening at occasions, particularly in boss fights the place its booming orchestral soundtrack clashes with audio cues and voice traces. It could be overwhelming, however the headset dealt with all of it fairly properly, even when the audio felt a bit cramped.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 gave me an thought of the way it performs in a aggressive sense, which might get very hectic with explosions, gunfire, and enemy footsteps coming from all instructions. After numerous rounds of 24/7 Stakeout (tenting in vents and clearly listening to enemies sprinting in adjoining rooms), I spent a while in Search and Destroy, a mode with larger stakes. The headset is evident in producing essential audio cues that affect your decision-making in intense conditions
Microphone high quality was satisfactory however pretty subpar on the unique mannequin, sounding extra like a telephone name than a correct headset mic, so it’s good to see a slight enchancment right here. It doesn’t stack as much as what you get on the Beyerdynamic MMX 300/330 Pro or HyperX Cloud III, for instance, however the added readability at the least makes you sound higher than the everyday particular person cursing up a storm in a Call of Duty foyer.
There’s a way of spaciousness that additionally contributes to readability and the general sound high quality on the subject of headsets, and also you are likely to get this from headsets with larger drivers, particular tuning, or an open-back design. There is a definite distinction in how higher-end headsets create a roomy soundstage versus blaring audio immediately at your ears. But regardless that I discover this distinction between tiers of audio gear, the Xbox Wireless Headset nonetheless offers a stable sound expertise that impresses contemplating its asking worth.
