Product Info:
Manufacturer : Plantronics
Compatibility: Xbox 360
Connectivity: Wireless w/ 2 AAA batteries
Price: $99.99 MSRP
Purchase Link:
Product Pictures:
User Pictures:
My Take:
As a gamer I usually don’t play multi-player often. Most times I play my games decently loud, but things like that tend to change when you become a responsible adult and have a significant other who wants to sleep. Plantronics was kind enough to provide us with a GamesCom X95 to test and I must admit that as a first time user of a dedicated gaming headset, I was definitely impressed. I used the headset for multiple functions -gaming, music and movies. During my gaming sessions, I liked that there was no crackling sound while talking to other gamers on Xbox Live and did not experience any lag or degradation of sound either. The crisp, clear sound was great. When watching movies, the stereo sound was not overwhelming and voices were again clear and crisp. This had been a concern for me going into the testing, since often times with some other headsets the mixture of sound becomes muddled. Also, the music quality via LastFM on Xbox Live was top notch. I did not experience any interference with any of my other electronics – and there are many. Setup of the headset was very simple and it was ready for use in less than five minutes. I did notice that the ears cups were somewhat warm over prolonged use. However, the warmth wasn’t actually from the headset itself but from heat in my room since it was 90-plus degrees in NYC today. The soft material used for the ear cups was comfortable, but I must say that if you sweat a lot they will get a bit damp – which I am sure over time will not make for a pleasant odor.
Pros:
- Clear stereo sound
- Easy setup
- Comfortable to wear over prolonged periods of time.
- Padded adjustable headband
- Light
- Folding noise canceling boom mic
- Independent volume for voice chat and game sound.
- Sturdy construction
Cons:
- Controller connector cord was slightly short
- Ear cups retained heat and became damp from sweat.
Recommendation:
As a sporadic gaming headset user, I found this headset to be perfect for my needs. I am sure some will gripe about the lack of 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound, but honestly, it did not detract from my experience. The $99 MSRP will also raise a few eyebrows, but for the level of comfort you do get what you pay for. We all know that MSRP prices vary and you can probably obtain this headset for less. Plantronics has always had a solid track record with phone and PC headsets so I knew I was getting a quality product. My Take Radio would like to thank Plantronics for letting us test out this kick ass headset.
