Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset review

A new generation of consoles means a new generation of official accessories. We've seen it from Sony's side with the PlayStation Pulse 3D wireless headset, but now Microsoft is getting in on the action. The Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset has a simple name and a simple premise: it's a gaming headset that uses Xbox Wireless.

However, many gaming headsets use Xbox Wireless. Is this one somehow a best buy? p>

Who is the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset for?

The players

who own Xbox consoles, duh.

People who need a helmet p>

that works wirelessly across multiple platforms.

What does the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset look like?

When the mic is hot, a white light shines at its end.< /p>

If gaming headsets that use

Xbox Wireless

have one thing in common is that aside from being easy to use with an Xbox, they're a pain to use on other platforms like PC. In this regard, the Xbox Wireless Headset is perhaps the best headset to use this connection method, for several reasons.

This is a

wireless gaming headset

< p>Built for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It's a little heavy for an all-plastic helmet at 310g, but it's not so heavy that it causes any issues. The Xbox Wireless Headset is comfortable enough, but it doesn't necessarily start out that way. The ear cushions are thick and covered with soft leatherette, which allows a

decent tightness

, but the headband is very tight. The first time I used it, the tension gave me a slight headache after an hour or two. After a few days of constant use, it either loosened up or my head got used to it, and the discomfort was gone. Regardless, expect a break-in period if you have a slightly larger noggin.

The Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset feels pretty tight at first.

However, getting used to using the helmet does not require the same adjustment period as wearing it. If your Xbox Wireless dongle or Xbox is turned on, the headset will automatically pair without issue. It also features a host of built-in controls that are very easy to master.

The circular side panels of the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset function as buttons to control game/chat balance and headset volume, and the headset also features buttons for pairing and microphone mute along the lower edge of the left helmet. It's all pretty well spaced out and the two buttons are very different, so it's unlikely you'll accidentally click the wrong one. the

microphone

isn't very adjustable, but it picks up sound cleanly without any issues.

Like pretty much every other gaming headset that uses Xbox Wireless, this one works with an app that lets you tweak a few settings and get an accurate battery reading.

Plus, if you're playing on PC, this headset

supports one app

. The app

Xbox Accessories

is designed to help you with settings for using the Xbox Controller with a PC, but it also offers a limited set of features for the Xbox Wireless Headset. You can use the app to switch between EQ presets, adjust mic monitoring volume, and even check battery level. The game/chat balance feature doesn't work very well on PC, but this headset still offers a much better experience than others

Xbox oriented gaming headset

as the

Razer Kaira Wireless

and

LucidSound LS50X

How does the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset connect?

You must purchase one of these dongles separately to use the Xbox Wireless Headset on PC.

Like other Xbox Wireless devices, the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset is designed primarily to connect to Xbox consoles without a dongle through the Xbox Wireless Connection standard. All you have to do is connect to your console and you're off to the races, just like plugging in a controller. However, if you're a PC gamer and have decided that this headset is for you, you'll need to purchase an Xbox Wireless Adapter, which costs around $25. It's been the status quo for a long time now, but it's still ridiculous to have to spend so much money just to let your headset work wirelessly on your computer.

However, this Xbox gaming headset is a bit less crippled by its connection method than most, offering a few alternative options if you don't want to pay the dongle toll. For starters, the headset supports wired audio through its USB-C port, so you can plug it into your PC to charge and keep using it. The headset also supports

Bluetooth connections

, using firmware 4.2. It only supports the

SBC-codec

, so you've won. It's not high quality sound on any platform, but it'll do.

How is the battery?

These are fairly easy to use commands. p>

According to Microsoft, the Xbox Wireless Headset can last up to 15 hours on a single charge, but in our testing it far exceeded that. At a constant output of around 75dB (SPL), these headphones lasted 19 hours and 18 minutes, which isn't the longest battery life on the market, but nothing to sneeze at. However, it is one of the few gaming headsets that can transmit wired audio through its USB-C charging cable. take on your PC.

How is the game with the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset?

As the name suggests, it is designed for Xbox.

Connection flaws aside, the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset offers a pretty solid experience. Once you break in the headset enough, it's comfortable enough for long gaming sessions, although still quite tight. The large headphone volume knob makes adjusting your sound on the fly a breeze, perfect if you're doing something you can't pause.

The headset handles the mix of orchestral music and hectic playing. sound of

Final Fantasy XIV

on PC without any problems, and everything is the same when clearly playing a shooter like

Apex Legends

. The headset doesn't offer much in the way of bells and whistles, but it does support Windows Sonic surround sound

, both here and everywhere else.

< p>How does the Xbox Wireless Headset sound?

Extra bass boost is typical of gaming headsets, but this one (cyan) is quite intense.

The Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset offers fairly average sound for a

gaming headset

, with largely accurate high-end sound and greatly boosted bass and midrange. The increased midrange output means no one's voice will struggle to come through, but high-pitched sounds can sometimes be quite difficult to hear in bass-heavy moments.

In the classic King Crimson

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset review

21st Century Schizoid Man

the

bass and saxophone

playing when the song transitions to a faster tempo almost completely drowns out the guitar, which isn't exactly a background instrument. In songs with a less pronounced bass sound, you shouldn't have as much of a problem.

In the game,

frequency responses

like this do

rumble

explosions and gunfire considerably louder than they otherwise would be. The higher-pitched and piercing elements of these sounds should still come through clearly. This increased midrange response should ensure that dialogue or players via voice chat don't get totally lost amid the din of battle. Basically, you shouldn't have any problems most of the time, but you might struggle to tell the difference between sounds when things get really choppy.

Nothing really remarkable here.

This helmet offers

insulation

pretty average isolation for a gaming headset. It's not amazing, but it's probably not really necessary either. Mitigation like this should help with the

snoring

refrigerator or the sound of footsteps from an upstairs neighbor, but not much more than that.

How is the microphone?

The large discs on the sides of the headset are analog, not digital, so they don't interact with your operating system's volume control.

The Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset actually has a decently accurate microphone

for a gaming headset

. It still attenuates the bass sound, but not as much as most gaming headset microphones. You should have no trouble getting a call loud and clear, no matter how deep your voice is. Listen for yourself:

https://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Xbox-Wireless-Headset-mic-sample.mp3

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