The Sennheiser X320 is the perfect headset for your XBox 360 Gaming
console that provides exceptionally clear audio and a whole wealth of
features to not only improve your gaming experience but give
you the edge while your playing online via XBox Live.
The first thing that you'll notice with the X320 headset (besides
the extremely long cable length... 4 metres to be precise) is the
exceptional build quality that was designed with gamers in mind.
It's quite a sturdy headset with a rather unique look that more
importantly feels very comfortable while in use and doesn't get too
hot on the ears either. The ear cups have been designed with comfort
in mind and definitely minimise outside noise as well.
Sennheiser have even kept
the design in line with the XBox 360 with its distinct green
metallic rings on the earpieces that matches the look of this
console well. The microphone boom sits on the left of the
headset and by raising the boom, it automatically mutes the
microphone which is definitely a brilliant idea while gaming.
Installation of the X320 was a breeze and it simply connected into
our XBox 360 (USB) and our FULL HD TV with another connection
for the controller for the Live feature and we had no issues
whatsoever. The product is compatible with the Microsoft XBox 360
Composite A/V Cable, HDMI Cable, Component HD A/V cable and VGA A/V
Cable. For newbies, the connectors of the
headset are coloured, ensuring a relatively hassle free installation
but just be warned, it is a little messy due to the XBox 360
architecture.
Once
connected, I promptly loaded Battlefield 3 on the console and was
pleasantly surprised at the audio quality of the headset as I
heard the sounds of war around me. Sliding down the boom, I engaged
in a healthy dose of competitive play on XBox Live as I attempted to
talk my and sometimes shout my way to victory. If the volume of
the players around you or the game is unbalanced, this can be
adjusted thanks to the dual volume control. I found this feature
quite a useful feature in maximising the audio levels of both the
game and your fellow players. From Need for Speed to Max Effect 2,
the headset worked a treat with all games and even movies.
Technical Details
When I compared my standard XBox headset to the X320, their was a
marked improvement of the microphone quality. This comes down to the
pro microphone and with its noise cancelling technology, it captures
your voice clearer without all the background noise disturbances. Now if only more XBox Live
users had these headsets, we wouldn't be inundated with poor audio.
As mentioned, the audio quality of the headset is quite impressive
thanks to its low noise amplifier that removes and reduces much of the
background hiss. I remember one moment in Battlefield 3 where there
was no sound at all, it was eerie silent and then I heard that
bullet whizz pass my head. It was one of those "wow" moments. Explosions also sounded amazing as well,
thanks to the bass boost of this headset which went BOOM! This was
one good headset.
Final Level
For a recommended retail price of $199AUD, Sennheiser X320 is
definitely a very affordable headset and more importantly offers the end
XBox 360-user decent audio quality and some great features for XBox
Live. Add in a
2 year warranty and you have everything you need to help your
victory streak.
