As is common with most Microsoft peripherals, the build quality on the wireless unit is faultless. It feels solid and very stylish too. The front of the headset includes a silver power button, with the volume controls on either side. There is a mute ability on this headset that isn’t mentioned in the manual by the way. Simply tapping the on/off button once during use will mute your microphone. A second tap enables it again. You should hear an audible beep to confirm this.
The rear of the headset is where things get interesting. You have four small numbered LED’s, and a sync connect button exactly like the 360 Wireless Controllers. Upon using the unit for the first time, you’ve got to synch it to your 360 just like any controller by pressing the sync button. The four numbered lights will tell you what quadrant on the 360 your headset is occupying.
The back of the headset features 4 small numbered lights and the connect button. The numbered lights are associated with the ring of light on the front of the 360. Whatever number is lit will tell you what quadrant you are using on the system. And the connect button will allow you to sync the headset to the system; this has to be done when you use it for the first time. So for example if your controller is occupying quadrant 2, then the the second LED will also light up to tell you that it’s now ‘connected’ with that controller on quadrant 2.
In Use
I’ve only had the chance to test this unit on one game so far as I’m writing this review an hour after I’ve received the headset. Wearing the headset was very comfortable, for the most part you could end up forgetting that it’s actually there. I wandered outside just 10mins ago to pick up the Saturday morning paper and only just realized that I had the headset attached to my ear at the time! Because it is light, it is quite hard to notice it still attached to your ear.
My first test run of the headset was in Call of Duty 3. Upon jumping into the game one thing was quickly apparent. This thing is loud! Voice chat from the other gamers is quite loud and very clear – a huge improvement over the standard 360 wired headset. I haven’t had a chance to get anyone’s opinions on how good the microphone is yet, simply because no one is awake at this time! I’ll have to wait until I do a Gears of War co-op session with me good mate Pr to find out.
A great feature of this headset is that it integrates into the 360’s Dashboard just like any other wireless 360 peripheral. At any time you can check the battery gauge for your wireless headset which is located on your Xbox Guide panel (press the globe button on controller or remote).
Conclusion
A top bit of kit. This should be included as standard in the Xbox 360 Premium package to be honest, as it already comes with a wireless controller, as well as a remote. A wireless headset would be a great addition.
Microsoft have once again made a superb quality product. It’s robust and very stylish and does the job perfectly. After a lengthy gaming session I honestly cannot see the headset being uncomfortable at all unlike the standard one, because you can’t even notice it attached to your ear. My only wish would be that Microsoft should have allowed us to charge the unit from one of the many USB ports on the 360, instead of giving us an AC adaptor. Sure it would charge slower, but it would look less stupid too having a great big adaptor for such a tiny device.
One bit of essential advice. DO NOT go to the toilet with this thing active…
Pro’s:
Comfortable, Robust and Stylish!
Over live, you can hear players with remarkable clarity
Wireless, no hassle and no fuss
It doesn’t require a controller to be connected.
Cons:
Yes another AC Adaptor!!
It’s so small that you could lose it.
Theres a massive number of issues with the unit. See Here
The microphone is so sensitive that it can pick up a fart…
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