Gadgets and Video Games

Headsets for Xbox Live are a dime a dozen these days, so is it worth it to spend the extra cash on a third party headset? We recently took a closer look at Plantronics’ Gamecom headset lineup (the Gamecom X10, X20, and X30) and found that it boils down to personal preference, style, and sound quality. Here is what we determined about the three headsets within this lineup:

Gamecom X30

 

The Plantronics GameCom X30 for the XBOX 360 and XBOX has a sleek design to set you apart from the hum drum average headset. This is a single in ear headset that incorporates style, comfort, light weight, and crystal clear audio, which is great for those long gruesome hours of butt kicking trash talking and smashing of your opponents on XBOX Live. Plantronics has also accented the headset with the XBOX green for your viewing pleasure.

I have personally tested this headset on XBOX Live with some of the folks over at Xbox Solution and if it were not for the occasional taunting coming through the ear piece, I would not have known that I was even wearing it. I decided to ask my opponent how I sounded, his reply was that I sounded OK. Up to this point I was impressed, so I started looking for something bad about this headset. I decided to test the noise canceling feature. I turned my stereo up quite a bit and continued to talk for a bit. I then asked if he could hear my stereo, and his reply was he could slightly hear it when we were not talking. All throughout the conversation I heard no crackling or hissing whatsoever.

MSRP: $39.95

Product features per manufacturer, not word for word:

Hot New Design! Industrial-strength hipness
Noise canceling microphone
Extended flexible boom
In-line volume and mute
Supple ear melding design

Pros:

• Superb sound quality
• Very comfortable
• Cool Design

Cons:

• A bit pricey for an Xbox Live gaming headset.

Gamecom X20

 

Next up was the task of checking into the Gamecom X20 headset, the one that I prefer out of the three. The main reason I like the X20 a bit better is because it suits my style a bit more, its a simple, sleek design that resembles a cross between a bluetooth headset and the standard fare in Xbox Live headsets. The boom can be adjusted slightly, so it can be pointed a bit more towards your mouth than you might expect from the image.

So I swapped headsets while I was in my PGR 4 race lobby and began to fire up a conversation. I was very impressed with the sound quality and the noise canceling feature. I performed the same tests as I did with the X30 – neither my opponents nor I could really tell the difference between the two mics, leaving me wonder why the X30 costs more. Although I must admit, the X30 does feel a bit more solid than the X20 does.

MSRP: $24.95

Product features per manufacturer, not word for word:

Ultra light, discreet design
Noise canceling mic, single earbud, flexible boom
Inline volume and mute controls

Pros:

• Sound quality is good
• Slick, minimalistic style
• Boom is flexible for aiming (so to speak)
• Inline volume and mute controls

Cons:

• I bit of a tight fit in the ear, could lead to discomfort over several hours of gaming, although it was fine for me

Gamecom X10

 

Lastly, I tested the Plantronics GameCom X10 headset. The headset was very comfortable, yet it resembled the XBOX 360 stock headset too much for me, aside from the black color.

I conducted the same series of tests on the Plantronics GameCom X10 as I did with the Plantronics GameCom X20 and X30. To tell you the truth, I walked away with almost the exact same results from all three headsets in regards to sound quality. The X30 may have a slight edge based on feedback from fellow players, but probably due to easier positioning of the microphone.

Initially I was not too impressed with the X10 headset because of the style and bulkiness. The GameCom X10 is an over the head style and has the XBOX green accents. This headset also has a noise canceling microphone and an in-line volume and mute. The X10 features an extendable boom.

MSRP: $24.95

Product features per manufacturer, not word for word:

Over the head design
Single ear design with plush cushioning
Extended boom
In-line volume and mute
Noise canceling microphone

Pros:

• Superb sound quality
• Very comfortable
• Noise canceling microphone

Cons:

• Too bulky for me
• Lacks style 

Xbox Live Headset Conclusion

In conclusion, all three headsets have great sound quality and are very comfortable. The X10 is really similar to an original Xbox headset, with the over the head design and cushion earpiece. The X20 and X30 are both in ear headsets, and both feel very comfortable. The sound quality on all three headsets is excellent, so it really boils down to preference and price. If people are always asking you to speak up then grab the X30 so you can position the mic easily, unless you don’t like an in the ear style (then speak up or see if the X10 gives you better results!). I would recommend all three of these headsets, just choose a style that suits you. You can get more information from the Plantronics website.

Tags: Gadgets, Games, headsets, Internet, Online, Plantronics, Video Games, Xbox, xbox 360