Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Top 3 xBox 360 Compatible Headphones Reviewed

If you've shelled out the cash for an xBox 360, you'll likely want to do everything you can to enjoy all of it's features to the fullest. Although the exceptional graphics are one of the key selling-points of this console, the sound card is also very powerful. Many game publishers have taken full advantage of this and include incredible audio tracks and sound effects in their games. If you don't have high quality xBox 360 compatible headphones though, you can't enjoy this feature to its fullest without annoying the neighbors. Here are reviews of 3 of the best sets you can choose from.Top Of The Pile: Pioneer Wireless Headphones Model SE-DIR800COnly for the true audiophile, these headphones provide the ultimate audio experience for any xBox 360 gamer. They have integrated Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, are wireless, light and run on two AA batteries. They are very simple to intergrate into your system too. Just plug them in, connect the coaxial or the red and white audio cables and switch everything on.These headphones really bring xBox 360 games to life. You'll hear the punches in the fight games and think you are getting hit and you'll find yourself looking over your shoulder when cars pass you in the racing games. They are that good. Furthermore, they also are the best headphones if you decide to play your DVDs through the xBox 360 since their extremem range reveals details in the digital audio tracks cheaper headphones miss.There are a few cons though. For starters, the price runs near $400. Furthermore, the line of site wireless range is limited - don't try to go around a corner into the next room with these on - the audio will drop right out. Also, if you're into live multiplayer gaming, you'll want to look elsewhere, since this headphone set does not sport a microphone.Best All-Around Wireless: Turtle Beach Ear Force X2 Wireless HeadphonesThe new Ear Force X2 headphones from Turtle beach are a reasonably priced headset/headphone combo. Although the sound response is not quite at the level of the Pioneer ones above, the fact that the run almost $300 cheaper, at around $99 per pair, makes them much more accessible to a majority of xBox 360 gamers. Players are reporting that this set also wears very comfortably making them perfect for extended game play. Although the wireless feature still requires you to maintain line of sight with the transmitter, you can still move around quite a bit without interrupting the signal.Another bonus is the extra audio cables that will allow you to use these headphones with the rest of your audio and home theater equipment, even when you're not using your 360.The chat audio and game audio are integrated, so you get full stereo audio - even while your communicating with fellow gamers if you are using xBox live. The sound quality still manages to pick up fine details such as gunshots, bringing the expected realism to the games, while at the same time manages to filter out almost all of the hiss and white noise that plague cheaper headphone sets.Tritton AX360 Surround Sound HeadphonesIf you're willing to sell out a few more dollars for high quality audio and still have communication functions built in, you can't go wrong with the Tritton AX360 surround sound headphones. The sound quality is almost as impressive as the Pioneers, but this is not a wireless headset. Of course, at only around $129.00 per pair, dealing with cords suddenly doesn't seem like such a bother. Each earcup has eight speakers and these reproduce true Dolby 5.1, so you get the full theater effect from your games. The microphone is easy to detach for when you're not communicating over multiplayer games and although these headphones aren't exactly lightweight, the cushioning provides plenty of support so you can game for extended periods without ear fatique. If you're intent on high-fidelty and still want a mic built in, these headphones are the way to go

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