Over the past few weeks the boyfriend and I had the chance to try out the Turtle Beach XL1 headset. Despite the fact that we have different gaming styles, his more on multiplayer games with friends and mine a solo adventure, we both got an excellent experience.
The Turtle Beach XL1 XBOX 360 headset is the perfect entry-level headset for gamers looking for immersive game sound and crystal-clear communication at a great value. With premium 50mm speakers and oversized circumaural ear cups, the Turtle Beach XL1 delivers superior audio quality and extreme comfort.
First I will start the pros of the XL1 headset. It is INCREDIBLY immersive. Not only does the sound from the game play in the headset but so does the gamer chat if you happen to be in one. Whether you are playing “BioShock,” “Call of Duty,” or even just an arcade game such as “Toy Soldiers,” every little sound will come through crystal clear.
The headset features a quick access to independent game and chat volume controls as well as a built-in bass boost feature that adds depth and realism to the game audio. These capabilities enhance the gaming experience and surprisingly increases the depth of videos. As a test, I watched a show on Netflix (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to be exact) with the headset on and it sounded better than when the sound comes through the television.
*Please note that you will need to connect this headset to the stereo outputs from your TV or audio receiver for game audio and use the Kinect® for game chat with Xbox One.
One of the biggest pluses of the headset is how conducive it is to gaming without people in the room. As a girlfriend I can vouch for how annoying and frustrating it can be when trying to read, work, or even sleep while someone else is gaming. Thanks to the XL1, the boyfriend can game all night while I sleep and I don’t hear a thing. And even better, he has a glorious gaming experience at the same time.
Even though the boyfriend and I LOVE this headset, there are some cons. The wires are very bulky and cumbersome. If you have a choice, I would recommend springing for the wireless version. I cannot count how many times I tripped on the wires and my cats raced through them causing the XL1 to go flying.
Also, I am a tiny lady. I found the headset to be a bit bulky. The ears were far to big for mine and even on the smallest setting I looked like a fighter pilot. But by no means does this mean I will not use them.
The Turtle Beach XL1 Headset is on sale now for $39.99.
