Since the days of Xbox 360 (i.e. it’s been a decade and a half) and its then-innovative single-ear wireless headsets, the gaming headset market has been completely transformed. The ubiquity of those headsets was a major boon to online gaming until then reserved exclusively for the PC world.
But with the advances made in terms of online gaming by the Xbox 360 itself and all the consoles that have succeeded it, inside or outside Microsoft, the headset has become a must-have accessory. Aspects such as the wireless component have become standardized to the point of almost becoming the norm. However, not since that long ago single-ear headset had Microsoft made a wireless release again.
Xbox did have an official wired headset, which accompanied Xbox One for most of its life. And of course, Xbox consoles’ compatibility with all sorts of third-party accessories has been facilitating the proliferation of wireless headset headsets, but until now none came with the official Xbox label. Now, Microsoft is launching its such item: Xbox Wireless Headset.
Xbox Wireless Headset Technical Specifications
| Xbox Wireless Headset | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 312 grams |
| Connection | Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, HFP, HSP) |
| Battery Life | Up to 15 hours |
| Response Frequency | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Charge | USB type C Charging time: 3 hours |
| Extra Features | Automute Adjust volume (right) and mix (left) on headphones.App for equalization, auto-mute sensitivity and monitor microphoneWireless update |
| Virtual Surround | Supports Spatial Sound technologies such as Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone: X |
| Price | $99.99 |
Cutting-edge Sound Technology
Aesthetically, this new headset is very close to what the wired Xbox headsets were, although the lines and design are more modern (tending towards the circular, like the details of the external appearance of the new X Series and S Series) and the polyurethane ear pads seem to cover the ears more. On the technical side, Microsoft wanted to take care of the sound with technologies that include Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X in search of a precision-oriented especially to video games and their needs in terms of audio.
Among the most notable features, Microsoft highlights the beamforming technology that differentiates the audio of the player’s voice and the background sound, which helps the microphone to give priority to the former. An auto-mute (a feature that can be disabled) automatically mutes the microphone when the player is not speaking, which helps keep the chat channel clean. An indicator light warns when the microphone is active, and of course, the mute option can also be activated at the user’s choice.
All of this is controllable via wheels on the headset that modify volume and mix of chat and game sounds. Of course, the device works not only with the new X Series and S Series but also with Xbox One and PCs with Windows 10. The headset also allows Bluetooth connection to connect, for example, with a phone and have a conversation while playing. Xbox Wireless is still used for Xbox and PC to keep latency low.
The headset can be controlled in more depth with an app that allows you to equalize the sound, adjust the sensitivity of the auto-mute and monitor the microphone, and also wirelessly will be updated with possible new features. As a last detail, the battery charge is completed in 3 hours and its use reaches an autonomy of 15 hours.
Versions and price of the Xbox Wireless Headset
The Xbox Wireless Headset will be available for the moment only in black for $99.99. For now, it is available on the Microsoft Store.
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