Ear Force X3 Headset: Chat + Wireless Game Audio, for Xbox 360

by Turtle Beach VG

Product Features

• Stereo Expander to provide a wider sound field for richer, fuller sound
• Bass Boost - just like turning up the sub-woofer on a home theater system.
• Automatically adjusts incoming Xbox Live chat levels during loud game moments, so chat from teammates isn't lost in exciting parts of the game play. When the game volume quiets down, the chat level smoothly returns to the normal volume setting.
• The headphones are designed for long battery life and will automatically shut off
• Microphone monitoring - lets gamer hear own voice along with other chat

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000VHY3GO
• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Media: Accessory
• Release Date: August 20, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,524 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #67 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Hardware > Headsets

Product Description

With Xbox 360 Wireless Headsets you can pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family or neighbors. Wireless Xbox 360 gaming headsets allow you to freely move around as you play. Hear every nuance of the game - from an opponent sneaking up behind you to your teammate¿s voice right next to you. Trash talk online & Block out distractions at the same time. The Turtle Beach Ear Force X3 wireless xbox 360 headsets are everything you need for an amazing gaming experience.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best headphones to date for Xbox Live game play. Period., December 26, 2007

By 

Tom Diederich "Opportunity is limited only by... (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Ear Force X3 Headset: Chat + Wireless Game Audio, for Xbox 360 (Accessory)

I play combat games for the most part: Call of Duty 4, Halo 3 ... but others, too -- like Rock Band, which as you might guess can also get LOUD.

My wife hates the noise. That means I need headphones for game play. And I've tried/tested pretty much all of them, including the earlier versions of Turtle Beach (wired and wireless, like the X2) as well as many other brands, like the Tritton True 5.1 Digital Audio Headset with AX360 Audio Xtreme 360.

Until the Turtle Beach Ear Force X3 Wireless Headphones (which I got for Christmas), my two favorite were:

* the Turtle Beach EarForce X2 (wireless)

* The Trittons (wired)

Both of the above had pros and cons.

The pros of the X2s was that they were wireless and had decent Xbox Live Chat capabilities. The pros of the Trittons was the fantastic sound quality. There are 4 dials for sound alone! If you don't play games that require Xbox Live, these are fabulous headphone. They use an optical sound cable. Fab sound quality.

Cons of both the X2 and the Trittons: depending on the game, is that it can be hard to clearly hear your teammates during the heat of battle -- even in the lobby if there is default game music playing (in Call of Duty 4, there is no user option to turn this music off).

You also can't hear yourself talk -- both of your ears are covered, naturally, so when you talk, you tend to get LOUD because you can't hear yourself. Your own voice is muffled.

Turtle Beach Ear Force X3 Wireless Headphones for Xbox 360 solved this problem. Now you can "hear" yourself talk. Much like when you are on the phone, you can hear a little bit of your voice through the earpiece part of the phone.

The wireless base station is also MUCH smaller than the X2's base station. Which was huge mainly because it was designed to needlessly hold the headphones when not in use.

Pros of the X3s:

* Set up takes about 3 minutes. Plug and play.

* The earphones are comfy -- even on my big, adult head

* Wireless

* Can "hear" yourself talk through the headphones

* "Bass boost" option mode (a switch near the volume)

* TWO volume dials: one for overall gameplay, another for Xbox Live chat. For example, I love Call of Duty 4, but you are unable to turn off the lobby's default music in between games. With the other headphones, I had trouble hearing folks. The X3s enable you to dial down the music altogether -- so you just hear the chat in the lobby.

* Mute button

* Surround sound is good ... you can tell where the bad guys are coming from

CONS:

Sound quality is good -- but not amazing. But remember that these are wireless. The wired headphones have a bit of an advantage in overall sound quality.

Tip: With the Turtle Beach X3s, unlike ALL of the other headphones, under the "voice" personal options 360 menu, select the default "Play Voice through Headset" and not "both headset and speakers."

You are going to love these headphones.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Headphones With ATTITUDE!, February 9, 2008

By 

Amy E. Santos "High-Maintenance" (State of Perfection) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ear Force X3 Headset: Chat + Wireless Game Audio, for Xbox 360 (Accessory)

My son plays a lot of LOUD war type shooting games on his xbox 360! I was a little uneasy about purchasing this because of some of the negative reviews that are posted here. I'm glad I went ahead and got them! I don't think he's had them off for more than ten minutes since they arrived!

A very good gift idea. If you're tired of hearing LOUD games or your child/husband "yelling to himself" just to hear what he's saying during a game, than these are definitely the answer...lol There are two volume control knobs that help with that. There is one for your voice and one for the game that you are playing...genious!

As for not playing near a plasma TV. I have to disagree, we have one and they work perfectly. I also did a little research and found out that the X4's are due out this April, which is only about two months away. However, they are more expensive. I have to say that for the price, these headphones really can not be beat.

He hasn't had any background static or white noise. Just crystal clear sound. Plus, I don't have to hear Call of Duty 4 or Halo 3 (Not to mention my son screaming over the background to talk with his friends on line). These are great for Xbox Live AND they are WIRELESS so no need for even more cords behind your TV and the signal to them is perfect!

This has to be one of the best investments I've made so far this year. I'd definitely recommend these to anyone looking for a great set of headphones.

54 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do Not Buy If You Have A Plasma TV or HDMI XBOX 360, July 9, 2008

By 

Daniel Rayburn (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Ear Force X3 Headset: Chat + Wireless Game Audio, for Xbox 360 (Accessory)

While reading the manual to setup the X3, I find out that the manufacturer says that these don't work well with plasma TVs due to IR distortion. Would of been nice to know that BEFORE I ordered it. While the manual gives "suggestions" on how to reduce the feedback, none of them work. Also, if you connect your XBOX 360 via HDMI, DO NOT BUY THESE. You have to have a "premium" XBOX 360 with a special HDMI cable with a dongel in order to use this. Otherwise, you have to do audio out of your TV or get rid of your HDMI connection. Again, would of been nice to have known about this BEFORE I bought it.