5.1 Audio

The X4 differs from some competitor's products, and even their own Ear Force HPX PC headphones, in that they only utilizes a single 50mm driver per ear, rather than multiple drivers per ear to recreate a 5.1 audio experience. Dolby Digital 5.1 audio in a home theater environment uses 6 speakers (two front, two surround, one center and a subwoofer), and Turtle Beach's Dolby Digital processing in their infrared transmitter recreates the 5.1 experience through the two headphone speakers. I was skeptical at first that two speakers could provide a convincing 360 degree soundstage, but after extensive use of these headphones, I can attest to the accuracy of the sound positioning. I've actually found myself using the headphones more and more during the day, as they do allow a more immersive gaming experience than my regular home theater setup. The sound quality is excellent and allows the user to hear all the subtle nuances in the game audio. I have not used the headset for music or movies, although based on the headset's performance with game audio, it should work equally well for other applications.

The wireless transmitter allows a digital optical cable to be connected directly from the Xbox 360 or other audio source, and then passed through to a receiver from its digital output. This allows the headphones to be used at the same time as a home theater receiver, or on their own, with the receiver muted. A separate analog RCA cable input can also be used for a digital cable box, television or other analog device. Although the X4 is designed primarily for use with the Xbox 360, it could further be improved by including an additional digital input for a DVD player or Blu-ray player to be connected at the same time, rather than requiring the user to switch digital cables when they want to watch a movie. One downside to the transmitter is that it must be turned on to pass the signal to an attached home theater receiver. Allowing the transmitter to pass the fiber optic signal through to a receiver without power, or to automatically power itself on when it detects a digital signal would be a welcome addition to future headsets. This improvement would no longer require the user to leave the unit on all the time or manually turn it on, and allow it to be better integrated into home theaters that are controlled with macro based universal remotes that turn the entire system on based on the desired activity.

Industrial Design

The X4 headset has been designed to complement the Xbox 360, and it matches the white color scheme of the console. The headphones are well designed, lightweight and comfortable for use during long stretches of gaming. The wireless transmitter works quite well, with upwards of 30 feet of range. The only downside to the infrared wireless technology is that it requires line of sight to operate, forcing users to keep the transmitter out in the open, rather than tucked away in a cabinet. Turtle Beach has addressed this concern with the X4's replacement, the X41, which now features a 2.4GHz RF transmitter, allowing for less restrictions on use.

The battery life easily achieves the 20 hours claimed from two AAA batteries, but unfortunately Turtle Beach has not included a battery life indicator. I experienced an issue after many months of use where friends could barely hear my voice, but the game audio was normal through the headphones. I was unsuccessful troubleshooting the issue through Turtle Beach's website, but soon after discovered that failing microphone volume is the first indicator of low batteries. If you are not using the microphone, consistent static in the game audio is the other indication of failing batteries. A simple battery life indicator would definitely be an improvement for future headsets, allowing users to easily determine when they need to change batteries. Turtle Beach has also addressed this concern with their new X41 headset, which will now operate normally with no degradation in audio quality until the batteries are completely dead.

Conclusion

The X4 headset is an excellent product for those looking for a competitive advantage in Xbox 360 multiplayer games, or a way to enjoy gaming, movies or music easily and without disturbing anyone in the household. The X4 headset has some truly great features that have allowed me to improve my gaming experience, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a headset for the Xbox 360. The X4's have now been discontinued and replaced by Turtle Beach's X41 headset, which has improved on the already great design and addressed some of the features that needed to be improved.

Matthew Shanks is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, based in Calgary, Alberta. His interests include photography, home theater, and gaming. He is happily married and recently welcomed his baby daughter to the family.

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