SteelSeries 7XB 360 Headset Review

SteelSeries 7XB 360 Headset Review

Installation

The primary benefit of the wireless design is the simplicity of installation and the reduction of cables it allows. You can use the supplied RCA adaptors to intercept the standard signal from a component cable or you can just use the 3.5mm jack and take off the headphone port of your television. Given that nearly all HD TVs have a headphone we’re using that method today.

So the USB cable goes in the front of the 360, the 3.5mm cable goes in the TV, and with the batteries in place in the headset and the headset plugged into your controller, you’re ready to go. If that sounds achingly simple it’s because it is.

SteelSeries 7XB 360 Headset Review

Conclusion

The SteelSeries 7XB performs very well indeed.

Audio reproduction is excellent. When we reviewed the 7H a fortnight ago we were astounded by the clarity of the audio across the whole range. Bass was tight and deep, mids were clear and the highs were smooth.

The transition from a standard type of headset into one designed for wireless gaming has been handled perfectly by SteelSeries. Often when you change the purpose of a product away from how it was originally conceived, a little something gets lost in translation. The 7XB most definitely doesn’t lose anything. The audio is as brilliant as ever.

Comfort, despite the little extra weight brought about by the wireless technology, remains outstanding. You really could wear these all day, even if you wear glasses, without having any strain at all.

The LiveMix works well at helping your team-mates instructions, or your victims whines, cut through the cacophony. Equally the ExactSND definitely makes a difference when watching movies, an area that some gaming headsets with their mid-range focus don’t perform so well in.

Finally the wireless is very good indeed. With so many items being wireless these days there is always the worry that you’ll get crossed signals or lose connection at a vital moment. The 7XB has none of these problems with the signal remaining rock solid throughout all of our testing.

There is however a price to pay for this convenience. The cheapest we can find the SteelSeries 7XB is around the £140 mark. Now whilst the 7H is a bargain at £70, the 7H for iDevices about right at nearly £100 given the premium Apple products always command, this is heading towards ‘expensive’. Sure it’s got Wireless which naturally incurs an extra expense but this is twice the price and we’re just not sure the convenience is worth paying double the standard headset.

Let there be no doubt, it IS brilliant. If you want the very best XBOX 360 headset, this is it. In a ‘money is no object’ world everyone should own a SteelSeries 7XB. If it was my money though I’d put up with the hassle of the few extra cables and a small reduction in sound quality and get the SteelSeries 5XB for £60.

Even with that hefty price-tag the SteelSeries 7XB is an exceptionally high quality product with great comfort, ease of use and most importantly sound reproduction and deserving of our Silver Award.

   

Thanks to SteelSeries for supplying the 7XB for review. Discuss in our forums.