The headset’s Dolby Atmos support (which allows for more accurate positional audio) allowed us to get fully immersed in the forest of Niwen, as we could hear birds chirping from all directions and make out tiny details such as an enemy splashing around in the water in full clarity. Microsoft’s headset really shone when we played Ori and the Will of the Wisps, an atmospheric, Pixar-like platformer with sounds that are as striking as its visuals. Moreover, sounds such as the kick of an assault rifle or the explosion of a grenade had a satisfying oomph to them. When playing titles such as Halo 5 and Gears 5 on Microsoft’s headset, we could easily pinpoint where enemy footsteps and gunfire were coming from - a crucial audio detail for those looking to get the drop on their opponent. The Xbox Wireless Headset sounded great with just about every game we threw at it, giving us a competitive edge in shooters and allowing us to soak in tons of environmental details in immersive single-player games. Great overall gaming sound - with some caveats We’re big fans of the Xbox Wireless Headset’s minimalist approach to controls, though a button for switching between sound presets (which we’ll get to later on) would have been handy. Pairing was also painless, as we were able to connect to our Xbox, phone and PC within seconds. The dials are a great touch, and we found them much more intuitive than the often tiny volume knobs tucked between a sea of buttons on many gaming headsets. There’s also a power/pairing button and a mute button for when you don’t want your Call of Duty teammates to hear you munching on snacks. The Xbox Wireless Headset keeps things simple with on-ear controls, taking a page out of the Surface Headphones 2 playbook with a large rotating dial on each ear - one for adjusting overall volume, and another for adjusting the mix between game and voice chat volume. Thanks to its lightweight 11-ounce design and thick foam ear cups coated in artificial leather, we had no issue wearing Microsoft’s headset for an entire day as we bounced between playing games, taking calls and jamming to music. Still, comfort is what really counts when it comes to a gaming headset’s design, and the Xbox Wireless Headset delivers that in spades. We’d also love to see a white version to match the sleeker Xbox Series S. Our only major gripe with the Xbox Wireless Headset’s design is that it looks absolutely massive on our head - this is not a headset we would wear out in public as our daily headphones like we would with the much sleeker SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless. This all-black headset is accentuated only by two rings of green on each ear cup, highlighting its handy on-ear dials for adjusting volume and game chat on the fly. Like the Xbox Series X console that it’s inspired by, the Xbox Wireless Headset has an unassuming design built to blend into your gaming den or home office. If you want something sleeker, the Arctis 1 Wireless is worth considering. How it compares: The Xbox Wireless Headset is similar in price and functionality to the $99 Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 and $99 SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, but only Microsoft’s headset has Bluetooth for pairing to your console and phone at the same time. This way, you can listen to podcasts and take calls while still hearing the sounds of your favorite games. What you need to know: Microsoft’s new gaming headset delivers impressive audio within a very comfortable design, but the real standout is its ability to pair to your Xbox and phone at the same time. Who it’s for: The Xbox Wireless Headset is for Xbox and PC gamers seeking an affordable, good-sounding gaming headset that also plays nice with smartphones. Is the Xbox Wireless Headset a must-have for Xbox gamers? Here’s what we think after several days of working, playing and chatting with it strapped to our head. And that’s on top of the fact that Microsoft’s new headset sounds great for games and is comfortable enough to wear all day long - all for an enticing $99. Now, we’re not trying to encourage you to zone out during an important meeting to play some Halo, but being able to have a single headset for work and play without having to constantly reconnect any devices is a huge boon. That’s because in addition to instantly pairing to your Xbox, it can also sync up to your phone or PC at the same time to let you take calls or listen to podcasts while you game. The Xbox Wireless Headset just might be the ultimate gaming headset for a work-from-home world. Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account
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