Ear Force X4

More on this product: review; specifications; compare; shop

Print
E-mail
Share

CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating

Average user rating:
Write your own review

Product summary

The good: Wireless headphones for Xbox 360 or any other audio source; effective 5.1 Dolby Digital processing; removable microphone.

The bad The bad: IR signal radius is a bit narrow; headphones do a poor job of noise reduction and isolation; headphones require two AAA batteries (included).

The bottom line: With their accurate 5.1-channel separation, the Turtle Beach Ear Force X4s are great surround-sound headphones for the Xbox 360--or any other home theater component.

Specifications: Type: Microphone External Boom ; Product type: Headset ; Design: Ear-cup ; See full specs

Price range: $169.99 - $199.99

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Jeff Bakalar
Edited by: John P. Falcone
Reviewed on: 08/08/2008

Wireless headphones have been around for a while, but it's only been in the past few years that quality has gotten high enough for discerning listeners to consider using them. Many manufacturers, for instance, have turned to infrared (IR) technology for wireless signal transmission, which generally offers better sound quality and hiss-free performance than radio frequency (RF) alternatives. Indeed, Turtle Beach opted to use this IR technology for its Ear Force X4 wireless gaming headphones. While the Ear Force X4s are designed with the Xbox 360 in mind--they include a removable microphone and connections for chatting on Xbox Live--the headphones will actually deliver convincing surround sound from nearly any home theater source, thanks to their built-in 5.1-channel Dolby Digital processing.

The Ear Force X4 includes two main components: the wireless headphones themselves and a base station that houses most of the necessary jacks. The base gives you the option of either using a digital audio connection or an analog signal via a set of stereo RCA cables (red/white). That means the Ear Force X4 will work with pretty much any audio source--anything with an optical digital output (such as a DVD player or the Apple TV) or standard analog line outs (pretty much everything).

The system boasts both Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II processing; the former handles the bit stream surround soundtracks on DVD movies and Xbox games, while the latter does a decent job of creating a faux-surround effect from any stereo source. The X4 transmitter base also has a line-in volume control allowing you to just adjust the level of the incoming source. Finally, the base also features a "bypass" button that will allow you to hear unprocessed audio.

Setting up the Ear Force X4s is fairly simple. For Dolby Digital processing, you'll use the included 7-foot optical cable to connect your Xbox 360 (or another digital source) to the X4's "digital in" port on the transmitter base. If you're also using an AV receiver and surround speakers, don't worry; the X4 has a digital out port for passing the signal on, so you don't have to constantly unplug and plug in wires whenever you want to play using the headphones.

When you power on the base and headphones, make sure you place the transmitter so that it points in the general direction of where you plan on playing. Because IR signal relies on line of sight, you may notice some static if you move around the room. In our testing, we were a bit concerned with the seemingly limited radius of clarity, but since you don't move a lot when you play games, you shouldn't be affected.

In terms of comfort and design, the Ear Force X4 headphones are a bit heavy on the head. While the ear cups and headband are cushioned and comfortable, they may feel a bit weighty over an extended period of playing time. On the left ear cup is where you'll find the controls and ports, including a volume adjuster, power button, bass boost, and the port for the chat adapter that hooks into your Xbox 360 controller. The left ear cup is also home to the flexible microphone boom. We really liked that the boom is detachable, as it can become distracting when not in use. The right ear cup is where you'll install the two AAA batteries. Turtle Beach includes a pair in the packaging and claims they should work for at least 20 hours, but we do recommend getting some rechargeable ones.

User reviews

Write your own review Be the first one to review Ear Force X4 and share your experience with the CNET community!

Submit your review

Ear Force X4

1. Rate this product:: (Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.): 0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.): 0 of 5000 characters; Submit