Final Thoughts
Performance-wise, you really do get what you pay for with 5XB. The unidirectional microphone ensures that you don't pick up noise from other parts of your room, so you can quite happily play music loudly and know that you won't end up crackling down the end of other people's headsets or deafening them with your techno beats. Sound quality is crystal clear, and the cups drown out any noise around you well, allowing you to focus fully on the game and not the nagging of the other-half who just wants to watch Eastenders. I've been testing the Spectrum 5XB out regularly for the last six weeks on Xbox Live and it's become my headset of choice due to the excellent sound quality and performance of the AudioMixer. I've also made a few Skype calls with it. Though the sound quality has been superb in calls, it is quite annoying that the length of the cable that runs from the cup into the headphone jacks on the PC isn't particularly long. This may not be a problem for some, but when my PC case is right under my desk, I need a fair bit of cable so it reaches my ears comfortably. The 5XB only just reaches my ears, but it feels a little tense. if I push my chair back it just doesn't reach at all. Even in my usual sitting position, I soon developed a stiff neck because if I moved my head upwards the shortness of the cord would pull it back down.Nonetheless, though it would have been nice to use the headset comfortably on my PC too, the SteelSeries 5XB Headset is perfect for Xbox 360 gaming. Not only does it perform very well, but it feels reassuringly comfortable on the head, and offers some great features. With the wireless Steelseries Specturm 7XB due for release shortly, which has more features than the 5XB, it may be worth waiting to see what the difference in price will be between the two headsets, and whether the next iteration receives such critial acclaim as the 5XB. Considering the Spectrum 5XB is SteelSeries first attempt at creating a headset tailored specifically toward a console crowd, it’s clear that it’s done its homework and knows the Xbox 360 audience very well. From the light-weight feel of the head-set, to the comfort of its XL cushioned cans around the ears, the 5XB feels nice to wear and looks the part. Sound and build quality is superb and the ability to control audio and voice controls independently is a real winner for those gamers who spend long nights embroiled in multiplayer skirmishes. In that respect, SteelSeries and the Spectrum 5XB has all bases covered to ensure an impressive, game-enhancing performance over Xbox Live.
