SteelSeries Spectrum 7XB Wireless Xbox 360 Gaming Headset

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The SteelSeries Spectrum 7XB Headset4. Comfort and Performance5. Conclusion6. View All Pages

With the Spectrum 7XB, SteelSeries have chosen to ditch the gloss black plastic lime green accents that featured on the 5XB.  Instead, they have opted for a more subtle patterned matte black finish for the earcups and standard matte black plastic everywhere else.  This may not look quite as exciting as the finish on the 5XB but it is much more tasteful and is likely to stand the test of time better.

In a similar fashion to the other high-end SteelSeries gaming headsets, the 7XB splits up into three separate pieces to facilitate transportation.  Please bear in mind that you will also have to transport the wireless receiver unit and Xbox Live Chat cable as well, adding to the bulk.

The Spectrum 7XB feels very well put together and reflects the high level of quality we've seen before from SteelSeries.  Plastic is used exclusively in the construction of the headset to keep the weight down to a minimum.

As the Spectrum 7XB is a wireless headset, it isn't possible to use an in-line control or the standard Spectrum AudioMixer that is present on all their other headsets.  They have integrated both into the headset itself.  The buttons to control the various functions of the headset are located on the back of the right earpiece.  From left to right there are volume up and down buttons, the power button, the ExactSND button and the LiveMix button.  In the centre of the earpiece at the bottom there is also a power LED.

The two AAA batteries must be installed into the right earpiece of the headset and are secured and hidden using a small flap.  We were a little surprised that SteelSeries didn't integrate a rechargeable battery, though, as it would save the cost and hassle of changing the batteries over every 20 hours.  Even the extraordinarily cheap Arctic Sound P311 Bluetooth headset we reviewed a while back had a built in rechargeable battery, so we can't imagine it would inflate the cost very much.

Those who want to use Xbox live chat will have to plug the headset into the controller using the supplied cable which fits into the bottom of the left earcup.  This cable has an attractive green and black pattern and uses a good quality braided shielding.  Where the cable plugs into the controller there is a small attachment which has a microphone mute button on.  We think this is a much better location than on the earpiece because it can be accessed much more easily when gaming.

Like all other SteelSeries headsets, the Spectrum 7XB has an ‘invisible' microphone which is stowed in the left earpiece when not in use.  The flexible boom lets you position the microphone perfectly for your mouth so you can achieve the best performance.  Unlike the microphones on some headsets, it stays completely out of view when extended so isn't going to distract you.

Setting up the 7XB is a very simple process that only takes a couple of minutes.  To set up the wireless receiver unit we just have to plug it into our Xbox 360 using the USB cable and into the TV using the 3.5mm audio cable.  For those who don't have a 3.5mm connection on their TV, there is an RCA adapter included which lets you connect the headset directly to your Xbox 360.  Then it's a simple matter of inserting the batteries and powering the headset on, no pairing required!

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