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

Wireless headsets are usually a little heavier than their wired counterparts as they require batteries for power.  Even though batteries aren't exceedingly heavy, they are relative to a headset.  However, SteelSeries have managed to keep the weight of the 7XB down to a reasonable level even when batteries are installed.

The Spectrum 7XB features a closed-cup earpiece design which provides better noise isolation than other types of earpiece.  As a result, most ambient noises are blocked out completely for distraction free gaming.  The Spectrum 7XB is fitted with leatherette earpads out of the box which are a nice premium touch.

SteelSeries also include padding on the headband to improve the comfort level.  The earpads fit over your ears, pressing against your head to stay in place.  When fitted properly they remain secure, even under vigorous movement, and the earpads only press lightly against your head, meaning they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

When it comes to performance, the stand out feature of the Spectrum 7XB  is SteelSeries' ExactSND technology.  At the push of a button, we are able to select between three profiles which are optimised for different uses.  In ‘Performance' mode, the sound balance is optimised for directional sounds, footsteps and gunfire, making it ideal for FPS gaming.

To test the Spectrum 7XB in performance mode, we loaded up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Gunfire was rendered accurately without drowning out background noises like footsteps and the general experience was noticeably more immersive than the 5XB.  There is a reasonable degree of sound panning for a stereo headset but this isn't as good as the dedicated surround sound headsets we've reviewed in the past.

SteelSeries have also configured an ‘Immersion' mode for gaming which is designed to optimize environmental noises and game music.  This mode is ideal for racing games which have totally different audio requirements to FPS games.  We found that this mode did enhance the experience when playing Forza 3, but not quite to the same level that performance mode enhanced Call of Duty.

When watching movies and listening to music, it's recommended that you switch the headset to ‘Entertainment' mode.  This increases the bass level of the headset slightly and enhances environmental sounds, making movies even more immersive.  While an increased bass level isn't favourable for all types of music, we found that all of the tracks we listened to using the headset sounded best in ‘Entertainment' mode when compared to the other two modes.  For those who don't appreciate all the different sound enhancement modes, there is also a normal mode which doesn't have any sound enhancements.

We did encounter an issue with the Spectrum 7XB when we turned the volume switch on the wireless receiver unit up to the maximum level.  This created some bass distortion with the headphones when they were set at any volume level.  This won't be an issue for most people, though, as the headphones will be more than loud enough for most people without the wireless receiver unit turned up to maximum volume.  In fact we would say even at 75% on the wireless receiver unit, the Spectrum 7XB is noticeably louder than the majority of headsets we test.  We have raised this issue with SteelSeries and may report back if we can aquire another sample to confirm.

The uni-directional microphone that SteelSeries include with the Spectrum 7XB is pretty much identical to those we've seen before on their products.  Like the 5XB, the Spectrum 7XB features SteelSeries' LiveMix technology which automatically increases the chat volume and decreases the game volume when team-mates speak, making them easier to hear.  This works very well and we would highly recommend using it if you purchase the headset.

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