Xbox 360 Wireless Headset

[pandemik]

hi all,

just wondering if anyone else has got one of the MS wireless headsets for the 360..?

I bought one today for on-line GoW etc, and have found the audio quality to be horrid - really bad feedback and noise on the headset, and also I find that other people only hear part of what I say when talking into it, or I only hear partially what other people are saying (break-up, audio drop-out, or really garbled-sounding).

There are patches of clarity, but these are few and far between. I have of course tried different wireless channels etc etc - but whatever I try, crappola.

From what I have read on other forums, and at Major Nelson website, seems like general consensus that there is quality issues with at least some batches of these (if not most), and pending a "fix", it is best to avoid these headsets (unfortunately I went out and bought it before reading

Just wondering if anyone else on here has had either a good or bad experience?

Cheers

[Gino]

I've heard similar findings, and is why I've held off purchasing one yet. Thanks for the reminder/heads up again

[????]

Don't have one myself, but have a mate in America who bought one a week ago and raves about it. Have never heard any breakup or bad audio issues while talking to him - maybe you should swap for a new one and see if it helps?

[davep]

I believe there might be compatibility issues with certain wireless controllers. I think there are two types of controller, a glossy silver trim and dull grey trim... the glossy ones might be the issue... do youtube searches also, people have posted vids of these not working. I have a wired one.. but seeing as I dont have a Gold membership atm, I never use it.

[big_marcelo]

Just got one, received today... so will hopefully test later tonight... I thought you could still game online with the silver membership?

[pandemik]

well you can use the headset for anything, including just chatting, just so long as you are logged-into a gamertag/account. Level of membership doesnt determine whether the headset actually works or not - but to play on-line gaming via live (ie against players in different locations), you usually need Gold membership

I am using the head-sets in the same house (consoles are at opposite ends and on different levels), playing GoW etc via system link, so really no excuse for poor quality

I am going to give MS a buzz today, will let you know what happens

[pandemik]

wow - well, was just on phone to "MS" (who knows who is actually in the call centre), absolute waste of time.

I had to explain what system-link meant ahaha along with a lot of other basic stuff that they should already know, and they asked me the same questions over and over grrrr

(Obviously the ppl taking the calls have pretty much zero product knowledge, nor are up to date on current issues, such as with the head-set.)

*anyway*

After 35 mins (?!) of "discussion", I eventually got some RMA numbers out of them to send the headsets back to an address in NSW (Teleplan Service solutions?)

Have any of you gents sent something back to that mob? Any idea on turn-around times?

cheers

[davep]

have you tried taking it back to the shop first? swap it over for a wired one, or another wireless.

MS support is woeful. I had to explain to them that 1080p and 1920x1080 resolution DID exist a whole month after the fall update :| They have no product knowledge or awareness of issues at all.

[pandemik]

have you tried taking it back to the shop first? swap it over for a wired one, or another wireless.

yep will be doing this is the first instance (tomorrow), am just worried I'll get more headsets from same (bad?) batch - so just wanted a return-to-MS backup plan if I find that, once replaced, the headsets are still playing up.

or it could just be that its a crap product - but I have read some reports of "no issues" and "Crytal clear audio" - so... I live in hope!

the quality suggestion from MS today was "get closer to the console", when I told them I play 2~3m away, and these thing apparently support 30feet/10meters

cheers

[big_marcelo]

I hope you get it sorted out.... I connected everything today and had a quick look at Gears of War... need lots of time there... before I consider playing online... and I only have a silver membership anyway .....

but i'm hoping it will be fun .... nothing beats when I was younger playing at work after hours while having a couple of beers & pizza with about 8 other guys arorund the office.... shouting at each other through the partitions..... sessions usually lasted only from 6-8pm .... twice a month or so.. but they were fun.... I hope this kinda brings that back on live....

[pandemik]

okie dokie, well went to retailer and I have 2 new wireless headsets, had no issues or fuss getting replacements, which is a good thing

so will try these out, hopefuly all is okay!

will letcha know how I go

cheers

[pandemik]

okie dokie, well went to retailer and I have 2 new wireless headsets, had no issues or fuss getting replacements, which is a good thing

hi all

unfortunately not fantastic news to report - I think these headsets are just a bit average even when working correctly.

We found that a lot of the distortion and poor audio was due to feedback, between microphone of the headset and/or the gamings speakers and/or the speaker in the headset - we found that if the headset was turned up too "loud", and/or the game was too "loud", we had all sorts of horrendous feedback issues. So the headset being "loud" would be picked up by the microphone and would feedback between headsets - yuck yuck yuck

the headsets also appear to be voice-activated - ie, they only kick in once you start speaking, so some words are chopped off - but the headsets also activate if the volume of your gaming environment is loud enough (which of course it will be, when you are blowing stuff up) - and we found this ads to the feedback problem, too.

but even when we overcame feedback issue (turned down volume on headset, plus reduced volume of gaming speakers), whilst it certainly helped, and made the headsets useable, the audio quality was far from "crystal clear" (which is what I have read in a few reviews).

To me, "crystal clear" is, at worst, like you hear on a bluetooth headset, or your mobile phone or land line phone - and at best, like youd hear thru a pair of half-decent head-phones - well, one-sided headphones anyway

so not sure if I still have "bad" headsets (seems unlikely), or the headsets themselves are not all that fantastic.

was curious as to whether anyone has used the "wired" x360 headsets, and whether these are any better?

cheers

[davep]

i've had no problems with the Joytech wired one... doesnt have the e-cool points, but it works

[pandemik]

i've had no problems with the Joytech wired one... doesnt have the e-cool points, but it works

yeah I am thinking might have to go a wired one - just the fact that the microphone comes-around right near your mouth, rather than half-way along your cheek (although this should work properly anyway, grrr)

I noticed that the replacement wireless headsets that I got (from totally different stores) were all the same batch number as the original ones I bought - in fact, every wireless headset I saw on the shelves is from same batch, no matter which store. I am wondering if the crappy quality is due to an older batch. I might send my wireless headsets into MS, see if they send me a different batch.

Although this comment posted earlier by "????" gives me some hope!!

Don't have one myself, but have a mate in America who bought one a week ago and raves about it. Have never heard any breakup or bad audio issues while talking to him - maybe you should swap for a new one and see if it helps?

But if they still suck after sending back to MS, I'll go wired.

what are e-cool points? u mean like "cool factor"..?

cheers

[big_marcelo]

yeah I am thinking might have to go a wired one - just the fact that the microphone comes-around right near your mouth, rather than half-way along your cheek (although this should work properly anyway, grrr)

I noticed that the replacement wireless headsets that I got (from totally different stores) were all the same batch number as the original ones I bought - in fact, every wireless headset I saw on the shelves is from same batch, no matter which store. I am wondering if the crappy quality is due to an older batch. I might send my wireless headsets into MS, see if they send me a different batch.

Although this comment posted earlier by "????" gives me some hope!!

But if they still suck after sending back to MS, I'll go wired.

what are e-cool points? u mean like "cool factor"..?

cheers

Tried mine yesterday on one online game... not much conversation - but it was like a low end bluetooth headset.... the problem also on being voice activated, the other side misses the first few words you say I think ... but I could hear their side fine....

one problem for me, is that if I play late at night, I normally use my wireless sennheisers (excellent quality) - however with the wireless headset becomes cumbersome....

since I haven't done much online gaming yet... its ok ... I just hate cords these days!

[pandemik]

Tried mine yesterday on one online game... not much conversation - but it was like a low end bluetooth headset.... the problem also on being voice activated, the other side misses the first few words you say I think ...

yeah this has been my experience also - low end sums it up

I have sent mine back into MS, in the "hope" that perhaps there are differing batches, some perhaps with better components (not holding breath!)

will letcha know what happens

[MC DUI]

I've owned a wireless headset for about a month, I had to buy it as the last 3 wired headsets I've owned have all died on me.

In terms of sound quality I can notice no huge difference between the wired sets and the wireless one, maybe the volume doesn't go quite as loud but the difference is minimal.

Maybe I don't have my TV turned up as loud as you guys or maybe I don't talk as loud but I've had no trouble with looping voice or with my speach getting cut-off at the start.

Have you tried testing the set by recording a voice message? (That you won't send obviously)

I haven't ever had a situation when recording a message where the voice will come through late.

Only issues I have had with the wireless headset have been -

Sometimes the set will start making a buzzing sound over other people's headsets, I cannot hear the noise but they say it is happening, a simple power-down and power-up seems to fix the problem. This has only happened on a couple of occasions.

Second and last issue is the charging of the thing, with it being my only headset I've had a couple of gaming sessions where the headset has runout midway through (fairly long sessions mind you). Then you have trouble letting people know why you aren't talking back all of a sudden. (Especially hard to type text messages when you've had a few beverages!)

[pandemik]

I've owned a wireless headset for about a month, I had to buy it as the last 3 wired headsets I've owned have all died on me.

wow, thanks for posting - did not know that the wired headsets were so flakey!!

cheers

[bl0cka]

I have had a wireless headset since they were released and it hasn't skipped a bit on me. Apparently you turn the volume right up and then turn it down two clicks and all the feedback disappears? Seems weird but people used to say I was giving feedback and since turning the volume down two notches I've had no complaints.

[big_marcelo]

I have had a wireless headset since they were released and it hasn't skipped a bit on me. Apparently you turn the volume right up and then turn it down two clicks and all the feedback disappears? Seems weird but people used to say I was giving feedback and since turning the volume down two notches I've had no complaints.

will try that tonight ....

[pandemik]

I have had a wireless headset since they were released and it hasn't skipped a bit on me. Apparently you turn the volume right up and then turn it down two clicks and all the feedback disappears? Seems weird but people used to say I was giving feedback and since turning the volume down two notches I've had no complaints.

yep I found this made things sooooo much better - like... *heaps*

but even so, I found the quality to be pretty average - probably because I was expecting "crystal clear", but really got "low end bluetooth headset"

so I think i'll just have to get over it hehe

[pandemik]

yep I found this made things sooooo much better - like... *heaps*

but even so, I found the quality to be pretty average - probably because I was expecting "crystal clear", but really got "low end bluetooth headset"

so I think i'll just have to get over it hehe

hi all,

just an update;

I received my replacement wireless headsets from MS yesterday, and tried them out last night;

unfortunately, these are even worse than the previous set that I sent in - worse in terms of poor voice pickup, interference, drop-out, and general audio quality.

that is now the third try with the wireless headsets, so three-strikes-and-out - time to give the wired ones a crack I think

cheers

[davep]

You could try another brand of headset? I liked the look of the Powerwave one link but havnt seen any reviews. Its not wireless though.

[varvs]

hi all,

just an update;

I received my replacement wireless headsets from MS yesterday, and tried them out last night;

unfortunately, these are even worse than the previous set that I sent in - worse in terms of poor voice pickup, interference, drop-out, and general audio quality.

that is now the third try with the wireless headsets, so three-strikes-and-out - time to give the wired ones a crack I think

cheers

I was going buy the wireless one but they didnt have any stock to fill the empty display box on the shelf. I went with an MS wired one and its great. its much handier during gameplay because if you like having your stereo up loud you can flick a switch to turn the mic off and then turn it back on again if you need to talk.

Its very handy having your volume control and a mute button within thumbs-reach, rather than on the side of your head.

[pandemik]

I was going buy the wireless one but they didnt have any stock to fill the empty display box on the shelf. I went with an MS wired one and its great. its much handier during gameplay because if you like having your stereo up loud you can flick a switch to turn the mic off and then turn it back on again if you need to talk.

Its very handy having your volume control and a mute button within thumbs-reach, rather than on the side of your head.

okay cool, well Im going to take back the wireless thingies today, and swap for wired - so hopefully get a chance to try the wired version tonight

cheers