In past months we have seen some very impressive products from the likes of Logitech and Plantronics, and now we get to see a similarly great product from Turtle Beach – the Ear Force Stealth 420X.
The 420X is made specifically for the Xbox One. And it’s properly wireless – of course, any headset that plugs into the Xbox One controller is sort-of wireless, because it doesn’t connect to the console, but this one doesn’t need to hook up to the controller either. That means no need for a headset adapter (along with its uniformly dodgy controls). It also means a better battery life on the controller, because no juice is being sapped by a headset. And it means, most of all, great chat and game audio, without a single wire.
The unit connects to the Xbox One via a plug-and-play USB dongle (so it does cost one of the Xbox One’s three USB ports). Once it is paired (which it should be right out of the box) the headset delivers extremely good audio for up to around 15 hours on a single battery charge. Recharging is done via USB cable, right from the Xbox One.
All the controls you need are built into the shell of the right ear-cup. These are independent game and chat volume, as well as a mic mute function and a button to cycle through the 420X’s four included EQ presets. Finding the right preset makes your audio a dream, with thundering bass and crisp, clear mids and high tones. And if you want a bit more versatility, the right ear cup also houses a 3.5mm input which, with the included removable cable, can be used to connect the 420X to devices that use a 3.5mm jack (including another console that we won’t mention here…). Power is also toggled on and off on the outer side of the right ear cup, while a removable, positionable mic boom can be plugged into the left.
The 420X is sturdily built, with large over-ear cups that ate generously padded with a “vented” leatherette. The headband is also well padded, and the overall weight of the unit is fairly light for a wireless device.
The Ear Force Stealth 420X is a great option for Xbox One owners who want to keep their audio to themselves. With excellent battery life and even better audio delivery, it sits right up there with some of the best headsets we’ve seen recently. Its added versatility is a bonus, too, making it an extremely attractive personal audio device.
With great audio and a very good battery life, this headset will deliver everything an Xbox One gamer needs.
SPECS
- Wireless
- EQ presets
- 15 hour battery life
- Plug-and-play
- Independent volume controls
- 3.5mm cable