If you play on Xbox Live a headset communicator is more or less a standard requirement these days. We take a look at the new Plantronics GameCom X30 and see what it's like to play with on the Xbox 360.
Headsets are pretty much a requirement for playing your Xbox 360 over Live for a number of reasons. First off, there is the need to return the trash talk - how frustrating would it be to have to sit there are take it silently while the person you just whooped in Project Gotham 3 starts with the yo momma jokes?
Secondly, there are the practical advantages, specifically talking with team mates while you plan your next attack in Ghost Recon, or giving them a pat on the back when they just single handedly won the game for you in Far Cry Instincts.
Finally, there is the friends aspect. Sometimes it's nice to just chat away randomly with someone over a quiet game of Billiards, or you might have even just kicked their butt in Fight Night - either way acquaintances are sure to be made.
So now that we sorted out the fact that we most definetely need a communicator for one reason or another, lets check out the GameCom X30 from Plantronics.
Features:
- Noise cancelling microphone
- Rotatable microphone boom
- Ear-melding design
- Single ear design
- Inline volume and mute control
- One year warranty
- Will also work with your Xbox (additional communicator module required however)
- Price: $29.99
Setup and FeelIn terms of connecting the headset to your Xbox 360 there isn't much to say really - just plug it in at the bottom of the controller. However that said, a bit of an explanation as to how the device sits, or more appropriately "hangs" off your ear is required.
As you will see from the picture above, the GameCom X30 isn’t your typical headset. While the boom and the microphone are pretty standard, the earpiece might be a little confusing. Instead of having something that wraps around the back of your head, or clips around the front of your ear, the X30 has a soft rubber piece that goes around the back of you ear.
This is combined with the actual earpiece itself, which is shaped kind of like a football, and is able to swivel a full 180 degrees. At one tip you have an opening for the speaker, and there is a rubber cover also. With the back piece and one half of the football shaped speaker fitted snugly into your ear, the whole device sort of just hangs there – you can hardly feel it, and there is certainly no pressure on any part of your ear or head. What this means is not only comfortable gaming, but also long gaming.
In terms of the actual design of the headpiece, Plantronics have done a good job and it will blend in well with your other Xbox 360 equipment. The colors are a mixture of white, silver and Xbox green and overall the look is visually pleasing.
Finally, there is the inline volume and mute control for the headset, which is roughly right in the middle of the 1 meter long cord. This allows you to adjust the volume of the ear piece, and also mute the microphone (always handy for when you are also talking to people sitting next to you). The controls seem to work well enough, although perhaps could have been positioned closer to your hands (i.e. closer to the controller).
