Here at games.on.net we recently found a Sennheiser-brand bassinet on the doorstep, occupied by their two new Xbox 360 gaming headsets – the X2 and X320. I’ve been asked to take a look at the two of them, weigh up our options, and decide which one deserves our love.

Straight off the bat here, let me just say I’ll be reviewing these from the perspective of an average user, not an expert-level audiophile - the most preference I have when it comes to sound is that the best setting for bass is ‘on’. With that in mind, I sat down to compare and contrast the two, alongside the Microsoft-branded basic headset that came packaged with my 360. I’ll break down the comparison below in some arbitrary categories.

X320

Design and Features

Between them, these two headsets embody the two basic variants of gaming headsets – the one-eared headset, and the stereo headphones with mic. Both designs are polished and clean-cut, with no unnecessary frills. The one-eared X2 has a volume control and mic toggle set on a small control node along the cord, while the X320 has these as well as bass boost and separate volume controls for in-game sound and chat. Where the X2 plugs in directly to your controller, the X320 requires more work – a USB power connection, and either audio out from the TV, or an in-between plug along your component audio cables.

Comfort

Let’s be honest, the Microsoft headset packed with older 360 consoles is just not comfortable - there’s a reason it’s a freebie. Normally I don’t have a lot of success with this style of one-eared mic headsets, as I find they either pinch uncomfortably or just seem to be the wrong shape. With that in mind, the X2 manages to be surprisingly comfortable even while following the same basic design. The mic sits at a comfortable distance from your mouth, meaning no fiddling with it to be heard on chat versus not actually swallowing the mic. When it comes to the X320’s design, the mic also sits at a good distance for use while the headset itself sits snugly around the ears, without clamping or causing you to overheat while wearing them – proven by my testing in 35-degree weather.

X2

Sound Quality

The sound quality of each headset is at a strong level, although the X2 can manage only so much using mono sound – even then, chat audio is crisp and loud enough to hear amongst game sound from the headset or TV. The clear winner here is the X320 though, with smooth surround audio, meaty bass and a maximum volume that will blast your ears apart. Even at full game volume, chat audio is distinct and clear over the top. I did have some issues with the X320’s audio dropping out, although this may be attributed to a worn audio jack on my controller – however, no such issue existed with the X2 or base model Xbox headset.

In summary, each headset has its merits – the X2 is good for a quality setup on a budget, but if you’re looking to invest in something higher-level, the X320’s the way to go. I’ll be happy to pop these on again for some Saint’s Row co-op – just as soon as my sense of hearing recovers from max volume.