KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
The GameCom X40 is quite comfortable to use when gaming provided that you adjust the headband correctly. Sure it's not on the same level as the SteelSeries Siberia V2 PC headset but the X40 is about half the price so reasonably we have to expect some compromises.
Plantronics have used fabric-covered pads on the earpieces which are more comfortable to use for long periods of time than the leatherette pads we find on many headsets. They do pick up dirt and fluff quite readily, though, so don't expect them to look brand new and pristine for very long.
The GameCom X40's earpads fit around your ears and press lightly against the sides of your head to achieve a secure fit. We were surprised how securely they actually gripped; no amount of head bobbing could shift them out of position!
For our first gaming test we decided to use Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as it reflects the type of game that many users will be playing with their headsets. We felt the sound balance was perfectly suited to this type of game as we were able to hear ambient noises like footsteps clearly without being overshadowed too much by exlplosions and gunfire.
As we would expect with a stereo headset, soundpanning was limited at best in our FPS tests. We also tested the headset in Forza 3 in which engine sounds were reproduced accurately and clearly. We found the headset to be far too loud for our taste on maximum volume so we settled just above half way for the best results. But those who like to induce pain in their ears will not be disappointed! This headset doesn't feature any noise cancellation but when the volume is turned up to a reasonable level most background noises are blocked out.
