LucidSound LS35X Wireless Gaming Headset

PC gaming on an Xbox headset
The LucidSound LS35X wireless gaming headset may have been made with the Xbox console as its priority, but how would it fare when used as a PC gaming headset? Or as a headset used to listen to music or watch videos on the go? The perfect headset is one that not only looks great but is comfortable to wear and performs well no matter what platform it was intended to service.
Lifting it out of the box, I found the LS35X to be a little on the heavy side, but this is largely be due to its sturdy construction. The weight is evenly distributed, though, and I found that the weight of LS35X wasn’t an issue when wearing it. The sturdiness is ideal for those who like to travel with their favourite headset.
A nice pattern-stitched sponge gives the headrest a comfortable feel, even after hours of gaming. Much of the weight seems to be situated in the ear cups, which contain several the features of the LS35X. They have a swivel feature enabling them to be placed around the neck more comfortably when not in use. A soft leather-feel material surrounds the memory foam of the ear cups. As the cups cover the ears nicely, the impact of outside noise is noticeably reduced. I did find that they get a bit sweaty whilst gaming in a warm Melbourne afternoon, but generally stayed reasonably comfortable even after an extended gaming session.
Cool features
Like many sets, the ear cups contain the volume controls, but with the LS35X, the controls are featured on a dial that surrounds the outside of the left ear cup. It works quite well and is less touchy than other volume controls. A press on the outside of the left ear cup mutes the audio. Doing the same on the right ear cup, mutes the microphone. The ear cups also contain the wireless connection button, the power button, a microphone jack, a charging slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Connecting the 3.5mm jack into the headset and the other end into the PC, the LS35X acts as your standard wired headset. It does an adequate job, although I did find that the volume was not as powerful as some of other sets I have tested. Whilst gaming, I had to often turn the volume right up in order to hear those vital footsteps of someone creeping up on me.
Wireless
Setting the headset up for wireless access, was a bit of work though. No doubt, when using an Xbox console, this is a simple process, but when doing so for a PC there are a few more steps involved. Firstly, PC gamers are required to have Xbox Wireless built in or an Xbox Wireless Adapter to be able to utilise the Wireless feature. For those with older systems, this could become an issue. The wireless feature has a range of about ten metres. It also has a battery life of around 15 hours when in wireless mode.
Despite the less than ideal volume quality, the overall sound quality was more than adequate in a range of scenarios. When gaming (the main purpose for our review), the LS35X provides crisp sounds with its Amplified Surround Sound. The detachable boom mic also works well, allowing clear communication with teammates. The LS35X does have an in-built mic as well, but I found the quality of the boom mic was much better.
When using the headset on a mobile device to listen to your favourite tunes or to watch your favourite shows and movies, the volume controls located within the ear cups are disabled, and although the sound quality is great, the volume must be adjusted via the device.
The Verdict
The LS35X would no doubt be a great headset for those gaming on an Xbox, but for those gaming on a PC, or using their headset as an all-rounder for on the go music and video streaming, there are better options out there. Sure, the sturdy build quality is a major plus, as is the comfort, but as a PC headset, I found the volume quality a little disappointing compared to other PC gaming headsets. The wireless feature is great, but the setup is tedious for a PC. The LS35X also looks stylish, the position of the volume controls are great, the detachable boom mic works well, and it all comes with a carry pouch to keep all those bits and pieces together. These are all nice touches that has this set rank high on my list of headsets, but not at the top.
Score: 8.4/10