If you've bought yourself a new Xbox Series X/S gaming console you'll want a top-notch headset to go with it so you can better experience the banter while playing FIFA, or whichever game is your favorite. The Penrose X Wireless headset for Xbox from Audeze boasts a removable mic, up to 15-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, and Planar Magnetic drivers that offer premium audio with a ton of handy features, and we've been fortunate to spend some time with the headset that costs $299/£299. So join us after the break for our Audeze Penrose X gaming headset review.
Design
Right off the bat, you can see that the Penrose X headset is aimed at the gaming segment with its black build and neon green accents. It's a bold look with the Audeze branding showing proudly on the top of the cushion, but one that suits the purpose. Some might complain about the plastic construction materials but this is meant as a gamer's headset, which could result in it being treated a little rough when the inevitable rage-quit episode occurs. Thus, it needs a more robust build than is found on the Audeze LCD-1 headphones which are aimed at audiophiles, not rowdy gamers.
The outside of the cups sport a patterned design and while the right cup is unblemished, the left cup houses all the necessary ports, buttons, switches, and control wheels. The inside of the cans sports memory foam inserts and an artificial leather covering that results in a soft touch, there's also a nice little padded section on the section that rests on top of the head which helps add a touch more comfort.
The Fit
The Penrose X headphones offer a tight, tight fit. As someone with a relatively large head, the initial fitting was too tight for comfort. It applied pressure to the sides of my head that wasn't terribly pleasant. But, after flexing the headphones gently a couple of times, the headset was much more comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. Despite being comfortable to wear after the flexing, the headset stays in one place even during the most intense gaming session. You'd probably have to wear them in a mosh-pit to get them to fall off your head.
Ports and Controls
All the controls, ports, wheels, and buttons reside on the left cup, which includes the following:
- Mute Button
- USB-C Charging Port
- 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Button to choose between Bluetooth, Wireless, and Aux connections
- Slot for Detachable Microphone
- 1 Wheel to control In-game Volume
- 1 Wheel to control Microphone Gain
Sound Quality
This is the crux of the review and I'm glad to report that the Audeze Penrose X headset offers an incredible gaming experience, whether you are gaming or watching a film. Crisp sound with even the smallest details such as someone's attempt to sneak up on you or the bullet that just missed you in CoD are able to be heard, and you can adjust the in-game chat to best suit your gaming experience by pressing and scrolling the headset volume wheel. Extra loud during high-paced games so you can hear who's just gotten themselves fragged or softer when playing quieter games. The sound is immersive, it lets you truly experience the game audio in the minutest detail, bringing an added dimension to the title.
If you find that the default audio settings aren't to your preference, you can open up the AudezeHQ app on your phone to adjust the sound. The app will allow you to fiddle with the equalizer, adjust the sound mix, and even install firmware updates on the headset.
If you are into game chat then you'll want to connect the detachable microphone that comes with a little boom filter in place. You'll need to find the best position for it in order to get the best results which can take a little patience. Once in place, the mic stays in position until you accidentally bump it or detach it on purpose.
Notable Features
As mentioned, by pressing and scrolling the headset volume wheel you can control the veracity of the in-game chat, while double-pressing the same wheel will connect you to the last Bluetooth host device, which is pretty handy. Pressing the power button while the headset is switched on will result in playing audio or answering and ending calls while double clicks will activate the Bluetooth pairing process. A long press will begin the dongle pairing function and you can alternate between Wireless, Bluetooth, and Aux connections by pressing the power button a single time.
The Penrose X headphones connect to both Bluetooth and wireless simultaneously, with the included 2.4GHz wireless dongle helping to cut latency and keep everything synced perfectly. The dongle has the option of being used on the Xbox or a PC which gives you options in terms of device choices. The Penrose X headphones work with the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, as well as Skype, Zoom, and Discord.
Conclusion
The Penrose X headset isn't what one might call cheap, but its premium price is well served by the immersive audio experience it provides. I've mostly used them with the Xbox Series X and they have added a new facet to my gaming experience, the sound of the car squealing around the corners or the explosion that is way too close is a joy/terror to behold. You can hear your friends making weird noises as you eviscerate them online, and even FIFA's generally lifeless commentators sound a little better.
Coming back to the $299 price tag, Audeze has once again come up with a winning headset, so long as you remember to flex it a couple of times before use and have patience when positioning the microphone. The build quality is superb and perfectly suited for the target market, and you'll struggle to find a gaming headset that comes close. In my estimation, Audeze's Penrose X Headset will raise your gaming experience to a whole new level.
Audeze Penrose X Gaming Headset | $299 |Amazon
