****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
The Sound Blaster X H7's are my first pair of gaming headsets. So I don't have anything to compare them to. I use these with my Xbox One and Alienware 15 laptop. I bought these because I wanted great 7.1 surround sound and these were better priced then other options I was considering.Xbox One - I use these with the "ASTRO Gaming MixAmp Pro TR for Xbox One - White" I picked the Asto amp over the Creative Lab G5 amp because the G5 amp does not support comms for Xbox One. I was a little nervous because in order to get the 7.1 surround sound on pc or laptop, you have to use the USB cable and download the Creative Lap software. The mix amp I use does not have a USB connection (3.5mm only) nor can you download the Creative Lab software onto Xbox One. You need to use the 3.5mm cable that comes with the H7's. However, the sound and surround sound with this setup is excellent. I don't know how it compares to the surround sound on my laptop because I don't have any pc games yet that can use it. The Astro mix amp itself, gives you great sound with surround sound. The only thing I don't like is, to get a healthy sound through your headset, you have to turn the volume on the mix amp and headphones almost full blast. So just shy of max volume on both you get great sound. I've been playing The Division and it sounds incredible in surround sound.With the Alienware 15 laptop, I downloaded the Creative Labs software, which by the way you can only get if you register your headset. Once you register your headset, they will send you a link by email. I had to ask for this from their tech support because I just could not figure out on my own where to get the free software advertised with the headset. You have to use the USB connection for 7.1 surround sound. If you use the 3.5mm connection you get just basic sound and the software goes off. The sound is really good. I don't have any games yet that fully utilizes the 7.1 surround sound. My only gripe is much like the Xbox One connection, I have to turn the volume up really high to get a healthy sound. I've been playing Wasteland 2, Unreal Tournament "Pre-Alpha" XCOM and Mirrors Edge.The sound quality with both setups is really good. I'm really pleased with these and will not be replacing them anytime soon. My only real gripe about this is 1- Not as much Bass as I would want but just enough, and 2- having to register the headset and wait for an email to get a link to download the software. I also needed tech supports help not just to get the software, but to download it properly. Creative Labs IM Tech support was really good though. Again, these are my first gaming headset so that probably explains why I needed help.I definitely recommend these, especially with the Xbox One Setup I have listed. I found it really hard to find a good quality 7.1 surround sound or just great sound setup with gaming headsets for Xbox One. So this is a great option that works!p.s. These headsets are extremely comfortable! I play for several hours at a time and I tend to forget they are on my head. I don't get ear fatigue nor do they ever start to hurt. They are very very soft and comfortable. So if you are a gamer who plays for long hours and needs great sound and comfort, these are for you!Also, I don't use voice chat so I can't speak on its quality for comms.Like everything I purchase I research and research. Weirdly these do not have a whole lot of reviews on youtube like the Kingstons. I'm not an Audio phile but I do own 6 of the most popular headsets. Audio Technica M50/ Sennheiser HD 598/ Beats Pros and several others.......I am blown away with these! But let me say this one very IMPORTANT thing. You MUST have a portable DAC to get the real quality out of these or your wasting your money. These NEED power!!! Now some cons. The software needed to load your presets is a bit of a nitemare to load on your pc. The light version is easy enough to install but the drivers and the Sound Blaster X configurator has been very difficult to even download. I keep getting "No hardware recognized" and it will not let me finish the setup. I contacted support and hopefully they will help with this problem. Now PS4 I Bought these because I wanted to use them for PC and PS4. I hooked my Fiio E7 DAC up to my controller and WOW! I've never heard my games sound so PHENOMENAL!! BUT HERE'S THE CATCH, Using the Dac will cause you to lose your microphone. I spent at least an hour trying to get around thisPROS: 1 AMAZING SOUND) BASS + CLARITY 2 DESIGN AND BUILD 3 COMFORT 4 MICROPHONE CLARITY AND REMOVAL 5 DOESN'T HAVE TO BE JUST FOR GAMING 6 BETTER THAN THE ATH M50s and THE SENNHEISER HD 598 BY FAR 7 BEST HEADSET FOR PC HANDS DOWN!CONS: 1 PACKAGING IS CHEAP AND BORING 2 MUST MUST MUST HAVE A DAC AMP 3 SOFTWARE IS CONFUSING AND HARD TO DOWNLOAD 4 LOSS OF SOUND ON PS4 BECAUSE NO WAY TO USE DAC AMP 5 CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS LACKING 6 NOT A LOT OF INFO FOR YOU TO RESEARCH AND MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISIONUPDATE DEC 18TH LOVE THEM!!! Also I retract on my #4 on Cons! After Reloading the software to them I plugged them into the PS4 AND JUST WOW!!!!! I was playing MLB show 16 and let me say this. When I swung the Bat I could hear the bat actually cut air lol!!!! Not even kidding...........I couldn't be happier with this decision. My Beats, Audi Technica ATH 50's, Sennheisers, Astros, are ALL ON THE BENCH!!! Now I just purchased the Steel Series 840s wireless and Linus said they were the BEST he ever heard. I cannot wait to put them to the test, because Honestly I don't see it getting any better than these!!! BUY THE H7'S!!!!!!!! You will thank me! Merry Xmas to all!Any contact with the cable creates a sandpaper sound in the headset. So, all other considerations, which are fine, are undermined by the horrible sound created by the textured cable rubbing against anything.The sound quality was quite tinny and also muddy. Not what was expected for this brand. The item was returned and a Logitech purchased instead.Sound quality was good though both sides have broken away due to poor quality of the plastic. I previously had another pair of sound blaster headphones for over 10 years so for these to break so quickly is disappointing.Paired with a sound blaster z sound card it gives you max fidelityGreat sounding headset for budget but after returning first set still can’t use mic on new ones
