LucidSound LS35X headset review: Xbox wireless audio perfected

LucidSound has put out a range of high-quality headsets over the years, but there was a drawback that often frustrated the experience. That ends with the LS35X, which is closer to perfection than other headsets I've reviewed.

This is without a doubt, the best wireless Xbox One headset you can buy today.

LS35X design, comfort, and construction

The LS35X nails design so succinctly, it's hard to find anything to complain about. Utilizing dark materials throughout, the LS35X sports a familiar design for anyone following LucidSound's design conventions over the years. Metal connectors give a sense of robustness missing from all-plastic competitors, and the on-ear dials and controls are intuitive and responsive, giving you access to volume, power, and sound mix at your finger tips.

The microphone can be detached at will and comes with a handy red LED to let you know whether you've muted the sound or not using the on-ear controls. The headset also comes with baked-in mic monitoring, which gives crisp feedback from your own voice to help you regulate your own volume levels. It'd be nice to be able to adjust the volume of the mic monitoring, but I found the default level to be acceptable.

As for set up, the LS35X is largely pain free. Users have been urged to update the firmware via a Windows PC before proceeding on Xbox One, as the firmware shipped in the box can reportedly cause issues with the wireless signal. It's quick and easy to update it via an included USB cable (also needed for charging), and once you're sorted, pairing with your console or compatible Windows PC wirelessly is as easy as pairing a controller. Hit the pairing button on your headset and, you're pretty much ready to rock. On Xbox, not only does it pair up instantly, but it now also shows the battery life of your device alongside your controller on the Xbox dashboard, which is incredibly useful.

Perhaps the most awesome aspect of the LS35X's design is the cooling gel the company has used directly in the ear cups. There are a few headset manufacturers out there that include cooling gel, but LucidSound's generous application makes the LS35X feel like a cut above.

With the fine fabric and memory foam combined, the LS35X is incredibly pleasurable to wear, almost to the point of making you want to wear them even when not using them for audio. It's like a massage for your ears.

LucidSound has tweaked the design of the ear cups too. Gone are the circular channels found in previous efforts, and we now have a more natural oval shape instead, which should give even larger ears plenty of breathing space.

In terms of construction, design, and comfort, there's simply nothing to complain about here. LucidSound already had a winning formula, but the LS35X feels like perfecting those leading standards.

LS35X audio experience

The LS35X sound experience is certainly up there with the better sound profiles in contemporary gaming headsets. The bass is deep and punchy, and the highs are crisp and accentuated.

Playing games like Battlefield V, and Hellblade, both of which benefit immeasurably from positional audio, the LucidSound LS35X provides the same sort of tactical advantages and rich, immersive experiences you get with any quality high-end headset. It provides a solid sound scape for music and movies as well, although the audio can be a bit leaky at higher volumes if you ever planned to use them in a public place.

Another place the LS35X delivers big is in the microphone. The detachable mic arm is highly flexible, but still suitably rigid to help you get the exact position you want. Although the mic monitoring volume can't be configured, the default volume is clear enough for you to be able to hear yourself. Where the mic excels most is in its general quality, which beats most headsets I've tested in recent times by a considerable margin for its clarity and noise-free experience. You could probably use this headset for podcasting and content creation, the mic is that good.

With updated firmware, the wireless signal doesn't interfere with the sound quality at all, either on PC or Xbox One. Once you've paired it with your Xbox, a compatible PC like the Surface Book 2 15-inch, or via an Xbox One wireless USB dongle, it will remember the connection until you move it to a new device. The range also seems to exceed its listed optimal distance, it allowed me to continue a Skype call despite moving into another room. I have a seriously congested WiFi field too, with all sorts of wireless devices in a compact space.

The overall sound experience isn't as impressive as some other headsets out there, perhaps. The sound stage isn't as broad as some of the better wired headsets out there, and at higher volumes, the highs and base notes can suffer from distortion and crackling. Although even as someone with gig-damaged hearing, the maximum volume on this headset is far louder than I'd consider comfortable (which you may enjoy if you prefer or need louder headsets). At a normal volume level, the sound quality is very good, though, and more than delivers on its price point.

The bottom line on LS35X gaming headset

All things considered, there's really nothing I'd consider a deal breaker here. The sound quality is excellent, the mic quality is exemplary, the cooling gel-infused earcups are sublime, and the outward design and construction are top-notch. The price point, at $180, is also reasonable, with great battery life and tremendous Xbox One integration, with one-button connectivity and on-screen battery notifications.

Pros

• Rich sound experience.
• Flawless wirelessness.
• Supreme comfort.
• Great battery life.

Cons

• Minor distortion at high volume.

While the sound perhaps isn't as impressive as some other gaming headsets out there, the difference between them is incredibly negligible to the point of subjectivity. This is as close to flawless as a headset can be, and is an example to be followed. You will not be disappointed (as long as you update that firmware).