E3 2011, Ear Force XL1, Ear Force XP500, Hardware — June 7, 2011 at 11:53 am

Turtle Beach Unveils XP500 with Wireless Tech for 360 Plus Economical XL1

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We had some hands-on time with the PX5 during CES earlier this year. We were really impressed with the high-quality look, feel and performance of Turtle Beach’s premium headset.

Today the company announced two new headsets. The first is the Ear Force XP500 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset, the Xbox 360-focused companion to the PX5 which was aimed mainly at PS3 users. This baby comes complete with everything that made the PX5s so great including true Dolby 7.1 Surround sound, programmable custom presets and Bluetooth technology for wireless chat over Xbox LIVE. Both the Ear Force X41 Headset and the new PX5 Headset used a single wire to connect the devices to an Xbox 360 controller. The was the only wire to deal with but apparently still one wire too many. Anti-wire purists should be thrilled with this new unveiling.

“The PX5 pioneered a new generation of headsets that recalibrated people’s expectations of what a gaming headset can be.” Said Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO of Turtle Beach. “With the release of the XP500, XBOX 360 owners can enjoy the super-premium gaming experience they have been waiting for, complete with wireless chat.”

Key features and user benefits of the Turtle Beach Ear Force XP500 include:

  • Customizable Presets: Configure up to 18 personalized presets to optimize game, chat, and microphone audio for different gaming situations. Download the Advanced Sound Editor software and make your own presets, or simply upload any of the numerous custom files posted on the Turtle Beach website.
  • Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound: Immersive 360 degree audio lets you hearthe direction of every sound as if you were playing with speakers all around you
  • Digital RF Wireless Game Sound: Uncompressed wireless digital audio signal delivers CD-quality game sound that rivals professional grade wired headphones
  • Xbox Chat Adapter (XBA): For the first time, play XBOX 360 games untethered and chat without any wires using Bluetooth technology!
  • Dynamic Chat Boost: Chat level increases automatically as the game volume gets louder, so you can always hear the voices of other players
  • Microphone Monitoring: Lets you hear your voice in the headset, so you won’t need to shout to hear yourself
  • Sonic Silencers: Enjoy total silence by eliminating ambient noise pickup on your mic and cutting background noise from PSN or XBOX LIVE chat sound
  • Sonic Lens(tm) with Sound Field Expander: Widen or narrow the sound field to focus on difficult to hear audio cues like footsteps sneaking up on you or the clicks of someone reloading in the distance
  • Intuitive Voice Prompts: A real voice announces critical headset status conditions, such a low battery, preset numbers and more
  • Ear Guard with Blast Limiter: Limit the intensity of deafening games sounds such as explosions and gunfire to reduce ear fatigue during long gaming sessions
  • PS3 and XBOX 360 Compatible: Delivers the ultimate gaming experience with PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles

    • MSRP: $269.95

    Availability: Fall 2011

    URL: www.turtlebeach.com/XP500

    Ear Force XL1 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset

    Now if you can’t afford a $269.95 headset, don’t feel too bad. Turtle Beach is also offering a headset sitting snuggly on the other side of the price spectrum. The

    The Ear Force XL1 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset for the Xbox 360 is Turtle Beach’s go at providing an affordable headset for the casual gamer who still wants some quality headset sound without having to rob a bank.

    The headset comes with:

  • An in-line amplifier which features a built-in bass boost and independent controls for the game and chat volume.
  • 50 millimeter speakers, comfortable fabric mesh ear cushions and lightweight design, gamers will enjoy amazing audio fidelity and extreme comfort during long gaming sessions.

    • “Turtle Beach has always been obsessed with providing value and performance in the same package and the new Ear Force XL1 is no exception.” stated Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO of Turtle Beach. “This new entry level headset offers XBOX 360 owners all the features they need to enjoy a more immersive gaming experience, at a
    price that rivals the cost of a mono communicator headset.

    MSRP: $39.95

    Availability: Fall 2011

    URL: www.turtlebeach.com/XL1

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    Author: Video game journalist since 2006 and gaming since I was old enough to use an Atari joystick. Follow me: @Cam_is_16bit