Hardwired: Turtle Beach XO3 Review

​Headsets are a must have for the modern gamer. With the accessory being so key to multiplayer gaming, recording, or just private sessions, there is naturally a ton of options out on the market. Well that’s what we started Hardwired for, to try and help narrow your search and give an edge of confidence behind your purchase. By reviewing gaming accessories, we can help give you an honest look at products like todays headset, the Turtle Beach XO3’s (or Recon 150’s if you prefer the PS4 centric variety.) Around this time last year, we were lucky enough to review Turtle Beach’s Streaming Mic, which was an awesome piece of equipment to have on hand. This time around we were once again lucky enough to receive a piece of press equipment, and once again I was not disappointed. The XO3’s are a sleek and affordable, quality over-the-ear headset. To make our Hardwired reviews a bit easier to digest, we break them down into important sections, so let’s start with the most arguably the most important aspect of a headset: Sound.
 
*Note: The majority of this review is based off experiences had on the Xbox One.
 
Sound Quality: Turtle Beach is a staple in the industry, and being so they are known for having quality products at a wide array of price ranges and options. The XO3s run for about $70 on most markets. At that price range, the sound quality is very good. You get very clear sound with enough thumping bass to keep it feeling lively and not dull. In those surround sound heavy moments, you will not get the crisp depth of a higher end, $120+ headset, but you still get some depth and the clear sound continues. In those cinematic moments, voices and music do not muddle each other, and every part remains distinct. This carries over into the multiplayer feedback for the most part as well. Voice feedback came in very well, and only in some extremely heightened action moments would your teammates be somewhat drowned out. This could be game specific though, and an eye needs to be kept on your mixer when playing on Xbox. Turn your party chat up more, and you should be in the clear.

The XO3s come with a detachable mic, which has excellent quality. For one, being able to take it off when not in use is a huge plus, that way there is not folding or having it sit in front of your face when not in use. It is also very flexible, which comes in handy for when it is in use. You can position it anyway that fits your needs thanks to this feature. My pals had no issues hearing me, and the quality is excellent for recording. I put my handy voice over work to use in the video below to display how good it is for content creators and streamers. Aside from a bit of dead air at the beginning (caused by Upload Studio, not the mic) it was crystal clear!
 
One additional tidbit is that if using on Xbox One, you can use Windows Sonic with these headphones to essentially amplify the surround sound like style of the headset. I tried it out and liked the difference in distinct depths, but not everyone may notice it.
 
Design: The style of the XO3’s is one of my favorites that I have come across of any headsets that I have ever owned or tried. It’s simple yet sleek, having a very sturdy head band and just as sturdy ear pieces. A lot of headsets I have run into before have had, for lack of a better word, floppy ear pieces. These ones are easily adjustable and pretty comfortable. The headband itself is wrapped in a faux leather and has a solid padding to it that sits well on big noggins like mine. The pieces that connect the earpieces to the headband are a bit cheaper in build, but have held up well. The headset is sturdy, which may cause some head fatigue for some, but it was nothing that bothered me in moderate play sessions. The headset is almost entirely black, with some green accents to feel out the Xbox centric side of things (navy blue trim is featured on the Recon 150s.) All in all it’s very well put together from end to end.

  Versatility: This specific set up was designed for Xbox One, but uses a 3mm jack so it can be used with your phone and nearly any device that supports the 3mm jack. I used it quite a bit on my Switch as well and found all of the sound quality to carry over there as well. It is as simple as that, so it’s really easy to buy with that in mind. The only issue I found was that they appear to take a toll on the battery from my findings. They crushed my Xbox One controller’s battery when it was at half capacity. I am not sure if others ran into this, but I suggest using with a wired controller or a rechargeable device when possible to not waste AA’s.
 
So who is this headset for? Really anyone who wants to invest in a quality headset without breaking the bank. You are getting very good sound quality, and excellent voice quality for only around $70. While it is not wireless, it is versatile, and definitely comfortable. I have never been disappointed in a Turtle Beach Product, and that does not change today. The XO3’s are a great addition to anyone’s lineup of accessories, and are certainly a welcome addition to mine.
 
Interested in buying one? Check it out here on Amazon
Check out this product and more at https://shop.turtlebeach.com/us/
 
*Note: The product was provided for the purposes of the review.

Final SCore: Highly Recommend