SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB Review

👤by Connell Parr Comments 📅03-11-10
The Spectrum 5XB

The headset comes in dark packaging with a large window at the front allowing you to see the headset and LiveMix Audio Adapter. Above the window is a large banner stating compatibility with the Xbox 360 for communication over Xbox Live, as well as the Steelseries logo. At the bottom accompanying the name of the enclosed headset are four pictures with explanations of some features:

- Optimised for Xbox 360 Gaming
- Independent audio and voice controls.
- XL-sized cloth ear cushions
- Can be dismantled into 3 separate pieces


All packaged up touting its Xbox 360 compatibility


The window through to the headset continues on both sides, the Steelseries logo at the top leaves you in no doubt of who manufacturers the headset and that it’s a high end product. Below the window, each side has another picture with feature explanation. On the right resides a picture and mention of the retractable microphone, with the left showing off the LiveMix Audio Adapter.


Blurb, technical specs and features - they're all there!


Moving to the back, you can see where all the technical information and other text has gone. Apart from the technical specs at the bottom (as seen on the previous page) all explanations are in four languages: English, French, Spanish and German. The main body of text on the left explains what the headset is about in terms of features and target market. To the right is a diagram showing the headset, LiveMix adapter and an Xbox 360. Parts of the diagram are labelled with the numbers corresponding to features of the headset and Livemix adapter. To list a couple of the seven labelled: “3.5mm mini jacks and RCA connectors for Xbox 360 and PC” and “”Easy access to independent volume controls for the microphone and in-game audio.” Below this is a graph showing sound level against time. Plotted are two lines, one for in-game audio and the other for voice chat. The graph is showing the LiveMix feature of the LiveMix Audio Adapter which will automatically lower game volume to a level where you can hear people speaking but not lower it so much that you can’t hear what’s going on in the game.


The headset, LiveMix adapter, Y adapter, sticker and manual


Unboxing the headset, the quality is quite quickly apparent. Included in the box you get the headset, LiveMix Audio Adapter, a 2x RCA to 3.5mm Y-adapter and some documentation. Obviously if using a Mixamp or DSS then you will not need the Y-adapter but for the rest who plan on using the headset with the 360’s stereo output then it’s great to see you have all you need straight out of the box.


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