Xbox wireless gaming headset with 100mm drivers

Final yr we reviewed the Audeze Mobius gaming headset. With 100mm planar magnetic drivers, these had been nice sounding headphones for gaming on nearly any system. Late final yr, the corporate launched its Penrose gaming headsets for consoles and PCs.

Our Audeze Penrose X evaluate seems to be on the firm’s newest gaming headset for the Xbox One, Sequence X|S, PC, and cell. Learn on to see the way it stacks up!

Specs

The Audeze Penrose X gaming headset for Xbox One, Sequence X|S, PC, and cell we reviewed has the next options and specs:

• Audeze 100mm planar magnetic drivers
• Lossless 2.4GHz low-latency wi-fi connection
• Bluetooth and wired analog connection choices
• Removable broadcast high quality microphone
• Snug reminiscence foam padding

What’s within the field

• Penrose Wi-fi Planar Magnetic Headset
• 2.4GHz Wi-fi Dongle
• Removable Broadcast High quality Microphone
• USB-A to USB-C Cable, 3.5 mm to three.5 mm Cable
• Fast Begin Information
• Guarantee Card

Design

The Audeze Penrose design is similar to the Mobius, so in case you learn that evaluate or have a pair, this may increasingly sound acquainted. Just like the Mobius, the Audeze Penrose X is a properly designed headset. This gaming headset is especially black in color with Xbox inexperienced accents. The PlayStation model comes with blue accents.

The headscarf isn’t overly broad, coming in at about an inch-and-a-quarter. The underside padding within the center is about an inch thick. This padding solely covers the highest of your head, which isn’t actually a foul factor. The headscarf’s high has the Audeze wordmark printed in gray with some refined traces for added design. On the finish of the headscarf on all sides is a black piece with the Audeze brand printed in inexperienced. On the within, you’ll discover an R or L stamped on it to point which ear that facet is for.

The earcups are connected to the headscarf utilizing a black inverted u formed piece. On the outer earcup is a circle design motif printed in gray. The left earcup additionally has the Penrose brand printed close to the button. Slightly below that is the facility button, whereas a small LED is simply above it. Close to the highest of the left outer earcup is a microphone mute change.

Whereas the best earcup is devoid of any controls, the underside of the left earcup homes (from again to entrance) the headphone quantity wheel, microphone quantity wheel, 3.5mm AUX/analog enter, cost/USB-C enter, removable microphone port, and the multi-function button.

The earcups do swivel again about 90° and ahead about 15°, in addition to angle out and in barely, permitting for a correct match based mostly in your head form. Between the outer ear cup and the earpad is one other inexperienced colored piece that thickens across the headset’s entrance and backside. The earpads themselves are comprised of contoured reminiscence foam coated by fake leather-based. They’re undoubtedly snug for prolonged intervals and labored nicely sufficient with my glasses. On the within of every earcup is a small L or R to point additional which earcup goes on which ear.

Whereas the Penrose/Penrose X design is much like the Mobius, and the inexperienced/blue accents tie into your console selection, I’d a lot slightly put on the Mobius whereas out and about in public.

The removable microphone is six inches in size, minus the three.5mm jack on the top. The versatile cable will be simply moved and positioned the place you want it. On the opposite finish, the microphone is about an inch by half-an-inch and has Audeze printed on one facet and a microphone icon on the opposite. A foam microphone cowl can be included must you wish to use that.

The Audeze Penrose comes with a USB-A dongle for two.4GHz wi-fi use. The dongle is definitely fairly giant, measuring about 2 3/8-inches lengthy, 5/8-inches broad, and about 3/8-inch thick. Black in color, it has the Audeze icon in inexperienced printed on the highest (presumably blue for the PlayStation model). Below the icon is an LED indicator that blinks when plugged in and goes stable when related to the headset. On one of many lengthy edges is a bodily change to toggle between Xbox and PC mode.

Audeze additionally included three cables with the Penrose X gaming headset: USB-A to USB Sort-C, USB Sort-C to USB Sort-C, and a 3.5mm AUX cable. The USB cables are simply over 5-feet lengthy every, whereas the AUX cable is a bit shorter at about 50-inches. Every can be the plastic-coated cable type generally seen with lower-end headsets. Given the value of the Audeze Penrose and the first rate high quality of the headset itself, it will have been good to see barely longer cables in addition to braided cables.

Ease of Use

Utilizing the Audeze Penrose X is fairly easy. Plug the USB dongle right into a free port in your Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X, or PC. Maintain the facility button on the headset, it can connect with the dongle, and also you’re good to go. To hook up with a smartphone or your PC through Bluetooth, press the multi-function button to toggle to Bluetooth mode, then double click on the facility button to start pairing. Discover the Penrose headset in your Bluetooth settings, and also you’ll be related.

The headset controls are simply as simple and are as follows:

• Energy button
  • Single press: pause/play audio, reply/finish name
  • Double press (BT mode): being Bluetooth Pairing
  • Lengthy press (3 seconds): energy on/reject incoming name
  • Lengthy press (5 seconds): energy off
• Multi-function button
  • Single press: toggle between wi-fi, Bluetooth, aux mode
  • Lengthy press (3 seconds): wi-fi dongle pairing
• Headphone quantity wheel
  • Scroll up/down: regulate audio quantity
  • Double press: hyperlink again to final Bluetooth gadget
• Microphone quantity wheel
  • Scroll up/down: microphone achieve adjustment
  • Press + scroll up/down: recreation chat combine adjustment
• Mic mute change: mute/unmute microphone

When in wi-fi mode, switching to Bluetooth mode by urgent the multi-function button will can help you use it in wi-fi and Bluetooth mode on the identical time. This allows you to play your recreation and hearken to music or take/reject calls out of your smartphone on the identical time.

Sadly, you’ll be able to’t use the headset for audio over USB-C with the included cable. That mentioned, you need to use it in 3.5mm or wi-fi mode with both USB cable related so you’ll be able to cost and use it for audio on the identical time — you simply want two cables or a cable and the wi-fi dongle related.

Software program

You should use two totally different apps with the Audeze Penrose gaming headset. The primary is the Audeze HQ app for Windows or Mac. The second is the Audeze HQ app for Android and iOS (coming quickly).

Audeze HQ for Home windows

Oddly sufficient, the Home windows app downloads from Google Drive. It additionally triggers Microsoft Defender SmartScreen when putting in. That apart, as soon as put in, it’s fairly primary. You have to to be related with one of many included USB-C or USB-A cables to make use of the Home windows app.

There are three tabs for the Penrose within the Audeze HQ for Home windows app. The primary allows you to regulate, save, or load as much as 5 totally different equalizer presets. A cool function concerning the presets is they’re saved to your headset. In different phrases, in case you regulate your presets via the Home windows app, you’ll be able to change them on the Android app or tweak them with both app and have them sync again the subsequent time you plug in or join. Sadly, there isn’t any default presets like on the Mobius, which had one for music and presets for racing, RPGs, footsteps, and ballistics.

The second tab is a straightforward overview of the headset and the third tab allows you to replace the firmware when there may be one obtainable.

Audeze HQ for Android

The Audeze HQ for Android app is admittedly sizzling off the presses. Simply launched, it is rather primary. Launching the app will show a warning display screen in case your Penrose gaming headset isn’t related through Bluetooth. As soon as related, the primary display screen reveals the present preset and permits you to modify 5 totally different ones. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t title the presets.

Tapping the skinny blue line within the higher left nook will show a drop-down with three rectangles with a + check in them, in addition to buttons for controls or equalizer. Urgent the rectangle will allow you to apply a picture and allow you to regulate the equalizer preset for that picture. Deciding on the controls button permits you to regulate the Bluetooth quantity, Xbox combine, and toggle SideTone on or off. It additionally reveals the present microphone mute standing, however it’s important to toggle that on the headset as a consequence of it being a bodily change.

Sound High quality

The Audeze Penrose makes use of planar magnetic drivers. It’s finest to allow them to clarify it.

Audeze’s patented planar magnetic driver know-how units the usual for audio readability and element. Our Fluxor™ magnet array delivers double the facility of different Neodymium headphone drivers, whereas our Fazor™ waveguides and Uniforce™ voice coils cut back distortion to close zero.

Audeze website

As you recognize by now, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is considered one of my go-to video games for testing gaming headsets on the Xbox Sequence X. Just like the Mobius, the extent of immersion was simply that a lot better with the already wonderful sound design and the refined actions of sound whereas turning my head even barely made the sport that rather more pleasing. Different video games I play usually, just like the Forza sequence, Tetris Linked, and Gears 5, had been equally unbelievable sounding with the Audeze Penrose X.

On condition that the headset makes use of a wi-fi dongle, some could anticipate some audio lag. Personally, I didn’t discover something amiss or delay within the audio on the Xbox Sequence X or any of the PCs or laptops I used to be utilizing. Audio through Bluetooth whereas gaming on my smartphone sounded unbelievable as nicely. I used to be simply in a position to determine the route of footsteps and gunfire in Name of Obligation: Cell, giving me a little bit of a bonus throughout matches.

Along with gaming, movies, motion pictures, and music all sounded unbelievable. For essentially the most half, I stored the default profile settings as I couldn’t be bothered to essentially fine-tune the audio. On that observe, the whole lot sounded unbelievable out of the field, so to talk, however that customization choice is there for it is best to you wish to use it.

Microphone/Name High quality

Just like the Mobius, the Penrose incorporates a removable microphone. On this case, nonetheless, Audeze references it as a “broadcast high quality” microphone. The microphone on the Mobius was first rate, and the one on the Audeze is simply that a lot better. When gaming with associates, they mentioned I sounded fairly good, albeit barely heavier on the bass finish of issues. It wasn’t sufficient to make for a foul expertise; it was simply one thing that they seen.

Battery Life

Audeze states as much as 15 hours of battery life with the Audeze Penrose gaming headset. An enchancment of 5 hours over the Mobius, I reached this persistently whereas switching between gaming on my PC, Xbox Sequence X, and through Bluetooth on my smartphone. Whereas different headsets supply over 20 hours of battery life, in addition they don’t have 100mm planar magnetic drivers.

As soon as depleted, the headset does take about three hours to completely recharge.

Value/Worth

Priced at US$299, the Audeze Penrose Wi-fi Planar Magnetic Headset is a full $100 cheaper than the Mobius. It presents the identical nice audio and a barely higher microphone. Should you’re not curious about 3D head monitoring audio, then the Penrose or Penrose X is a a lot better worth than the Mobius, given the value level alone.

That mentioned, the 100mm planar magnetic drivers do come at fairly a premium, with this headset coming in double the value of different new Xbox headsets, albeit these solely function 50mm drivers. Should you can afford it, the sound distinction is noticeable, and video games and different media are way more pleasing due to them.

The Audeze Penrose and Penrose X headsets are presently backordered till early February. Should you’re fortunate, you would possibly discover one at a retailer close to you. If not, you’ll be able to pre-order them on the Audeze website or add them to your wishlist on Amazon.

Photograph Gallery

Wrap-up

The Audeze Penrose X gaming headset is a good sounding headset for the Xbox One, Sequence X, PC, and cell gaming. It additionally works nice for film and music enjoyment once you desire a listening expertise with out bothering others. Positive it’s a little bit of an inconvenience to have to make use of a dongle, however it does enable for wider Xbox/PC compatibility.

On the finish of the day, it’s merely a extra reasonably priced model of the Audeze Mobius minus the 3D head monitoring and with a barely higher microphone expertise.

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Audeze Penrose X

US$299.99

Nailed it

• Snug design
• Incredible sound
• Respectable microphone high quality
• Can be utilized wired (3.5mm), through Bluetooth, or wi-fi 2.4GHz USB dongle
• Can use Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz at identical time
• Presets are saved on headset
• Comparatively lengthy battery life
• Moderately priced given 100mm planar magnetic drivers are used

Wants work

• Makes use of a dongle
• Must plug in through USB cable to replace settings
• Separate fashions for Xbox and PlayStation
• Some could not just like the inexperienced/blue accents for carrying out in public
• Home windows app triggers Microsoft Defender
• Cannot change presets with out operating app
• No default presets just like the Mobius