Thrustmaster is a leading manufacturer of video game accessories, and the company recently announced the release of an all new line of wireless gaming headsets just in time for the holiday season. The
Y-400PW and Y-400XW wireless headsets are compatible with PlayStation 3, PC and Mac and Xbox 360 respectively and pack roughly the same high quality hardware and advanced technology into each headset. Choosing between the two models obviously depends on which platform the owner prefers, but the
Y-400PW is compatible with more devices and holds a slight edge in that regard. Either way, both the
Y-400PW and
Y-400XW wireless headsets provide excellent sound, voice recognition and comfort for gamers across all platforms, and each would make the perfect gift for that gamer in your life this holiday season.
Both
Thrustmaster wireless models are great pieces of hardware that provide great sound quality, and the great features of the accessories are noticeable as soon as they are hooked up. The headsets are can be used wirelessly or right out of the box with plug and play, and they feature a fully adjustable mic and a padded headband that allows the headset to fit easily and comfortably on the heads of gamers of all ages. The mics included with the headsets are also fully detachable to allow the headphones to continue to be used without a mouthpiece getting in the way. The wireless headsets fully charge in about 30 minutes and provide over 10 hours of use with a single charge for those long gaming sessions.
Both headsets feature 50 mm drivers that provide adjustable sounds and enhanced bass quality. Both also have good audio frequency response times and audio sensitivity that allow sounds to be heard in game with an ability to tell from which direction. All of this adds up to make a device with good sound that is fully adjustable. A special chat controller is used to modify all the sounds through the headset including bass and treble levels and perform a number of other functions such as choosing what audio input is coming through the device. The sound quality of the
Thrustmaster headset line is one of the best we've heard and is a good choice while gaming, listening to music or watching television.
Other sound options are available with the
Thrustmaster Y-400PW and Y-400XW wireless headsets including an option to fully remove the microphone from the earphones. When using the mic, noise cancellation hardware helps deliver only what the player wants other gamers to hear, though the mic does tend to cut out what the player is trying to say sometimes unfortunately. Both models promise 2.4 GHz of proprietary advanced wireless technology that cuts out any interference from other devices while providing over 30 feet of range, and the wireless headsets deliver on both accounts, though sound quality does begin dipping towards the 30 foot limit as could be expected. The
Y-400PW and Y-400XW are both good choices for chat on their respective consoles and across multiple other platforms.
There are a few noticeable differences between the
Y-400PW and the Y-400XW Thrustmaster wireless headsets beyond the devices compatible platforms. Though the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 both typically come in black on both platforms, the
Y-400XW is a white headset and wireless receiver, like the original Xbox 360 model, and doesn't match either the controller of the console of the new slimmer consoles. This is just a minor irritant but one that is worth noting. The chat controller of the
Y-400XW is also white and doesn't look nearly as good as its
Y-400PW counterpart and combines with white button labels to be a bit more confusing than the white buttons on a black controller featured with the
Y-400PW. Still, the
Y-400XW is the only Thrustmaster wireless headset available for Xbox 360 and is a great value proposition considering its high quality and relative low price when compared with other top headsets in the industry.
The
Thrustmaster Y-400PW and Y-400XW wireless headsets are definitely both worth a look for gamers hoping to purchase a new headset this holiday season. Both are affordable and offer features beyond audio and voice chat in video games and can be used across multiple devices or used to mix music and other audio files to create gamers' dream soundtracks. Fantastic audio output combines with good chat recognition to make this line of wireless headsets a good option at a low price. The
Thrustmaster Y-400PW and Y-400XW wireless headsets make great gift ideas and help enhance online gaming for core and casual gamers alike.
Thrustmaster Wireless Headsets Y-400PW and Y-400XW are now available for purchase from most major retailers. For more information on the accessories, check out the official
Thrustmaster website.
Accessories Features:
- Chat Controller
- 2.4 GHz Wireless Receiver
- Detachable and Adjustable Microphone
- Over 30 Feet of Range
- Padded, Premium Leather Comfort
Product Information:
Developer: Thrustmaster
Platforms: Y-400XW for Xbox 360 & Y-400PW for PlayStation 3, PC and Mac
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Score: 9 out of 10
