Extreme Trash Talk with Ear Force X4

Turtle Beach has added the Ear Force X4 to its lineup of Xbox 360 headphones, promising 5.1 surround sound and ducking game sound during chats.

Accessory and peripheral maker Turtle Beach has rolled out another entry in its line of gaming headphones in the form of the Ear Force X4 headset for the Xbox 360. Billing the cans as the most advanced wireless headphones ever build for console gaming, the X4s promise to bathe users in 5.1 Dolby surround sound while offering unique features like the ability to duck game sounds during chats.

“The addition of Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound in our new X4 expands the game action all around you,” said Turtle Beach marketing manager Mike Carducci, in a statement. “Unlike stereo headphones, you can hear every 3D sound cue as you communicate with teammates whose voices are inside your head.”

The X4s include support for Dolby 5.1 surround sounds (so it “seems” like audio is playing from speakers located around the headphones) and support for Dolby Pro Logic II DSP. The cans also offer a bass boost function (because you can’t rumble without the low notes) and a Chat Boost feature that adjusted the volume of Xbox Live chats so they aren’t lost amidst gameplay sounds. The X4s also feature microphone monitoring so users can hear themselves speak, and 50mm speaker drivers to offer rich sound with low levels of distortion. The headphones’ transmitter connects to the Xbox 360 via an optical input, and gamers can use the headphones with other consoles (although the integrated mic only works with the Xbox 360).

Sound good? Good sound is rarely cheap: expect to see the Ear Force X4 headphones at a suggested price of $199.95.