I purchased the X4 and the AX 720. I ended up returning the AX 720 and kept the X4. I didn't test out the X41 since it uses a wireless RF signal that can be deteriorated by a WiFi router signal, causing cracks and pops in the audio. My 360 sits right next to the WiFi router and I can't put it anywhere else, I read that you'd be OK with the X41 if the RF unit was >8 ft from the router, but mine would be 2 ft at most.
Pros of the X4:
-Wireless (much nicer than I thought it would be, so relieving to be free of wires everywhere that I would constantly snag things on).
-Excellent audio quality (no cracks or pops unless you are 30 ft away from the signal or the IR unit is completely blocked from the headphones).
-Very comfortable to wear.
-Easy to access volume/power/bass boost on the headset without having to look or pause the game.
-Bass boost feature sounds incredible, really adds a lot to the experience.
-Headphones auto shut off after 2 min if there is no sound going to them, to save battery.
Cons of the X4:
-Takes batteries (having wireless is definitely worth the trouble of batteries though, I use rechargeable).
-Some very faint white noise comes through the headphones when on (only noticeable if there is dead silence in a game).
-When the headphones are on, there is a red light on the left ear cup that flashes. This is to indicate the unit is on, when the batt. is near dead the light goes solid red. Kind of annoying when it flashes, but not a big deal.
When I read about the white noise coming through the X4 in reviews, this is why I wanted to test out the AX 720. However, it was a mistake picking up the AX 720; the white noise in the X4 is not audible when any sounds (game or music) come through the headphones. Really, the only time I hear this faint white noise is when I put the headphones on before I turn the 360 on.
A really great feature of the X4 is that its IR unit has an optical input and output on it. This way I can plug my 360 into it and have an output go to my surround sound receiver, so if I want to use my surround sound speakers for a change, I don't have to unplug anything. Also, there is a normal stereo input, I have my PC plugged in this way and use the X4 for my PC too, without having to unplug or redo any wiring. When I turn my 360 on, then the headphones default to it, that's really awesome. This was not the case with the AX 720, there is only one optical input, that's it. When I wanted to use my surround sound receiver, I'd have to redo the wiring. In addition, if I wanted to use these with the PC, I could, the AX 720 comes with a normal headphone jack adapter, but it was just much more work to get things plugged in right and set up.
I completely recommend the X4 over the AX 720. The AX 720 was bulky and heavy, the X4 is more comfortable to wear and it doesn't have wires to snag on things. Also, the X4 has an easier to access volume control. On the AX 720, I would always have to pause the game to find the little plastic piece on the wire to change the volume, and then try and read which control was for the volume; since there are quite a few different buttons/dials on it the same little plastic piece. The audio quality of the X4 was also much richer and deeper; it also had much more bass (if you hit the bass boost switch). The AX 720 really, really lacked bass.
I am really impressed with the X4, I will always buy Turtle Beach for my gaming headphones from now on. I was blown away by the difference these headphones made vs regular stereo headphones while playing my 360. Just want to add, I didn't consider the AX Pro unit because I heard the four speakers they have in each ear cup does not sound better than the large 50 mm speakers in the X4 or X41.
Furthermore, for those considering the X41 with 7.1 surround sound vs the X4 with 5.1 surround sound. Please correct this information if it is wrong (with sited sources), but the Xbox website claims the 360 can only output 5.1 from its optical ([...]). I don't see how the 7.1 in the X41 would benefit anyone with a 360, maybe if you plug the optical cord into a blueray player with a movie that does 7.1, but that's it.
Thanks for reading, I tried to answer all the questions I had when I researched these, hope this helps!
Ear Force X4 Dolby Digital Wireless (Headphones) Feature
- Dolby Pro Logic II provides surround sound from PLII encoded audio and also enhances stereo
- Hear XBOX Live Chat plus stereo game sound with a heart-thumping bass boost that adds sonic realism
- Dynamic Talkback lets you hear chat even when the game gets louder; Separate controls for game and chat volumes.
- Eliminates game sounds picked up by chat mic; mic monitor lets you hear what you're saying
- Digital input for highest XBOX sound quality, plus analog input for TV and other audio sources
Ear Force X4 Dolby Digital Wireless (Headphones) Overviews
The Ear Force X4 wireless headphones push your Xbox 360 gaming experience to a whole new level with the thrill and realism of Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. Pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family, or neighbors. Freely move around as you play. Hear every nuance of the game – from an opponent sneaking behind you to your teammate’s voice right next to you. Trash talk online. Block out distractions. Feel the game expand all around you and become a better player. Conventional Xbox 360 communicator headsets compromise the gaming experience by covering one ear for chat, leaving only a single ear for game audio from the speakers. The Ear ForceX4 Wireless Headphones overcome this problem by playing both the game audio AND the online chat on a single set of high fidelity headphones. The result is the intense experience, privacy, clarity, and competitive edge of PC headphones on the Xbox 360 platform. The Ear Force X4 Xbox 360 Wireless Headphones let you totally focus on your game play and not become distracted by the noise around you. With Dobly surround sound pumped right into your ears, you can hear every nuance of the game all around you in a way that isn't possible when hearing it as background sound with speakers. In addition, because the Xbox Live chat is mixed in with the game signal, you can hear what everyone is saying right in the middle of your head, enabling you to communicate more effectively with other players. As a result, the Ear Force X4 can actually make you a better player. By combining the best of both worlds, avid Xbox 360 gamers no longer have to make the no-win choice between using headphones or talking online. When you’re ready to get serious about your gaming, it’s time for an X4.
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