• On TV.com: TOP 10 Shows CANCELED Too Soon
March 29, 2006 1:45 PM PST

Svelte Xbox headsets tone down the bulk

by Shawn Conaway
  • Font size
  • Print
  • Post a comment

Microsoft's bulky wired headsets for the Xbox and Xbox 360 are prime targets for replacement with something more streamlined and svelte like the GameCom series from Plantronics.

GameCom headsets
Credit: Plantronics

The company is out with three versions of the GameCom headsets: the GameCom x10, GameCon x20 and GameCon x30. The x10 is similar in bulk to the standard Microsoft headset, while the x30 is slim and lightweight. The x20 is somewhere in between in bulk and build.

The headsets are used with an Xbox or Xbox 360 for online gaming with a Microsoft Live subscription. The x30 is particularly impressive, with an adjustable earbud that fits nicely in the ear. The x30 also has a behind-the-ear rubber piece that holds the headset snug to the side of your head and a microphone that can be adjusted to be closer to your face or farther. The design of the x30, with its gray and white plastic and green accents, coordinates well with the Xbox 360 console and accessories.

The headsets use noise-canceling technology to reduce background noise. They also also feature inline volume and mute controls.

The GameCom X30 retails at Best Buy, Target and online for an estimated $29.99 while the x10 retails for about $10 less. The GameCom x20 will also sell for around $19.99, but it will not be available until July.

Recent posts from News Blog
Nvidia puts NForce chipset development on hold
Opera 10 browser is here
Neil Young Archives Blu-ray: Rip off?
Acronis revises survey results about backup habits
Acronis miscalculates data on users' bad backup habits
Flickr co-founder presses beta button
Comcast, Sony open retail store
Cox to try coaxing the Internet into submission
advertisement

Google's social side aims for some Buzz

Facebook and Twitter are the darlings of the social-media world, not Google--which hopes to change that with Buzz, betting it can organize your online social life.

Watching the birth of a gaming start-up

Stewart Butterfield and his friends are back at it with a new company. CNET's Daniel Terdiman was given exclusive, behind-the-scenes access as they built it from scratch.

About News Blog

Recent posts on technology, trends, and more.

Add this feed to your online news reader

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right