Thrustmaster 250X: A Slick 360 Headset

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Hold your horses. We're not in the next generation yet. Sure, Sony has announced their new console, the PS4, and Microsoft is expected to do the same and unveil their 720 or Xbox Next, most likely at the annual E3 convention in Los Angeles. But we've got a few games to play and other conventions to visit (PAX East!) before we even think about adding yet another video game system to our home entertainment system.

If you've got an Xbox, though, you need a headset. Whether for serious gaming sessions of Halo, or Bungie's exciting next project, you'll want to make sure that you're getting the best audio experience possible. That means blocking out external noise, but also making sure that you don't wake up your roommates or mother or neighbors with your lat night sessions. We've been testing out the Thrustmaster Y-250X, and it's a solid, reasonably-priced, well-designed instrument of sound.

The looks are striking- white and green for the Xbox, but black models are available for PS3 and PC users, and this model is compatible with other devices as well (we used it with our MP3 players, tablets, and PCs). And the price is certainly compelling- it's not quite budget-oriented, but the sub-$100 pricepoint is competitive and reasonable.  It's wired, not wireless, but that's often a good thing- lag and interference can mean that wireless audio is troublesome, especially when every millisecond counts, and the cables are more than 15 feet long. The microphone is an unusual design, not quite flip-up and hide-away, not as bendable as some we've seen, but detachable. And the headset itself is fairly bulky.

But all of that is acceptable when a headset is comfortable, and this one rates highly. The earcups are large, the headband nicely padded, and everything is pretty durable. We dropped it, yanked on the cords, and it held up well. The Y-250X also offers excellent sound- not audiophile music quality, but slightly boosted, precise sound that's great for gaming. On movies, it felt a bit artificial, but explosions boom nicely and gunshots ring out with decent accuracy. There's bass amplification, for those who want it, and you can also adjust chat versus gaming volumes.

Bottom line: Thrustmaster has made gaming gear forever, and this is a solid entrant, priced right, that oozes style. It's not the best pick for the gamer who wants everything, nor anyone looking for one to travel with. But it's a great middle ground, and we recommend listening to the Y-250X and seeing if it's the right headset for your ears (everyone is different, and we always encourage a few hours of testing, keeping that receipt handy). Available now online and in stores for $90.