Review on 🎧 PDP Gaming LVL50 Xbox One Wireless Stereo Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone - Black by Shane Palma

Updates at the bottom of the view. Was looking for a replacement for a great Hyper X wired headset that I broke in the jack when connecting to an Xbox controller. To avoid this, a wireless headset seemed like the obvious choice. I really gave the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 a close look as it works like an Xbox controller (i.e. no key) and is less likely to get in the way, but fell between some of the negative reviews and also the $120-$150 price tag I wasn't ready to click the trigger. My friend has an Afterglow AG9 (also from PDP) and likes them although he says he had a few bugs. User reviews of the AG9 are clearly mixed. I came across a newly released wireless PDP LVL 50. Reading critical (ie professional) reviews online, I came to the conclusion that the LVL 50 offers great value for money. Most of the user feedback is also overwhelmingly positive, but currently (early March) almost everything is coming from people who got it for free for review purposes. While I'm not necessarily questioning the credibility of these reviewers, you're probably in a more positive frame of mind if you're getting something for free... I know you would be. First Thoughts: The 50 LVL pack is exactly what you would expect; These are headphones in a no-frills box. You also get a 6-foot micro-USB charging cable and a quick start guide. The headphones themselves are all plastic, with breathable fabric ear pads and a padded headband also covered in fabric. Nothing flashy except for a green Xbox in the earcups and green cables running through the headband, totally unadorned. If you walked up to someone wearing them, you wouldn't know what brand or model it was. I don't see that as a bad thing, and I doubt most people who buy headphones under $100 are interested in impressing their friends. The only thing I don't like about the design is that the switch/button markings are very faded and difficult to read (see pictures). There are only a few buttons/switches and you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Because of their construction, you won't throw this headset in your travel suitcase as it's not that durable and won't fold. Adjustments are typical of most budget headphones. The earbuds have limited hinge and rely on a plastic flex to keep the parts fitting. Earphone parts slide to adjust. It's important to note that I have a fairly large head and I find them very comfortable. The first session lasted about 5 hours and I never felt hot or uncomfortable. They're a lot lighter and at least as cool and comfortable as my old Hyper X. The headband padding is the most important factor in this comfort in my opinion. In fact, I would only be concerned about the fit if you have a very small head. To sum up the fit and comfort, the design is clearly aimed at low cost, but is very well made so there is very little compromise on comfort. significant achievement. Please note that the standard PDP images show a different headphone and headband material (they look more like vinyl on the PDP images than they actually are). I have attached my pictures to this review. Pairing was painless; I just plugged the dongle into my Xbox and turned on the headset. There are pairing instructions, but they were unnecessary. While listening quality is obviously key to any headset, it's very subjective. This is stereo only, so any surround effects must be generated by the game/console/PC. What I can tell you from my first use is that I'm fine with it. I mainly play Red Dead Redemption 2, Far Cry 5 and Fallout 76. Everything sounds as good as my wired headset. I haven't used them for movies and probably won't, but I think they will suffice for this purpose. Probably not the best choice for music, but it will do. Overall, they have gaming sound that beats the price. I don't think you will be disappointed. The mic sound quality is good according to those I've played with online, and I didn't have to repeat what I said. I particularly like the mute function. The Xbox version has two volume controls; One is the master volume control and the other is the chat/game volume mix. You can tweak the sound with these two controls, but it takes a bit of experimentation to get it right, and if you're playing online with others you'll likely need to adjust each time you team up. From what I've read, the PS4 version doesn't have a mix slider. Other Thoughts: Currently missing support documentation and online information. There is no FAQ or downloadable information for LVL 50 (wired or wireless) on the PDP website. The quick start guide does not include loading information or feature details. The headset isn't complicated, but I usually go through manuals and FAQs before making a purchase. At 50 LVL this is not possible. Durability, durability, durability. Only time will tell, but I don't see them holding up to abuse and I'm interested in long-term use. That's just a guess, but I'm concerned. On a positive note, they have a two year limited warranty which gives me peace of mind. So far I'm not happier with the LVL 50 wireless costs, of course there are better ones, but I can't imagine a better one in this price range. last note; I bought them from a local retailer, not Revain. The price is the same everywhere today. So if you think about it, you can check them on the spot before you buy them. After spending about 30 hours at LVL 50, here are a few more details. The battery life is as stated. I've been playing for over 14 hours on a single charge for the past few days and never showed any signs of battery drain. I wish there was a way to check the battery level, but I can't complain about the battery life. The microphone is confusing. I played with different friends, some said I was as clear as possible and others said I was difficult to understand. It seems to work better an inch or more from my mouth, but I'm not sure about all the variables. He seems very sensitive and tries too hard to control background noise. It seems to get better when I take it out of my mouth. The two volume controls on the Xbox version that I have are also a bit annoying. The right earbud is meant to be the master volume, while the left controls the game/chat balance. However, and it's hard to explain, you really need to work on both to get the audio right, even if you're not using chat at all. Once adjusted, the sound is fine, but it can take a minute to balance properly. I think once you set it up you can exit, but it's too easy to click/move the buttons to figure it out. Comfort is outstanding for me. The fact that it's cheaply made (i.e. lightweight plastic) and has nice soft and breathable earcups and ear cups makes me forget I'm wearing it. While comments are picky about the microphone and volume control. Overall I'm still very satisfied. Update 4/13/19: I mentioned in my original review that I was replacing a very good Hyper X wired headset that broke on an Xbox controller. Well I decided to fix this Hyper X headset as I could use it with a PC too. When I got it back I plugged it into my Xbox controller just to see if I damaged the Xbox controller. Well it worked fine but to my surprise it doesn't sound as good as the PDP LVL50! I always thought LVL 50 was a compromise compared to my wired device, but it's not. As for the battery life, I can attest again that it is just as good as the advertised 16 hours. And although you can't check the level, it will beep when the battery gets low. As for the mic, I've experimented with it and found that it gives the best results when I place it about 3 inches from my mouth and about chin level. If it's too close to the mouth, there's more distortion and annoyingly catches your breath. With the levels set right and the microphone positioned correctly, this is no longer a weak point with this headset. Based on my experience and the fact that discounts appear on it, I'm changing my rating to 5 stars. You just can't go wrong. Update 05/05/19: Now two months of ownership and probably 200 or more hours of use and I'm still very satisfied. As I've mentioned in previous updates, the only annoyance was adjusting the two volume/fader knobs. Well to solve this problem I took a marker and marked it after adjusting the knobs. Now I'm just making sure I lined them up and I'm fine. Even if I have to make a small adjustment, at least I have a good starting point. Check out the last two photos if that doesn't make sense to you. If I don't have any problems, this will be the last update. This review is already too long. I'm sorry for that. Buy these. Updated 06/11/19. okay okay Another update and it has nothing to do with the headset. Since the information on the PDP site about LVL 50 in early March (actually until now) was very limited, I wrote to PDP support and asked questions about it. So on June 10th (THREE MONTHS LATER!) I finally got a reply from the PDP. The content of the answer wasn't particularly helpful either. I still love this headset and would highly recommend it, but such slow customer service makes me skeptical of how well it's supported when I run into issues. It would have been better if they didn't reply at all as I forgot my information request. updated 01/20/20. So after 10 months and over 1000 hours of play with this headset, it's still a pleasure to use most of the time. About a month ago he started beeping during a few sessions and it was getting more frequent. Sometimes connecting/disconnecting a key can clear things up. Sometimes turning the headset on and off can fix the problem. Sometimes plugging in the charger helps. Sometimes unplugging the charger helps. Sometimes nothing is clear. If this headset doesn't beep, that's great; It's still comfortable and has good sound quality. However, when it squeaks, it's unbearable. The beep sounds like a scream from R2D2 in your ear and of course interrupts the normal audio. The sounds aren't always the same and I'm sure they mean something specific, but without PDP support on their side. NOTHING else in terms of detailed troubleshooting, I have no idea. It's as if your dog is barking at you relentlessly. — Timmy in the ditch? Is the shed on fire? - Do you have to go out? You just don't know what your dog means and I don't know what those horns mean and it's driving me crazy. I will contact the PDP again and hope they reply in less than 3 months. I'll report here what I found out. Leave it at 5 stars for the time being.