I have no experience buying gaming headsets. I’m not usually a PC gamer, so I’ve never felt the need to purchase one; I’m usually content with the small headset pre-packaged with my Xbox One. After spending some time with the Thrustmaster Y-350X DOOM Edition headset, however, I realized how much I’ve been missing out.
The Thrustmaster Y-350X Doom Edition headset features 7.1 virtual surround sound on 60mm drivers. The acoustic quality is absolutely top notch, and the surround sound gave me a greater sense of spatial awareness than I’d ever experienced in a videogame before. Playing the DOOM demo with the headset on was an assault on the senses in the absolute best way possible. Hearing demons screaming in every direction with the game’s bass-heavy soundtrack blaring, I felt like I was actually taking part in these firefights. The only way I could have been more immersed is if I were actually in the game. In fact, playing the demo with the headset on actively sold me on buying DOOM far more than my original headphone-free playthrough did. This increased level of immersion is not simply limited to DOOM, either. Playing multiplayer shooters like Overwatch while wearing the headset made me feel like I was in the middle of the most heated battle of my life, with shootouts and explosions occurring all around me.
Design-wise, these are some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve used in a while, thanks to the memory foam cushions. As it is the DOOM Edition, the Thrustmaster Y-350x features a cool design style inspired by the sort of equipment you might find in-game, with UAC logos inside each cushion.
The main highlights of the Y-350x come courtesy of the Sound Commander and the Y-Power Pack. The Sound Commander plugs in at the bottom of the controller (similar to the Chatpad) and with it, you can adjust everything from the bass level, feedback, and volume balance between the game and chat, as well as setting separate volume levels for the microphone and the game itself. The commander is very responsive and simple to use. Every option comes with its own individual volume bar, so you can adjust everything to your liking. While the headset can still be plugged into the microphone jack on its own, a lot of the features are lost without the sound commander, so I would advise against it. The Y-Power Pack is also a much-needed bonus, allowing the Y-350x to basically use its own power source without draining the Xbox One controller’s battery. There’s even a light on the Power Pack that displays how much power it has before it needs to be recharged, which is easily done via USB.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however; I experienced a few problems during my time with the Thrustmaster Y-350x. When I originally used the headset, there were l occasions where party chat failed to pick up the removable microphone. Furthermore, at times incredibly loud static would blare from the headphones, despite everything being plugged in properly. While these moments were few and far between, they were still significant enough to give me pause, especially since, retailing for over $170 , the Y-350x is far from the most affordable headset on the market.
Overall, I would recommend the Thrustmaster Y-350X DOOM Edition headset to any Xbox One player looking to get a quality headset. Despite the few connection/mic issues and fairly high price point, the headphones are comfortable, the sound commander and Y-Power Pack are fantastic features, and the 7.1 bass-boosted surround sound delivers amazing game immersion.
