Turtle Beach X32 vs X42
Turtle Beach X32 and Turtle Beach X42 are two wireless gaming headsets that are quite affordable. They are both designed to work with Xbox 360. The price difference between the two headsets is quite marginal and scalable, which is the reason why many people are confused between these two models. Continue reading to see the comparisons between Turtle Beach X32 vs X42.
Design and Comfort
There are some differences in the looks of the two headsets, but these are mostly just aesthetical things. Both are closed-back headsets. They both have nicely padded ear cups and cushioned headbands. Each headband is covered by a breathable fabric mesh that won’t irritate the top of the user’s head. Both models are comfortable enough for marathon gaming sessions.
While their headbands are adjustable, you can’t really customize the looks of the headsets. Both Turtle Beach X32 and Turtle Beach X42 are colored in black with some lime green touches on the ear pieces. These are wireless headsets – you can say goodbye to tangled cords now. By the way, see our previous post about Turtle Beach X12 vs X32 here.
Features
Both Turtle Beach X32 and Turtle Beach X42 are designed for Xbox 360, but they can also work with PCs and mobile devices. Turtle Beach X32 has an auxiliary input which allows you to listen to your favorite tracks while gaming. On the other hand, Turtle Beach X42 is equipped with analog inputs that enable you to use the headset on a TV or other analog stereo source. This model supports digital pass-through so that you can connect it to your home theater in order to hear the sound from both the headset and the external speaker system. Both models have microphone monitoring so that you can hear your own voice when speaking.
Both models here support 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi bands. You can select the optimum channel to minimize interference. Both headsets have built-in equalizer and sound field expander presets. You can mix and match different audio settings, and you can also create your own custom presets to suit different gaming scenarios.
Performance
The primary difference between Turtle Beach X32 vs X42 is about the sound quality. Turtle Beach X32 is a very good headset; it produces clear and accurate sounds with great bass. The reason behind its superior sound quality is the uncompressed digital RF audio signals, which transmit sound signals from the source to the headset without reducing the quality. However, it is a stereo headset. It does not really emulate a three-dimensional environment.
On the other hand, Turtle Beach X42 comes with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound to deliver 360-degree audio. It can emulate a three-dimensional environment with subtle directional details. The audio experience is much more immersive. The directional details can also give you better information about the environment of the game.
Conclusion
Between these two models, Turtle Beach X42 is better primarily because of the 5.1 surround performance. It can give subtle directional details for better immersion and competitive edge. In addition, it has more input options with digital pass-through capability, which can be handy if you want to connect both your headset and home theater to your gaming platform.