Wireless Headset F540 Score: 95% Developer: Logitech Device Type: Audio Compatible With:

Function: If, like me, you grew up in a household of non-gamers, you likely got more than your share of requests to turn down the volume. Whether said requests were loud, quiet, violent, or (in my case) in the form of text messages, the elusive happy medium had to appeal to you at some point. Well, I'm pleased to say that Logitech (the guys I go to for third-party gear) delivers that happy medium in the form of the Wireless Headset F540. This bad boy's got full stereo sound and built-in voice chat capabilities, and it handles both very well. If you've got the full spread when it comes to the current generation of gaming consoles, you might have to keep track of a few small things, but the small inconveniences are more than worth the trouble. The wireless hub that gets the sound from your television to your headphones is small and elegant. All you have to do with it is plug it in and hook it up. The rest of the functions are conveniently controlled by dials and buttons on the exterior shell of the left earphone. That includes a mute button and two independent volume dials for voice chat and game audio. Also located on the left earphone are a few distinct ports used for voice chat and charging the headset. The noise-canceling microphone can be turned on and off by swiveling it down and up respectively. If you want to remain attuned to all the goings-on in your house, you can simply leave the microphone on and not worry about missing a thing. And I almost forgot: this is a physically comfortable headset.

Performance: Several gamers (myself included) gravitate towards headphones because they don't really feel like taking out a second mortgage to pay for a top-of-the-line sound system. However, they still want to experience the full spectrum of audio delights nestled deep inside each game, film or what have you. And, of course, nobody wants to piss off their loved ones for the sake of their own entertainment. I took the Wireless Headset F540 and test-drove a number of games that boasted vastly different sound design merits. I'm a sucker for a great soundtrack, and I've been looking for a great excuse to begin my second playthrough of Mass Effect 2. The Wireless Headset F540 turned out to be just that. If depth and richness in music are important to you, these phones will satisfy you. The all-important bass is pronounced just enough to avoid overwhelming other sounds, and (more importantly) with nary a buzz. Ambience is all the rage these days. There's nothing like turning the lights out and losing yourself in the illusion; sound is a huge part of this, and when it's amplified and made into something more intimate and personal, it can make each experience richer. So next on the list was Limbo, a game well-known for its distinctly awesome use of ambience. What a frightening experience that was. If you decide to take my advice and pick up the Wireless Headset F540, play this one for a while, put the controller down, and just listen. Explosions and gunfire don't often sound like explosions and gunfire when heard through the limited speakers of a television. But through the magic of a high-quality headset, you can find your ears in the middle of pure glorious cacophony. So, naturally, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was the game to go to for that. I ended up getting a headache after a few hours of play, but I decided that was probably to the credit of the Wireless Headset F540.

Features: 40 mm Laser-Tuned Drivers Delivering Detailed Stereo Sound Noise-Canceling Microphone Wireless Base Station (with Power Cable) Micro-USB Headset-Charging Cable RCA Audio Cable 2.5 mm Cable for Xbox 360 Voice Audio Mini-USB Cable for PlayStation 3 Voice Audio

Drawbacks & Problems:: My only substantive quibble with the sound quality has to do with how awkward it handles each game's surround capabilities. This headset is only built for stereo audio, and doesn't bother with surround. This will probably be important to some prospective buyers. When you whirl the camera around areas with differing levels of noise, the effects can be unnatural and jarring. However, this is a small complaint when weighed against this hardware's impressive list of advantages. Depending on your tastes, you may not be able to turn the headset up as loud as you'd like. If you've got a high-powered high-quality sound system set up, your rig can undoubtedly outperform the Wireless Headset F540, and your only reason to own these would be consideration for those who live with you. The Wireless Headset F540 comes with a price tag that smarts ever so slightly at $150. However, I personally think the investment is worthwhile; you won't ever again find yourself in need of an Xbox 360 Headset, or worse, one of those bothersome Bluetooth earpieces. Let me put it clearly: I would buy this headset for $150. Finally, there are a few things you'll need to keep track of; if you're a slob, you may find yourself losing one of the few critical cables that come with this package. These wires aren't easy to confuse with each other, but you'd better keep tabs on their locations at all times. If you own both an Xbox 360 and a PlayStation 3, you'll have to keep track of their distinguishing voice chat cables, as they are specially designed to hook your Wireless Headset F540 to your Xbox 360 Controller or SIXAXIS/DualShock 3. As long as you don't mind that or any of those other small quirks, you'll have a blast with this hardware.

-FenixDown, GameVortex Communications AKA Jon Carlos

Related Links: Official Website of the Logitech Wireless Headset F540 Game Vortex's Review of Mass Effect 2 PlayStation Illustrated's Review of Battlefield: Bad Company 2