PowerA’s LucidSound LS10X is a high-quality, budget-conscious wired gaming headset designed for Xbox consoles.
The headset was sent over to me with material explaining that it is a non-nonsense budget headset aimed more for family use than enthusiasts. So, I was expecting something a bit basic-looking in the package when it arrived.
I have to say, the LucidSound LS10X isn’t packaged like a budget headset. The colourful Xbox-branded box boasts of the device’s comfort, its lightweight frame, quick access audio controls and custom-tuned 50mm drivers. The rear of the box expands on the feature descriptions, highlighting the extendable headband, the volume wheel, the flip-to-mute boom mic and the swivelling earcups. It also says that the device uses a 3.5m audio cable jack.
PowerA has pulled out all the stops to ship their budget headset in premium packaging. But what about the device itself?
In the box, you get the wired headset and a quick start guide. And that’s all you need to get going.
The 3.5mm audio jack means that you need to either plug the headset into your console controller or the 3.5mm socket on your PC/external soundcard. This is the norm for a lot of wired console headsets. Despite being marketed as an Xbox headset, the LS10X will also work with a PlayStation 5 and a Nintendo Switch/Switch 2. I had no problems using it for Teams calls on a PC, either.
The headset is comfortable to wear, applying just about the right amount of pressure to hold it in place over your ears. The headband lacks the padding you ordinarily have, but to be honest, it doesn’t make a difference to comfort.
The cloth on the earcups and headband feels a little cheaper than on more expensive headsets, but I only noticed this because I was looking for it. I couldn’t tell whether the headband was entirely plastic or had a metal core, but it felt solid. The curly exposed wires seem to be very fashionable with headsets at the moment, but are asking to be tugged by little fingers.
The flexibility of the earcups not only allows them to fit snuggly over your ears but also allows them to rest flat when worn around your neck. The way the boom mic folds right out of the way into the left earcup is another nice feature. I also love the big circular volume dial on the left side, as I can’t stand having to fiddle about with tiny volume buttons.
The boom mic fits neatly into the left earcup, which is great if you are just listening to music. With the mic up, it’s muted, which is easy. If connected to a phone, the large volume dial is also a button allowing you to start, stop, fast-forward and rewind music as well as answer and hang up calls.
The headset performance is outstanding. I tested it on PC and Xbox Series X (via an Xbox Series X|S Controller), without issue. I also plugged it into a laptop to make a Teams call. On PlayStation 5 Pro, the headset worked fine plugged into the Dual Sense controller. On Switch 2, the audio jack plugs straight into the top of the console. The sound is crisp and clear, delivering audio quality far in excess of the headset’s price point. The mic, as well, picks up your voice, with no complaints received from those on the other end.
Nothing about the LucidSound LS10X feels like a AUD$50 headset. Yep, fifty bucks. Honestly, even if it was double the money, I’d still struggle to find much wrong with it. It’s a headset I’d gladly buy for the kids, knowing it’ll get the job done and that I won’t be stressing over an expensive replacement if it gets lost or damaged. And to be fair, it feels tough enough to take a bit of abuse, too.
If you’re shopping on a budget and want a high-quality wired headset that delivers excellent value for money, the LucidSound LS10X is tough to beat.