LucidSound remain one of the lesser-known heroes of the gaming headset world. They’ve been pumping out reliably great headsets for a number of years now, starting off small until they can now provide headsets to match pretty much any budget. The LS10X is their budget wired Xbox-centric offering, and despite its more than reasonable price you’re still going to be basking in some seriously good audio.
This being an Xbox headset, the colour scheme is a match for the monolithic Series X and its black aesthetic. There’s not even any flashes of the green stuff here, so if you’re looking for something more understated this is the perfect headset for you. It connects via a 1.2 metre 3.5mm cable, which is just the right length for sticking into a controller – it’ll work with PS5, Mobile, Stadia and Switch too – though it won’t be long enough for most PC setups.
The clear concession to the budget price is the all-plastic build. The earcups are extremely light, and the headband is wholly plastic, including the adjustable sliders. However, it certainly feels strong and sturdy enough. It’s withstood not just my testing, but that of my 10-year-old son whose previous headset crumbled into dust after a couple of months with him in charge of it. The LS10X has suffered no similar fate, and remains resolutely in one piece after many weeks of use.
The advantage of this is that the weight is delightfully low. This is a headset that you can wear for many many hours without it getting you down. Despite a slight lack of padding on the headband, the earpieces’ faux-leather is soft and comfortable, and thanks to the light amount of clamping, I never found my ears becoming too hot.
As a budget headset there’s a definite lack of frills here, with the left earcup playing host to a single dial around the rim and a mic mute button if you push down the centre. In terms of intuitive controls, LucidSound have had this one nailed for a number of years, and turning the whole of the outer earpiece feels smooth and immediate. There is an LED to show whether or not the mic is muted, which I suppose is just about one solitary frill.
You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the audio the LS10X is capable of producing. Its 50mm drivers are hefty enough to pump out some serious bass, but they’re capable of picking out the details in music, movies and games well enough. The bass is close to the border of overwhelming, but it never crosses that line, making this a good one for those that really want some bang for their buck.
You’d think that the plastic build quality would allow some noise bleed – and it does, but mainly outwards. Your loved ones will be able to hear what you’re playing or listening to, but not to a detrimental level. Of course, you won’t be able to hear them complaining about it anyway, thanks to a decent level of passive noise isolation.
The LS10X boasts a twin pair of microphones, giving you two options for chatting to people you actually want to talk to. There’s a mic built into the body which is perfect for taking calls when you’re out and about on your mobile device, assuming it’s got a 3.5mm socket. When you’re getting serious, there’s a detachable boom mic with a flexible arm that stays put once you’ve decided where you want it. The chat output is a little thin, but more than clear enough for friends to hear your terrible Rainbow Six tactics for the umpteenth time.
Any of the headset’s weaknesses will obviously be tempered by the budget pricing. There’s an RRP of just £50 for the LS10X, but you can pick one up for as low as £32 if you shop around. For that price, I’m sure you can accept the plastic build and thin-sounding boom mic.
