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When we approached PDP's Afterglow AG7 Wireless Xbox One Headset for review, we were skeptical that it would be able to deliver on all of its promises. Since a wired headset with stellar audio quality usually runs around $100, it's hard to believe a model that incorporates wireless functionality could survive without sacrificing at least one defining characteristic of a great headset. The good news is that, while the audio quality might not cut it for everyone, the Afterglow AG 7 is a reliable budget headset that succeeds at most of what it sets out to do.
Getting the AG 7 synced up with an Xbox One is easy as pie. Once the flash-drive-sized transmitter is plugged into a USB port on the console, just hold in a button on the side of the headset and you're in business. It's truly that simple. We did run into a couple baffling occurrences where audio wasn't being sent to the headset, but inserting a paperclip into the pin-hole on the transmitter was all that was needed to get things back to normal. Furthermore, the wireless range is fairly impressive, as we were able to be a couple rooms away before the connection became unstable. The box says that the range reaches up to 40 feet, and we have no evidence to support that number is inaccurate in any way.
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All of the controls for the headset are on the left side of the unit. There are two dials: one for master volume and the other for balancing the mix of game audio and chat. Because these dials are very close to one another, it can be tough to make a quick change during gameplay without feeling around for which is which. It's something you get use to, but it's still slightly annoying. When it comes to buttons, there's a large easy-to-find power button on the face of the earpiece that serves multiple purposes: holding it in toggles power on/off, and briefly pressing it while the unit is powered up mutes and unmutes the microphone. Just below the power button is a mode button that activates bass boost, something you're likely to keep active if you want the fullest possible audio experience.
When it comes to audio quality, the AG 7 is at its best for games where music isn't fighting sound effects for center stage and is instead used in an atmospheric manner. For example, playing Batman: Arkham Knight with bass boost activated made for an impressive listening experience. From the low-end-driven roar emitted by the Batmobile, the rushing wind that resists Batman's cape, the random enemy chatter, and the mounting orchestral score, there's a range of sounds that weave through the speakers in an encompassing, surround sound-like manner – even though this isn't a surround sound headset. In other games where the music is loud and crowding all frequencies, the audio quality can be slightly less impressive. If guitars are present, it sometimes sounds as if the mid-range is a touch overwhelmed\overloaded, and the higher the volume, the more minor crunch and fuzz become prevalent.
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But considering every feature of the AG 7, the audio quality certainly does the trick and provides a massive improvement over the speakers on a modern flat-panel television. If you're an utter audiophile that wants a crisp, dynamic, clear listening experience at high volumes, springing for a higher-end surround sound headset with an amplifier is probably the way to go. But that's not what the AG 7 is about. This is a headset that wants to offer all the basics at a reasonable price, and that's what it does. Plus, it actually sounds pretty spectacular in the right circumstances.
There is one concern, however, that may deter anyone heavily involved in online play, and that's the volume of your voice in Party Chat. Even with party members maxing out the volumes on their headsets, it seems the AG 7 broadcasts voices at a lower volume than most other headsets do. Despite the retractable microphone extended as far as possible, it never felt as aligned with our mouth as it should've been, which could potentially lend to this issue. Our gaming companions said they could hear us enough to respond to what we were saying, but they had to struggle to listen closely at times when there was any other type of sound interference. It goes without saying that this may be a deal-breaker for many people, but if you're not one for playing online on a regular basis, it shouldn't make much of a difference to you.
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Comfort is usually a major concern for anyone that games for long periods of time, and the AG 7 performs moderately well in this area. If you're known for having a somewhat large head or ears (like this reviewer), you may find the headset to have a bit too much grip or that the ear cushioning doesn't quite fit around your entire ear. Our ear lobe remained slightly outside of the opening, which lent to some discomfort after a half hour or so – but a quick readjustment often alleviated any irritation. Otherwise, the padding and weight of the AG 7 will likely accommodate most people just fine. It should be noted that the headset doesn't rest casually around necks due to its snug grip. It's a trivial point to be sure, but we imagine it'll bother certain customers that regularly remove their headsets to interact with others in their household.
Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the AG 7 is the superb battery life. The initial charge that the unit held straight out of the box felt like it lasted forever; it wasn't until a day or two ago that the thing finally needed a recharge, and that's somewhat shocking considering we had bass boost active majority of the time. Charging is done with a USB cord, and it's a fairly painless process. You can wear the headset while it's being juiced up, but keep in mind that you'll need a cord that's the right length for your living room or gaming space – a 6ft cable comes in the box. Unfortunately, it seems the USB cord and the transmitter both need to be plugged into the Xbox One for the headset to simultaneously transmit/receive audio and charge, so be prepared to keep the transmitter plugged into the back of the console to leave the USB jack on the side available for when you need easy access.
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Not only can the AG 7 be used with your Xbox One, it also comes with an auxiliary cable that allows it to be plugged into any 3.5mm headphone port. During our review session, we had it hooked up to an iPhone 5, iPhone 6, Surface Pro 3, and a PC with zero complications. It's unfortunate that bass boost doesn't work when using it this way, since the unit isn't utilizing power when not hooked up to the Xbox, but it's nice to have the option to use the headset for other purposes. The limitations of the audio quality are most apparent in these circumstances, especially when listening to rock music, but it's likely a much better option than any cheap earbuds you have sitting around.
All in all, we recommend the Afterglow AG 7 to anyone looking for a considerable improvement over their television speakers or the cheap headset that came packed in with the Xbox One. There are definitely compromises to be made, but for the money, the AG 7 does many things really well. Sadly, the soft volume of outgoing voice communication is a concern, so if you're seeking a product for intense online play, you're best off researching higher-end models or possibly going with a wired headset that focuses on audio\mic quality instead of all the other bells and whistles.
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