LucidSound LS50X Review: ‘Premium Form Over Premium Function’

LUCIDSOUND LS50X REVIEW FOR XBOX SERIES X|S AND XBOX ONE.

LucidSound has a new flagship gaming headset, the LS50X, which aims to be “the ultimate Xbox headset.” It boasts dual wireless functionality with support for simultaneous Bluetooth, a premium design and feel, and the potential for high-end sound with the tried-and-true 50 mm drivers. However, at $200, this gaming headset is pitting itself against a lot of capable competitors. Does it hold up? This is my LucidSound LS50X review.

Impressive build

LucidSound nails the unboxing experience of its flagship products. The LS50X comes with everything a user could need, with a removable boom mic, a cover for the mic port when not in use, the USB dongle, a USB cable, a 3.5 mm wire, instructions, a fantastic hard travel case, and the headset itself. Two thumbs up from me here for the first impression.

The positive impressions continue when handling the headset for the first time. It feels nice to the touch, with premium materials. The earpads are chunky and seem high-quality with a cooling gel combining with the memory foam in a good way.

When straining the headset a little, by expanding the headband and twisting a little, I do hear some creaking that doesn’t fill me with confidence. I think the LS50X is just one of those headsets that you’ll want to take care of, which is thankfully pretty easy as it comes included with a legitimately useful hard case.

Connecting the LS50X to an Xbox is done through the dongle. Some may be surprised by the need to use up a USB port, as other headsets can connect without a dongle. Pairing works flawlessly and I’ve had no disconnection issues so far throughout my testing.

Loud but not proud

Once connected, it’s time to fine-tune the audio settings. For those who like 7.1 VSS, the option for Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos is there. However, I find the artificial expansion a little too much, especially when you consider how great games have gotten at stereo production.

When stock, I found the sound a little muddy. Bass is certainly powerful, but to an often overwhelming degree when playing shooters or games with lots of explosions and gunfire. This makes it tricky to pinpoint enemy locations, through footsteps and verbal cues, which isn’t ideal for playing competitively.

The five EQ modes can help a little with this. There’s Bass Boost, Movie Mode, Music Mode, Flat EQ, and Signature Sound. Given my issue with the stock performance, I stuck with Flat EQ for the majority of my testing.

Ultimately, I came away a little disappointed by the listening experience. There’s certainly volume there, as the LS50X can get super loud, and I think bass addicts will be happy, but it’s missing the twinkle and clarity that I need in a daily driver headset.

Meh mic

The speakers aren’t the only audio-related weakness, as the LS50X also has a poor-quality microphone. While it’s functional and will be fine for in-game chat, it’s definitely back of the pack when compared to other similarly-priced headsets.

It’s a shame that the mic is so poor, as the simultaneous support for both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth is fantastic. With a better microphone, I’d be more than happy connecting the headset to both my Xbox and phone, with the latter taking calls and, most importantly, allowing me to chat in Discord.

With so many games implementing cross-play, in which players from different platforms can play with one another, but poor-quality voice chat, being able to turn to Discord is extremely helpful. That’s where simultaneous wireless comes in most useful, I find, so it’s great to see LucidSound recognizing that.

Touching grass

Being able to turn to Bluetooth or 3.5 mm to connect to a phone or other portable device makes it possible to use the LS50X outside of the house. I think the design is subtle enough for this, though that’s ultimately up to the wearer. It’s nice when gaming headsets don’t go too “gamer” in their look, as it often limits where they can be used without drawing attention.

Throughout my testing, I suffered no discomfort when wearing the LS50X. It’s not the lightest headset out there, but it sits on the head pleasantly enough and without introducing any niggles. The earpads deserve a special shout-out as they feel great, though larger-eared folks may find the holes a little tight.

Lastly, I want to mention the controls, as I think they are wonderful. There are two massive volume wheels on the outside of each earcup which work flawlessly. The side of each earcup can be pushed in for various functions. I love this implementation and it makes changing volume and settings on the fly, in the midst of a virtual battle or when using the headset out and about in the real world, so much easier.

LucidSound LS50X Review: The final verdict

At $199.99, the LucidSound LS50X is situated way above mid-range competitors, which is a shame. Though the premium materials feel great and the simultaneous wireless is successful, the overall sound quality doesn’t deliver on what I expect for $200, especially when you factor in the microphone.

I wouldn’t write the LS50X off entirely, however, as Xbox users could find enough to like here with regards to comfort, build, and the passable sound provided the price is low enough. I’d wait on a sale if you’re thinking about snapping these up, however.

LS50X gaming headset review unit was provided by LucidSound.