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As an Xbox 360 exclusive device, setup with the Warhead is beautifully simple. The headset and accompanying base station click together with ease. The base station serves as a receiver, to get it going you just plug in its AC adapter and connect it to your Xbox via optical port (or through an included adapter if you're using an older model console.
Also, RCA cables are included for connecting directly to older televisions). Once that's done, connecting the headset works just like syncing a controller, just hit sync on the console and sync on the headset and you're ready to experience 7.1 sound.
Audio quality
With Dolby 7.1 surround sound and 50mm drivers, the Warhead produces wide and powerful audio. There are three equalizer presets, Games, Movies and Music, to help you get the most out of the headset's mixing capabilities. They're easily cycled through with a button on the right earpiece, and different colored LEDs on the base station denote each setting. Lighting up green, red and blue, they're easy to identify all the way from the couch.
To describe the Warhead's audio quality in broad terms, it's something of a Jack of all trades. Each preset performed admirably, proving the Warhead to be versatile enough for gaming, watching a DVD or Netflix or blasting your favorite album.
The 7.1 mix especially shined through, providing an immersive gaming and movie watching experience, and complex, layered sound for music. It has all the booming bass you need for a nuclear detonation or a classic hip hop track.
However, while it's capable of thundering, enveloping sound, it sometimes lacked fidelity. There were moments where dialog felt dampened, distant or not all that clear. We'd be tempted to forgive this, since the Warhead's wireless signal is so strong, but at $300 it's hard not to expect better.
The Warhead proved itself capable enough in the audio department. Its mix presets help it achieve a wide range of uses, something any user would want at such a high price point. While serious audiophiles won't find it good enough for music and movie watching, for the average user who wants to have a surround sound gaming experience, have an action movie rattle their dental work, or just stay up late watching Netflix without annoying their spouse or roommates will get their money's worth.
