LucidSound LS100X Review

In a competitive gaming environment, headsets are the unsung heroes that elevate the playing experience to the next level. Hearing exactly where an enemy is before seeing them and planning an appropriate approach makes all the difference between victory and defeat. Having a proper set that can convey the necessary information is more readily available now than ever before with so many options and brands.

LucidSound, a still relatively newer brand debuted on the scene back in 2016 and has since released a number of headsets across multiple platforms. LucidSound offerings have always held their own against more established brands like Astro, Razer, and Turtle Beach. And in the mid-range market particularly, LucidSound offers fantastic value for the feature set provided. The LS100X for Xbox, PC and Mobile is the latest offering from the company and a set to keep an ear out for in a mixed-usage setup!

Aesthetics And Build Quality

LucidSound LS100X

$79.99 $99.99 Save $20

Pros

Good Sound For Its Price Point
Multi Device Cabable
Insane Battery Life
Comfortable To Use For Extended Periods

Cons

Requires A Dedicated Receiver For Xbox
Audio Can Be Flat For Music And Movies
Occasional Audio Delay With Bluetooth

$79.99 at Amazon

LucidSound LS100X ear cup logos and details

The LS100X presents itself as a good entry to mid-tier level headset, and it is reflected in the minimalist design. The entire frame is made out of strong plastic while the ear cups and headband are memory foam wrapped in a nice leatherette finish. The outside of the headband and ear cups employ a nice smooth finish with a cool textured center to offset it. LucidSound branding makes an appearance along both ear cups and the top of the headband. The black-and-white color scheme tops off the overall look!

The set is extremely lightweight and gives a false impression that it is weak or poorly built. Despite the plastic frame, the set maintains a good level of flexibility, ensuring it will work for players of varying head sizes. Ear cups have an excellent rotation range to further maintain comfort. Finally, the adjustment bars have 7 distinct heights and firmly stay in place once changed. Everyday wear and tear prove little problem and an exaggerated number of drops and tumbles have yet to break it.

To maintain a sense of minimalism, the LS100X utilizes rotating sliders/buttons on each ear to adjust volume, audio mixing, and muting the mic and audio. Two smaller buttons control power and equalizer while a USB-C port allows users to charge the internal batteries. A 3.5 mm jack is recessed into the frame for connecting the detachable boom mic. The boom mic is flexible and allows for easy positioning during use. The tip of the mic itself also features a red LED that turns on when the mic is muted. A cover can be placed over the port when the mic is removed.

Specs And Audio Quality

LucidSound LS100X ear cup and headband padding

The LS100X has the following listed specs.

Compatibility	Mobile, Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox One, Xbox Series X\|S
Connectivity	2.4GHz Wireless with USB Adapter, Bluetooth 5.2
Color	Black
Battery Life	Up to 130 hours via Bluetooth. Up to 72 hours via Wireless USB Adapter.
Ear Cup Shape	Over-ear (circumaural)
EQ Modes	Bass Boost, FPS, Signature Sound
Sound Space	Spatial Sound with Windows Sonic, Stereo
Speaker Size	50mm
Frequency Response	20-20,000 Hz
Impedance	32 ohms
Wireless Range	Up to 100 feet (with Wireless USB Adapter)
Headset Weight	273g / 9.6oz

Overall sound quality for the LS100X matches its $100 price tag. Mids, highs, and lows all get represented and are distinct enough with the bass having a decent punch. Unfortunately, regardless of the set's three equalizer settings, signature sound, bass boost, or fps mode, sound can come through on the flat side. Listening to music or movies is where it is most noticeable but thankfully during games, it is less pronounced. Again, this is a pretty average result in this price range. It is also worth noting that sound quality remains consistent across both of the LS100X's connection methods.

Usage

Average sound quality aside, the LS100X excels in its ability to be used for multiple purposes and has insane battery life. With the included USB receiver, the headset can be seamlessly integrated into use with a PC, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S with a mode toggle present on the receiver to select the proper device. During use, the headset has an operating range of 100 feet, ensuring no audio drops even when grabbing a drink from the fridge. Throughout testing, not a single audio drop occurred, range or console related, which is more than can be said for a wired headset running through an Xbox controller.

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Audio levels are easily adjustable on the fly with the sliders on each ear cup. Not having to navigate any menus to change voice chat and game levels is always a plus. The LS100X is further bolstered by its ability to make use of spatial sound options. Both PC and Xbox consoles give players access to Windows Sonic, a free spatial sound option. Dolby Atmos for Headphones or Dolby DTS Headphone:X is also available for an additional licensing fee. Utilizing any of these options offers clear advantages in competitive titles.

In Apex Legends for example, desperate to get off a shield bat after a painful 2v3 encounter, the distinctive steps of another team coming for the third party ring through the halls. The battery completes in time and an ideal piece of cover waits just a mere meter away. Stealthily moving into position, charged and ready, the enemy blunders into the trap for the easiest squad wipe of all time. But the victory was only possible thanks to the early warning signs given by good positional audio from the spatial sound virtualization.

While shooters are easy to point to for the advantages of spatial sound, any number of titles benefit greatly from survival horror to adventure games. Even without using spatial sound, hearing more environmental sounds to enhance immersion has always been a key aspect of using a headset and the plain stereo offering from the LS100X has proven to be on point. But with the option freely available to use, just enable spatial sound for the best possible experience. Now, about that battery life. When using the included USB receiver the LS100X lasts a staggering 72 hours before needing a charge. Since receiving the headset in December it has only been charged once as of this review.

Swapping to Bluetooth communication sees the LS100X further blow away its intended price point. While many headsets offer mixed usage these days, few do so at this price. Being able to seamlessly swap between playing games to heading out the door is highly convenient and the set's minimal design doesn't make it look awkward to do so. The sound quality is again about average for the price point but should be more than serviceable for most users. The equalizer button can even activate a phone's assistant, allowing for commands to be given with the headset's built-in mic.

Thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth, most devices capable of using the communication method should have no problem pairing with the LS100X. Having tested it with an Android phone, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and PS5, the results have been pleasing. Sadly the typical spatial sound options are not available while in Bluetooth mode. Battery life does however see a significant jump up to a staggering 130 hours of usability!

As for the two mic options the LS100X has to offer, both can be described as passable. The built-in mic is meant for voice commands and quick phone calls, so the quality is noticeably lower than the detachable boom mic. The boom mic does come with increased quality making it perfect for in-game comms. It isn't something to use to record a video or podcast though. When in use, both mics have monitoring available, so players can hear themselves as they talk.

What It Could Have Done Better

Though the LS100X has proven to be a capable headset and well worth it's $100 asking price, it can occasionally suffer from audio delay during Bluetooth mode. It isn’t often enough to make it a deal-breaker but hearing a delay from what is happening on screen is never fun. The need for a USB dongle is another potential turn-off when options like the LS35X can connect directly to the Xbox consoles using Microsoft’s wireless protocols. The longevity of the set could also be called into question with its fully plastic frame. The area around the adjustment bars in particular could see degradation over time with prolonged use.

Verdict

The LucidSound LS100X makes a good name for itself being a capable $100 wireless headset that offers sound quality on par with its price point. It makes an even better name for itself by offering up additional Bluetooth connectivity extending its uses beyond what is marketed! Spatial sound offerings on PC and Xbox further elevate the LS100X into an effective competitive headset with positional audio on par with higher-tier sets. All of this combined with a lightweight frame making it easy to use for hours on end and a battery life that can last up to 3 weeks of moderate use, there is a lot to love in LucidSound's offering!