Ending months of anticipation in the XBOX 360 gaming community, Turtle Beach today announced that gamers can finally get their hands on the newest addition to its growing line of gaming headphones—the Ear Force X4. Positioned as the most advanced wireless headphones ever developed for console gaming, the X4 creates the definitive audio environment for playing popular XBOX 360 titles such as Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty 4 and Guitar Hero by integrating Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound with XBOX Live® Chat and other unique gaming features.

Like its predecessor the Ear Force X3, the new X4 lets XBOX gamers concentrate on their game-play by hearing every nuance while avoiding the distraction of any noise around them. The X4 takes this a step further with Dolby 5.1 surround sound that ignites the XBOX 360 experience with realistic positional sound cues emanating from all around the player. By combining Dolby 5.1 surround sound game audio, XBOX Live online chat and the freedom to move wirelessly around the room, the Ear Force X4 delivers the privacy, realism, and competitive edge that previously was unattainable on the Xbox 360 platform—an unprecedented industry first.

“Our previous generation of wireless XBOX 360 headphones improved XBOX gaming by combining enhanced stereo game sound with XBOX Live chat, for a personal experience that isn’t possible with speakers and an XBOX Communicator,” said Mike Carducci, Marketing Manager for Turtle Beach. “The addition of Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound in our new X4 expands the game action all around you. Unlike stereo headphones, you can hear every 3D sound cue as you communicate with teammates whose voices are inside your head. This, in addition to the other game-centric enhancements, such as Chat Boost™, mic monitoring and so on, makes us confident that the X4 will become a must-have accessory for serious XBOX 360 gamers.”

The Ear Force X4 incorporates unique features designed to enhance XBOX 360 gaming, including:

Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound: A digital signal processor (DSP) decodes Dolby Digital audio streams from the XBOX 360 via an optical connection to create 5.1 channel surround-sound that seems as if it is playing on speakers located around the headphones.

Dolby Pro Logic II:The DSP also decodes Dolby Pro Logic II signal sources and expands stereo signals into a wider sound field that seems to originate from outside of the headphones.

Bass Boost: The headphones incorporate a bass-boost feature that produces deep, rich bass tones by increasing the volume of low frequency sounds – just like turning up the sub-woofer on a home theater system.

Chat Boost™ Dynamic Talkback Expander: The headphones automatically adjust incoming XBOX Live chat levels during loud game moments, so chat from teammates isn’t lost in exciting parts of the game play. When the game volume quiets down, the chat level smoothly returns to the normal volume setting.

Automatic Shut-Off: The headphones are designed for long battery life and automatically shut off after a few minutes of inactivity to conserve battery power. The package includes two long-lasting AA batteries.

Microphone Monitoring: When wearing headphones, people can’t hear themselves speak, so they tend to talk louder (and louder, and louder). By mixing a portion of the microphone signal into the headphone signal, the X4 headphones let you hear your own voice along with the online chat and game audio—so you’ll only shout when you want to.

Premium Sound: While most headphones utilize 40mm speaker drivers, the X4 headphones are designed for premium sound with oversized, high-fidelity, 50mm drivers powered by low distortion DC-coupled amplifiers that deliver smooth, deep rich bass sounds and crisp high frequencies to make game sounds come alive.

New Headphone and Transmitter Design: Engineered for long gaming sessions, the redesigned headphones incorporate oversized ear cups, a cushioned, adjustable headband, soft, deep, velvet ear pads and tilting ear cups to fit the contours of the head. The microphone is also removable, so it won’t get in the way when you’re not using the XBOX Live chat feature. The new transmitter serves as a convenient headphone stand and has an increased transmission range.

Analog and Digital inputs: A digital optical input connects to the XBOX 360 for the highest-quality audio. A digital optical output allows connection to a home theater system for simultaneously using the X4 headphones and home theater speakers. Analog stereo inputs let you use the headphones for listening to MP3 players, TV audio or other analog sources.

Although primarily designed for Xbox 360 gaming, the Ear Force X4 is also compatible with other gaming consoles (note that the integrated microphone works only with the 360) and can also be used as a home-theater accessory for enjoying DVDs in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, watching TV or listening to music.

The Ear Force X4 headphones are available at major gaming retailers for an MSRP of $199.95, and at www.turtlebeach.com.