The little communication headset the Microsoft bundles with its Xbox One console is what we call a throw-away accessory. It does a bare minimum — usually not very well — at the lowest possible price, and costs the manufacturer next to nothing. In this case, the little communication headset will let gamers chat with their friends, but it does not play game audio and, frankly, it isn’t very comfortable for extended use.
Though the XO One is Turtle Beach’s “entry-level” gaming headset, it will outperform most contenders in the sound quality department alone (save, perhaps, Polk’s Striker series). Add on convenient features such as game/chat audio balance, bass boost, variable mic monitoring, and a detachable microphone, and you’ve got a high-value product on your ears.