Turtle Beach Ear Force PX21 User manual

Gaming Headset for

PlayStation®3, XBOX 360®

and PC Gaming

User’s Guide

Package Contents

• PX21 headset with ampliﬁer

• Stereo RCA adapter cable

• Controller cable for XBOX LIVE®

• This User’s Guide

For more products, accessories and ourproduct

support knowledgebase, please visit

TurtleBeach.com

Forwarranty information, please visit http://turtlebeach.com/support

FCC Caution:

Any changes or modiﬁcations not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could

void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-

ence, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

This product is CE marked according to the provisions of the R&TTE Directive (99/5/EC)

Grantee Code/Reg Number: XGB/GC229855

FCC Code: XGB-TB2130

Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.

without prior written consent from Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. Turtle Beach, the Turtle Beach logo, Voyetra, Ear Force and

Chat Boost are either trademarks or registered trademarks of VTB. Playstation and PS3 are either trademarks or regis-

tered trademarks of Sony Corporation. Windows, Vista, XBOX, XBOX 360 and XBOX LIVE are registered trademarks of

Microsoft Corporation. Apple and Mac are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their

respective companies and are hereby acknowledged. Product features, visual design, package contents and speciﬁca-

tions are subject to change without notice. Made in China. Product# TBS-2130 V2

Page 2

The Ear Force PX21 is a universal gaming headset that’s compatible with the

PS3™, XBOX 360 and Mac®/Windows®PCs. The PX21 pushes your gaming

experience to a new level with superior stereo sound and crystal-clear com-

munication over PlayStation Network (PSN), XBOX LIVE or online PC gaming.

By combining chat with stereo game audio, the PX21 lets you hear the voices

of online players together with the game sound, without the need for external

speakers and a communicator headset.

1. Be careful when turning up the master volume control on the amplier.

Before placing the headphones over your ears, set the volume control to

minimum, then slowly increase until you reach a comfortable level.

2. Like any speakers, overdriving headphones may cause damage to both

the headset and your ears. Please listen at moderate levels.

3. WARNING: Long term exposure to loud music or other sounds in a headset

may cause hearing damage. It is best to avoid extreme volume levels when

using a headset, especially for extended periods.

Over time, your ears adapt to loud volume levels, so a level that may not

cause initial discomfort may still damage your hearing.

If you experience ringing in your ears after using the headset, it means the

volume is set too loud. The louder the volume is set, the less time it takes to

affect your hearing. So, please take care to listen at moderate levels.

Turn down the volume if you can’t hear people speaking near you.

Avoid turning up the volume to block out noisy surroundings.

About the PX21 Headset

Important Information

Avoid Hearing Damage

Page 3

These instructions show how to set up the PX21 using the standard A/V

cables included with the PS3 so you can listen to the game sound on either

the PX21 or the TV speakers.

These instructions show how to set up the PX21 with the PS3 A/V cables and

an HDMI cable for HD video. The connections are identical to the standard

set up, except the composite video (yellow RCA plug) is replaced by the HDMI

video connection.

Connecting the PX21 Using the Standard PS3™ A/V Cables

Connecting the PX21 to a PS3 with HDMI

ChatGame

Bass Expander Mic

Mute

Chat

Boost

Step 1

HD TV

Step 2

Step 2 (optional)

Step 4

Step 3

Step 5

Connect the PS3 audio cables (red/

white) to the PX21 splitter cable

(red/white).

Connect the PS3 audio cables

(red/white) to the PX21 splitter

cable (red/white).

Connect the PX21 splitter cable (red/

white) to the TV audio input.

Connect the PX21 splitter

cable (red/white) to the

TV audio input.

Insert the PX21 USB

connector to a USB

port on the PS3.

Insert the PX21 USB

connector to a USB

port on the PS3.

Connect the PX21

splitter cable (green) to

the PX21 audio cable

(green).

Connect the PX21

splitter cable (green)

to the PX21 audio

cable (green).

Connect the PS3

video output plug

(yellow) to your TV’s

video input RCA jack

(yellow).

Connect one end of

the HDMI cable to

the PS3 HDMI output

and the other end to

the TV.

PLEASE NOTE: You will have to change the PS3 video

output to HDMI in the Settings menu. (Settings >

Display Settings > Video Output Settings > HDMI).

USB/Power

Video

(yellow)

not used

HDMI

Audio

(red/white)

Audio

(red/white)

Video

(yellow)

Chat Game

BassExpanderMic

Mute

Chat

Boost

Page 4

Chat Game

BassExpander Mic

Mute

Chat

Boost

ChatGame

Bass ExpanderMic

Mute

Chat

Boost

IMPORTANT: In order to hear other players you must make sure that the

following is configured in the PS3 Settings:

IMPORTANT: In order to hear game audio in the PX21 headset, you must

make sure that the following is congured in the PS3 Settings:

Step 1

After powering on the PS3, go to

“Settings” → “Accessory Settings”

→ “Audio Device Settings”.

Step 2

Click on “Input Device” and select

“Turtle Beach USB Headset” from

the options.

Step 3

Click on “Output Device” and select

“Turtle Beach USB Headset” from the options.

Step 4

Click on “Microphone Level” and adjust the level of your chat output so

that the bar graph barely reaches the red area when you speak loudly.

Click “OK” to save.

Step 1

After powering on the PS3, go to

“Settings” → “Sound Settings” →

“Audio Output Settings”.

Step 2

Select ”Audio Input Connector /

SCART / AV Multi” to send the

audio output to the PX21.

Step 3

Press “X” to save this setting.

If you are using the PS3’s HDMI or

digital (optical) output to send audio

to your TV or external speakers, skip

Steps 1 through 3 above. Instead

turn on the Audio Multi Output in

your PS3. (“Settings” → “Sound

Settings” → “Audio Multi-Output”).

This will allow you to use the stan-

dard PS3 AV cable simultaneously

with an HDMI or digital (optical)

audio output.

Conguring the PS3 Chat Settings

Conguring the PS3 Audio Settings

Page 5

Use the included cables to connect the headset, XBOX®and TV (or sound

system) as shown. This lets you hear the XBOX with either the TV or the PX21

headset.

These instructions show how to set up the PX21 with the optional XBOX HD AV

cable (purchased separately) and an HDMI cable for HD video. The standard

AV cable with composite video is replaced by the HDMI video connection.

Connecting the PX21 to the XBOX 360

Connecting the PX21 to an XBOX 360 with HDMI

Chat Game

Bass Expander Mic

Mute

Chat

Boost

Step 1

HD TV

Step 2

Step 4

Step 3

Step 5

Connect the XBOX audio cables

(red/white) to the PX21 splitter

cable (red/white).

Connect the HDMI cable from

the XBOX to the TV.

Connect the PX21 splitter

cable (red/white) to the

TV audio input.

Connect the

XBOX HD AV

cable to the

XBOX.

Insert the PX21 USB connector

to a USB port on the XBOX.

Insert the PX21 USB connector

to a USB port on the XBOX.

Connect the PX21

splitter cable (green)

to the PX21 audio

cable (green).

Connect the PX21

splitter cable (green)

to the PX21 audio

cable (green).

Connect the XBOX

video output plug

(yellow) to the TV

video input RCA jack

(yellow).

Connect one end of the HDMI

cable to the XBOX HDMI output

and the other end to the TV.

USB/Power

Audio

(red/white)

HDMI

Audio

(red/white)

Video

(yellow)

Chat Game

Bass ExpanderMic

Mute

Chat

Boost

Page 6

The headset microphone lets you communicate with other players during XBOX

LIVE multiplayer gaming sessions. The included talkback cable connects the

headset to the XBOX controller as illustrated below.

Balancing Game and Chat Levels

The amplifier Game volume sets the game sound level. The amplifier

Chat volume adjusts the level of incoming chat from other players on

XBOX LIVE. Adjusting these two volume controls lets you balance the

game sound and chat voices during an XBOX LIVE session.

Setting Up XBOX LIVE Chat

Step 1

Step 2

Insert the straight plug into the

mic output on the amplier.

Audio cable to PS3

Talkback

Cable

XBOX Game

Controller

Insert the right angle

plug into the jack on

the XBOX controller.

ChatGame

Bass Expander Mic

Mute

Chat

Boost

XBOX LIVE is a subscription feature offered with the XBOX 360 that lets

you communicate with other players via the internet. To use this feature,

connect the PX21 amplier to the XBOX controller as described in the

previous section, then congure the XBOX LIVE feature as described below.

Step 1

Press the center XBOX button on your

controller to bring up the Dashboard.

Step 2

Navigate right to the Settings tab and

scroll down to “Preferences” from the

menu. Press the “A” button.

Step 3

On the Preferences screen, select the

“Voice” option and Press “A”.

Step 4

Select the “Play Through Headset” option and set the Volume to 10.

Conguring the PS3 Audio Settings

Page 7

When used as a PC gaming headset, the PX21 functions as two independent

headsets in one package:

Amplied Stereo Headphones: The green 3.5mm plug is used for sending the

stereo game signal from the PC sound card to the PX21 headphone amplier

so you can hear game sounds, music and other sounds from your PC. The

overall volume level is set by the Game volume control on the PX21 amplier.

USB Stereo Headset: The USB connection is used for mic and chat signals and

appears as “Turtle Beach USB Headset” in Windows operating systems. This

lets you assign the PX21 mic and chat in your game software as a USB audio

device. You can set the microphone and chat levels independently with the

Windows mixer software, as described below. After conguring these volume

settings, you can set the chat level with the Chat volume control on the PX21

amplier. Note that each time you disconnect the PX21 from the USB port, the

volume settings described below may revert back to their default settings. As

such, you might have to go back and set them again each time you remove

and insert the PX21 USB connector.

Connecting the PX21 to a PC or Laptop

3.5mm audio

plug (green) USB

Chat Game

BassExpanderMic

Mute

Chat

Boost

Page 8

1. Insert the green 3.5mm plug

into the sound card or headphone

output. This connects the stereo

output signal to the PX21 amplier

so you can set the level with the

Game volume control.

2. Insert the PX21 USB connector

into a USB port on your PC or lap-

top. After Windows indicates that

it found a new USB audio device,

click on Start → Control Panel →

Sounds and Audio Devices.

3. In the dialog box (shown here),

click on the Audio tab. Note the

device that’s selected under the

Playback and Recording menus,

as you may want to set these back

once you’re done setting up the

PX21.

4. Select “Turtle Beach USB Headset” in the pull down menus for Sound

Playback and Sound Recording. You can change these back to the original

settings after you’re done setting the PX21 volume levels.

5. Click on the Volume button in the Sound Playback section to activate the

mixer panel (shown here).

6. Click on Options → Properties

in the top menu. In the dialog

box, click on Playback and check

Speaker, WAV and Microphone.

This determines which volume

controls will appear in the mixer.

Click OK to activate the playback

mixer (shown here).

7. Turn up the Speaker and Wave

volume sliders to maximum.

These determine the level of chat

you hear in the PX21. Since the

PX21 has a Chat volume control

on the amplier, setting these to

maximum allows you to adjust

the incoming chat volume on the

amplier without having to access these mixer controls.

Windows XP Setup Procedure

Page 9

8. The Microphone slider on the far right of this mixer panel determines

the volume of your voice heard in the PX21 speakers as you speak into

the mic. Since the PX21 has a built-in mic monitor, you should turn this

volume slider down to minimum or mute it. Or, if you want to hear more

of your voice in the headset, turn up this volume to the desired setting.

Keep in mind that increasing this volume will also increase the sound

level picked up by the mic, so you will hear more ambient sounds as well

as your voice.

9. Go back to the Sounds and Audio Devices dialog

box and click on the Volume button in the Sound Re-

cording section to activate the mic recording volume

slider (shown here). This determines how loud your

voice will sound when you speak to others online.

Set the slider to about 50%. If you nd that your

voice isn’t loud enough, move the slider up (or move

it down if your voice is too loud.)

10. Position the mic several inches away from your

mouth so it doesn’t overload when you speak. Try

balancing the mic position and the volume setting

for optimum voice level.

11. After you’re done setting up the proper levels,

go back to the Sounds and Audio Devices dialog box

and set the default audio devices for playback and

recording back to their original settings if you don’t

want the PX21 USB headset to be the default device

for Windows sounds.

12. Close the open dialog boxes and the PX21 USB headset should now be

ready for use in chat programs such as Skype®, Ventrilo™, Teamspeak®, etc.

Windows XP Setup Procedure (cont’d)

Page 10

[Windows 7-specic instructions are in

italics]

1. Insert the 3.5mm green plug into the

sound card or headphone output. This

connects the stereo output signal to the

PX21 amplier so you can set the level

with the Game Volume control.

2. Insert the PX21 USB connector into

a USB port. After Windows indicates

that it found a new USB audio device,

click on Start (circular Windows logo) →

Control Panel → [Win7: Hardware and

Sound] → Sound.

3. In the dialog box (shown here), click

the Playback tab, right-click “Turtle

Beach USB Headset” and select “Set as

Default Device”. A green circle with a

check mark will appear to indicate that

this is now your default sound device.

(If the green circle is already indicating

that the PX21 is selected, skip to the

next step).

4. Under the Recording tab, right-click

on “Turtle Beach USB Headset” and se-

lect “Set as Default Device” [Win7: and

“Set as Default Communications Device”].

A green circle with a microphone icon

will appear to indicate that this is now

your default communication device. (If

the green circle is already indicating that

the PX21 is selected, skip to the next

step).

5. [Win7: Under the Communications

tab, select “Do Nothing”].

6. Under the Playback tab, double-click

on “USB Audio Device” to bring up the

Speakers Properties mixer panel.

7. Click on the Levels tab.

8. Set the Speakers slider to maximum.

This, along with the Chat dial on the PX21

amplier, will determine the level of chat

you hear in the PX21.

Windows Vista®& Windows 7 Setup Procedure

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