Back when the world was normal, I was able to try out the Creative SXFI Gamer headset at CES 2020, and after five minutes of making fun of its name (it's really SEXY-FI), I was able to see the full-featured, virtual surround sound for only $130. I remember leaving the demo with an almost favorable impression of Creative's ability to make premium gaming headsets.

Creative's Super X-Fi technology, which permeates the company's entire audio product line, was also used in the gaming headset. Essentially, Super X-Fi uses digital wizardry to create a sound profile specifically tailored to you based on the shape of your ears and head, while simultaneously simulating the experience of being surrounded by lots of high-end speakers.

To set this up, you need to scan your head and ears using an app on your smartphone. Then, using the same profile, one logs into the desktop app on the PC and uploads the results directly to the headset. The process is a bit haphazard (taking ear photos is easier said than done), but the end result is slightly better audio performance than the headset's standard Super X-Fi profile.

The headset's SXFI button toggles between Super X-Fi and Battle mode; Super X-Fi is a personalized virtual surround setting suitable for music and movies, while Battle mode is ideal for gaming.

The 50mm neodymium drivers provide good bass in both stereo and surround sound modes. I heard Jaden's ICON with a nice mix of percussion and bass, and Audioslave's Be Yourself also mixed things up a bit to highlight the vocals. Again, Creative's audio is an overall great music listening experience and can easily compete with the more expensive headsets on the market.

Battle Mode is another positional audio setting for gaming. While I am skeptical of 3D audio for games, I have found that in Call of Duty Warzone, I can easily locate different players, especially in crowded starting areas like the stadium, which is one of the most hectic areas on the map this season. Battle mode seems to prioritize footsteps, gunfire, and targets in shooters; in both Warzone and Apex Legends, loot boxes seem to be louder and easier to find.

You would think that a gaming headset with a name like SXFI Gamer would drive you up the wall with its looks, but SXFI Gamer does the opposite, with a more subtle and, dare I say, tasteful design. It features a dark leather-look headband and ear cups with easy-to-reach controls and circular RGB lighting on both sides. The soft foam earcups are comfortable, and the adjustable slider numbers are a clever idea to make sure they are always where you need them to be. 13]

I found the removable microphone to be loud and clear most of the time. The only problem was that my voice was too quiet and sounded too much like an AM radio station. If you are serious about streaming, you may want to consider purchasing a USB microphone, but for regular game communications it is adequate.

Creative's claim that the CommanderMic microphone is the best gaming headset was a bit too bold. I like that disposition of headset makers, but the CommanderMic, while good, is really nothing special.

One curious thing about the mic is the red light near the tip. This cannot be turned off. It blinks when muted and stays on when hot. It seems like a design oversight, but having it constantly on in view and the red light flashing makes me reasonably uneasy. In the end, I stuffed the microphone in a scratch-free spot in my desk and it was fine after that.

The lack of wireless support seems a bit odd, as the Gamer's price point is close to the killer wireless gaming headset offerings. However, the ability to connect via USB-C (which is always welcome) and 3.5mm audio to other devices such as tablets and gaming consoles makes the headphones quite versatile.

Despite a name that makes you want to roll your eyes in the back of your head, the SXFI Gamer is an impressive all-around headset that is not offensively flashy, with decent positional audio for under $150. The lack of wireless support is unfortunate, and that inexplicably annoying red light on the microphone drove me nuts. Still, I would gladly recommend Creative's headset because of its great sound and comfortable design.