Turtle Beach X41 - Loose Chat Cable fix.

Something for the guys who use Turtle Beach X41 headsets.

A while back I started getting reports of problems with voice output from the chat mic on my X41s and in recent days some really bad general noise as well.

Almost since new the chat cable has been a loose sort of fit in the headset, but it always worked ok. Over time the fit has become looser due to wear and tear. I thought this would probably be the reason behind the problem.

The Turtle Beach website suggests using a rubber band to hold the cable in place and get a replacement cable. That didn't seem like the right thing to do, for me. Because the problem seems to be loosness in the RCA socket in the headset, not the cable jack which doesn't show any wear.

So I decided to try a mod on the headset RCA socket as a way to fix the problem.

What I did was:

- Remove the ear cushion from the left (the side with the RCA socket) headphone casing. The cushion is a slip on fit over the plastic body of the headphone, so I simply pulled the cushion retaining band over the plastic flange that holds it in place. No tools and not much effort required.

- The speaker side of the headphone is retained by 3 small phillips head screws. I removed the screws and CAREFULLY lifted the speaker from the headphone casing. There are thin wires connecting the speaker to the PCB in the casing so handle the parts with care to reduce the chance of breaking a wire or connection.

Ear cushion and speaker retaining screws removed.


- With the speaker removed you can see the RCA socket, which is actually a small plastic part with 3 slots which have gold plated tabs fitted in them. The gold tabs are the contacts for the RCA jack.

Speaker removed, the pen is pointing at the RCA socket.


I then used a very small screw driver and applied a little pressure inward on each of the gold tabs so they would apply more pressure to the jack when it is inserted in the hole in the socket. DO THIS CAREFULLY, if you apply too much pressure the tabs can be deformed too much and the jack won't go into the socket anymore.
You can test if you've applied enough pressure to the tabs by checking how much pressure is required to insert the jack, before and after you've done the fix.
I adjusted mine so that light but firm pressure is required to insert the jack.

- When you have the above done, refit the speaker and the ear cushion on the headphone casing.

Job done.

I tested my headset afterward and was told the chat side is working well, clear voice and no noise.

If you'r having chat problems with a Turtle Beach headset, you might want to try this fix before spending money on a replacement.

ANd no pictures... wolf you are slipping up ol' mate.

Good tip though.

nice Wolfy! cheers will give it a shot

I need to mention ANYONE with X41's (or any Turtle Beaches) and using them with a Fanatec Wheel.

The mic is boosted when plugged into the wheel.

Every one else in the lobbie can hear every clutch push/gear change in the game chat. It will also pick up the sound of your engine if playing through the TV/Stereo.

Without sounding like a Sad Panda - this can/is very distracting for anyone else in the lobbie making it almost impossible to concentrate (or hear your own engine over the perpetrator at times)

A simple suggestion to fix this is duct tape/cable tie/attach some thicker foam around the Mic mouth piece (stuff from a foam matters perhaps) to dampen the sensitivity of the mic.

I thought it would be worth mentioning as it can be awkward saying "can you mute your mic" to people whilst racing.

Dazza4610 wrote:ANd no pictures... wolf you are slipping up ol' mate.

Good tip though.

And that from someone who doesn't even use a Turtle Beach headset!

So, I took the headset apart again for a photo shoot and pics have been added to the OP.

If anyone needs more help than that, maybe you should let someone else do it for you.

Dazza4610 wrote:ANd no pictures... wolf you are slipping up ol' mate.

Good tip though.

no no wolfie, Dazza meant picture of the Grip Girls from the F1, not those boring X41's things.

seriously, good work mate. Will give it ago shortly.


RU

NoRecoil wrote:I need to mention ANYONE with X41's (or any Turtle Beaches) and using them with a Fanatec Wheel.

The mic is boosted when plugged into the wheel.

Every one else in the lobbie can hear every clutch push/gear change in the game chat. It will also pick up the sound of your engine if playing through the TV/Stereo.

Without sounding like a Sad Panda - this can/is very distracting for anyone else in the lobbie making it almost impossible to concentrate (or hear your own engine over the perpetrator at times)

A simple suggestion to fix this is duct tape/cable tie/attach some thicker foam around the Mic mouth piece (stuff from a foam matters perhaps) to dampen the sensitivity of the mic.

I thought it would be worth mentioning as it can be awkward saying "can you mute your mic" to people whilst racing.

gee,

didn't realise that, sure Ive heard the odd gear clicking online, but put that down to someone using the Kinect mic. My experience is its only seems to be from one user and I know i race with a few TB & Fanatec users.

well sorry guys if ya had to put up with my click, was having good fun with the H patten in the EVO v WRX series.

Is that with everyone, who uses a TB & Fanatec wheel?

sorry t hi-jack your thread wolfie, but Id be interested to know what guys generally hear online from TB and Fanatec users

RU

I use fantec wheel and TB and the other night I had Rinkly mention it sounded like I was yelling, yet I had the Mic folded up at side of my head along where the band goes.
The couple of nights earlier I also had the monitor sound on (apologies to you all for that), but I could hardly hear the monitor sound the volume was set so low when not wearing the headsets, so yeah the mic does appear to be extremely sensitive.

I think it depends on what turtle beach headset you have, the TB's do have a sensitive mic but the X41's and above also have a chat levelling feature that shouldnt have the user sounding like fog horn leg horn like some, the other turtle beach headsets ecspecially the x21's and like do seem to be very loud in chat and pick up alot of extra noises for some reason.

I know RU and Wolfie use Fanatec wheels with TB x41's i think and have raced with them in series events and never had any problem with there voice chat or excessive noise from there end or anything else.

Nice write up and good fix iWolf.