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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Turtle Beach biggest strength: Amplified stereo sound with a fixed bass boost, 50mm full-range drivers and an in-line amplifier that puts mic mute and volume controls right on the cable.
• Turtle Beach biggest trade-off: It's a wired, Xbox 360-era gaming headset with a 2.5mm jack, no active noise control, and no call button or smartphone mic controls.
• Big R XLMA733W biggest strength: Comfort-first design — quilted leather headband and ear cups, plush breathable cushions, and an inline call answer button with a built-in microphone.
• Big R XLMA733W biggest trade-off: No amplification, no bass boost, and no gaming-specific chat controls — it's a straightforward 3.5mm listening headphone.
• Who Turtle Beach is for: Gamers who want loud, bass-heavy game audio and quick in-line control on an Xbox 360.
• Who Big R XLMA733W is for: Big-head listeners who want an over-ear pair for music, movies and phone calls on a phone or tablet.
The Turtle Beach Ear Force XL1 is built around one idea: making game audio feel big. The 50mm full-range speakers are the centerpiece here — that's a large driver, and Turtle Beach pairs it with a fixed bass boost in the amplifier so explosions, engines and low-end rumble come through with extra weight. If you've ever played a shooter with thin, tinny sound, the XL1's amplified stereo is aimed squarely at fixing that.
The in-line amplifier is the part I'd point a big-headed buyer toward. Instead of digging through menus, you get volume and mic mute controls sitting on the cable, plus microphone monitoring so you can hear your own voice in the headset rather than shouting. The ear cups are described as oversized circumaural with round over-ear cushions — that's the shape that tends to sit around a larger head rather than pressing on it. At 250g it's a light headset on paper.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to listen on a modern phone. The jack is 2.5mm, the connection is wired, there's no noise control, and there's no call button or smartphone microphone. This is a gaming-first, Xbox 360-first product. If your main use is music on a commute, it's the wrong tool.
The Big R XLMA733W takes the opposite approach: it's a comfort and everyday-listening headphone. The quilted leather headband and ear cups with chrome rings give it a more furniture-like look, and the plush cushions are covered in ultra-soft breathable material designed to keep your ears cooler over long stretches. For someone with a big head, that breathable cushion design matters — heat and pressure build up fast when ear cups sit tight.
It's also the more phone-friendly of the two. The cable has a built-in call answer button and microphone, so you can take or end a call without pulling out your device. Big R lists it as made for iPod, iPhone and iPad, and it uses a standard 3.5mm jack, which is the connector most phones, tablets and laptops still accept. The frequency range is 20Hz–20,000Hz, the full-range span you'd expect for music and video.
The trade-offs are real, though. There's no amplifier and no bass boost, so it won't push the same heavy low-end as the Turtle Beach. It's also listed at 1.4 pounds, which is noticeably heavier than the Turtle Beach's 250g — a spec worth weighing if you wear headphones for hours. And there are no gaming chat controls, so it isn't the pick for Xbox 360 voice chat.
• Best for big-head comfort over long sessions → Big R XLMA733W. Breathable plush cushions and a quilted leather headband are designed around extended wear.
• Lightest on the head → Turtle Beach. At 250g it's the lighter spec of the two, which helps during marathon gaming.
• Best for Xbox 360 gaming and voice chat → Turtle Beach. Amplified stereo, mic monitoring, mic mute and an in-line amplifier are all gaming features.
• Best for phone calls and music → Big R XLMA733W. The call answer button and microphone on the cable make it a daily-listening headphone.
• Best for bass-heavy, cinematic sound → Turtle Beach. A fixed bass boost plus 50mm drivers is the low-end-forward setup.
• Best for modern devices → Big R XLMA733W. A 3.5mm jack fits phones, tablets and laptops; the Turtle Beach uses a 2.5mm jack.
• Best for wired simplicity with no extras → Big R XLMA733W. No amp, no batteries, no gaming software — just plug in and listen.
• Best for portable storage → Big R XLMA733W. It ships with a rigid bamboo storage box and a bamboo cleaning cloth.
In my opinion, the deciding factor is what you plug into. If you're an Xbox 360 gamer who wants amplified, bass-boosted game audio with chat controls right on the cable, I'd buy the Turtle Beach Ear Force XL1 — its 50mm drivers and in-line amplifier are purpose-built for that job, and it's the lighter headset.
If you want one over-ear pair for music, movies and calls on a phone or tablet, and comfort on a bigger head is your priority, I'd buy the Big R XLMA733W instead. The breathable cushions, call button and 3.5mm jack make it the more versatile everyday headphone — just accept the extra weight and the lack of bass boost.
FAQ
what are good headphones for big heads
what are the best headphones for big heads
In my opinion the best fit depends on your device. For Xbox 360 gaming, the Turtle Beach Ear Force XL1's 50mm drivers, bass boost and in-line amplifier make it the stronger choice. For phone calls and music, the Big R XLMA733W's call answer button, 3.5mm jack and breathable cushions make it the better all-rounder.
what headphones are good for people with big heads
Over-ear models with generous, soft ear cups tend to work best. The Turtle Beach offers round over-ear cushions and a light 250g build, while the Big R XLMA733W adds breathable cushion covers and a quilted leather headband for cooler, longer wear. Both are wired, so neither needs charging.
which headphones are best for big heads
There's no single answer, but the specs point clearly. Choose the Turtle Beach if you want amplified gaming audio and chat controls. Choose the Big R XLMA733W if you want comfort-first listening with a mic and call button on a standard 3.5mm connection. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the two serve different jobs.
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