Ben Heck's mystery product revealed to be Audio FX Pro 5+1 headset

After teasing us for a couple of months, modder extraordinaire (and Engadget contributor) Ben Heckendorn has finally taken the wraps off his mystery commercial product, now revealed to be a gaming headset. Dubbed the Audio FX Pro 5+1, the USB (non-wireless) headset opts for an old school look but packs its share of newfangled features, including internal motors for some force feedback action, along with some virtual 5.1 surround sound. As a bonus, Ben Heck's also responsible for the product's packaging, which includes some copy you're not likely to find anywhere else ("hear the cries of dying noobs with perfect digital clarity"), not to mention some faithfully reproduced bullet holes that Ben himself created in a fit of rage inspiration. As promised, the headset also comes in at under $100 ($80, specifically), and is available for pre-order from eDimensional now, although there's no word yet on when it'll ship.

[Via Joystiq]

[Johannes @ Jun 6th 2007 11:30AM]

looks nice. not so sure about the FF, but hey, it's a "HeckSet". Pardon the pun...

[Matt @ Jun 6th 2007 4:25PM]

I agree about the FF, I'd definitely have to test these puppies out before plunking down 80 bucks.

[Christian Martin @ Jun 6th 2007 12:08PM]

My wife and I both have a set of "Force Feedback" 'phones from eDimensional we bought about a year ago. They're not as bad as one might think. The vibration is subtle enough not to rattle your braincage and give you a headache but still just strong enough to add an interesting dimension to games/music. *If* Ben's set here is following suit (and judging from the product links, this looks to be the case), the response is triggered by bass and not actual events, unless those events have low-frequency sounds associated.

[Simon P @ Jun 6th 2007 11:30AM]

....and he also fit a wii in the left headphone, a ps3 in the right and stretched a 360 through the headband. The mic dispenses coffee/liquor per player preference.

[daschupa @ Jun 6th 2007 11:32AM]

It's true, these things are so good that you can perfectly hear the nation of engadget users crying in unison, "WTF?"

[Myrmidon @ Jun 6th 2007 12:49PM]

I TOTALLY agree. What a letdown from the 'King of Portablization' - Headphones!!! What?

[Johannes @ Jun 6th 2007 11:33AM]

Also, I'm not so sure how it's gonna hold up against this baby:
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/akr8/home.aspx

[riggs @ Jun 6th 2007 11:40AM]

ben's my modding hero, and i can understand the retro look, but those look really ugly :(, a modern look shouldve been made as well.

[dude @ Jun 6th 2007 12:01PM]

Wow the tutrtle beach ones posted by Johannes look really tempting O_O. These eh maybe, they are rather cheap.

[Aaron @ Jun 6th 2007 12:04PM]

They look comfortable and not at a bad price point. While I don't mind the retro look, it would be nice if they came in other color choices than than really retro, and IMHO opinion ugly, brown (and maybe they do or will?).

[Quizzle @ Jun 6th 2007 12:13PM]

I have the old version of these and they're horrible.


1. the ear piece kills my ear.
2. the FF is a gimmick, after a few minutes you'll turn it off.

Just a horrible set of headphones, they give me a headache for some reason, must be the design.

[Christian Martin @ Jun 6th 2007 12:24PM]

The cups are a little abusive on some ears. And admittedly, we bought them mainly because the woman on the front of the package with the caption "Vibration is Awesome!" was hilarious.

[Peet @ Jun 6th 2007 12:13PM]

now if it would only work with my 360

[Revrant2394 @ Jun 6th 2007 1:03PM]

Ditch the rumble part of the original eDimensional headset and it's a good quality headset, quite comfortable too, if NewEgg hadn't stopped carrying them when my cord got yanked on a bit too much, I'd probably still be using them.

[StormyPA @ Jun 6th 2007 1:27PM]

God, those are hideous. And what is the deal with all of these companies coming out with the same EXACT headset, and claiming that they've created something new? Those are simply a reskin of the Altec Lansing AHS-515. Clearly there are a bunch of companies simply buying product from a Chinese OEM and slapping logos/brands on them. Come on Engadget, it's not THAT hard to do a little research. And Virtual 5.1 'Surroundz Around Soundz'? Ugh, can someone please just come out with an authentic Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Headphone processor already?

[StormyPA @ Jun 6th 2007 1:43PM]

Yup, turns out that's the MHP-615. You can purchase them from the ATO Headphone company in Shenzhen, China for about $6 in bulk. Yuck.

[Jesse S @ Jun 6th 2007 4:13PM]

Disappointing.

Not to mention I'm an audiophile, so a USB headset is not going anywhere near my computer.

I mean, really, this is sad.

[Drew @ Jun 6th 2007 4:40PM]

Hmmm.. anyone else notice the uncanny similarity to the old Skullcandy G.I. headphones? http://www.weatherconnection.com/product.asp?itmky=763026

[Johannes @ Jun 6th 2007 6:43PM]

What you smoking mate? They look nothing like them! The only similarity linking the two is that they deliver sound to your eardrums. The Skullcandy product are headphones, not a headset with a mic attached, right?

[kyle allen @ Jun 6th 2007 8:07PM]

... not what i was expecting, but its still cool

[Z dubs @ Jun 6th 2007 10:24PM]

I saw this in a video interview last week.

[Steven @ Jun 7th 2007 5:40PM]

Does anyone know of of a headset like this that would work with a PS2/3? You know, pipe chat and game sound through the set at the same time?

[StormyPA @ Jun 8th 2007 1:31PM]

Nope, they wouldn't. For that you need a mixer, like the one found in the Astro Gaming A40 Audio System. (www.astrogaming.com)

[Jonny @ Jun 10th 2007 10:19PM]

I'll stick with my Razer Barracudas thanks.

These look like junk, and are hella expensive.

[RJ @ Feb 11th 2008 3:54PM]

while the retro look of these if kinda cool...I think I'll stick to my Tritton's...plus, I hear Tritton has a new wireless 5.1 headset coming out soon...if I'm gunna buy another set, it'll be wireless for sure.