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Which gaming headsets are worth buying?
We may call them "video games," but audio plays a big part in the experience too. Good music and sound effects can set the mood, immerse us in the story and alert us to impending danger. But all of this could easily be hampered by crappy speakers or a surfeit of background noise, making a quality headset key to an ideal gaming experience. Do you need surround sound, or can stereo do the job just fine? And how much is good audio quality worth? We've scoured the market to find the best headsets available now to fit the needs of both hard-core and casual gamers.
Tritton Kunai headset ships to chatty PS3 and PS Vita gamers
There are plenty of gaming headsets, but only so many specifically tuned to the PlayStation audience that aren't made by Sony itself. Mad Catz' Tritton label has just shipped a version of its Kunai wired headset optimized for both the PS3 and the PS Vita that might redress that (admittedly minor) deficit. About the only real customization for Vita owners is the option for a shorter 3-foot cord, but PS3 owners can plug in through USB and adjust voice volume independently from the gunshots and explosions. Regardless of which game console the Kunai links to, there's a modest 25Hz to 20KHz headphone frequency range and few frills aside from a detachable boom microphone. Tritton is mostly counting on the price to lure us in, which just might work -- at $60, berating players in-game with a Kunai will cost as much as one of the games themselves.
Tritton Warhead 7.1 two-way headset for Xbox 360 now shipping
Companies are no strangers to superlatives where new kit is concerned and Mad Catz is definitely no exception. With the release of its newest flagship, the Tritton Warhead 7.1, the outfit's claiming a novelty in the Xbox 360 space, labeling these cans as the "first... to deliver two-way communication" without the need for wires or controller adapters. Made specifically for Microsoft's green X gaming platform, the pair of 50mm drivers pump out Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound over a 5.8GHz channel for up to 33ft of interference-free smack talk. The headset also offers gamers the ability to monitor their in-ear voice levels (SVM), control the volume of other players, as well as select EQ presets for a variety of media playback. And just so you never have to press pause to keep the friendly banter (read: cusses) flowing, the company's bundled in a dock and pair of of Li-ion batteries for "hot-swappable" recharging. These over-ears are available now for a cool $299 at BestBuy and the company's own site, so if you take your first-person action seriously, prepare to part with a few Benjamins. Official presser after the break.
Tritton's Pro+ 5.1 headset goes up for pre-order, promises gamers 'true 5.1' for $200
Thought Tritton was satisfied with only pumping out Xbox-licensed gaming headsets in the last year? Fret not ye' PS3 and PC gamers, instead, say hello to its latest cross-platform unit, the AX Pro+. Although its color scheme is similar to the Dolby Headphone-enabled AX 720 virtual surround sound headset, the moniker pits it as a follow up to the AX Pro. Like its predecessor, the Pro+ sports a trio of drivers and one subwoofer in each of its earcups, aiming to offer "true 5.1 surround sound." Among other design tweaks, its cups can rotate flat for added comfort (a sorely missed feature on the original), and the drivers have been repositioned for "superior surround sound separation and improved bass response." An included Dolby decoder box handles its connections, while the headset's inline remote allows you to adjust each driver's individual volume level, the balance of game / voice audio, and enable voice monitoring through its detachable mic. Better yet, the whole setup is powered by one wall plug, rather than two as was the annoyance with the older model. Discrete 5.1 headsets haven't impressed us in the past, but you can pre-order the Pro+ for $200 from Tritton if you're willing to give its cramped surround sound setup a try during Call of Duty fragging sessions come this September.
Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review
This is for sure: if you're a gamer seeking a primo wireless surround sound headset, now is a very good time to buy. It's been less than two weeks since Astro Gaming's A50 wireless surround headset impressively traversed the Engadget review gauntlet, and now the crazy kitties that are Mad Catz and Tritton are up for a turn. It's taken the duo well over a year and a half to get its full range of Microsoft-licensed Xbox 360 headsets off the ground, with the flagship Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset set to hit shelves in just a few days. Aside from packing some innovative and exclusive features for Xbox 360 users, it stands as the only totally integrated wireless headset for the system -- for the first time you won't need a pesky controller-to-headset cable or a controller-mounted Bluetooth dongle for voice chat. We've been fortunate enough to get an early look at this $300 Dolby Headphone-enabled headset, so join us past the break and we'll let you know whether it's been worth the wait -- or whether it's too much, too late. %Gallery-161720%
Mad Catz outfits Future Soldiers with Ghost Recon peripherals
Wearing a sheet with eyeholes is a great way to look like a ghost, but isn't terribly advantageous for gaming. Luckily, Mad Catz is providing a more sensible way to outfit yourself like a Ghost while you play Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.This May, the accessory company will launch a Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Pro GamePad and an official 7.1 Surround Sound Headset for both PS3 and Xbox. Both accessories have cool skull logos on them, and both of them light up. That would look really spooky under a sheet.%Gallery-152219%
Mad Catz/Tritton's Primer gaming headset arriving this week, we go ears-on
With these gamer cans ready to bask in their full Xbox-certified glory in stores this week, we took the chance to hit up Tritton's stand here at CES to try on its Primer. Despite the call-center employee appearance [above], the earphones are relatively comfortable, although the head band seemed a bit tight. While the Primer offers a 33 foot reception radius, we found its limits of receiving audio were closer to 40 feet. The mic arm is flexible, with the adjustable headband affording a certain degree of customization. Despite the $100 price tag, Tritton fans looking for something more subtle than recent efforts will be happy -- just don't walk around a conference hall kitted out in it. Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Mad Catz ships the Primer wireless headset for Xbox
Mad Catz has announced that it has shipped the Primer wireless headset. Sold under the Tritton brand, the stereo headset is notable in that it is the first officially licensed wireless headset for the Xbox 360. Nearly identical in appearance to Tritton's Detonator headset -- minus the cables, plus a "base station" -- the Primer utilizes 5.8GHz wireless tech, which purportedly cuts down on interference from appliances, phones and the like. It's also worth noting that it will work only with the Xbox 360, so keep that in mind before plunking down the $100 asking price.
Mad Catz / Tritton ship 5.8 Ghz wireless headset for Xbox 360, dub it Primer
If the exclusive third-party manufacturer of wireless Xbox 360 didn't have enough options for you, Mad Catz and Tritton just unleashed another. The outfit's latest set of gaming cans, the Primer, features two 40mm drivers, separate volume controls for game and voice and proprietary 5.8 Ghz wireless digs for superior audio clarity. Sound like a good fit? They'll set you back $100. Read on for a short, but official, press release.
Tritton's latest Bluetooth headset lands at the FCC, hopes to find refuge with PS3 owners
No, that isn't some robotic fingernail -- it's MadCatz / Tritton's latest Bluetooth headset, which has just made its way through the FCC's underground bunker. Geared for audio chat on the PS3, the "Wireless Headset featuring Bluetooth technology," as it's not-so-creatively dubbed, is the apparent successor to the company's late AX Micro. A quick perusal of its manual confirms that aside from the science fiction-eqsue looks, the unit is essentially an average Bluetooth earpiece. Over the past few months, Tritton's been heavily catering to the Xbox 360 crowd with a smattering of officially licensed gaming headsets, so it's a pleasant surprise to see that Blu-ray spinning gamers are still getting a some love. Is this a taste of what's to come from MadCatz at this year's CES? You can be sure we'll find out once we hit the show floor in the coming days, but for now, check out the gallery below for a better look.
Tritton's $50 Trigger headset now shipping, lets budget-minded FPS players keep their wallets fat
It's been about a month since MadCatz began shipping the first of its four Tritton and Xbox 360 co-branded headsets (the $80 Devastator), and today the company's announced that its $50 Trigger variant is now officially traversing mail routes. At a glance, it's nearly identical to the Devastator, offering stereo sound via a wired connection, but that 30 dollar price decrease comes with a trimmed-down feature set -- there's no Selective Voice Monitoring functionality, it packs smaller 40mm drivers (from 50mm), its in-line remote packs volume rollers in place of buttons and there's no mention of PMP-compatibility. Basically, the Trigger's apparently aimed squarely at uping your in-game audio without breaking the bank -- not to mention that it's especially tempting if you've just splurged on the latest Modern Warfare and Battlefield titles. As usual, you'll find more info at the source link below and the full press release after the break.
MadCatz's Tritton Detonator now shipping, detonating
We've all been there: It's 3 am, the guys you share your tiny studio apartment with are zonked out after a hard day's hack-sackin' down on the quad, but you'll be awake for another 6 hours, at least. Now, thanks to the Tritton Detonator from MadCatz and Microsoft, your bitter, sleep-deprived roommates will only hear the sound of your frantic stick waggling and trigger flicking, as opposed to the gunfire and chainsaws they normally have to deal with. The Detonator is the first in a series of official 360 headphones, and its $80 entry fee delivers a USB cord, stereo sound, a detachable boom mic, voice monitoring capabilities and an in-line volume control for the whole kit-n-caboodle. Its big brother, the wireless, Dolby 7.1 rocking WarHead, is still reportedly on track for a holiday release, although we expect that model to cost a bit closer to the self-imposed $300 limit MadCatz mentioned when the headphones were announced.
MadCatz now shipping Tritton Detonator headset, official Xbox 360 stereo sound for $80
PS3 owners have been sportin' their own official gaming headset for a few weeks, and now -- after months of teasing -- Mad Catz is finally granting Xbox 360 owners a similar privilege. The company's announced that its Tritton / Microsoft co-branded Detonator Stereo USB gaming headset is available and shipping, priced at $80. Positioned as the first of a trio of its upcoming headsets -- including its wireless brethren, the stereo Devastator and Dolby 7.1 Warhead -- the Detonator keeps it to the FPS-pwning essentials. The cans are loaded with massive 50mm drivers and along its cord you'll find an inline remote for adjusting game / chat volume, voice monitoring and mic muting. Impressively, aside from its detachable boom mic, the inline controller is also removeable, allowing you plug straight into your PMP when you're done trash talkin' on Xbox Live. We're still anxiously waiting for the Warhead (scheduled to ship this holiday season), but if wired stereo is your thing, hit the PR past the break for more info.
Mad Catz announces a set of Gears of War 3 headsets
Did you miss the Mad Catz Throat Communicator? It's coming back, though this time your throat will be saying what's on its mind through a Gears of War 3-branded mic instead of one bearing the Modern Warfare 2 logo. In addition to laryngeal accoutrements, Mad Catz will also offer Gears-branded accessories for your ears this holiday season, in the form of a "Performance Stereo Headset" and a "Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound Headset." All three are available for pre-order from Mad Catz's online store, and all three have skulls on them.
Mad Catz gears up for Gears of War with branded audio gear... gear.
When Gears of War 3 lands in September you'll be able to pick yourself up a special edition Xbox 360. If you've already got an Xbox though, you don't have to skip out on the branded accessories game completely. Mad Catz has you covered with a trio licensed goodies, including a throat communicator, a stereo gaming headset and a 7.1 surround sound headset all decked out in the iconic blood-red and black of the franchise. The special edition of the surround sound set (above) is actually just a slightly updated version of the company's Tritton AX720 headgear with a new decoder box and an extra two channels of sound. Those who want to shout at their opponents without donning bulky ear-wear will likely gravitate towards the throat communicator. All three will launch alongside GOW3 on September 20 for $30, $100, and $180 respectively. You can pre-order now at the more coverage link but, before you go, there's a pair of pics and some PR after the break.
Mad Catz co-branded Xbox 360 / Tritton headsets: eyes-on, ears-off
You don't nab the exclusive rights to create Xbox 360 branded headphones and not put some theoretical hutzpah into it: at E3 this week, Mad Catz is showing off a trio of co-branded Tritton / Xbox 360 cans, or at least a trio of fragile plastic facsimiles. These three mock-ups the Catz crew showed us represent the physical design of the Warhead, Devastator, and Detonator models of the co-branded line of headsets -- sporting wireless Dobly 7.1 surround sound, wireless analog, and USB connectivity, respectively. While all three models promise a slew of special sound features, the two wireless models have an exclusive shine: Xbox 360 microphone support without tethering themselves to the console's controller or using a chat dongle. Not that we got to hear for ourselves; the mock-ups were non-functional, and fragile enough that show staff wasn't feeling our enthusiasm for an ears-on demo. Still, we could dig ditching headset-to-controller leashes. Check out the gallery below to see all the bells, whistles, and switches, or hit the break for some meaty PR. %Gallery-125710%
MadCatz launching 'WarHead' and other fancy Xbox 360 headsets
Hey, Mad Catz ... maybe "WarHead" isn't the best name for something that goes on your head. We kind of don't want war on our heads. But despite the name, Mad Catz's new Xbox 360 headset range might find a receptive audience. These are the first fruits of the company's wireless headset deal. Mad Catz's audio-focused subsidiary Tritton is introducing a line of 360 headsets, including the wireless WarHead 7.1 and Devastator, and the "entry-level" wired Detonator. The WarHead has 7.1-channel Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II, and Dolby Headphone audio; the other two are stereo-only. The two wireless sets include a base station that connects to the Xbox through USB and either optical or RCA audio connections. Those base stations allow audio to be shared among four headsets, if you're in the middle of a weirdly antisocial gathering. IGN notes that all three should be out before the end of the year, and none of them should exceed $300 in price. Hey, we just remembered that sometimes headphones cost more than $300! That's an even less appealing thought than putting a "WarHead" on our heads.
Mad Catz' exclusive Xbox 360 wireless headphones revealed: integrated voice chat, 5.8GHz base station
Remember how Mad Catz scored the exclusive rights to produce Xbox 360 wireless headphones? Here's the deal: these cans don't need to be tethered to your controller for voice chat or plugged into a wall to charge. According to IGN, the new Mad Catz Warhead 7.1 will get everything it needs from a base station connected to your console. String USB and optical cables directly from the Xbox 360 to that tiny tower above, and you'll reportedly get enough 5.8GHz bandwidth to deliver virtual Dolby surround sound to four pairs of headphones at once -- plus wireless Xbox LIVE audio chat thanks to some native support from Microsoft. What's more, the USB base station will also give you an on-screen battery readout, and if the Warhead runs out of juice, you'll find a second swappable battery pack sitting in the base station's charger. If that sounds too rich for your blood, the Devastator will ditch the surround sound and rechargeable batteries while retaining the same connectivity and 50mm drivers of its premium brother. How much that'll cost you is still to be determined, though Mad Catz told IGN they'll all ring up under $300 this holiday.
Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones
The crazy kitties over at Mad Catz have signed yet another licensing agreement to further sink their claws into the world of gaming peripherals -- they've just sealed a deal with Microsoft to be the exclusive supplier of Xbox 360 wireless headphones, as well as non-exclusive rights for wired 360 headphones. All products under the agreement will bear the Xbox logo, as well as the signature "T" from Mad Catz's recently acquired Tritton series, but don't go out looking for them anytime soon -- these cats won't mark their territory until Christmas 2011.
Mad Catz to produce wireless 360 headphones for Microsoft
Mad Catz has announced that it's partnering with Microsoft to produce the first "wireless, licensed and co-branded headphones" for the Xbox 360. The headphones will be manufactured under the Tritton brand and will come in both stereo and Dolby 5.1 varieties. They should hit the shelves in time for the 2011 holiday season. The press release is short on other details, though hopefully the headphones will pack Microsoft's proprietary wireless tech, allowing them to circumvent the cumbersome setup required by Tritton's current 360 compatible headsets. Like, if the new headsets don't have two AC adapters, that would be great.