As a sidenote I have watched just about every youtube video, read every gaming website review, and scanned through every forum in my search for audio bliss. This is the cumulation of my knowledge and experiences.
Originally I had wanted an all in one processor for DTS and Dolby Digital with a simulated surround sound. I watch most movies and play most games at night, and was trying to "kill a few birds with one stone" on this one. After round 1 of extensive research I settled on the Sennheiser RS130s. I bought two sets. The sound was pretty good. I could not detect ANY simulated surround, but for watching movies the dialogue was VERY bright and enjoyable. In addition there was no interference with my Wii or PS3 due to the RF and the charging system was a good setup. Unfortunately, the wireless was also the problem. I tried switching through every single channel and resetting the base unit. I consistently got a weird "modem" buzzing and clicking sound in the background. Some people might be able to overlook it, but I definitely could not. Back they went and back I went to burning my eyes reading everything online.
Round 2 I decided to bite the bullet, and ordered the Sony MDR-DS7000 headphones from Japan, complete with a second set of phones. They cost me a pretty penny. Once they arrived I tested the voltage coming through the adapter from Japan and found it was much higher than the 9V required for the processor and phones when plugged into a US 120V outlet. After shelling out another $120 for 3 adapters from the Sony MDR-DS6000 series available in the US (courtesy of Sony Style) I was finally able to make sure I hadn't been ripped off from overseas. (The headphones each use 1 adapter to charge the lithium ion batteries. The 3rd is for the Processor.) I was quite satisfied to learn that my bluray, ps3 and wii could all be connected to the same unit. Also, the sound was absolutely crystal clear without a single beep or incoming fax noise. Lord of the Rings sounded great and the VPT surround sound cinema mode made the movie sound like it was being played in a large theatre room. Pretty cool, but not really the "surround sound" I had hoped for. Still....it was an improvement from the Sennheisers. And so I proceeded for a few months before deciding that I'd like to get a system more suitable for the PS3. The large hall effect didn't really seem like it was cutting it anymore. So I considered: Should I try ordering the newly improved MDR-DS7100? Hmm...probably not since they just increased the battery life by 3 hours, and increased the drivers from 40mm to 50mm. The surround effect would be the same. I also considered the Pioneer SE-Dir800c once again, but decided against it based on a few factors. The headphones break in nearly 60% of consumer reviews at a swivel point, the batteries (AA) must be charged separately from the unit, the system only has 1 fiber optic input, and additional headphones are only sold in Japan (unless you want to buy a 2nd transmitter as well). It seemed like a lot of trouble, even though I've read almost 2 million times by now that Dolby Headphone technology is vastly superior to Sony's Virtual Phone Technology. And so we come to Round 3: The Tritton Ax Pros.
A long time ago, before my head was filled with all sorts of useless information on headphones, I owned the Tritton AxPros. This was back when people cared less about how they sounded and more about getting sent the wrong set from Amazon or having to look for places to plug in 2 adapters. OMG! 2 adapters! Yeah...I have a surge protector...not a big deal. Back in those times I was very impressed with the quality of the Trittons for 3d mapping in games. Resistance: Fall of Man and other games from way back in the long long ago sounded significantly better when played through the headphones. The only problem was that finding the proper EQ was a pain and my neck felt like I was wearing Rampage Jackson's chains around my neck after playing. After contacting customer service and adjusting the delay to +10, and decreasing the rear speaker and sub (which felt like it would blow out my eardrum on normal) I was satisfied. Looking back I can safely say that my complete satisfaction was, in part, due to my lack of anything to compare sound quality towards. Fast forward to now. After not quite getting the full experience from the Sony headphones, I decided to repurchase the "newly improved" Tritton Axpros I had been so fond of. When I got my new set I looked over it for a long time. The AC adapter is definitely "cheaper" than both of the older ones (lighter less durable plastic), even though there is now only 1. The break-away cable is a good feature, although you still have to roll it up the same as if you just disconnected it from the decoder box. The microphone has gotten a MUCH needed improvement and is now rubberized/bendable and works a lot better. The headphones still shine a halloween orange glow through the Tritton logo. They also still induce serious headaches from squishing your head like a vice. Funny enough, they actually do not weigh much more than my Sonys. The difference is that Sony has a second band to turn the headphones on that takes most of the pressure off from the top and sides of your head. Tritton has no such feature, but feels much sturdier (like it was carved from a plastic tree). The Tritton also has the individual speaker adjustment, as before, with different colors for different sound levels. This works fine, but a digital +1, +2, +8 numerical readout would be much better. Each color level has 3 or 4 levels before bumping to the next color. Between white and red (medium and max) is "cyan" which is the high volume level. This would be fine if you could ACTUALLY TELL a difference from the white. I believe the Cyan simply leaves the white light on while simultaneously turning on the blue. The problem is that the white light completely overpowers everything else. It looks like the volume goes straight from white to red after about 8 clicks. Pretty dumb. Use purple or yellow or a black light. Don't try to combine colors to cut costs Tritton! The newer model also has the feature of being able to turn off the inline controller by holding the "mute and front speaker" buttons for a few seconds. Here's the problem with that: 1.)when turning the system back on you're usually holding the mute button so it mutes everything. The way the mute/volume is set up you usually end up also raising the volume as you unmute it. You probably shouldnt have the headphone on when turning the inline controller on anyway since it makes a HUGEEE POP noise when powering on that almost makes your ears bleed. This doesn't even power the unit itself on though. It just powers up the phones. The Dolby decoder box has a completely separate power on button. So.....they took away one AC adapter, but actually made it just as much of a pain in the A*$ to turn on and off. Here's the rub though when you turn off the main decoder box, it resets your settings. That's right. All of the DRC, Sound Delay (Center and Surround) and master volume settings you pulled out the decoder box to program have all been reset. At first I kept thinking to myself, dang...the game sounds different everytime I turn it back on again...I must have not put the time delay on the right setting. After testing it though...I found the cause. Maybe mine's defective because I don't remember my old unit ever doing this. Must be an "improvement" eh? Now for the sound quality.
Discrete sounds and directions. This is where the Tritton Axpros start to do something right. I switched the fiber optic input from my Sony MDR-DS7000 into the Pros back and forth about 50 times. I tried it with Uncharted 1 + 2, God of War 3, God of War Trilogy, Infamous, Killzone 2, Modern Warfare 1 and 2, Battlefield: BC2 and Bioshock 2. Results were surprising. The AxPros actually blew the Sony's out of the water. In Battlefield, when I swung the knife I could hear it echo in the winter mountains and the fires flickered on different sides as I walked. Riding the vehicles sounded like I was right there. Modern Warfare 1 and Uncharted 1 were actually the most remarkable. In Modern Warfare 1 I could hear the helicopters flying overhead and DIRECTLY pinpoint where they were. I tried about 10 times to close my eyes and see if I could locate a circling helicopter. I was right 9/10 times. The Sony headphones (playing on the dedicated PS3 "game" mode) were extremely muffled. Gunshots sounded tiny and shallow. The Trittons just made it seem like I was right there in the environment. In Uncharted I kept restarting the 2nd scene in the jungle and testing the sounds while running through the creeks, in and out of the waterfall, and through the group of birds. With the Trittons it sounded like I was right there. With the Sony's it sounded like I was listening through a set of headphones. Then---slowly---as I listened to Sully talk about finding his "bride in a brothel" for the 20th time, I realized I was missing a vital part of the puzzle. Dialogue. Take this into perspective. The Sony's have 2 dedicated 40mm drivers. The Trittons have 830mm drivers. Usually dialogue is only going through 1 set of speakers (center or front) on the Trittons, depending on the game. The driver quality is also considerably lower than the neodymium found in the Sony's. I went back and listened to Modern Warfare 1 and Bioshock 2. Then I listened to dialogue on Infamous and on God of War 3. Holy Jeez! The Trittons were cutting out some of the dialogue or seriously distorting it. This wasn't during key story moments when everything was evenly balanced. Rather, it is when multiple things are going on at once. Funny enough, this is one of the MAJOR things that all the Astro supporters were talking about when discussing potential missteps with multiple drivers. In a helicopter scene on Modern Warfare I could barely make out what people were saying over the radio. On Bioshock 2 the radio feeds were slightly distorted. On Infamous all of the "S" sounds in dead drops or phone calls came across like static on a radio. On God of War 3 on the ending fight (as Zeus is floating down towards Gaia's heart) he shouts "Hmmm....Kratosss..." in this weird almost comical way. When playing through on the Sonys I could hear it clearly and it always made me laugh after I died for the 50th time. When using the Trittons...I couldn't even hear him say it. I could faintly hear "Hm....SSS." I tried adjusting all of the sound levels individually and could not bring out that line of dialogue. So, after all of my research I started asking myself, would I be missing more dialogue on other games if I stuck with the Trittons? I can't look past the fact that while multiple drivers does = better immersion, it also means less clarity. I also agree with the claim someone else on some distant site said: Sound has a few dead zones on the Trittons. When turning you will clearly notice a sound jump from one speaker to the next. It's not a terrible thing. Some might even like it due to its similarity to real 5.1 setups. But in a video game, if you have that right spot the sound starts to vanish unless you keep turning. I was told that decreasing the surround effect negates this effect, but that comes at the cost of reducing the 3d effect. This is what got me thinking about the Dolby Headphone systems.
I read all about using the Astro Mixamp with other headphones: Beyerdynamic 880s, Sennheiser 555s, 595s, Audio Technica Ath AD700s, AD900s. I wasn't so into researching the Turtle Beach wireless because it uses infrared and has a mic that will not connect to a PS3. If I wanted a standalone infrared processor...I'd just go with the Pioneer SE-DIR800c which are also great for movies even though they'll be duct-taped in about a week due to their fragility. I looked at the JVC dolby processor, but read in a few places it has a small lag between what you see and hear. The Astro Mixamp seems quite good, and a LOT more accessible/user friendly than the AXPROs. Most reviews have stated that the Astro headset is fairly comparable to the Tritton Axpros, so I cannot justify spending an extra $100 for such a slight upgrade. The exposed wire on the Astro set also seems like a bad design flaw. Most websites give the Astros a 9.0 and the AxPros an 8.8. If I truly wanted an upgrade in soudstage and quality, I'd have to purchase an audiophile set of headphones such as those listed above. So that's exactly what I did.
I ordered the Audio Technica ATH-A900 headphones in addition to the Astro dolby mixamp. After connecting them together I ran extensive tests using all of the same games as before: God of War 3, Uncharted 1 +2, Infamous, Call of Duty MW 1 +2, Killzone 2, and Battlefield BC 2.
First and foremost, the setup was MUCH simpler than the Trittons. The mixamp is powered by AND provides voice chat through the single USB cable. The ATH-A900s are also lightyears ahead of the AXpros in terms of comfort (using a wing stabilizer to decrease weight). They are VERY large, but since they are closed they keep sound in/out very well. I would say about the same as the Sony MDR-DS7000 headphones, and considerably better than the Trittons. If this isn't an issue for your household I would recommend the AD series since an open sound is slightly better for soundstage. The mixamp uses a Dolby headphone type 2 configuration preset which is not user adjustable. You get one surround/delay effect. Depending on your view this can be a pro or a con. On the one side, you simply plug in your headphones and start up your game. On the flip side, those who enjoy tweaking surround levels and speaker volumes will be discouraged. Personally I enjoy having everything tweaked to standardized optimal settings. For all of the long hours I spent adjusting the Trittons I still never locked onto what I found to be a "perfect" setting. Voice chat is also MUCH easier to control with the single balance knob of the Astro Mixamp. The only problem is that without an inline volume control you will have to find your optimal volume level before sitting down to enjoy whatever game you are playing. The mixamp is "smarter" than the Tritton Dolby box in that it turns itself off whenever the headphones are unplugged. In addition if you have it powered via USB it will turn off whenever the USB power is turned off (in my case the PS3), even though you will have to manually turn it back on. The portability of the mixamp may also factor into your decision since it can be powered via batteries, although this did not affect my review. The first thing I noticed when playing Call of Duty was that dialogue was very bright and crisp. It was SUBSTANTIALLY better than the AXPROs, and marginally better than the Sonys. I would actually say it was most comparable to the dialogue from the Sennheisers I first owned, although lacking the annoying extraneous noises. Without the Dolby Headphone mode it sounds exactly like what you would expect: sound through a pair of quality 2 speaker headphones. However, with DH turned on the game gives you a very enjoyable out-of-head surround that easily surpasses the VPT of the Sony Headphones. I will not lie though. The 3d effect is definitely subpar compared to the effect of the Trittons. In Call of Duty I could no longer pinpoint circling helicopters. In Uncharted I could no longer hear strangle ambient jungle sounds as if they were all around me. HOWEVER, (and this is the most important part of this review) sounds were distinctly more REALISTIC. It seems like a strange trade-off. In Battlefield BC 2 crackling fires and vehicles no longer sounded like they were in-my-face with the Audio Technicas. Instead they sounded like a normal fire crackling on the ground. In short, it no longer seemed like sounds were being "forced" into specific positions coming into my ears. This is no easy task to convey. The Sony headphones failed to convey the spatial quality of games in an accurate setting. The Trittons created a very pleasing 3d effect but with diminishing realism for voice and sounds. The Astro mixamp/audio technica setup slightly decreases the 3d effect but sounds EXACTLY like what I believe the sound engineers recorded. Ultimately the preference is yours. For games like Infamous the Astro/Technica setup blows everything else out of the water. Not only was dialogue extremely clear, but the entire soundstage sounded realistically recreated for the city environment. With the Trittons certain aspects were enjoyable (fountains, passing cars), while others were abysmal (scuttling trash monsters, yelling fans, distant gunshots). Using the Audio Technica headphones I can hear every single detail I was missing with the Sony headphones, but also enjoy ultra realistic sound for everything else in-game. Rear noise is easier to pinpoint with the Trittons, but I still get the same feeling of "being there" with the Audio Technicas. From a trade-off perspective I would say that the Astro/Audio Technica setup definitely takes the crown. I can put fifteen mini-speakers around my head and pinpoint EXACTLY where a crackling fire or babbling brook is located. Yet if the speakers aren't great, will the sound QUALITY make it sound exactly like what a brook or fire should sound like? Instead it sounds like a precisely located yet slightly unrealistic sound reproduction. This is my best analysis of the Trittons vs ATH A900s. The A900s sound like "real water, or real fire." The trade-off is yours to decide between.
Either way, The Trittons or Astro/Audio-Technica setup is still better than the Sony MDR-DS7000s for gaming. Your preference will determine what is the best fit for your style of gaming. Based on my experieces I would say that since the new Tritton AX700 utilizes the same technology as the Astro set, it would be moot to compare similar technologies. If you enjoy the Dolby Headphone processing of the mixamp, then it would be wise to get the astros based on the extent of other relevant gaming features. If you desire an alternative surround experience, then go with a multi-speaker headphone setup.
IN SUMMATION:
Sony MDR-DS7000:
(+) Crystal Clear Static Free Wireless, Decodes Dolby and DTS, Multiple Fiber Optic Inputs, Long Battery Life, Very good for movies, Clear Dialogue, Can be used with a combination of analog and digital inputs
No microphone input for voice chat, Poor spatial mapping for gaming, VPT is a poor surround sound simulator, VERY costly to import from Japan, Needs alternative power supply or universal adapter
Dialogue: 8/10
Effects: 6/10
Ambient: 5/10
3d Mapping:4/10
Tritton AXPRO:
(+) BEST 3d mapping, Good integration of voice and in game volume, In-line volume adjustment, Very User Adjustable Sound Levels across all fields (speaker volume, delay setting, DRC), Good Immersion and Ambient Sounds, BEST VALUE for surround experience
(-) Most UNCOMFORTABLE of headphones tested, Tendency to distort or unrealistically convey dialogue and certain sounds, Most complicated to setup and fine tune to enjoyable settings, Poor on/off integration based on power being separated into decoder box and inline controller, Closed headphone design with open headphone sound leakage
Dialogue:6/10
Effects:7/10
Ambient:10/10
3d Mapping:9/10
Astro Mixamp w/ Audio Technica ATH-A900
(+) MOST REALISTIC sounds of all headphones, EXTREMELY Precise dialogue and sound effects, Very good out-of head 3d simulation based on Dolby Headphone technology, Integration of voice-chat and power source through single USB cable, Extremely simple interface, Highest level of connectivity and portability for competitive gamers or LAN parties, Most comfortable of headphones tested
(-) Not quite as good Rear Surround as Trittons, Less Ambient effect heard in background
Dialogue:10/10
Effects:9/10
Ambient:8/10
3d Mapping:7/10
Personally, I prefer the Astro/Audio Technica combination above the others. It is probably the most enjoyable surround experience I have had when playing a videogame through headphones. As such, if you do a LOT of voice chat and online play then I would probably suggest purchasing the complete Astro setup for the use of their headset microphone (which from what I have read is stellar). If you care less for voice chat than detailed immersion (but cost is a factor) then go with the ATH-A700s and Astro Mixamp. If you prefer extreme 3d mapping and may or may not be on a budget, go with the Trittons. If you hate wires, then go wireless with Turtle beach or the Sonys from above. If you are like me and play most games without voice chat and demand high quality crisp dialogue and effect then go with the Astro/ATH900 setup.
Hope all of the time I spent writing this helps you decide what is most important to you.
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There were two main reasons why I wanted to pick up this headset: The first was so I would not disturb others in my household who are not gaming insomniacs like myself and the other was to get an advantage over friends and foes so I can hear where they are coming from and where they are going. The Tritton AxPro satisfies both needs perfectly.I am currently using the headset to play the game Left 4 Dead on my Xbox 360. The difference in sound quality from my TV speakers (nothing shabby mind you) and this headset is astounding. I can hear the little audio details I otherwise would have missed and the louder effects such as a shot gun firing booms into my ears and rattles down my spine. Most importantly I can hear where someone, or some thing, is. I can hear that hunter zombie growling and scratching off to the left or right in some unseen location just waiting to pounce. When he does pounce his wailing screech makes me want to do one of my own, it freaks me out. I can hear the obese Boomer zombie up ahead belching and waddling getting ready to spew his bile all over me, bile which serves as nectar for the lesser zombies who will feed on me if I am covered in it. I can hear the Smoker zombie shuffling along somewhere behind me, coughing and hacking, just waiting to snag a straggler and drag him off to do bad things to him. This head set has intensified my gaming experience tremendously. My only complaint with the audio, which shouldn't come as a surprise, is that I can't hear if someone is directly behind me. This would be hard for a head set to do and it does do a good job at least of suggesting that a creature might be behind me.
Aside from in game audio such as music and sound effects and environmental sounds I also wanted to make sure this headset served as a good Xbox Live communicator. It does. I can easily adjust the volume the voices of those talking or mute them with the controls on the same volume box that the buttons and dials for the other audio (front, rear, center, sub speakers) is on. Some have complained about not being able to hear their own voice while speaking (like you do when talking on a telephone) but I personally don't care about this. I rather focus on what others are saying and the ambient sounds of the game world than hear myself. I have talked to plenty of people and nobody has accsued me of sounding like a mumbling drunk or anything. Not yet anyway. The minor complaint I have with the speaking aspect is that sometimes I get a buzzing sound through my mic and must fiddle with the plug on the volume control box quickly to get it fixed. It is a bit of a nuisance but it could have something to do with the fact that I haven't really found a good place to rest the volume control box yet. I could clip it to my shirt, it is small and sleek, but I end up resting it on my lap where it gets knocked around now and then. I'll work on its placement later, but that buzzing is a nuisance when it happens.
The set up was relatively simple and painless. The only problem I had here was getting the mic to work at first. You really have to jam that sucker into its jack on the headset or else it won't recognize it is plugged in. Make sure the frame is lined up properly with the indentations on the jack and push, push, push like you're in labor. Then turn the mic slightly so it is in there good. I ended up calling their customer support thinking I was doing something wrong (I shouldn't be so hard on myself) and they were very nice and sent me a new mic out in the mail, no hassle. I ended up getting my mic to work a few minutes after that call, but hey, an extra mic couldn't hurt? Other than the wrestling with the mic, the rest of the set up went pretty smooth. There are a number of wires and parts though. first there is the headset itself which is sleek, stylish and of a tough build quality. It feels well made and I love it for that. Then there is the power box which is a small box with power buttons on it that everything plugs into. Then you have the volume control box which is pretty small and controls the headset speaker and voice volume. There are also, count it, TWO AC adapters you need to plug in. Make sure you have enough outlets or a powerstrip nearby. Get rid of that night light, you're too old for it anyway. Getting everything set up is quick and straightforward.
The headset itself is well made and comfortable. As mentioned earlier, it is of a good build quality. Put it on your head and the ear muffs cover your entire ear. At least they did on my average sized 28 year old male head. I don't know how ear sizes go but look at it this way, Barack Obama has a pretty big pair that stick out from his head; he would have no problem shoving those aerials into these ear muffs comfortably. The headset is adjustable as well. The muffs or ear covers come with a soft fabric covering as well as a padded leather covering in a separate box if you prefer the leather. Normally I like leather, just not near my ears. One time in college I drank too much and passed out on someones leather couch, when I woke up later that hot morning, my ear was stuck to the leather. I now keep my ears away from leather. The fabric is quite comfortable and though the headset seems a little on the heavy side (just work out those neck muscles) it has no effect on your gaming at all. My head, ears and neck felt great after a 7 hour marathon session of Zombie hunting. The rest of me however did not, which reminds me, I need a gaming chair or something to lean back in.
I highly recommend this headset. It does its job well and better than many sets which retail for hundreds of dollars more. The main competitor of the Trittons are the Turtlebeach headsets. Turtlebeach does not have true 5.1 Dolby Digital but a replicated version. The knock off is not as good as the real thing. Many people like Turtlebeach because they are wireless but I prefer wired because the sound is always better and I don't have to worry about batteries (just where I'm going to plug those two AC Adapters in). Also, Tritton has a cool name, it sounds like "Triton", the name of the cool blue moon of the cool blue planet Neptune. There are volcanoes on Triton which spew crystalized no2, a very nice sight to think about. Turtlebeach on the other hand makes me think about a beach covered with snapping turtles. Not something nice to think about.
I vouch for these Trittons, they are wonderful. Never underestimate the importance of sound in your games, it can add much to your gaming experience. This headset will not only provide you with exceptional quality but the surround sound will give you an advantage when playing with and against friends, and won't wake up the wife/hubby, dog, neigbors or dead when you crank it up.
EDIT: November 7th, 2010; I just wanted to add that this set is still working great and still one of the best headsets on the market. Sounds is as crisp as ever for both voice chat and in game effects, music is crystal clear now that I tried out my CD collection and the build quality has proven itself to be rock solid. Needless to say, I love this head set.
I also wanted to correct myself on something I wrote previously in the review about not being able to hear someone directly behind me, after some tinkering with the individual speaker volume, I got it to the perfect setting where I actually can hear footsteps or breathing right behind me; this is true surround sound in every sense.
My review centered around Left 4 Dead but I have since used these with Left 4 Dead 2, Metro 2033, Dead Space, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 2 and now Halo: Reach (just to name a few). If you want to increase the experience in atmosphere heavy games like Dead Space or Metro 2033 or if you want the edge in competitive multiplayer like in Halo: Reach, pick these up as they are worth every penny!
Best Deals for Mad Catz Xbox 360 AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision Version 1.0 Gaming
I got these a little more than a month ago, and have been lovin' them since. I was a bit hesitant on getting these as I've read mixed reviews, but I feel that the bad reviews were either a bad set or they just didn't set them up correctly. I wanted true 5.1 instead of simulated surround, and I just couldn't afford a full HT, plus I can turn up the volume up at night without bothering anyone.To explain some of the "issues", I have read that they sound "Tinny", well right out of the box, I would agree. At first impression I thought "please don't let this be how they sound, or they are going back", BUT I have found, and read, that you have to set them up right. I completely agree. I spent around an hour trying out different volume amounts for the different speakers with the amount of delay as well. Now they sound fantastic. Not "Tinny" at all. Very natural sound with excellent bass.
Also read that they hiss a lot. Sorta True. Again you have to set them up right. Turn down the volume on the ACU, and use the in-line control for higher volumes with NO hiss. Mine are perfectly quiet, er no distortion. :)
Also read people having problem with the mic. Not really their fault, the included documentation is outdated and not very helpful. The first time I plugged them in, the mic didn't work, or so I thought. What the doc didn't show was that the mic should face straight out, with the notch lining up, and push all the way in an turn to lock in place. The boom will bend toward your mouth. After that, presto the mic works perfectly.
Also read that you can not power off the headset. Not True. Press and hold mute (side button) and press/hold Front button. The ACU has its own power button. *Seems redundant, but used when you pass thru the sound without using the headset.
Overall, they are very good. Not too heavy for extended use. Sound field is great. I'm hearing sounds in games that I didn't notice before. They can get very very loud if you want to. I would easily recommend these.
Pros:
-Excellent surround field (need to set up to optimize)
-Not too heavy (Ears don't hurt, nor get sweaty)
-Very good mic (Separate volume adjust for mic)
-5.1 Pass thru (can pass thru 5.1 to external speakers with headset off/on)
Cons:
-Documentation (Outdated new version has one AC unit, doc still shows two AC adapters, images don't match)
-When powering on headset, speakers make loud Pop.
**TIP** I used to do this when setting up HT speakers as well. Use a game, like RDR, that has a continuous sound (I used the steam sound from the locomotive) and face the sound source. Now as you turn around in game, the volume of the source should sound the same all the way around evenly. Adjust to match. Should sound like an even circle around you. On mine, I have the Sub and Center slightly higher than the Front and Rear.
Honest reviews on Mad Catz Xbox 360 AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision Version 1.0 Gaming
My wife got me these for x-mas and they were hooked up that night. I did alot of research on the pro's and then they went on my list. The sound that come out of them is amazing. Its like you are in a bubble with the perfect surround sound system. I threw in COD4 and couldnt find a place where I wanted to stop playing. I haven't even played with the delay settings on the control box yet and they still sound amazing. Just turned up the bass a few notches and couldnt believe what I was hearing was coming from headphones. I have only had 1 problem and thats getting the usb headset plug to work on my PS2. Since I am going to be doing most of my gaming on a PS3 I dont really care, But I still play with a few people every sat night and I would like to use them for that. I'm gonna call tritton tomorrow and find out what might be happening. If they wont work, like I said, I dont really care, I do get sound for the game, just no chat. I dont know why some people say they dont find them very comfortable, they fit perfect, I dont find them heavy at all (besides there only 5 lbs) and I left the cloth pads on them. If your looking for an awesome headset that will fit pretty much anything you want to hear sound from, pick these up and even if you have a surround system like me, you will still want to put these on instead.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mad Catz Xbox 360 AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision Version 1.0 Gaming
I wanted to sneak in an edit/update on this review. As of 11/21/2009 I returned the headset to Amazon. The mic stopped working. I replaced the cord. Nothing. I tried a different mic... nothing. It broke just in time too. On day 29 I printed the return label. I googled the mic breaking, and there is a shocking number of people with the same trouble. Just like the 360, its not a matter of "if" you'll get the 3 red lights, but when. With the AxPro the question is when will my mic stop working? And will the company take it back. I emailed them twice. 3 times really. First was to see if I could get a second headset just like the Pro. You know, so the wife could listen in too... Yeah... they sent me a link to their products page. I do not need a whole complete set, just the phones. Worthless. Then I emailed twice about the mic, and got zero response. Back it went. I got the Turtle Beach X41 headset. It is superior in every way. I am so happy the Trittons broke. The X41's are soooo worth the extra 40$. They really are. Its hard to compare sounds in words but I think I can... Imagine a sound that should make a "ping' sound. Say "ping". Then imagine the same event taking place and you hear a "pud"... The words are different. So are the sounds in the two sets. The X41's are so much morebright. Clear. Crisp. The sounds are more "forward" more present. The Pro's were more subtle, more muddled. And, if you don't like it that way, hit a button, and it all changes back to "pud"... They even play a tone to tell you what mode you are in. And I can hear myself talking in the headset. = No yelling. Oh, and they are WIRELESS! Check my review on the X41's. Do not buy the Pros. You will be sad in a very short time. They sound just fine really, but for a little more cheese, you can be a much happier mouse! My review still stands valid. The wireless comparisons I made were to the X4... Not the X41. The Pro is not a bad headset. They just are not as good as the X41. Soon the X41 will not be as good as the XYZ Product line. But in the range of 150-200$ the X41 is the best headset our there. Period. For now.If you must have the Pros anyway, please read and enjoy my review. Before I knew what I was missing, I truly felt that way. Soon, you too will follow in my footsteps... just as I have to so many others.
BTW, I try to only buy "big ticket" items from the real Amazon. Mostly cause of the free S/H. Now, I can say it is because of their outstanding customer service. It was a joy talking to them on the phone. Every time I do, they offer so much more than I thought possible. I almost feel like sending them a Christmas card.
*** End Edit***
*** Start original review***
I had to create a video to show that I am not just making all this up... Seeing is believing.
1. The boom mic IS flexible.
2. There is only ONE power pack for the entire assembly. You need only ONE outlet.
Please forgive the quality of the video/audio. I had to get it done in less than 100 mb. I went over by 16, and I hope Amazon takes it. (They did not. I am now waiting for a shorter lesser quality video to upload... lame.) Anyway, I love this headset. Even when I thought the mic was rigid, and there were two power bricks; I wanted them. Even after Amazon sent the wrong item, I still had a great experience. The listing I ordered from was significantly cheaper, it was here on Amazon. After I called, the listing was removed and my new order reflected a new item, on a new page, with a new price. Odd. But, long story short, I got the right phones, and a GREAT price. Awesome customer service. Opened box one... Wrong item. Frantic phone call = next day shipping of correct item. Printed UPS label(free). Waited one day for correct item. Item received, wrong item sent back. Perfection.
They are not "heavy". The entire box, including packaging and power brick was 2.1 pounds. My scale at home registered a 0.1 lbs change while wearing the headphones. The soft ear cups do not make my ears hot. I could see how the fake leather ones might. (they do come with interchangeable cups and top-of-head-pad-thingy) I DO NOT get static of any kind EVER. Although, if there is no signal going to the headphones (ie the Dolby light is not lit, no stereo components are on) and the headphones are on, a very faint beep or tone can be heard about every 15 secondsuntil an audio source is powered on. Then you can sit in absolute silence.
I do wish the set came with an EQ of some sort. I like high treble. Everyone always says that they like it lower than me. I notice how car's stereos I ride in always have it lower than I like... Perhaps these headphones are set at the "proper" level. I just prefer a little more "snap" or crisp audio. After about 40 hours of use, I can tell you I have become quite accustomed to their sound and look forward to it. The first time I heard the shells of the helicopter hit the ground in COD4... I was hooked. Yes, I can hear the spent SHELLS hitting the ground. I can hear rpgs fly from the front of me, to right over head, to behind. In Battlefield Bad Company, I can hear people yell out "Medic!" and I can start running in the direction I heard the voice coming from.
My better half and I live in an older farm house. We have neighbors below us. I have a true 6.1 surround system, its Paradigm with two 15" ported subs. They "blow" right into the neighbors ceiling. I can knock the dishes in the kitchen over. Obviously, I had this sound system prior to living here. The neighbors finally complained about my video game noises. The wife has been complaining for years now. Ha. Everyone is happy I have these headphones, no one more than me.
I am now on the search for a second "headphones only" to plug into the second set hole. Then we can watch loud movies on XBOX together! Hurray for the perfect product!
One last thing... to split the optical signal: get the purple and silver spaceship looking thing. I got it on a "well known auction site..." but they are listed here on Amazon too. You can plug 3 opticals into one hole on a receiver thenmore importantly it works. I have tried 2 others. DO NOT get the cheap little black ones.
One more last thing... The blue head is glass. I got it on the same "well known auction site". I believe they are also sold here. I filled it with sand. Almost all the way... but ran out. :( its heavy enough now to use as a headphone holder. I had some LEDs in there, that was fun, but it would tip easily. I take care of my "toys" and I think these phones will last for quite some time. I would buy these again, and will tell everyone I can too. They run circles around their wireless competition. If you turn your TV speakers up a little, and put some tin cans on your ears... and think that sounds good, get the ugly wireless ones. Otherwise, get these, and love them. There sure is a lot of wires. But they are long enough, and there is only the one long that is visible. I am old enough to remember linking extension onto extension for some console controllers. This is nothing compared to that.
The set can be turned off by holding down a button combination, for a few seconds on the inline controller... However, I use a product called "SuperSwitch" that comes with 3 outlet "boxes" and a wireless remote. 1.2.3. on the remote and pushing those buttons turn on/off whatever is plugged into them. I use it for the under cabinet lights, led ambient lighting, and now my Trittons.
The last, last thing. The single most outstanding feature of this headset, is the separate voice volume control. If you set the Xbox to play voice through "both" (headset and speakers) you can have your party and the "in game" chat at the same time. You can control the in game chatter with the dashboard volume slider, and the party chat with the volume knob on the Tritton's "magic volume box". Join me in Modern Warfare 2, you have enough time to get these before the game comes out... Or for any game to come in the future. They all have 5.1 sound. ~XBL GT = BluntAttack I'll be the one with my ears to the wall, listening for your footsteps. :)
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