Pioneer HTS-GS1 5.1-Channel Surround Sound System for the Xbox 360 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I shopped and priced around extensively, and the Pioneer HTIB system was the clear choice to add on to my Xbox 360.First, and foremost, this is a well designed "compact" home theater system that goes very well with a 360.It's color scheme blends right in with the Microsoft game sytem.Pioneer got all the details right, even down to the XBOX-like "univeral" remote control.

The nearest competitor to Pioneer's HTS-GS1 is the Spherex 51000 HTIB 5.1 Channel surround system, also license by Microsoft specifically for the Xbox 360.In a head to head comparison, to me, the Pioneer integrates best, mainly because it "looks" like it belongs with the Xbox and alsohas more user friendly system controls and by far is more flexible to set up whether used with the Xbox or not.I cannot comment on differences in terms of purely audio performance, but the Spherex is only rated for 300 watts total output.The latter may not be a fair comparison - read on for more on this.

These two systems are currently selling in retail stores close to the same price point (around $200).Since there introduction, both have been deeply discounted from original list price of $499.Overall, I feel the HTS-GS1 offers the most bang for the buck.

The surround speakers are uniquely and cleverly designed.The front and rear speaker are actually "stackable" which allows a front surround stage 5 channel sound speaker placement arrangement.This stacking feature is not possible on Spherex system with its omni surround satellite speakers which must have free air space above each speaker to work properly.

Front speaker stacking is an extremely useful feature for the non-purist audiophile.It lends itself to a much faster and simpler system set up, eliminating need for long(er) - hard to disguise - routing of speaker wires to the back of your listening room area.However, this diminishes the full effectiveness of a surround sound system, yet in the case of the HS-GS1, I did not find it overly detracting from the system's "virtual" surround or front-only sound stage experience.Furthermore, I appreciate having a CHOICE in satellite speaker placement and opted to go this route for obvious advantages offered in eliminating the hassle of locating and mounting separate rear speakers and wiring complications.

The surround sound "effects" are still quite evident in this front only arrangement, because the unique stackable left and right double decker speakers can be rotated independently rotated to aim them in different dirrections.This design does an adequate job of simulating a four corner surround sound, if not fully "immersive" listening experience.

I may eventually take the additional time to separate and relocate the rear satellite speaker to the back of my listening area.Pioneer provides plenty of speaker wire for that purpose if so desired.But for now, I am enjoying the system in the front surround mode only, and saved at least another couple of hours of tedious installation work routing the rear speaker wires far away from the audio amplifier (subwoofer) origination connections.

One thing that the average consumer should know is that most comparable HTIB systems are "hyped" in terms of their true (<1% THD) audio output power rating per channel per the FTC.In actuality this Pioneer system has a total of 155 watts output power; 25W each for the four satelites, 30W for the somewhat larger size center speaker and only 25W for the subwoofer.Nevertheless, this is more than enough power for a small to medium size room and if you crank up the volume you can be prepared to damage your eardrums.

The audio amplifier built into the bottom of the subwoofer enclosure has four audio inputs, 3 digital (2 of which are for TOSLINK fiber optic cable ready inputs and 1 coaxial input), plus one tradional (wire pair) of analog audio inputs.Pioneer, generously, includes a fiber optic cable but no other audio input cables.For 5.1 channel sound decoders, such as built-in to Xbox 360, or sometimes passively outputed from a HDTV, this cable comes in handy.(Don't forget to remove the protective dust covers on both ends of this cable before attaching to your Xbox 360 (or other output device) to the digital audio input on the back of the single enclosure, 5.1 channel audio amplifier - AM/FM stereo receiver -subwoofer.The latter has a built-in power supply and AC line cord is included with the product.

All five, individual (supplied) speaker wires are color coded to make a do-it-yourself installation that much easier to get right the first time, although bare wire attachments are still need to be properly connect the back of each standalone speaker.Unlike other HTIB system, that are permanently pre-wired, Pioneer uses standard "quick-connect" speaker wire color coded connectors to further aid in ease of installation.The subwoofer has a short pre-wired "jumper" on the back panel to quick connect to the amplifier.

As I said the remote control for this system is especially well suited for Xbox 360, TV, and home theater integration.It supports all three!In addition to buttons for controlling the 5.1 channel audio sound, it also has another set of buttons to operate the Xbox 360 and optional HD-DVD player, Media Center PC, and also can be programmed to support most TVs.

The remote buttons dedicated to 360 control are segregated, and stylized to closely mimic the same buttons on Xbox 360 game controller as well as Microsoft's (sold separately) Universal Media Remote.On the down side, unfortunately the remote is not backlighted and none of the buttons glow in the dark when pressed.However, the Xbox Guide button is raised and larger than all the others, and the green, red, blue, yellow, color coded button that correspond to game controllers A-B-X-Y buttons,all in one row, are easy to use.

The remote control operates a nicely designed system controller with a digital readout display, with its own set of basic control buttons.Btw, a big disadvantage with the competing Spherex system is that it can ONLY be operated by remote control; undoubtedly a cost cutting tradeoff.

The bottom line, this Pioneer system is a very high quality product that WILL EXCEED the average electronic consumers expectations, and therefore is worth every penny of the purchase price.

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Product Description:
A complete digital entertainment center designed with the same sleek finish as the Xbox 360 video game console; the HTS-GS1 delivers a lot of power and sound processing without taking up a lot of space. By placing the amplifier and electronics in the base of the subwoofer, this system delivers all of the power and features of a traditional surround sound system - without cluttering your space. And, all of the connections you'll need are integrated into the subwoofer and color-coded , allowing quick and easy installation and set-up. With three digital inputs, this system is ready for DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound audio tracks found in games, video and music. Using the Front Stage Surround Sound option, you can get a realistic surround sound experience even though all of the speakers are placed in the front of the room. Through sophisticated digital sound processing and directional speakers, the HTS-Gs1 delivers room-filling surround sound without the hassle of running wires to additional rear speakers. Just place the ultra high-end calibration microphone in your favorie gaming position and the system will automatically adjust the sound for distance, volume, speakers size and equalization. It actaually listens to how the sound responds to elements in the room and alters it for maximum reporduction accuracy. Once you hear balanced and precise sound, you'll have a whole new listening experience for all your games, videos and music. And speakeing of music, the HTS-GS1 has new Sound Retriever DSP technology designed to replace lost information and dynamics in compressed music fles like MP3, WMA, AAC. The universal remote is Xbox 360 compatible and allows the flexibility to switch between gaming and the extensive Xbox 360 mulitmedia capabilities. With its Windows? Media Center* and powerful Xbox Guide Buttons, the universal remote provides easy and intuitive control of your complete system - all at your fingertips.

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Astro A40 Audio System - White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had my A40 system for about 6 months now, and it's the best purchase I've made in a while. I've tested all the major headsets available, and this one is by far the best. It sounds amazing, it's extremely comfortable to wear, and Astro Gaming is a great manufacturer. It's obvious to me that Astro takes great pride in all of their products, and I highly recommend buying directly from them, rather than amazon.

The Headset:

The headset is very easy to adjust, and fits all headsizes. On both sides of the headset are speaker tags. These tags are detachable, and comes in packs of three. Two solid ones, and one with a hole (for the mic). If you don't need the mic, you can remove the tag with the hole and replace it with a solid one, giving the headset a more symetric look. Astro allows you to upload images and design your own speaker tags, which is great for customizing your headset. The mic is a single boom with no wires. The mic is very high quality, and will attach to both sides of the headset. As far as sound goes, I give the Astros a 9/10. I think the bass could be a little deeper, but I'm not complaining at all.

The Mixamp:

The mixamp is pure genius. There is only one wire going from the headset to the mixamp. If you're playing Xbox, you will also have a wire going from the controller to the mixamp. I strongly suggest that when you buy this system, you get the TOSlink cable for the best possible sound. The mixamp has two knobs on it. The main one is the master volume control. The smaller controls the game sound to voice sound ratio. The mixamp runs of USB power, which is great because the Xbox has two USB ports on it. You can also get 4 AA batteries which will give you 12-14 hours. Astro just released a new version of the mixamp, which now supports use with the PS3 right out of the box.

The cables:

The system comes with tons of cables, allowing you to connect it with just about anything. It includes a cable to plug your headset into a headphone jack and a mic jack, a cable to plug your headset into a headphone jack, and a few other cables that I have never used. Astro makes sure that you have all of the tools necessary to maximize your headset.

Customer Support:

My headset got a short in the wiring a couple months after purchase. Astro responded quickly to my emails, fixed the headset in about 3 days, and got it back to me just over a week after it broke. They clearly care about customer satisfaction.

Astro Gaming:

Astro offers many accessories and replacement parts for the A40 system. If you have any gaming needs, Astro probably has something just for it. You can also download product manual on their site before making any purchases.

I love my A40 system, and as soon as Astro comes out with a new model, I'll be grabing that one as well. Hopefully it will be wireless.

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Product Description:
The Astro A40 Audio System combines crystal-clear voice communication with pinpoint-accurate 5.1 Dolby Digital and Dolby Headphone surround utilizing the most user-configurable headset on the planet.In addition to the A40 Headset's removable speaker tags (which are high-quality collectibles in their own right), you'll find a completely user-configurable microphone boom. It attaches to either side -- or removes completely for solo gaming and music sessions.The A40 Audio System includes the external A40 MixAmp, providing Xbox and and Xbox 360 users with combined voice and game sound -- ideal for tournament play and discrete "midnight gaming" sessions. A discrete game/voice balance control enables you to find the ideal in-game setting.PC Gamers benefit as well, by offloading surround decoding and voice communication duties to the A40 system. Combine multiple A40 MixAmps and you'll be provided a private, hands-free, full-duplex voice communication channel -- much higher-quality than VoIP systems, with zero network and system lag.Every A40 MixAmp is daisy-chainable, and each comes complete with everything you need to connect the built-in voice communication feature of multiple MixAmps.The A40 Audio System gives in-person teams the competitive edge by selectable/mutable Xbox Live communication while maintaining a dedicated, private chat channel when daisy-chained.The A40 Headset comes with a quick-disconnect cable and multiple ends: an A40 MixAmp cable (also compatible with portable audio players), and a standard dual-jack PC connector with in-line volume and mute control. Inject your games with your own soundtrack. Connect your mp3 player through the mixer itself with the included cable. Free up valuable system resources, and put your music within arm's reach.*Please Note: This version of the MixAmp is compatible without an adapter for use on the PS3

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Ear Force X4 Dolby Digital Wireless (Headphones) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just received my Ear Force X4 a few days ago and have been busy "testing" it for several days now. I have played with it in Gears of War, COD4, Battlefield:BC, Rock Band, Guitar Hero 3, and more. I have played online and off, with voice and without. After all this, I am finally ready to give my opinion on if it was $200 well spent, or a costly mistake.

First, let me say that I have a bit more experience with 5.1 headphones than the average consumer. I have owned many, made by everyone from Kinyo to Zalman and Tritton. With this knowledge it carries some weight when I say these offer some of the richest and clearest sound of any of them. I hear details in the sound and a wider range than with any of my previous headsets. The 5.1 is also quite good, I can pinpoint where sound is coming from pretty easily, and the sound fields sound a lot more balanced than with something like the Tritton AX360. Finally, the bass is very good even without the boost enabled, with it on it can almost be overpowering. The sound continues to impress even when watching movies or TV, and the Pro Logic 2 is nice when you only have a 2 channel source. The X4's are easy to hook up, with Optical in and RCA in you can easily hook up any audio source for use with them.

Overall, I would say the sound is some of the best I have heard from a 5.1 headset. That isn't to say it's perfect, there is a very slight hiss at all times when the headphones are on. You can only hear it when there is no other sound so it's not detrimental, as you don't notice it while using them, but it is there. Honestly though, I'm not sure if it is really anymore prevalent than the hiss found in most of the other headphones I have tried. It seems like they all had this to some extent. As for the wireless, it works very well and I haven't had any problems with it, the hiss doesn't really seem to be associated with the wireless, because if I cover the receivers on the headset I get different white noise.

The headphones themselves are very comfortable, easily half the weight of the AX360 and don't make my ears get nearly as hot. It is easy to forget they are even there.

The thing that really sets these headphones apart is not the great sound or comfortable design; it's the expert implementation of voice chat. Unlike the AX360 and every other 5.1 headset the X4 allows you to adjust the chat volume independently of the other sound. This works very well, you can clearly hear people talking even over a cacophony of other noise. On the AX360 I would have to turn the in-game music off, and lower all the other sound to be able to hear the other players reliably, the X4 takes care of all that. The microphone for speaking to other players is good and clear, it is easy to remove and attach. Additionally, some of your voice is transmitted back into the headset, so you can more easily hear yourself speak, and thus speak normally unlike with other headphones.

However, as great as the voice is, it also is not perfect. When you hook the voice up the hiss I mentioned before intensifies significantly, I attribute this to the controller putting out some white noise, but it is noticeable. It won't bother you while you are talking and playing, but I found myself unplugging the voice when no one was talking because the hiss was a bit disruptive. I wouldn't call this a deal breaker, but it is a minor imperfection and worth mentioning. Even with that small problem, the X4 is easily the best implementation of voice in a 5.1 headset, and a must own if you plan to play multiplayer while using your headphones.

Overall, the X4 is a very good attempt at a gaming centric pair of 5.1 headphones. The wireless is great and does not seem to degrade the audio. The headphones are comfortable and provide clear and rich sound, with good sound fields for the 5.1 support. The voice implementation is the best found anywhere, and works great aside from some slight background noise. I would recommend the X4 headphones to anyone wanting a great pair of headphones for use with their Xbox 360 and other game consoles and audio sources. With gaming in mind they are the best solution available. However, if you do not own a 360, I can't really recommend the X4 over other headphones, because the thing that really sets them apart is the voice support. They are very good headphones in their own right, but for less you could get a similar pair of headphones for movies and music and such without the voice that would sound just as good.

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Product Description:
The Ear Force X4 wireless headphones push your Xbox 360 gaming experience to a whole new level with the thrill and realism of Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. Pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family, or neighbors. Freely move around as you play. Hear every nuance of the game - from an opponent sneaking behind you to your teammate's voice right next to you. Trash talk online. Block out distractions. Feel the game expand all around you and become a better player. Conventional Xbox 360 communicator headsets compromise the gaming experience by covering one ear for chat, leaving only a single ear for game audio from the speakers.The Ear ForceX4 Wireless Headphones overcome this problem by playing both the game audio AND the online chaton a single set of high fidelity headphones.The result is the intense experience, privacy, clarity, and competitive edge of PC headphones on the Xbox 360 platform.The Ear Force X4 Xbox 360 Wireless Headphones let you totally focus on your game play and not become distracted by the noise around you. With Dobly surround sound pumped right into your ears, you can hear every nuance of the game all around you in a way that isn't possible when hearing it as background sound with speakers. In addition, because the Xbox Live chat is mixed in with the game signal, you can hear what everyone is saying right in the middle of your head, enabling you to communicate more effectively with other players. As a result, the Ear Force X4 can actually make you a better player. By combining the best of both worlds, avid Xbox 360 gamers no longer have to make the no-win choice between using headphones or talking online.When you're ready to get serious about your gaming, it's time for an X4.

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Astro A40 Audio System - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had these headphone for about 4-6 months now, and they are spectacular! I should mention that for Xbox 360 havingA40 MixAmp is aknist a plus as it allows you to adjust for Game and audio volume, so you can find the perfect balance for you. Now I'm going to break it down into pros and cons.

PROS:
Very comfortable to wear...I've had these on for upwards of 6 hours at a time for long gaming sessions, and have had no problems with comfort.

DURABLE...These are solidly constructed and have never felt like I was in danger or them wearing out (granted it's only been about 6 months)

Sound Quality is very very good. With the MixAmp you get very accurate positional Audio so it makes gaming that much better (it even works well with movies too)

Microphone...top notch microphone, that also detaches so you can just use them as regular headphones, and it comes with a quick mute switch so u can quickly turn off your mic for a private conversation if need be. Only caveat is that the noise canceling could be better, but it's not really an issue in the grand scheme.

Cables...the audio system comes with pretty much every audio cable you could ever need (minus fiber optic game, which is an option to purchase) so that, to me, is a plus.

PS3 compatibility, yes it works with the PS3 as well, and sounds fantastic when watching Blu-Ray movies.

MixAmp. The mixamp can also be used a headphone amp for your PC, or iPod, and the results are impressive. It's also portable as it has the option for battery power that lasts for roughly 12-14 hours using 4 AA batteries.

CONS

Price, Yes these are expensive, and cheaper from Astro Gaming directly, but I've used them so much that, to me, they were worth it

Music...Now I've put this in the cons but there's a catch. If you plan on using these for music from your 360 or PS3, well it;'s not gonna sound that good, but to me Music doesn't sound that good on 360. However, I use these on my computer as I have a Sound Blaster X-Fi, and after some tweaking, the music is fantastic on them, good base, and excellent treble. Having Said that, getting high quality stereo headphones will still be a Better choice for music, but again these sound great to me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Astro A40 Audio System - Black

Product Description:
The Astro A40 Audio System combines crystal-clear voice communication with pinpoint-accurate 5.1 Dolby Digital and Dolby Headphone surround utilizing the most user-configurable headset on the planet.In addition to the A40 Headset's removable speaker tags (which are high-quality collectibles in their own right), you'll find a completely user-configurable microphone boom. It attaches to either side -- or removes completely for solo gaming and music sessions.The A40 Audio System includes the external A40 MixAmp, providing Xbox and and Xbox 360 users with combined voice and game sound -- ideal for tournament play and discrete "midnight gaming" sessions. A discrete game/voice balance control enables you to find the ideal in-game setting.PC Gamers benefit as well, by offloading surround decoding and voice communication duties to the A40 system. Combine multiple A40 MixAmps and you'll be provided a private, hands-free, full-duplex voice communication channel -- much higher-quality than VoIP systems, with zero network and system lag.Every A40 MixAmp is daisy-chainable, and each comes complete with everything you need to connect the built-in voice communication feature of multiple MixAmps.The A40 Audio System gives in-person teams the competitive edge by selectable/mutable Xbox Live communication while maintaining a dedicated, private chat channel when daisy-chained.The A40 Headset comes with a quick-disconnect cable and multiple ends: an A40 MixAmp cable (also compatible with portable audio players), and a standard dual-jack PC connector with in-line volume and mute control. Inject your games with your own soundtrack. Connect your mp3 player through the mixer itself with the included cable. Free up valuable system resources, and put your music within arm's reach.*Please Note: This version of the MixAmp is compatible without an adapter for use on the PS3

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RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a perfectly functional cable, which works great when used with an HDMI cable, but it took about 5 minutes of soldering.If you aren't comfortable with this, don't buy this product, as it likely won't work correctly out of the box.If you do purchase, you can fix it by following the steps below.

NOTE: If you break your Xbox, it's your fault and only your fault.If you burn your house down or your finger with a soldering iron, it's your fault and only your fault.Proceed at your own risk.

1) Check the cable... there is a chance it will be wired correctly when you get it.If so, lucky you :-) Make sure you try changing the TV HDMI input to another input, then back to the XBOX.If the XBOX resets, sorry, you need to plug in your soldering gun.

2) Open the plastic on the end of the plug that goes into the Xbox.You might need to tape it closed later, as it tends to break.Not a huge deal, as this won't kill the plug, just make it a little less attractive.Set it aside.

3) Remove the copper outer casing on the plug.This is the trapezoid thin metal outer part of the plug, with no wires connected to it.Slide it offthe end of the plug by inserting a blade to release the two plastic tabs in the rectangular holes.Try not to damage this part if possible.Set it aside.

4) Get lined up to which pin is which.You need to focus on pins of even numbers 18 - 30.I have added a customer image to the product for reference.The easiest way to find these is to look at the wire side of the plug, find the three wires in a row (the optical wires) on the wide side and look at the 7 on the narrow side on the same end.

5) Remove the hot glue from these pins gently using a razor.

6) Make sure there are no connections between or to the last three: 26, 28, and 30.If there is a connection, desolder it.Mine didn't have any, but it is important you check this.

7) Jump (place a blob of solder) pins 22 and 24.

8) Jump pins 18 and 20.

9) Check your connections.This can be done with a continuity meter.18 and 20 should be connected, 22 and 24 should be connected, and also check for lack of connections between the two groups and 26, 28, and 30.

10) Time to check your work.Your Xbox should not reset when changing HDMI inputs away from and back to your Xbox, and the optical plug on your adapter should be glowing red.You should get sound through the cable.I did this to get 5.1 optical so that I can hear someone behind me just before they shoot me in the head in Halo: Reach.

11) If there are still problems, recheck your work and use Google.You're on your own.

12) Did you remember to unplug your soldering iron?Are the curtains on fire?Why did you think a windowsill was a good place to put a hot soldering iron?

13) If it works, time to put everything back together.Replace the hot glue if you have some to keep things from touching, slide the copper cover back in place, and replace the plastic casing.You may need some tape or glue here.Easiest thing to do is wrap it a few times with electrical tape, stretching it to keep things nice and tight.

14) Game on.Please leave a comment if this worked for you.Sorry about those curtains dude, but things could have gotten much worse.Good thing you had that fire extinguisher handy.Some Halo will take that off your mind.It's hard to think about burnt curtains when a Covenant Mothership has you pinned down.

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Product Description:
This RCA adapter cable allows HDMI video to be routed to the HDTV with the audio routed separately to the home theater system. This is a generic / aftermarket product.

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SteelSeries 5H v2 USB Headset with Soundcard (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let me start off by saying, for gaming i don't think there is a better headset out there. The virtual 7.1 works flawlessly and the mic on this thing is crystal clear. Its relatively comfortable, although I start to sweat around my ears around the 1 hour mark. Also if you are considered one with a small head, i might go try it on first. I have what you call a large head with some hair and i have this thing cranked all the way down. Works for me but not so sure about others.

Music - Very mediocre. i know it is optimized for GAMING but i still feel it fell short in this department. don't expect to be blown away or even satisfied if you want to listen to music a lot on headphones.

All in all its a solid headset, and is well worth the money if you are into gaming.

UPDATE:so it has been 4 days and the right side of the headphones has stopped working. i am very surprised/annoyed because i handled these things like a baby and still went out on me. i thought it was something funky with vista so i turned on the "flip sound" so the left side plays on the right and visa versa and no sound still. plugged it into a friends computer and same thing. not very happy that i spent $100 on these and they fail within such a short amount of time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SteelSeries 5H v2 USB Headset with Soundcard (Black)

Product Description:
The SteelSeries 5H v2 USB soundcard offers a consistent sound experience allowing gamers to always play with the exact same sound and settings, no matter where in the world or at what computer they are playing. This product was designed for gamers with onboard soundcards and/or gamers who regularly find themselves playing at third party computers. The USB soundcard supports the following systems: Win XP/Win 2000/Win 98/Win ME/Mac OS/Windows Vista SteelSeries 5H v2 USB is one of the most popular gaming headsets on the planet. This headset has been used by talented gamers to win major international events like Electronic Sports World Cup, World e-Sport Games, World Series of Video Games, Kode 5, World Cyber Games, Samsung Euro Championship, ESL Extreme Masters and many others. When wearing the SteelSeries 5H v2 USB you'll immediately notice the enormous full-size ear cushions which gently fit around your ears and reduce background noise. The comfort is something that has to be experienced first hand, either at a friends house or at one of the many LAN-centers and Internet cafees that offers the headset to their customers. The headset features a custom-engineered soundscape designed to enhance performance and immersion in FPS-games. This headset was developed and optimized specifically for in-game sound frequencies found in the most popular shooters - making in-game sounds like footsteps, alerts and gunfire especially clear. You will be able to hear and pinpoint the location of your opponents, often before they hear you. Thanks to the USB soundcard you can boost and lower frequencies of your own choosing, allowing optimization for your favourite games. The SteelSeries 5H v2 USB an easily be dismantled into 3 separate parts, that easily fit into a bag or a carrying case. This makes transportation of the headset both easy and safe. The pull-out microphone is practically invisible when not in use.

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Tritton AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision Gaming Headset Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tritton AX Pro Dolby Digital Precision Gaming Headset

Product Description:
Introducing the AX Pro - the most versatile gaming headset in the world. Finally, a true Surround Sound headset with a microphone that will work with your PS3, Xbox 360, and PC/Mac. For the audio or movie enthusiast, the AX Pro is also compatible with any device that features a digital optical or 3.5mm analog 5.1 outputs. Built on the successful AX360 Platform, the AX Pro features hardware Dolby Digital decoding and eight independent speakers to deliver true 5.1 surround sound audio. Upgraded speakers have been repositioned to provide crisper sound and more accurate 3D positioning. The vibration feature of the AX360 has been replaced by a new subwoofer that delivers improved low end punch and skull rattling bass. Other advancements include an easy to use illuminated inline controller with a microphone mute switch, independent volume control for game chat, and the ability to custom tailor volume levels. With the ability to connect the microphone via the Xbox 360 controller port, USB, and analog 3.5mm inputs, the AX Pro is the most versatile headset on the market and the only headset you'll ever need.

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Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are traveling, and you need something that can handle optical 7.1 channel audio, this is a fine item to bring along. It's a little smaller than a pack of smokes and can be run off of a usb to ac adapter. I live in a small apartment in Japan, so I don't have space for a huge sound system. Also, I suffer from insomnia, and sometimes I want to play a game or watch a movie late at night. This gadget allows me to hook up some good headphones and enjoy my movies and games without being a pain to my roommates or neighbors.

It's also worth noting that the surround sound, even on standard headphones, is remarkably well-done. I have been testing it with Metal Gear Solid 4 on my ps3, which I connected to the unit with an optical cable. I'm hearing things I never noticed before in the game, and I really can sense the location of enemies and other things by sound alone with this device.

I think audiophiles would prefer other DACs for listening to cds or lossless music, but if you want a surround sound system that can fit in your pocket or go with you on a trip, or want to be able to listen to surround sound without disturbing your neighbors or flatmates, this is what you've been waiting for.

My only other suggestion is to use good headphones with this unit. It'll work with whatever you hook into it, but better headphones will reveal the high-quality bass, mid, and treble sound that this unit produces.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Ear Force DSS 7.1 Channel Dolby Surround Sound Processor

Product Description:
The Ear Force DSS 7.1 channel Dolby surround sound processor transforms any stereo headset into full, immersive surround sound for playing Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC games and watching movies with Blu-ray or DVD players. It works with any set of stereo headphones and is the perfect complement to the Turtle Beach Ear Force series of stereo gaming headsets (X31, X11, XLC, Z1, Z2 and PX21). The optical digital input easily connects to a game console or media player for Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound and the analog input can also be used to upgrade analog stereo audio sources to Dolby Pro Logic IIx for virtual surround sound. A bass boost control adds sub-woofer effects for enhanced realism to any audio source.With the Ear Force DSS, video game and movie fans will be able to hear distinct audio events happening all around them, greatly enhancing the overall experience and rewarding gamers with a newfound competitive edge. DSS users playing games and watching movies on their game consoles will actually hear the 7.1 surround sound from certain 5.1 channel audio tracks via additional 'hidden' channels called Dolby EX.

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Logitech G35 7.1-Channel Surround Sound Headset Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These headphones are a lot of fun.

I'm not a gamer - can't play many games because I get dizzy, but I am sort of a collector of headphones.Frankly, I expected these to be awful and was more than pleasantly surprised to find that they are really quite good.

OK, so they look like some kind of boy toy science fiction gizmo.For me, I could do without all the buttons.But having a volume button on the headphone and a mute for the mic is very useful.

Most headphones depend upon the right combination of source and headphone to get a good sound.If you plug most high end headphones directly into your ipod or computer soundcard the sound quality is atrocious.The right mate of source and sound can mean that the right $20 headphone in your ipod can give surprisingly good sound if it is a good match.

The good (and the bad) of a USB headset is that it bypasses the amp in your computer soundcard.Instead, the digital to audio processing occurs through USB.This approach can allow very high quality sound, and in the case of this headset, it succeeds.

As to sound quality.I am impressed with the surround sound where normally I find surround unbearably processed and artificial, the software does a good job.With the surround sound turned off, and these headphones are in pure stereo mode, forget it, it's awful.But that isn't what these headphones are for.Bass is excellent with good low extension and not even the slightest touch of boominess.Artifical bass enhancement is one of the things I hate about most processed sound, and I was delighted to find that none was present.Logitech is to be commended for making that choice in the design because most people equate sloppy boomy bass with high quality (think car stereo woofer).

The mid range is outstanding.That's where the sound really excels.I have a few very high end headphones where the midrange is weak.With these headphones subtleties of tone and shading in human voices are easy to hear.

The high end of the sound spectrum is the weakness of the sound signature.Lost highs are the big price for processed sound.Imagine a bell ringing.After the bell rings the sound hangs in the air and slowly fades.When the highest highs are lost, and the sound is processed, the sound gets artifically cut off and the "air" is gone from the sound.At the present state of technology this seems to be unavoidable in all processed sound.The good news with this headset is that this loss of highs is not too horribly bad.I could listen to music (which is not what these are for) and it was not too distracting.The offset was the beautiful mids and the realistic sound stage.

Listening to movies, other than gaming, is where this headset excels.This is where location of sound can make a huge difference, and the ambiant sounds contribute to the experience.Watching a movie with these headset while sitting right in front of my computer screen is immersive and exciting.I can imagine that in games, where location of sounds is critical, that these would greatly enhance the experience and give the player an extra edge.

Finally, they are pretty comfortable.The choice of cushioning is very appreciated.

My partner and I both want to use them.I was given these to review but I might have to buy another set.The price, when you consider that it includes the digital audio converter and amplification, is very reasonable for a headset of this quality.

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Product Description:
The Logitech G35 headset. Game-changing immersion with 7.1 surround sound powered by Dolby technology for a detailed soundfield. Featuring three swappable headband pads; three customizable G keys; on-ear audio controls; and an adjustable, noise-canceling microphone.

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Tritton TRIAX-720 AX 720 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did this video review to help anyone out there with the same issues I had.

Hopefully this will help gain the insight you'll need to make a decision.

Please leave feedback, did I miss anything?

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tritton TRIAX-720 AX 720 Dolby Digital Surround Sound

Product Description:
Introducing the Tritton AX 720 high performance gaming audio system. Specifically designed for the XBox and PS3 systems, the AX 720 delivers superior voice communication while creating an immersive 3D surround sound environment utilizing Dolby Digital and Dolby Headphone technology. The convenient inline audio controller features independent voice and game volume controls so that you can clearly hear your teammates during those crucial gaming moments. From the casual gamer to the hardcore gamer, the AX 720 is sure to improve your game.

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Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Some readers may remember me from my X4 review. Here we are a little over a year later and I am once again tearing into the box of a shiny new pair of Turtle Beach headphones. I liked the X4s, so why did I invest another $200 on the X41s? Because the X4s had some issues, common issues included sound glitches at certain frequencies (press the B button in Shadowrun), interference from other IR sources (like the Wii sensor bar), and a noticeable hiss when using the voice function. These issues did not ruin the X4s, in fact they were still one of the best gaming centric headphones, and THE best wireless gaming headphones, but the issues could be annoying. Thankfully, the X41s claim to fix everything wrong with the X4s and add some new features to boot. Do they live up to the hype or have hidden issues?

For the rest of my review I will be doing some comparison to the X4 in every aspect of these X41 headphones, as well as comparing them to the other options available. I may leave out some details that I already covered in my X4 review, if something doesn't make sense or you would like more detail check my X4 review to see if I covered it there. In this review I will mostly be pointing out what has changed from X4 to X41. Finally, I personally own 6 pairs of gaming headphones, from the aging AX360 to the Astro A40 and X4. I will be giving my opinion of the X41s performance compared to my experience with most of the other competitors on the market.

Headphone design and feel:
The X41s really shine in this area, like the X4s they are extremely light and comfortable. In addition, they have added a new type of breathable fabric to the pads which keeps your ears cool and comfortable through hours of play. They have also increased the size of the space for your ears. The end result is headphones that are easy to forget exist. The headphones are well built in every other respect. The Bass boost switch is now a button, the headset is black rather than grey, most of the other changes in this area are minor. The X41s are an improvement over the X4s and one of the most comfortable of all the headsets I have used.

Audio Quality:
One of the big draws of the X41s is the new DigitalRF which claims to increase sound quality while decreasing interference and hiss. This claim is completely factual; the X41s have excellent sound that rivals even top level wired headsets. In addition, the X41s have fixed all of the X4s sound glitches, no more will you hear disturbing static or interference when a certain frequency is played. In my experience the X41s reproduce the game sound perfectly without any degradation from being wireless.

On the other hand the extremely low level hiss is still present in the X41s, though perhaps even quieter than the X4 ambient hiss. As I said in my X4 review this constant hiss is impossible to hear if any game sound is playing, and is probably mostly amp noise created by the 50mm speakers an inch from your ear. It is nearly impossible to engineer something like the X41s and completely remove this type of hiss. Thankfully, the X41s do remove the increased hiss when using voice chat that was present on the X4 headset. With the X41s you cannot tell the difference between having the voice chat hooked up and not using it. With the X4s as soon as you plugged in voice chat the normally unobtrusive hiss would double or triple in volume and become quite noticeable. This is a pretty major improvement for the X41s, as the hiss while using voice chat was a common complaint of the X4s.

The X41s have also enhanced their Dolby DSP to handle up to 7.1 surround sound and PL2X. This is not as noticeable as the Digital RF but it is an improvement. The excellent surround sound from the X4s is made even better, and it is even easier to pinpoint exactly where a sound is coming from. The surround sound here is really fantastic, don't believe the hype about "true 5.1" headsets that have multiple speakers in each ear, this Dolby processing creates a better surround sound experience. In addition, because there is only 1 speaker per ear the speakers are much larger which makes the excellent audio quality possible. Comparing the X41s to my Tritton headsets is really one sided, the X41s are hands down better in every way when it comes to audio quality. Bottom line, 2 great speakers and Dolby Processing is far better than 8 tiny speakers.

The short version here is that the X41s are a worthy improvement in terms of audio quality. They have fixed essentially all of the major problems the X4s had and added some new features as well. The X41s perform very well when compared to wired headsets also, for the same price you could not find a 5.1 headset with better audio quality than the X41s, and the X41s are wireless.

Other Features:
The X41s don't change very much in this category from the X4s. You still get the excellent voice chat implementation, which will balance voice and game audio so that you can always hear everything clearly. As I already mentioned the noticeable hiss while using voice chat has been removed, so that is a major improvement here.

One notable change to the X41s is the new talkback cable that is now free of the puck. This new cable is simply 2 standard mic connections with volume control and mic mute on a little box in the middle of the wire. This cable uses heavier wire than the old X4 cable, and seems like it will resist the rigors of use more efficiently. In addition, because they did away with the puck the X41s are now compatible with any headset connection. This means with the right USB adapter and cables the X41 voice chat can be used with a PS3 or PC as well as the Xbox 360. This is really a pretty awesome addition, and one that is not touted on the box.

The X41s also have a headset jack for a wired headset with its own volume control. This headset receives all the Dolby Processing and the same sound the wireless one receives. This is nifty if you want to have multiple people listening to the same audio on headphones, and is a better option than the X4s "buy another $100 headset" approach.

The X41s are now powered via a USB cable, which you can hook to your Xbox or any other powered USB port. Not sure if I find this positive or negative, but it is a change from the X4s.

Overall:
The X41s are a worthy improvement over the X4s. The decision to upgrade is something each individual will have to consider, but if some of the X4s flaws or glitches have been bothering you the X41 does a great job of solving those issues. In addition, the X41s add a lot of great features, from Digital RF to the new talkback cable. These features make an already excellent headset even better. As far as gaming headsets go the X41s are among the best. The implementation of voice chat is second to none, and since the X41s eliminated the loud hiss found during voice chat on the X4s, this feature is nearly perfect. The sound quality is excellent, and the Digital RF really does rival wired headsets, and is completely free of audio glitches. You no longer need line of site, and the signal seems very robust and interference free even around multiple wireless networks. The X41s are also significantly more comfortable than the X4s, and the new fabric for the ear pads makes a noticeable positive difference in keeping your ears cool and comfy. In the end, for anyone looking for a gaming headset that incorporates voice and surround sound, the X41s get my unwavering recommendation. They really are the best gaming headphones available right now.

I have rated the X41s 5 out of 5 stars, compared with the X4s 4 out of 5 stars. I would not say the X41s are perfect, just surprisingly close.

Update (Roughly a year later): After a year of using the X41's, with hundreds, or perhaps thousands of hours of play across all platforms. I just want to reaffirm that I still think they are an amazing pair of headphones, and the best wireless sound solution for gamers. A few things that I have noticed in the last year.

First, when the batteries die the headphones often make a violent crackling screech noise (for perhaps a second, very short). This is annoying, not something I find bad enough to reduce the score, but I hope in the next iteration Turtle Beach fixes this, even if it means I get 30 minutes less battery life. I would rather the headphones beeped at me when the battery was low, or perhaps some indicator on the base station could show when the batteries are getting down there. Then when it got critical just make the headphones power off gracefully, rather than dying in a screech and crackle of rage.

Second, they are actually susceptible to interference from 802.11G wireless. In general they work great, but if you position stuff such that some wireless device (be it a router or a wireless client) is closer to you than the base station you can get interference. In general this is easy to fix, for instance I put my wireless devices on the opposite side of the TV from the base station and interference is a thing of the past. It is something to be aware of though, depending on your situation, especially in an apartment or dorm with tons of wireless everywhere, you could have trouble avoiding interference. To fix this perhaps Turtle Beach will switch to the 6 Ghz spectrum and use something similar to DECT. This would increase range, and should completely eliminate interference.

Finally, a quick tip on hooking these up. I found that the best way to hook the headphones up to any modern TV was to plug the X41 power USB cable into the USB slot on the TV (generally used for displaying pictures or similar features). Then use the Optical out on the TV as the connection to the X41 base station. Then you just plug all your devices in with HDMI cables...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Ear Force X41 (XBOX LIVE Chat + Wireless Digital RF Game Audio with Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound)

Product Description:
The X41 is the third generation of wireless headsets from Turtle Beach for the Xbox 360.The X41 combines XBOX live chat with wireless game sound so you can hear the game sound and the voices of other players in the headset. That means you don't need your XBOX communicator headset or external speakers. By hearing the XBOX Live chat in the center of your head rather than in one ear, you can communicate better online. By eliminating speakers you can turn up the game without disturbing others. And, by having the game sound right on top of your ears, you can hear even the softest sound cues that are impossible to pick up with speakers.Better yet, because of the Dolby surround sound, you can also tell where the sound is coming from. That's because unlike stereo headphones, where the sound is either to the left or right of you, the X41 has 7.1 channel surround sound that lets you pinpoint the exact direction of every sound cue in the game. So if someone is quietly sneaking up behind you, you'll know it instantly. You can turn around, react faster and take them out before they take you out. It's actually like having a secret weapon because it gives you a significant edge over the competition.The X41 uses digital 2.4 Giga Hertz Radio Frequency wireless technology as compared to the X4 which used an analog infra red light beam. This new digital RF technology is a huge improvement over analog IR because it delivers CD-quality sound with no background hiss, no interference from plasma TV screens and no line of sight restrictions between the transmitter and headset.The X41 uses a proprietary uncompressed digital signal with super low latency for dramatic improvement in sound quality. The bass is deeper with more kick. The highs are so crisp and clean that you can hear a pin drop.There's also a headphone jack and volume control on the transmitter. This lets you connect a wired headset, like our Ear Force X1 or Ear Force XLC.

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