“Dolby Digital is coming post launch. This was a SW scheduling issue pure and simple, and I know people are disappointed, but we will have it. Anyone with an HDMI receiver should be fine, as we pass the uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 through HDMI as well as DTS. Even if you have a Dolby only HDMI receiver (which I’m not sure exists), you will still get 5.1 or 7.1 sound since those receivers should accept uncompressed surround.

“For the Dolby only headsets, my understanding is that these will work but you will only get stereo audio since we only pass Stereo and DTS through the optical port. I have not tested this myself, but I’m told it works. Regardless, I understand this is an inconvenience, but again we’re going to have Dolby coming.

“This is unrelated to the HDMI-IN ‘Surround Sound’ beta. To clarify, we default HDMI-IN audio to be converted to Stereo. However, we do have a feature you can access in TV settings/Troubleshooting that enables Surround Sound in “beta” form. If you check the box, and you get Surround, you’re golden. We found some inconsistencies in STB’s during testing and decided to disable it by default to insure a good initial setup experience for people.”

The Xbox One will be launching tomorrow in 13 territories worldwide. What are your thoughts on the above? Let us know below.

Control Box

To get something cleared up here, before I dive into the details of the headsets, they are Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound for the Xbox 360.  If you notice on your Xbox 360 audio setting, there is no actual setting for 7.1, but rather 5.1 among other settings.  This does not mean that the Xbox 360 does not support 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound, it just means that not every game supports 7.1 Surround Sound.  So the headsets are really ahead of their time as more and more games will start supporting 7.1 Surround Sound.  So basically you will hear all games that don’t support it in 5.1 Surround Sound, but after using them, even then it still sounds better than a 5.1 headset.  It is basically a plus no matter which way you look at it in these regards, especially considering the price of them being only $179.99 which is an amazing deal.  Now that we got that out of the way, on to some of the awesome features these bad boys have.

I mentioned that the wired setup is the most convenient one I have seen so far and is because you essentially only deal with one wire that is nice and long with a 13 foot reach, which is great if you are playing far away from a real big TV.  This is aside from the small wire that must be connected to your Xbox 360 controller to chat online, which can obviously be unplugged if you don’t planning on talking online.  The same goes for the detachable mic that is super sensitive so you do not need to have it close to your mouth.  People can hear you crystal clear with the mic at a distance however the flexibility of the mic did seem a little awkward compared to other headsets, but it is certainly nothing that would stop me from purchasing this unit.  Within in the one wire, which I must add is braided, making is last longer, giving it more durability and making it harder to get tangled, is the in-line volume control.  From here you can adjust the game volume and separately control the mic volume.  In addition you can also adjust the overall volume on the Digital Audio Control Box.  All of the other wires are conveniently connected from the back of the control box, including the USB power supply and the optical cable both connecting to the back of the Xbox 360.

One Sleek Looking Headset

Setup and controlling the whole unit could not be easier and is one aspect that is different from other models.  Of course with the inline audio controller with selectable voice monitoring, you can easily hear your team mates no matter how loud you have the game volume.  You also can hear your own voice just enough through the headsets, which prevents you from feeling the need to scream into the mic if your game volume is loud.  There is also an easily accessible mute switch on the inline audio controller.  There are literally only two buttons on the control box and one of them is the power button with the main volume control as its perimeter.  The other button just toggles through the different modes which either stereo/Dolby Digital Surround Sound, Movie Mode or Music Mode.  It is that easy, and the control box can either lay flat or you can use the included attachment to have it stand straight up, depending on where or how your setup area is.

Moving on the headsets could not be more comfortable as I had worn them for hours on end with out them starting to hurt or annoy me.  This is a big issue with headsets and I am happy to say that these are one comfy, perfectly fitting headsets even with a headrail pad on it as well.  The licensed Gears of War art on the headset only add to how cool they really are.  On each side of the headset, there are Crimson Omen Skulls that gradually glow and blink red, indicating your headsets are on which after seeing them are well.. quite frankly bad ass!  It says Gears of War 3 on top of the head rail as well as the control box.  However just the whole unit being themed black and red make the everything look particularly slick.  As I said before you don’t need to be a fan of Gears of War to appreciate the art of the Headsets and well as the mechanics of it.

Do your headsets eminate crimson skulls in the dark?

The Tritton Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound Gears of War Headset unit is by far the highest quality wired headset I have used.  Whether you want to watch movies in HD with our waking up people around you or playing your favorite game hearing someone sneaking up behind you, these Tritton units are one hell of a bargain for what you get with it.  You can tell where sounds are coming from on a map to give you the upper hand in a shooter or creep you out even more in a survival horror game.  If you are a dedicated Xbox 360 user these are one pair of headsets that will be the perfect use for you.  At only $179.99 you can’t go wrong with these sleek looking, high quality unit.  International pricing is as follows: $189.99 CA, £169.99 UK, €179.99 FR, €179.99 DE.

I am trying to think of what I can’t plug the X-Tatic SR’s into, but I am drawing a blank.  First lets get it out of the way that they are not wireless, they are wired, getting all their power through USB and in today’s day in age, an electronic device with out a USB port, is pretty much alien technology.  In fact speaking of wires, there are a lot of them when it comes to the SR’s, so if you are not a wire person then these might not be for you.  Most high quality wired gaming headsets do have a lot of wires anyway though.  While having all those wires may be looked at as a down side you would have to have that many to be able to have a headset that can support the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, Mac, Tablets, MP3 players, DVD players, Smartphones and MVP’s.  Not many gaming headsets can do all that and as a gamer, I play on all platforms so the X-Tatic SR’s are a thing of convenience.  That’s right you can go from watching a movie in surround sound on your iPad (or other tablet) to hearing man eating zombies creeping up behind you on the Xbox 360.

All the convenience you could need in a headset.

You may be telling yourself ‘Oh well my headset can hook up to this or that too, if I just get this wire adapter’.  Well… SILENCE!  Because not only do the SR’s come with all the wires, adapters and everything you need to hook them up to just about any multimedia device, but they have got the digital support as well, with the help of the Sound Control Unit.  The SR’s support Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic 2, and regular Dolby Headphone.  The important thing to note here is that although it supports Dolby Digital 5.1 Input it does not support the same output which is a bummer but, the sound is very high quality with a crispness that you have got to love.  There is a built in amplifier and a 3D Expander as they call it to give you a unique 3D Sound with ‘multi-dimensional detection’. You can also between a Stereo input as well with the touch of a button as well as the X-Tatic SR’s also having a ‘Music Mode’ that can all be changed  by using the buttons on the Sound Control Unit (SCU).  These modes are known from the light displays on the SCU.

It also has an in-line amplifier with volume control, where there is the microphone volume control, as well as a mute mic button on the top of it, which is separate from the over sound volume control on the other side.  A clip is also provided if you want to keep the volume amplifier at a certain position.  The detachable microphone is nice as it locks in nicely with out having to worry about it falling out but can easily be detached if not needed.  Although the mic is flexible, it almost seemed too flexible as I had to keep adjusting it as I was playing games, between movements and occasionally taking it off only to put them back on.  It’s easy to chat over Xbox Live and on the Playstation 3, with microphone connecting to the Xbox through the controller via 2.5 mm plug (Xbox 360 Customized Clip), while the microphone connects to the PS3 via USB, powering it at the same time. It comes with a 3.5 mm stereo cable, a stereo extension cable, an optical connection cable (S/PDIF), a USB 2.0 cable and a G6 adapter cable.

The Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Headset also comes with detailed manuals, with pictures easily describing setup for all devices.  Overall these are a great pair of headsets at a great price of around $139.99.  There are a lot of wires and it can seem kind of bulky with all of them but as I said before it has all the convenience one would need, supporting all different media devices.  You can even connect a separate headset connected via the 3.5mm audio jack through the SCU to have two people listen in on the same thing.  The SR’s are also very comfortable which is a big deal when it comes to gamers, as I have used many headsets that start to hurt after a while, but wore these for an extended time and they felt fine.  I believe it mostly comes down to personal preference when deciding on whether or not to purchase the SR Headset.  If it has everything you want then it is a no brainer.  However it might come down to whether or not you want that crisp 3d sound, will all the convenience or you would rather spend a little more money on a gaming headset with multiple speakers with more surround sound.  This, I can’t decide for you but can say that the Sharkoon X-Tatic SR Headset is something that you will not be disappointed with.

Elmsford, N.Y., August 9, 2011 – Beginning today, Turtle Beach, pioneers and market-leaders of the gaming headset category, will unveil additional details on the recently announced limited edition Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 Ear Force headsets.  Starting with the Ear Force FOXTROT, Turtle Beach will update their website each day with detailed web pages for each of the limited edition models. The final unveil will be on Friday with the Ear Force DELTA. These new pages will feature new photos, detailed specs and other information about the headsets and can be accessed by visiting: TurtleBeach.com/MW3.

Fans of Turtle Beach and MW3 will find updated information daily at 1:00 PM PT. Please see below for the schedule of updates:

• Tuesday Aug 9 – Ear Force FOXTROT
• Wednesday Aug 10 – Ear Force CHARLIE
• Thursday Aug 11 – Ear Force BRAVO
• Friday Aug 12 – Ear Force DELTA

These truly Limited Editions Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 headsets will deliver enhanced experiences for the year’s most anticipated entertainment launch.  An example of the information fans will find updated throughout the week will include:

• The Ear Force DELTA headset ships with custom voice prompts by Lt. Col. Hank Keirsey (ret.). Army Ranger, master parachutist and decorated combat veteran, Keirsey served 24 years with the US Army and now serves as the principal military advisor for Call of Duty®. It’s his voice that will lead you into battle, and inform you on your preset choices in the field.

• The Ear Force DELTA and Ear Force BRAVO wireless models feature Turtle Beach’s proprietary DSP headset technology that elevates these headsets beyond mere accessories with the inclusion of custom-designed presets.  These settings are specific to Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 and come stored in the headsets right out of the box. Developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer, these presets are tailored to Modern Warfare 3 gameplay, so by utilizing these presets, DELTA and BRAVO owners will hear and experience Modern Warfare 3 the way the developers intended. No other headsets in the world can provide such a complete and immersive Modern Warfare® 3 experience.
• All of Turtle Beach’s Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 headsets feature special packaging.  The wireless DELTA and BRAVO models come packed in rugged hard plastic field cases for transport and storage or to showcase and protect your headset. The stylized design ID will match the military theme of the headsets and it will serve as the perfect carrying case for your headset.
• Delivering additional value, each package will also include access to special DLC, provided exclusively for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 headsets owners. Specific details about the DLC will be released at a later date.

Pre-sale orders for the Turtle Beach Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 headsets are underway at many of Turtle Beach’s top retail partners’ online stores in the North America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere, including but not limited to: BestBuy.com, GameStop.com, Amazon.com, WalMart.com and others.  For listings of additional retail

Turtle Beach revolutionized game audio with the industry’s first truly customizable headset, the acclaimed PX5, earlier this year and is the only brand capable of this offering.  Gamers interested in learning more about Turtle Beach’s lineup of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 headsets should visit www.turtlebeach.com/MW3, and sign up for ongoing updates about special content, additional product details, on-sale info and other special news and alerts.

The full lineup of Turtle Beach’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 gaming headsets will ship to major retailers in October, 2011.

Turtle Beach will be showing off two new headsets at E3 for the Playstation 3 and PC.  The PX3 which you may have heard of comes preloaded with 18 interchangeable, fully customizable presets. The PX3 is also the first Turtle Beach headset to have a rechargeable battery pack. The other headset to be revealed is the Z6A Multi-Speaker Surround Sound Headset which has eight amplified speakers in it and is powered by a 5.1 channel amplifier with bass enhancement.  Check out the full press release below including the retail prices for these bad boys.

Elmsford, N.Y., June 1, 2011 – Turtle Beach, the gaming headset category pioneers and market leader, today announced today their latest innovations for 2011; the PX3 Programmable Wireless Stereo Headset and the Z6A Multi-Speaker Surround Sound Headset. Both new headsets will make their debuts at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California, from June 7-9, 2011 at the Turtle Beach booth #435 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Turtle Beach Ear Force PX3 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset

Engineered primarily for use with PlayStation 3 – and also compatible with Xbox 360 and PC/Mac gaming – the PX3 is the “kid brother” to the highly acclaimed Ear Force PX5 programmable wireless surround sound headset launched earlier this year. Like the PX5, the PX3 comes preloaded with 18 interchangeable audio presets that allow gamers to select their desired audio experience. Additional stereo audio presets will also be made available for download from the Turtle Beach website for easy installation into the PX3; letting users enjoy a personalized assortment of in-game audio experiences. The PX3 is also Turtle Beach’s first headset to feature a rechargeable battery pack, providing over 10 hours of uninterrupted game play and an auxiliary input so you can listen to your favorite music while gaming.  In addition, like the PX5, the PX3 has an impressive set of audio features, including Sonic Lens with Sound Field Expander that widens or narrows the sound field to focus on specific frequencies and Ear Guard™ with Blast Limiter technology, which limits the intensity of deafening sounds.

MSRP: $149.95

Availability: Summer 2011

URL: www.turtlebeach.com/PX3

 

Turtle Beach Ear Force Z6A Multi-Speaker Surround Sound Headset

Powered by a 5.1 channel amplifier with bass enhancement, the Ear Force Z6A combines the audio quality and comfort of a professional-grade gaming headset. The Z6A comes complete with eight amplified speakers including dual subwoofers, delivering realistic directional audio for a more immersive audio experience. The speakers are acoustically angled toward the user’s ears, allowing gamers to pinpoint critical sound cues from every direction, such as the sound of approaching footsteps, incoming enemy vehicles, or the click of someone reloading in the distance. With oversized mesh ear cushions and a lightweight design, the Z6A is perfect for long gaming sessions, and with a quick disconnect cable and USB power, it is the ideal solution for LAN tournaments and parties. The Z6A is also features XBOX 360 compatibility with an optional cable kit.

MSRP: $99.95

Availability: Summer 2011

URL: www.turtlebeach.com/Z6A

“We are the category leader because we are the only headset maker solely focused on gamers’ unique audio needs,” said Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO of Turtle Beach. We redefined what a gaming headset could do when we introduced the PX5 earlier this year.  One message we have heard from gamers load and clear is that they want to control their gaming experience as much as possible. The PX3 allows us to bring many of the PX5’s amazing innovations to an even broader audience, while the Z6A offers PC gamers a competitive edge with a flexible multi-driver surround sound experience that provides the comfort needed for long gaming sessions.”

These headset can be used with you Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, iPod, iPhone and other portable devices.  You also can let the size fool you as these bad boys can get loud, I mean easily blowout your ear drums loud.  All this in a headset that weighs less than half a pound (0.30 pounds to be exact).  For the headsets to be used with the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 you must make sure your get the Specialist Bundle, which can also be purchased separately.  They come with a case that is super small  as the headsets fold up and make it easy to travel with.  Even without the case, while not as protected, I could literally fold these up and put them in my pocket.

The headset has a flexible boom microphone that can re-tract right back into the headset making them nearly invisible which is nice if you just want to listen while your gaming or using an iPod, etc.  You can bring this great quality bad boys with you anywhere making it easy to use Skype or other computer software requiring a mic.  Another great thing about the NOX Specialist is that they are very comfortable even after wearing them for a long period of time.  Something that I can say the same for headsets that are  Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound as well as traveling with headsets with that feature.

One thing that was a small pain in the ass was getting the headset hooked up as well as properly working with the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  They are wired which is bottom line a  personal preference in my opinion as oppose to a wireless headset, but you will use a USB port to power it and an optical cable that usually can’t even be used on some Xbox 360’s while using an HDMI cable, forcing you to use an HDMI component cable.  After some quick thinking and using some older Xbox components I did actual manage to set it up using an HDMI cable simultaneously with the optical cable with the NOX Specialist.  Now you have to mess with you audio settings on you console or PC making sure it is setup for Digital Stereo.  The other downside is that there are no separate controls for the voice chat volume and game volume your hear, although you can move the volume dial in different directions to controls this, just to simply change the volume settings on your console or PC to get it to where you are satisfied.  So these are all issues that although inconvenient they can be tweaked to your liking.

Aside from those minor issues the only thing that differs from other gaming headsets is that it does not have Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which to be fair many other gaming headsets don’t have.  Now the digital stereo quality of the NOX Specialist is excellent, once again with such a small size is very impressive.  The headset has two custom 26mm Mylar drivers providing high quality bass and volume that you will never want to crank to the top unless to never want to hear anything for the rest of your life.  That is a good thing having that kind of range as well as quality.  You can even choose the NOX Specialist in different colors as well.  Once you know how to setup the headset to your devices they are easy to switch back and forth. For an all around headset these bad boys are something you are really going to want especially if you travel. on top of the fact that buying other headsets restricts you to a certain console, platform, etc. I would high recommend this headset to anyone regardless of any of these factors.

NOX Specialist Headset Bundle Including All of the Below Retail Price: $99.99

Specialist Headset Retail Price: $79.99
Includes:
Stereo Headset, 3.5mm Detachable Cable, PC Splitter, User Manual and Warranty Card

Negotiator Universal Optical Audio Gaming Adapter Retail Price: $59.99 (For Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 capability)
Includes:
Negotiator Audio Adapter, 12 ft. Specialist Audio Controller Cable, 2 ft. Optical Cable, Standard PC Headset Adapter

Specialist headset Specifications:
Drivers: Dual 26mm Mylar
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Noise Reduction: 6 dB @ 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 104 dBSPL @ 1 kHz
THD: <0.5% @ 1 kHz; <2% from 40 Hz to 20 kHz
Input impedance: 32-ohms
Microphone: 4mm Omnidirectional
Weight: 0.30 lbs

Negotiator Adapter Specifications:
Frequency Response: 20 to 20 KHz
THD: < 0.5%
SNR: 95 dB
USB 2.0 Compliant
FCC/CE Certified