Tritton AX PRO Review

Rating the Headset

Now to the part we really want to hear...

There are many different factors which contribute to whether a headset is good, bad or just okay. The categories in which I've used to rate the headset include: Appearance, Build, Comfort, Performance and Cost.

Appearance
Tritton's AX PRO's look sexy. There, I said it. From the silver/grey and black colouring, to the large and minute illuminated buttons and logos – they just look COOL. Whilst the actual headset looks great itself, I must admit there is at times an entanglement of cords and cables. At most appropriate times you will have 3 cables plugged into the Box (power, headset and optical), 2 cables running from the headset to the Box and a power port in your wall and an additional cable from your Volume Control Centre to the Xbox 360 Controller. It is, however, all understandable and necessary cabling even if it can sometimes look ugly.

Build
The AX PRO's are built very solidly; it'll take a very deliberate or stupid act to literally break the headset or any components. There is necessary length in cabling to suit all monitor-to-viewer distances and hey – they even have a Velcro strap to tie up any un-needed length of cable. The Volume Control Centre is built solidly, with no easy breakables, switches or clips with snap-points. The Digital Decoder Box is also another solid unit, however I don't think it is heavy enough. It's lightness would save costs for shipping companies and buyers but I find myself often having to re-arrange the Box's positioning as it shifts around the table with the slightest of touches. [/p][p]The detachable microphone has caused many concerns for users. They often find the microphone not working and in need of replacement, even if the unit has been treated with the upmost care. The pins in the headset-to-decoder-box plug are also very fragile and can be bent easily if you miscalculate their insertion into the Box. Once bent, you can straighten them though in most cases they will never be the same.

Comfort
The AX PRO's are extremely comfortable, they cover most ears (probably not Spock) easily and are lined with comfortable materials that do not irritate the ears. The earpieces and headrail pad can be changed from a soft, cotton outlay generally used for winter – or to a summer approach in a soft leather outlay. Having the two cables coming from the headset and Volume Control Centre can become a bit of a nuisance when gaming, especially if you don't have a table or desk to rest your controller and cabling upon. Clipping the cabling onto your shirt counters this slightly, but there's no real action to stop the nuisance except for keeping them well away from your hands by entangling them with something afar. The headset itself can get cumbersome after a few solid hours of gaming due to its size and weight, though I suppose this could be determined by how thick or strong your neck is.

Performance
The sound the AX PRO's put out is nearly flawless. With 5.1 digital technology enabled, sounds are easily picked from all angles – however like anything, it make take a little time to get used to it. The quality of the sound is amazing, whether in-game, watching a movie or listening to some loud music – the AX PRO's will impress you. With such clarity and precision, the AX PRO's will immerse you into anything you are listening to. With 8 speakers - 4 in each ear - you can be guaranteed an awesome audio experience. From the crashing explosion of a car to the thundering bass of a double kick, you'll be delighted.

The AX PRO's will pick up any sound or nuance within the game and deliver it right to you, whether it's a footstep from 20 meters away or some poor bastard you just got the jump on because he reloaded near you. I must note that these will improve your gameplay, but only to an extent. The real quality in gaming when it comes to sound is using what technologies you have available to you, to the best advantage.

Cost
The headset does set you back a fair bit, $374 including shipping from the only Australian reseller. But, it is worth it if you have the cash to burn. Alternatively you can buy them from overseas and get power supply adapters to suit Australian or New Zealand power sockets; and the headset overall will be extremely cheaper.

Alas, with Tritton's great support in replacements and advice, any issues (which are common for Xbox 360 headsets) are heedless and shouldn't be doted about, because the other 99.9% of the package you are getting is flawless, wondrous uber-sound.

The Numbers
Appearance: 9/10 – Absolutely sexy but so many cables!
Build: 8/10 – Solid in most departments but the microphone isn't up to scratch.
Comfort: 9/10 – very comfortable and well suited to different environments, but pretty heavy after some hard hours gaming if your neck isn't rugby-thick.
Performance: 10/10 – Amazing quality, directional sound and pick-up.
Cost: 8/10 – Although I'd love to see them cheaper, they are only 1 of 2 wired Dolby Digital headsets going around (both similarly priced) and with Tritton's good reputation who are we to say how much they charge? Worth it.
Overall: 8.8/10 – Minor flaws but fantastic nonetheless. Tritton has produced great sound quality, great build quality and exceptional gaming comfort with their flagship headset the AX PROs. With some minor flaws in cabling and microphone quality, the AX PROs will suit any gaming enthusiast willing to spend the money. A must-have for any competitive gamer.

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Feel free to comment or ask questions below.

Regards,

Jared
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