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Tritton AX Pro 5.1-channel gaming headphones
Four speakers per cup, anyone?
Review Gaming headset outfit Tritton may not be a household name, but you can expect its profile to grow in the UK now that Mad Catz is handling the brand. The peripherals giant picked up the specialist headphone maker a year ago, pledging to bring this distinctive marque to a wider audience.
As a consequence, it’s giving a fresh push to Tritton’s range-topping £150 AX Pro, one of the few genuine Dolby Digital 5.1 headsets available for console gamers.
Tritton's AX Pro: top-of-the-range gaming audio?
What makes the AX Pro interesting, both from gaming and home entertainment perspectives, is that each earcup conceals four separate drivers. One is assigned to the centre channel, another to the front channel and a third to the surrounds. Low-frequency effects are delivered by a larger, fourth speaker. The idea is basically to cram a downsized sub/sat system into each ear.
The AX Pro can be used with either the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Set up is straightforward for both. I used an Xbox 360, running a digital optical audio lead into the small decoder module, which in turn feeds the headphones with surround sound. The cable length is 4m. Once the kit was powered up, I was swiftly engulfed in audio. A bendy mic can be snapped in and out as you need it.
One cup, four drivers
The ‘phones themselves are substantial. Build quality is high but you’ll not forget you’re wearing them in a hurry. The standard earpads and headrail are firm and felty. If you’d prefer something a little softer, cushiony alternatives – plus a pad removal tool – are included in the box.