Tritton AX Pro

Like Saitek and Cyborg, Tritton is part of the Mad Catz empire. Although this particular brand may not be quite as well known as its two counterparts, Tritton makes high-end gaming accessories and peripherals, including the AX Pro headset.

Design: what's with all the cables?!

Due to the mass of cables included in the box, we were concerned this headset would be complicated to set up. Once we'd untangled what had inevitably become a giant knot of wires, we had no choice but to resort to the user manual.

Things soon become clear, however, as the wires serve to hook up this headset to all kinds of different sockets and sources. The AX Pro can connect to a PC via an analogue connection, with a multi-cable mini-jack, via a digital connection or using an optical connection. It can also connect to the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles (with a microphone adapter for the latter). There's also a cable for hooking the audio controller up to the mains.

Once you've chosen which cable to use, the headset is very easy to install: just plug it in, turn it on and it works, all thanks to the magic audio controller (see inset). While the main controls for the headset are found on the audio controller (volume etc.), there's also a selection of controls on the wired remote. You therefore don't need to keep the audio controller to hand.

The AX Pro is a good-quality headset, made from decent materials and with a high-end finish. Although the AX Pro may feel heavy when packaged, once you've removed the audio controller and all the cables, the headset itself isn't too imposing. Two pairs of ear pads are supplied, one in velvet and one in leatherette, and you'll need to be careful not to lose the removable microphone. To be honest, we would have preferred a retractable mic like on SteelSeries headsets.

Audio Quality: genuine 5.1 sound (well, almost)

Manufacturers are always selling headsets that claim to be '7.1' but which are actually just simple stereo headphones with audio processing software that creates a spatial, surround sound effect—often with disastrous consequences. The Tritton AX Pro is one of very few models that actually comes close to recreating the effect of a 5.1 surround sound system (physically speaking).

The headphones feature several transducers lined up next to each other, over which the various channels are distributed. The result with a multi-channel input source is really quite convincing. In fact, whether the headset is hooked up via the analogue or digital connection, it still doesn't sound like you're gaming in a cave, as is the case with many competitors' models. The output is consistent, clean, and there's no sign of the heavy resonance we're used to seeing in this type of product. On the wired remote you can even adjust the volume of each virtual speaker independently. This can help you obtain a more natural overall sound. Film buffs and gamers are sure to love it!

Beware of the Dolby Prologic mode, however, as the audio controller adds a surround sound effect to an input that's not 'spatial' to start with. As usual, it just sounds dodgy.

When listening to music in stereo mode, the AX Pro is a touch too warm, with emphasis on the bass and mediums. The overall effect is verging on dull and the sound clearly loses some of its 'oomph' (probably because the rear transducers are deactivated). The stereo mode is therefore rather disappointing, which is a shame in and otherwise decent headset. Here too, Dolby Prologic is best avoided.

The AX Pro headset is a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy multi-channel sound in movies and video games. However, those who are looking for a versatile headset for multi-purpose computing should probably look elsewhere.