Tritton AX 900 Gaming Headphones Review
Exclusive: IGN takes a look at Tritton's new no-frills Dolby headphones.
Although the company has been going strong for years in the gaming accessories space, Tritton Technologies has recently been gaining momentum with their line of Dolby-certified AX-series gaming headphones. Late last year we had an opportunity to check out Tritton's multiplatform 5.1 Dolby Digital headset, the AX Pro, and loved just about everything about them, save a few minor details. Despite possessing practically flawless immersive surround sound and being compatible with just about every gaming platform currently available, we had concerns about the AX Pro's somewhat cumbersome connectivity. The Tritton AX Pro gives users a lot of versatility in terms of connection types and calibration, however, the product also features a complicated array of wires and controls, including two dedicated power supplies. Our thoughts on the AX Pro seem to have been noticed by the development team over at Tritton, and this year at E3 2009 introduced their latest entries in the AX series with the AX 900 and the AX 720, which feature a simplified, Dolby Headphone design.
The AX 900 and AX 720 are both stereo Dolby Headphone headsets with dedicated digital audio control boxes with Dolby Digital decoders for processing immersive three-dimensional sound. The AX 900 and AX 720 headsets are practically identical – they use the same headset components and have the same finish (glossy white/matte black with orange Tritton accents) – however, the difference between them lies within their digital audio control boxes. Both incorporate USB microphone output and are capable of accepting and processing optical digital audio connections, however, the AX 900 can also accept stereo analog and 3.5mm MP3 player inputs and features Dolby's Virtual Speaker technology, while the AX 720 does not. The inclusion of Dolby's advanced simulated surround sound technology and extra inputs will cost consumers $179.99 for the AX 900, while the AX 720 will cost only $129.99, starting September 1. We were fortunate enough to acquire a pair of the AX 900s well before their release date for an exclusive first review.
As we mentioned, Tritton is a winner when it comes to audio. They utilize some of the best components with a strong emphasis on engrossing audio, but that isn't the only contributing factor to the overall quality of a headset, and two areas that the AX series has been lacking in has been stylization and ease of use. Fortunately, Tritton has made commendable efforts in both areas with the AX 900. Featuring a low gloss white on matte black finish and stylized inline controls and audio box, the AX 900 is much more appealing to the eye than its predecessors. As you can see from the product shots, the headset controls in both the inline pod and control box have been minimized for efficiency and ease of use. The company has eliminated the dual power supply design and opted for direct connectivity. Setup is a breeze; connect the AC adaptor, your preferred device (console, receiver, PC) via stereo RCA, 3.5mm speaker jack, or the included optical cable, run a USB cable to your PS3 or PC for communication, and connect the headset to the control box via 6 pin connector. From there, firing up the AX 900 is as simple as powering on and selecting the desired input. The input methods are divided into three channels – optical digital devices on channel 1, 3.5mm jacks on channel 2, and stereo RCA on channel 3. This enables users to not only have a variety of input methods, but also have multiple devices connected at once and easily swappable. Unfortunately you cannot mix two devices; like, for instance, mixing an MP3 player with game audio for some personalized pwnage. Still, having the three dedicated channels does make using the Tritton for other purposes outside of gaming pretty simple. Also located on the back input panel of the control box is an RCA output, thus enabling users to passthrogh input audio to an additional audio device like a home theater system.
The audio settings are accessed through a streamlined series of controls built into the faceplate of the control box, and allow users to power on the box, select the desired input, control the maximum volume, as well as a number of sound processing options. Tritton took simplification particularly to heart when it came to designing the control interface; users cannot tweak equalization or surround effects, but they can select which Dolby processing they want enabled, such as Dolby Prologic II, Dolby Virtual Speaker, and Dolby Headphone. Prologic II is reserved for creating simulated surround from analog signals (3.5mm/RCA), while Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Speaker are used for digital inputs (optical cable). Also located on the front panel are two 6-pin headphone connectors, which allows two players with Tritton AX 900 headsets to listen to a single source.
The headset itself uses a lock-in microphone similar to the AX Pro series, however, the AX 900's is unique in that it now features a slightly longer, bendable design for better control. The inline control pod is also one of the most drastically revised elements of the AX 900 from the AX Pro. The AX Pro had dedicated channel leveling built into it's inline controller, however, since the AX 900 uses only two drivers, the controls on the inline control pod are limited to volume, microphone volume, a mute switch, PC/Control box switch, and a mini-jack for Xbox 360 communication support. Using the min-jack to connect to the Xbox 360's communication does add unnecessary wires to the mix compared to the PS3 or PC, both of which use USB connectivity directly to the control box, however, that is more of a problem with Xbox design rather than Tritton.
In terms of audio, the Tritton AX 900 headset packs some serious audible punch. Despite not having multichannel audio for "true" 5.1 surround, the AX 900s do a great job of presenting an immersive, three dimensional environment. We tested the headset with titles renowned for the sound production – Call of Duty 4, Crysis, and even the current Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Each title really pushed the AX 900 to its limits, really framing the headset's impressive natural equalization in the best possible scenario. Low frequency response is tight and effective, but we could have used a little extra bass. Nevertheless, the AX 900s are by no means too bright. High-end response is crisp and clean but not scratchy, and mid tones are smooth. Naturally, audible location of in-game elements in a 3D space is not nearly as distinctive as the 5.1-enabled AX Pro, but for a pair of stereo headphones, the AX 900 are more than sufficient. We were able to get a firm grasp of front, back, left, and right side environmental effects, but the depth at which they were occurring was difficult to discern at times. Otherwise, however, using the AX 900 was an audible delight.
Some could perceive Tritton's move to a more simplified design as limiting, but hardcore gamer audiophiles are not the AX 900 and AX 720 series' intended audience. Instead, the AX 900's configuration is better suited for active players that want quality sound but not the hassle of a full 5.1 audio setup. The only major issue we found with the AX 900 is its price, which will set users back $179.99. Considering that the AX 720, which is practically identical in features with exception to the AX 900's Dolby Virtual Speaker processing and multiple inputs/output, is about $50 cheaper, the AX 900 is a bit steep. When you also factor in that Tritton offers a full 5.1 surround headset for the same price with the AX Pro. Still, beyond its pricing issues, the AX 900 is a quality headset.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product: Tritton AX 900
Width 5.6 in
Height 5.1 in
Compatible Mobile Device Xbox
Xbox 360
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
DVD Player
Wii
Additional Features Dolby Headphone technology,
Volume Control
Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
Headphones Form Factor Ear-Cup
Connectivity Technology Wired
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Response Bandwidth 25 - 22000 Hz
Sensitivity 106 dB
In Cord Volume-Control Yes
Microphone Type Built-in
Boom
Connector Type 1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ),
1 x SPDIF input ( TOSLINK ),
1 x Headset ( RCA phono x 2 )
Cables Included 1, Audio (optical) Cable - 12.5ft
Included Accessories Carrying case, Decoder
IGN RATING FOR TRITTON AX 900 GAMING HEADPHONES:
9.0 Built Quality
- Strong, durable plastic materials with a nice finish.
8.9 Audio Quality
- Impressive, but not nearly as immersive as a true 5.1 headset.
8.4 Features
- Only the most crucial features for a streamlined experience.
9.0 Ease of Use
- A cinch to set up, calibrate, use and transport.
6.5 Value
- A bit too expensive considering the scale of Tritton's other products.
8.8 Comfort
- Comfortable padded earcups with room to breathe.
8.2 Great
OVERALL (Out of 10)
In terms of audio, the Tritton AX 900 headset packs some serious audible punch. Despite not having multichannel audio for "true" 5.1 surround, the AX 900s do a great job of presenting an immersive, three dimensional environment. We tested the headset with titles renowned for the sound production – Call of Duty 4, Crysis, and even the current Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Each title really pushed the AX 900 to its limits, really framing the headset's impressive natural equalization in the best possible scenario. Low frequency response is tight and effective, but we could have used a little extra bass. Nevertheless, the AX 900s are by no means too bright. High-end response is crisp and clean but not scratchy, and mid tones are smooth. Naturally, audible location of in-game elements in a 3D space is not nearly as distinctive as the 5.1-enabled AX Pro, but for a pair of stereo headphones, the AX 900 are more than sufficient. We were able to get a firm grasp of front, back, left, and right side environmental effects, but the depth at which they were occurring was difficult to discern at times. Otherwise, however, using the AX 900 was an audible delight.
Some could perceive Tritton's move to a more simplified design as limiting, but hardcore gamer audiophiles are not the AX 900 and AX 720 series' intended audience. Instead, the AX 900's configuration is better suited for active players that want quality sound but not the hassle of a full 5.1 audio setup. The only major issue we found with the AX 900 is its price, which will set users back $179.99. Considering that the AX 720, which is practically identical in features with exception to the AX 900's Dolby Virtual Speaker processing and multiple inputs/output, is about $50 cheaper, the AX 900 is a bit steep. When you also factor in that Tritton offers a full 5.1 surround headset for the same price with the AX Pro. Still, beyond its pricing issues, the AX 900 is a quality headset.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Product: Tritton AX 900
Width 5.6 in
Height 5.1 in
Compatible Mobile Device Xbox
Xbox 360
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
DVD Player
Wii
Additional Features Dolby Headphone technology,
Volume Control
Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
Headphones Form Factor Ear-Cup
Connectivity Technology Wired
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Response Bandwidth 25 - 22000 Hz
Sensitivity 106 dB
In Cord Volume-Control Yes
Microphone Type Built-in
Boom
Connector Type 1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ),
1 x SPDIF input ( TOSLINK ),
1 x Headset ( RCA phono x 2 )
Cables Included 1, Audio (optical) Cable - 12.5ft
Included Accessories Carrying case, Decoder
IGN RATING FOR TRITTON AX 900 GAMING HEADPHONES:
9.0 Built Quality
- Strong, durable plastic materials with a nice finish.
8.9 Audio Quality
- Impressive, but not nearly as immersive as a true 5.1 headset.
8.4 Features
- Only the most crucial features for a streamlined experience.
9.0 Ease of Use
- A cinch to set up, calibrate, use and transport.
6.5 Value
- A bit too expensive considering the scale of Tritton's other products.
8.8 Comfort
- Comfortable padded earcups with room to breathe.
8.2 Great
OVERALL (Out of 10)
