Cross-platform compatibility is tricky for any gaming accessory. Most gamepads can't do it at all, and headsets have a slightly easier time, but you still wind up dealing with a tangle of wires. The Tritton AX 180 ($69.99 list) is a seemingly simple, basic pair of stereo headphones with a microphone, and getting it to work with a PC is easy. But if you want to use it with your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, you're going to have to work for it.
Design
The AX 180 is soft and nonthreatening, with half of the headset covered in padded foam. The inner surfaces of the ear cups and the headband are comfortable, while the outside of the ear cups and the adjustable part of the headband are flat black plastic, save for glossy black caps in the middle of the cups bearing Tritton's orange logo. A wiry, flexible black mic plugs into the left ear cup, and can easily be bent out of the way if you, say, want to take a drink of a nice, cold beverage while gaming. The headset connects to a breakaway cable with an inline remote that holds headphone and microphone volume wheels, mic and PS3/Xbox 360 switches, and an Xbox 360 mic port. At the end of the cable, there are USB, 3.5mm headphone, and microphone connectors.
While the AX 180 is primarily intended for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 use, it works just as well for PC gaming. Just plug the cable into an open USB port and the headphone and microphone plugs into their ports, and you're all set. It's actually more complicated to set the headset up for use with a game console. It's particularly difficult to set it up with an Xbox 360, which involves using an audio cable from the in-line remote to the controller, and (if you want to use your Xbox 360 with HDMI) a separate HD Audio Dongle, which Tritton offers for free on request with the headset, but it isn't included in the box.
Performance
For gaming, the headset feels comfortable and sounds fairly good. The ear cups might pinch slightly if you have large ears, but most users will likely find the padded headphones to fit snug and secure. I played Team Fortress 2 with the AX 180, and the action felt full and powerful. Explosions had satisfying force, but lacked really thumping bass (a flaw in most gaming headphones), and the microphone was present but unobtrusive.
For music, the AX 180 sounds good, but can't compare to a set of midrange, dedicated headphones. I listened to the Muse station on Pandora, and "Take a Bow" sounded fuzzy in the low end, with the bass notes not hitting any decent clarity or depth. John Coltrane's "Time Was" had the same issues, with the saxophone sounding clear and bright, but the bass and drums coming in a bit muffled. The headset will sound good for movies and music, but it's a gaming peripheral, and is more suited for listening to fragging and trash talk than concerts and music videos.
It doesn't come close to the audio quality of dedicated, non-gaming headphones, but the Tritton AX 180 is a competent gaming headset, with solid sound and comfortable design. It works well enough, but nothing about it stands out. For a better headset with a lower price, check out the Tt eSports Shock ($59.99, 3.5 stars). If you can splurge on a wireless headset, take a look at the Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega ($199.99, 3.5 stars) or our Editors' Choice, the Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 ($169.99, 4 stars).
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/yil8PmMZctI/0,2817,2386212,00.asp
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