REVIEW

Product Review: TRITTON AX360 5.1 Headphones

Written by Ken Edwards
Published June 07, 2006
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The headphones pick up small details like glasses clanking in the rear speakers really well. We were quite impressed in testing this unit on both movies and video games. There is nothing better than hearing footsteps and breathing behind you in Condemned. The AX 360 delivers. The bass could be a little better, but that is a minor nitpick. To be fair, most all headphones of this ilk could use more bass.

While testing the microphone over Xbox Live, we came across a bizarre problem. After an arbitrary amount of time, the Xbox 360 controller would shut off. After contacting technical support and talking with them — both over the phone and over Xbox Live — we came to the conclusion that this was the mic, and not the headset or the controller that was causing the problem.

I was sent a replacement mic, and since then I have had no problems with the AX 360. The technician, who had tested many units himself, was ironically able to duplicate this error himself while on Live talking to me. I am glad to hear that this is not a widespread problem because no one else has reported this problem, and TRITTON has not found another defective unit.

The good news is they have top-notch technical support. I got through right away, and they were willing to walk through the problem over Xbox Live with me. The new mic solved the problem completely, and I have had hours upon hours of Xbox Live trash talking since.

You will be hard pressed to find a better set of headphones that offer 5.1 channel separation, replicated as well as it is, with Xbox Live support. Add to that complex controls a geek will love, vibration, and an amazing price point, and you have TRITTON Technologies new Audio Xtreme 360 Headset. Highly recommended.

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Ken Edwards is the Gaming Editor at Blogcritics, and calls Breaking Windows home. Ken works part time for Student Publications at BGSU as the Webmaster and System Administrator. He is also a freelance web developer.
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Product Review: TRITTON AX360 5.1 Headphones
Published: June 07, 2006
Type: Review
Section: Gaming
Filed Under: Gaming: Gear, Sci/Tech: Personal Tech
Writer: Ken Edwards
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Comments

#1 — June 7, 2006 @ 23:50PM — Ty

When are these coming out? One of the stories I read said it was already out, but didn't seem like it according the manufacturer's website nor Fry's Electronics.

#2 — June 8, 2006 @ 00:34AM — Ken Edwards [URL]

AFAIK they are rolling off the assembly line already. I am also pretty sure you can order them from Tiger Direct, that is what the TRITTON tech. told me.

Although I cannot find it on the Tiger Direct web site. I would call Tiger Direct or TRITTON.

760.599.0514

I will ask TRITTON in the morning when they will ship, but in my conversations with them, it sounded like this week, even though they were scheduled to ship May 31.

#3 — June 8, 2006 @ 17:37PM — Ken Edwards [URL]

Ty, I talked to TRITTON today. You can call Tiger Direct and ask for the AX 360, they have the SKU for it, and you can get it that way.

Tiger Direct: 800-800-8300

#4 — June 8, 2006 @ 20:22PM — Ty

Thanks!!!

#5 — June 14, 2006 @ 16:21PM — Andrew Brannen

What if I dont want the vibration but only the Bass?

#6 — June 14, 2006 @ 17:53PM — Ken Edwards [URL]

You cannot have one without the other. If you turn the Vibration dial down, there goes the bass too. Once you get used to it, it is not a big deal. It isn't as if your head is gonna be vibrating.

But I understand your concern. It feels weird at first, I'll say that. If you set the dial to 5, instead of 10, you still get the bass, just with much less vibration.

#7 — June 16, 2006 @ 18:28PM — Antonio Garcia

Has anyone bought them yet? I am looking forward to buy them, if I am able to find them.

#8 — July 27, 2006 @ 02:10AM — Matthias

Frankly, if you can afford 150$ on headphones, you can also afford a real 5.1 system, no? There are many active 5.1 systems for PCs and consoles which deliver very well and cost ~200$.

But still, this thing looks like a great addition to a 360 setup.

#9 — July 28, 2006 @ 09:12AM — Jayshum

Hi Ken. I don't suppose you'd know if these would work in the UK do you? I'd really love to order a pair to compliment my 360, but am nervous over 2 things.

1) Would the optical cable work on a PAL Xbox 360? (Should do shouldn't it? It's only audio..)

2) What is the Output of the supplied power adaptor? (in both amps and volts is possible please, usually tells you this on a sticker connected to the plug).

Thanks very much.

#10 — July 28, 2006 @ 17:55PM — Ken Edwards [URL]

Jayshum - It will work for you. You just need a standard converter to work in your wall socket, no strange amps or volts.

#11 — July 31, 2006 @ 08:40AM — Athenian

I got them from Newegg and have loved them every since. I have always used a 5.1 speaker setup w/ SB Audicgy 2 ZS soundcard and then I saw these. They sound great and on FPS games they are AWESOME. I can hear stuff from all over the place that I couldn't pick up from the speakers. Few problems though (not necessarily Tritton's fault). Audigy 2 ZS soundcards do not have neither a optical or digital coax out so I have to use an included adapter to connect the headphones to the line level jacks on the soundcard. I do not even use the external decoder so the vibration for the base does not work. I got an adapter to change SPDIF digital connection on the soundcard to a digital coax connection to try out the decoder. The vibration really is great for movies and I am sure games too. If you do use the external decoder you'll have to run a seperate cord for the mic. $150 might be a little steep for most people but those who enjoy great sound and want a tactical advantage in games then they are worth it. I was amazed at the seperation of the channels.

#12 — August 7, 2006 @ 14:02PM — Mike

I love these headphones! The first ones I received were broken. :( The second pair works great. :) I recommend these for any Xbox 360 owner who needs to keep quiet for the people around you.

I was deciding between these and the much more expensive Pioneer SE-DIR800C 5.1 wireless headphones. I chose the AX360's because I didn't want to spend more than $200 on a pair of headphones. I can live without the luxury of wireless if I can save $150. I was able to grab these from Fry's last weekend on sale for $109.99 with a $30 mail-in rebate. A steal at $80!

BTW. The AX360's did not sound that great on my PC for some reason when using the optical(maybe the optical sound card on my mobo *Realtek* was only designed to work with an amplified sound setup). When I use the analog connectors the sound is better, but still falls short when compared to my regular stereo headphones. I'm just not as impressed when using them on my PC.

#13 — August 23, 2006 @ 00:25AM — Gamer [URL]

Here is another review of Tritton AX360

#14 — October 24, 2006 @ 12:29PM — Hawaii6U

Where is the best/cheapest place to buy these? I know I can get them right now at Tiger Direct for $129.99 with a $30.00 mail in rebate for a total of $99.99.

But that rebate ends on the 31st of October (This month!)

I probably won't be able to get them before then. Does anyone have a suggestion of where I should get them?

#15 — April 22, 2007 @ 14:27PM — Darvoid

These are excellent surround headphones for the 360. You will be amazed at the seperation of sounds. I play R6Vegas... and I can hear where someone is much better than I expected. [Edited]

#16 — July 15, 2007 @ 22:31PM — SrB LumpStatus

I know this is a little old here, its July, last post I saw was April... I just want to know one thing, I have tried 2 different headphone sets for the 360 and I always had trouble hearing people talk over xbox live over the sound of the gameplay. Basically, the audio coming through the chat lines was too quiet and the game was too loud (Gears of war). I have tried to counteract this by turing music/sfx in game down, still hard to hear sometimes. I would like to trade these up for this set if anyone can confirm no problems hearing people while action is going on...

#17 — July 16, 2007 @ 09:20AM — Ken Edwards [URL]

If the game itself does not have controls for adjusting the volume of in-game music/sound, then you will struggle to hear chat over Xbox Live. Gears has good controls for this, I found a number of games that do not, which is irritating.

#18 — December 2, 2007 @ 05:02AM — leeb1977 [URL]

Hiya - im going to buy a set of ax360's.... they look like the perfect product for me. Had my doubts before reading this review - so first off.... thanks Ken!

I have just one question, im looking to get a set of headphones that i can also use for normal TV viewing, does the control unit have any kind of analog input? or can the headset be unplugged from the control unit and put directly into the TV headset output?

also - how many optical inputs does the control unit have? I have a HD cable box with optical out - as well as my 360, wii and Ps3....

#19 — January 4, 2008 @ 11:17AM — leeb1977 [URL]

just wanted to update this and say that i bought a set of trittons and was very impressed.... however, Ive since bought a pair of AKG 240S headphones along with a penguin tin amp and a JVC SU-DH1 surround sound processor and it sounds much much better.

Ive since sold the trittons to my brother and stuck with the AKGs..... its a slightly more expensive setup but the sound more than makes up for the extra money spent.


oh, and to anyone reading this - the answer to my question in the above post is that the ax360's dont have any form of standard RCA input.

#20 — August 30, 2008 @ 15:01PM — Jo [URL]

Here is a review of the AX360 headphones.
AX360 Review

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