Tritton AX 720

Among all the video game accessories available today, no other market seems to be expanding as rapidly as the video game headset. With most current-generation consoles able to produce 5.1 surround sound, finding a headset solution to handle such a request is now much easier than before.

We've tested a handful of gaming headsets, most of which are not designed to accommodate 5.1 sound. The latest from Tritton, the AX 720, not only handles 5.1 surround sound, but it does a pretty impressive job at doing so.

The last Tritton product we tested, the AX Pro 5.1, performed well, but we were really turned off by the gratuitous number of connections that had to be made in order for the system to function properly. This time around, Tritton has slashed the amount of connectivity required, all while maintaining most of the same user experience.

The AX 720 will take any optical audio connection you can throw at it, allowing you to hook up any video game console that supports it (Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3). This also means that any device with an optical out can be decoded by the AX 720 amplifier. DVD and Blu-ray players, even a PC with a sound card supporting the proper outputs, will also work. There's also an included PC adapter that will work separately. Only stereo sources are left out in the cold. That includes the Wii. For those looking for compatibility with stereo sources, we recommend checking out the AX 900.

The headphones themselves are still too heavy, but at least they don't require their own power supply like we saw in the AX Pro 5.1. At first we weren't concerned with their weight, but after just 45 minutes of gameplay we needed to take a break for some head relief. They're covered in a white, glossy plastic with room for the detachable microphone under the left ear cup. Two drivers in each cup allow for simulated surround sound, which in our opinion sounded just as good as some four driver in-ear setups. The wire coming from the left ear cup can detach from the in-line volume adjuster. From here you can connect an Xbox 360 controller (with an included wire) and then adjust the microphone volume as desired. At the end of the headset wire you'll find a connection for the AX 720's white control box.

Most of the headset's controls can be customized on the inline adjuster.