Enhance Your Gaming with Vista-Friendly Peripherals - Part 2
HeadsetsGamers who spend significant time playing online and/or chatting with friends will benefit from a good quality headset. They’re also handy for those living in apartments or dorms where loud volumes simply aren’t tolerated. Two alternatives to consider are standard stereo headsets and USB surround sound models. Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset | Average Retail Price: $55 / £28 CH Products Throttle Quadrant When a portable and/or occasional replacement for your regular speaker system is required and you don't need positional audio, a good stereo headset is in order, one like the Fatal1ty Gaming Headset from Creative. Sleek and attractive, this unit serves up a solid combination of power and fidelity in a comfortable, lightweight package. Plush ear cups cradle your ears while 40mm drivers provide realistic audio reproduction. An in-line volume switch allows you to adjust sound levels and toggle the flexible, detachable noise-canceling microphone boom on and off, and an included pouch lets you store and transport the headphones in style. The Fatal1ty Gaming Headset doesn't match the audio quality of a high-end headphones, but it's decent for occasional use and appropriately affordable.
Turtle Beach Ear Force AK-R8 USB Surround Sound Headphones | ARP: $112 / £120 Turtle Beach Ear Force AK-R8 For a near 5.1 audio experience sans the speakers, Turtle Beach offers its Ear Force AK-R8 USB Surround Sound Gaming Headphones. Comfortable to wear, this headphone-and-USB-audio-card combo provides a high fidelity option for those wanting to enjoy the full impact of positional audio without the usual gamut of speakers. Is it as good as a dedicated speaker system? Well, not quite. But, it's impressive nonetheless. Eight speakers (four per ear) with dual sub woofers, a multi-amplifier USB audio interface and a detachable microphone comprise this portable sound system that lets you monitor outside sounds while wearing the headphones. Sound is full, rich and immersive, and installation’s simple. Just plug in the USB interface, install the required software and drivers, and enjoy. CPU utilization is higher than experienced with a dedicated sound card, but that’s not an issue on anything but a notably underpowered system.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Headset | ARP: $50 / £30 Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Headset Got an Xbox 360? If so, you can save a few dollars by picking up an Xbox 360 Wireless Headset. A hands-free, wire-free headset crafted specifically for use with the Xbox 360, it can serve double duty on a PC with the addition of an Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver ($20). Ergonomically designed to fit comfortably on either ear (sporting two sizes of removable ear grips for a snug fit), it incorporates the same 2.4 GHz radio technology used in the wireless Xbox 360 gamepad and racing wheel. Clarity and range are good, but don’t expect a high-quality audio experience since it’s a monaural solution. The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset is designed more for communication than listening pleasure. Eight hours of battery life are claimed per charge and an AC adapter allows for quick and easy recharging. Plus, power on/off, volume and mute controls are provided.
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