14 DAY TRIAL // Surround sound may not be easy to implement on headphones, since it usually takes five or more satellites, plus a subwoofer, to produce the effect, but it's not impossible, as the Mad Catz Tritton 720+ has just proven.
The Tritton 720+ 7.1 Surround Sound Headset for personal computers is not the first with 7.1 channel effects, but it is the most recent.
It also happens to be more affordable than others of its kind, since Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. chose to unveil something that will not drain the finances of competitive gamers.
That's what the company says in its press release anyway. We can't really know for sure how well it lives up to its word without knowing the price.
Overlooked critical information aside, though, the Tritton 720+ provides a detailed 3D audio landscape when you press a button specifically designed to enable 7.1 surround audio.
A Dolby Pro Logic Iix processor will up-mix sound to simulate the effect, and Selectable Voice Monitoring (SVM) is included as well, permitting gamers to hear their own voice through the headset if they want.
"We believe the combination of excellent sound quality and simplified connection will make the 720+ an extremely appealing proposition for passionate PC gamers," said Darren Richardson, the president and chief executive officer of Mad Catz.
"With quality, accurate sound so important to competitive gaming, we believe that the 720+ will allow us to grow our market share in the PC audio category."
The 720+ uses USB (universal serial bus) to connect to a PC and has in-line controls that can be detached at any time, leaving a 3.5 mm jack exposed.
That means you can use lots of different cables to connect the headphones to smartphones, tablets, MP3 players and other mobile and smart devices. Finally, the newcomers have circumaural headphones and a black microphone (the Tritton 720+ are colored black and white).
