14 DAY TRIAL // In theory, headphones and earphones can plug into and play from any device with a compatible jack, but in practice, that's not usually true, due to various factors. GX Gaming decided to tackle the problem with the Zabius.
The Zabius is a universal gaming headset that can work with any personal computer, PlayStation 3 console, Xbox 360 or even Apple Mac Connected PC.
You can't just plug it in and have it work with them all though. Well, you can, but only if you use the in-line controller to switch to the appropriate mode (between XBOX 360, PS3, and PC/Mac mode).
Of course, the volume controls are included alongside that switch as well.
What's more, the Zabius may ship with a 10-foot / 3-meter cable (anti-tangle cable to be exact), but it has several different plugs. It's all part of the universal compatibility package, you might say.
There's a 3.5 mm jack. A USB connector, a 2.5mm Xbox LIVE cable, and a 3.5mm to RCA stereo splitter cable.
That's about it for the interconnectivity. Now comes the actual design and sound quality, both of which meet high-end standards. The newcomer would not be called the GX Gaming Zabius gaming headset otherwise.
For one thing, the ear cups and headband cushion are lines with dynamic fibers that actively dissipate head and sweat.
Well, maybe not actively (even if that is the wording that GX Gaming used), since there are no moving parts, but the fibers do the job, which is all that matters.
Color-wise, we're looking at a combination of black and red. Black for the exterior framing and red for the trims. Metallic finish on the outer layer of the headband completes the image.
There are individually positioned swivel ear pieces as well, plus an adjustable headband made of soft leatherette.
Finally, a flexible microphone is thrown into the mix, a flexible microphone that also happens to be detachable. Or, rather, unpluggable.
GX Gaming ships, or will ship, the Zabius universal gaming headset along with the 2.5mm Xbox LIVE cable and 3.5mm to RCA stereo splitter cable we’ve mentioned, plus a multi-language user manual. The price is of $99.99 in the United States, or CAD $119.99 in Canada.
Thus, in Europe, the tag should be of around €72, unless exchange rates fail us (fortunately, unlikely, given the difference in price compared to Canada), in which case we might have to fork up €99.99 instead.