Product Review: Sharkoon Xtatic 5.1 Channel Gaming Headset
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 08.17.2010
No surround system? No problem. The Xtatic is a worthy alternative for gaming or movie watching.
There's nothing quite like playing your favorite video game, or watching your favorite action movie with the heart-pounding sounds of a good surround system. All the excitement comes to life, enhancing the experiencing and enjoyment of whichever medium you choose. On the flip side, it can be quite a buzzkill to try to do the same thing with a measly stereo setup.
Unfortunately for some, a surround sound system is not an option, whether it's because there's no room for one, or the price of viable equipment is not too wallet-friendly at the time. Fortunately, there are other avenues that gamers and movie buffs can take, such as a good pair of headphones. Manufacturer Sharkoon feels the same way which is why they've introduced their X-Tatic Digital headset which fully supports 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound.
Each earpiece features four speakers which take care of the two front speakers, two rear speakers and two small subwoofers and two center channels. The two small subs and two center channels essentially combine to make one full speaker for reach. Given that a center speaker's job is to create the sense that conversations are coming from the screen, and that it's not possible to put an earpiece in front of your face, the use of two speakers is the way to go, when trying to replicate that experience. The headset also includes an in-line volume control so there's no need for a remote and a detachable microphone that can be used for gaming.
The headset then connects to the control unit which allows users to connect their consoles or other sources, such as a DVD player, a PC etc. with an optical cable for full digital sound. A short optical cable is also included; for those who don't want to rush to the store to get one. For those who are thinking of using the headset for other sources that don't support digital output (Nintendo Wii, I'm looking at you!), users can also use the analog audio inputs or even a 3.5mm jack. A plus is that the unit supports Dolby Pro Logic, which will simulate surround sound from stereo sources.
If there's one negative side to all these options, it's that unfortunately it requires you to be tethered to the control unit; there's no wireless capability here. So when you're hooked up and all ready to go, you'll have various cables and a power adapter laying around which isn't the most appealing thing in the world. Fortunately, the cables are pretty long so you won't need to be 2 feet from your television to enjoy it.
As for the most important aspect of the headphones, the sound, I was quite pleased with how well X-Tatic performed. To really put it to the test, I first hooked up the headphones to my Xbox 360 to get down on some Gears of War 2 - pure action with plenty of dialogue, sound effects and environmental destruction. Playing through one of the game's chapters towards the end, when we've invaded the Locust palace, I had a chance to see what these headphones could really do. Right off the bat, I noticed how well the X-Tatic was reproducing the location of the action, whether bullets were flying, or something was crashing down. I could get a good sense of where things were coming from which made the experiencing quite engrossing. The two rear speakers did a pretty good job of making me feel like there were things happening directly behind me while I felt a good amount of pop from the subwoofers.
The center channel (dual speakers) wasn't quite as effective as I would have liked. I could hear the dialogue distinctly from other sounds but rather than sounding like they were coming from the characters on the screen, they instead sounded like they were coming from overhead speakers; almost like hearing a conversation from another room or radio; definitely audible but not crystal clear. This unfortunately is tough to accomplish with headphones, so while a bit disappointed, I'm not going to complain too loudly about it.
To get a different perspective, I also connected the headphones to my DVD player and through in The Matrix. There's a particular scene that any audio buff or home theater enthusiast will recognize; the scene where Trinity and Neo enter a building in search for Morpheus, who's being held captive near the top. The two come prepared with plenty of ammo and firepower and proceed to unleash hell onto the security team waiting downstairs. It's quite the scene but one that is not only fantastic, but a great demo for testing out surround sound systems. Needless to say, the action is quite heavy and the headphones handled it quite well. I could hear footsteps in various directions, including the difference in guns being used while even the slightest sounds such as clips falling to the ground were easy to pick up . Letting the movie play out a bit more, I also noticed the same issue with dialogue clarity but overall, it still performed exceptionally well.
At $159.99, the X-Tatic Digital headset might sound a tad steep for a pair of headphones, but the sound quality more than makes up for it especially when you compare them to a surround system that comes in for about the same price. Believe me, having worked in home theater for many years, a $160 surround system more often than not delivers painful sound quality and these headphones clearly trump those systems. The downside of course is that you're only limited to one user at a time, so the family can't join in on the fun but if you're going solo, and don't care to spend $300 and up for a decent system, then Sharkoon's X-Tatic Digital 5.1 headphones are a great alternative with rich sound.
The headset then connects to the control unit which allows users to connect their consoles or other sources, such as a DVD player, a PC etc. with an optical cable for full digital sound. A short optical cable is also included; for those who don't want to rush to the store to get one. For those who are thinking of using the headset for other sources that don't support digital output (Nintendo Wii, I'm looking at you!), users can also use the analog audio inputs or even a 3.5mm jack. A plus is that the unit supports Dolby Pro Logic, which will simulate surround sound from stereo sources.
