Hasta La Gadget!

Astro Gaming’s A40 headset and Mixamp Pro have generally gotten yearly revisions, but the portability-inclined A30 hasn’t received the same love since its inception. That’s officially changed this week, as the company’s announced its 2013 PC editions (standalone versions) of the A30 and A40 stereo headsets are now available. Although the new units began shipping with the company’s Mixamp-packing Audio System bundles last November, this is the first time it’s really blasting the airwaves about the A30’s revision. Both editions feature re-tuned drivers touting better response for bass and cleaner output, along with a re-tooled approach to the quick disconnect cables and a new media cable with a revised inline remote and mic. The revised cabling setup allows 3.5mm cables to plug directly into the headsets, making for easier replacements and swapping (previous versions had you connect to a short cable hung from the earcup, with a dual-pole connector).

Perhaps best of all, the A30 is now priced thirty bucks less at $100 (finally!), while the A40’s been reduced to $149 (down from $199). If you recently purchased one, don’t fret either — Astro also let us know that orders placed the 11th of this month have shipped out with the 2013 editions. Hit up the press release after the break for more info while deciding if one of ’em might be your new ticket to supreme gaming sound.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

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Headsets with vibrating haptics aren’t exactly novel — we’ve already seen such offerings from Skullcandy as well as Sony. Now AblePlanet is coming out with something similar, but the underlying technology makes it considerably smarter than anything currently on the market. The company recently announced it’s pairing up with haptics firm ViviTouch to make a gaming headset that offers different-feeling vibrations depending on what kind of music you’re listening to, or what’s happening in the game. The as-yet-unnamed headset will go on sale within the next six to nine months, according to AblePlanet, with pricing to be announced at a later date.

Additionally, the companies plan to team up on other projects, including ear canal devices for field workers (firefighters, etc.) and even products for the hearing impaired. Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, we want to give you a quick preview of the headset, which we tested for a few minutes here at CES. Unfortunately, the set we tested today was merely a retrofitted NC1000CH plugged into a control box. Still, it gave us a good sense of what we can expect when the final product drops later this year. Meet us after the break to learn more.

Continue reading AblePlanet preps a gaming headset with smart haptics, we preview the tech inside (hands-on)

Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio/Video

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Skullcandy is making sure gamers have yet another item to put on the holiday wishlist with the official debut of the PLYR2, which is not only the company’s latest gaming headset but also its first effort at a wireless model. It boasts 2.4GHz wireless audio, Skullcandy’s “Supreme Sound” technology, a GMX stereo transmitter for balancing game and voice audio, three different EQ sound modes and an adjustable boom mic that can be flipped up to mute. The PLYR2 is available in black, white and teal for $129.99 and follows the earlier release of a budget-friendly $79.99 SLYR wired headset, while a fancier Dolby Surround Sound-equipped PLYR1 is set to debut in early 2013. Now you can shout expletives in style as you get pwned in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 — just what you needed, right?

Continue reading Skullcandy launches $130 PLYR2 headset for wire-hating gamers

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: Skullcandy

There are plenty of gaming headsets, but only so many specifically tuned to the PlayStation audience that aren’t made by Sony itself. Mad Catz’ Tritton label has just shipped a version of its Kunai wired headset optimized for both the PS3 and the PS Vita that might redress that (admittedly minor) deficit. About the only real customization for Vita owners is the option for a shorter 3-foot cord, but PS3 owners can plug in through USB and adjust voice volume independently from the gunshots and explosions. Regardless of which game console the Kunai links to, there’s a modest 25Hz to 20KHz headphone frequency range and few frills aside from a detachable boom microphone. Tritton is mostly counting on the price to lure us in, which just might work — at $60, berating players in-game with a Kunai will cost as much as one of the games themselves.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Tritton Kunai headset ships to chatty PS3 and PS Vita gamers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Giving you the option to Edit your own Aviator headphones isn’t the only news the fashionable folks at Skullcandy had up their sleeve for the end of 2012; with a bit of help from Astro Gaming (a recently acquired asset), it’s also taking another stab at gaming headsets. The company’s touting three new models: SLYR, PLYR 1 and PLYR 2, all of which were quietly detailed on its site within the last week. While Astro caters its full-on gaming audio systems (A30, A40 and A50) above the $200 mark, these Skullcandy-branded headsets essentially bring the ethos of those models to more wallet-friendly prices point of $80 to $180 — not to mention in closer competition with the likes of Turtle Beach and Tritton. Most notably, Astro was quick to highlight to us that Skullcandy’s new batch of gaming-focused earblasters have been created from the ground-up, unlike its models passed which were just tweaks to its existing — and less than well-received — headsets. Curious for the initial details on these latest gaming audio aids? Lucky for you, we’ve got it all listed just past the break.

Continue reading Skullcandy takes another shot at gaming headsets, quietly reveals SLYR, PLYR 2 and PLYR 1

Skullcandy takes another shot at gaming headsets, quietly reveals SLYR, PLYR 2 and PLYR 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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