Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to gaming, here are two groups of people – the first would be the casual gamer who does not mind not going without his or her daily fix of Flappy Bird or Candy Crush, while the hardcore gamer would be one who ensures that every single secret is uncovered across all levels, and in record time, too. Well, audio in games have played a very huge role over the years to complement the improved visuals, so much so it is now an indispensable part of the game. Polk knows this, and with four decades of sound, engineering and design expertise, the company has announced its latest 4 Shot Headset for Xbox One. The 4 Shot Headset is set to hit the market to accompany the latest generation Xbox One console this coming March 6th.

It will also hold the title of being the first Xbox One compatible headset which will arrive in stores, where the 4 Shot Headset was specially developed in collaboration with Microsoft Studios at 343 Industries and Turn 10 Studios, who happen to be the creators of the “Halo” and “Forza Motorsport” franchises. With such strong backing from various industry leaders, the 4 Shot Headset will bring listeners to the next level with real, balanced audio representative of the virtual world. It will boast of proprietary Polk Optimized Electro-acoustic Tuning (POET), so that users will be enveloped in immersive and realistic sound for a truly game-changing experience.

Apart from that, the 4 Shot will also be able to hook up to gamers’ wireless Xbox One controllers, offering them the additional freedom of moving around. It boasts of dynamic, loss-less wireless technology that translates to a lower incidence of latency issues, ensuring that you will be able to make those crucial split-second gaming decisions that could mean either victory or defeat. Not only that, there is a retractable near-field microphone so that you can carry out conversations or take calls at any point in time. Prepare $159.95 this coming March 6 and you can pick up the 4 Shot Headset at select GameStop locations and polkaudio.com.

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[ Polk Audio 4 Shot Headset set to arrive this March 6 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

For folks who have not heard about Polk before, well, here we are with a short note on them. Polk happens to be a high-performance audio brand that comes with 40 years of sound, engineering and design expertise, and they have recently announced that they will be making available a couple of products available to the masses. First of all would be the Melee gaming headset that was specially developed for the Xbox 360 console, while there is also the Polk N1 sound bar that delivers an immersive soundstage for gaming as well as entertainment regardless of the gaming platform, with the new Xbox One included. I guess the Xbox 360 still has some life left in its legs despite all of the recent buzz that surrounded next generation game consoles.

Why would we recommend either one of these to those who game on Microsoft’s consoles? Well, that is because Polk has also extended its partnership with Microsoft all the way until the end of next year, which would result in additional opportunities for product development in the gaming category, while Polk’s sound engineers continue to work with Microsoft’s 343 and Turn 10 Studios to deliver better quality audio in their titles.

The Melee gaming headset will boast of Polk’s proprietary electronic and acoustic tuning in addition to a DSP Amplifier, ensuring that your ears are treated to a richer, fuller listening experience. Accompanied by a retractable near-field microphone, users are able to carry out chats with one another, as well as to take calls. It will tuck itself smoothly into the ear cup whenever it is not in use. Other than that, Polk’s thumb-reach Audio Mixer would also enable users to adjust listening modes, audio and chat levels, all without the need to remove their hands from the controller.

As for the N1 sound bar, it has been licensed by Microsoft and designed for the newest Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. You will be treated to an upscale design which complements the console’s slimmer form factor, while the sound bar leverages Dolby Digital and a quartet of immersion modes which will enable gamers to achieve a balance between unique listening scenarios in addition to music, ambient details, special effects and dialogue.

The Polk Melee and N1 sound bar will retail for $199.95 and $299.95, respectively.

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[ Polk announces N1 sound bar and Melee gaming headset copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Polk’s at E3 showing off two new devices it’s showing off at E3 this week that aren’t half bad looking. Granted, they’re not as slick as some of the higher end products the audio company has shown off in the past, but as far as gaming-centric devices go, they’re not too shabby. According to the company, Microsoft approached it specifically to create peripherals for the Xbox, leading Polk to give the world the 133t Gaming Headphones and N1 sound bar.

The 133ts eschew the standard external gaming mic for a little nub that juts out from one ear. To mute it, you just click it back up inside the cup. The headphones also feature a mixer that plugs directly into the controller to help eliminate cords and lets you adjust sound settings on the fly. The Surroundbar, meanwhile, was designed specifically with the Xbox in mind, featuring four modes: Racer, FPS, Music and Cinema, so you can switch between gaming and standard media consumption. The N1 is set for a fall release, with the 133t coming some time in Q4. More info in a press release after the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

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