As far as dramatic drum rolls go, this one has been a doozie. After nearly a year and a half in development, Mad Catz has rolled out its so-called quintessential accessory for Xbox 360 gamers. The Tritton Warhead Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound headset, developed with the approval of Microsoft to offer a few key features not found anywhere else.
Sporting a hefty price tag and plenty of hype, has Mad Catz succeeded in producing a headset challenging the best on the market, or fallen short of the goal?
To be honest, it depends what gamers are looking for. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the design and packaging of the headset will surely convince those who decide to acquire a pair that the money has been well spent. While the Xbox 360 branding atop the headband that had originally showed the console’s stamp of approval has been removed, the overall style has to be applauded.
Mad Catz has shown a company-wide shift in recent years from the stigma of the console market’s most prolific ‘peripheral manufacturer’ to clean, elegant, well-made aftermarket controllers that at times put the prepackaged versions to shame. The Warhead is no exception, with a glossy black finish free of garish branding. A few small orange logos and touches of silver are the only thing that really stands out, even if the earphones and base will be falling victim to multiple fingerprint smudges.
A matte black finish would be interesting to compare with the current finish, but the headset is nothing if not understated. The docking station is the same story, small enough to go without being noticed, sporting a circular lit ring similar to that of the Xbox 360, signalling which controller the headset is currently synced to. With alternate colored icons for separate audio modes, switching from one to another with the touch of a button is effortless and straightforward - even from across a room.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of control integration, with nearly all settings and actions made available through the Warhead’s buttons at the user’s fingertips. The actual construction of the headset is solid, even if it doesn’t quite feel as substantial or resilient as the price tag might lead one to believe. That isn’t to say the Warhead 7.1 feels flimsy or breakable in the least, but the competitors do feel a bit more heavy-duty.Of course, the slimmer, lighter construction means the headset is much more comfortable to wear than some similarly-priced accessories. With cushioned ear cups that are surprisingly well-ventilated, the Warhead is comfortable for even extended periods of gameplay or music. And with rotatable cups that allow for being spun flat, when resting around the neck, comfort is a guarantee except in the most exceptional of circumstances.
The overall concept continues to mesh function with simplified design, as the trapezoidal base station features one sync button, power cord, an optical out to the Xbox 360, and an analog input. The small slot concealed in the front of the docking station charges one of the two rechargeable lithium ion batteries that come with the headset, when not being used, tuck behind a similarly concealing magnetic panel in the headset itself. The battery life of each pack is truly staggering, and the station equipped with the separate headset cradle is a classy addition to any entertainment center.
