After investing in a powerful gaming computer for yourself and a console for the family, you may not have enough cash left to grab yourself a set of Tiamat 7.1 or Psyko 5.1 gaming headphones to allow the game to continue while others are gathered around the TV. Speedlink has just announced a possible solution to your cashflow woes - the new XANTHOS Stereo Console Gaming Headset is not only compatible with three gaming platforms, there's a handy fold-away microphone boom for in-game chat.
The Speedlink XANTHOS gaming headphones have a slider switch on the side of the inline remote that allows users to choose either console or PC mode and can be connected to any free USB port on Sony's PS3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 or, my favorite, the gaming PC. The company has incorporated connector technology that caters for simultaneous playback through external powered speakers, such as a TV.
"If both headphones and TV speakers are able to supply sound you can either use the headphones or enjoy the TV sound - and you do not need to plug-out or plug-in the headphones," says Speedlink's Kathrin Bachmann. "You just leave them plugged-in... if you do not want TV sound, just mute the TV. Very easy."
The inline remote also takes care of volume control and muting of the microphone and has a 2.5mm jack to connect the headphones to an Xbox 360's controller. Speedlink says that its XANTHOS cans also supply some quality thumping bass and crisp treble necessary for non-gaming audio. The headset benefits from LED lighting to match your PC's fan lights, padded earcups, a 3 meter (10 foot) cable, a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response, 32 Ohm impedance and 117dB sensitivity.
The XANTHOS Stereo Console Gaming Headset is available now in black only for a recommended retail of EUR49.99 (US$68) - included in the box is a 2.5mm connector cable, RCA adapter cable and install guide.
