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Tritton Audio Thunder Headphones Review |
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Written by David Thompson
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
With the introduction of the 5.1 audio specification began the long
list of products promising the 5.1 audio quality. While some people
won't even notice whether they are receiving true 5.1 audio, the
difference is that 5.1 audio will produce a more lively sound. Scenes
from your favorite action movies will come alive as the sounds will
seem like they are coming at you from all different directions.
When you hear 5.1 audio, you will never want to settle for anything less. The quality is just that good. When I tried Tritton Technologies? Audio Thunder headphones, I was wondering if their headphones could deliver the 5.1 quality and here's what I found out.
Hear the Thunder
First I connected the USB 5.1 Audio Box to my computer via the USB cable. Then I connected the headphones to the Audio Box. For those who are using Windows 98SE, Windows 2000 and Windows Me, you?re going to need the CD which contains the drivers. XP users will not need to install drivers from the CD. Since I was using Windows 2000, I put the CD in and quickly installed the drivers. After rebooting my system, the headphones were now ready for action.
I chose Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones as my test movie. First, I made sure the DVD's audio was set tp the 5.1 specification to ensure I was going to receive the full audio experience. With the headphones connected to my computer's USB port, I ran the Audio Thunder audio configuration program that was installed along with the hardware drivers. There I was able to configure the headset volume, test the 5.1 audio output, change the bass, loudness and audio effect. For those audio savvy individuals, there's also an equalizer that you can custom configure to your liking.
With the Audio Box, I was now able to turn the headphones on and off, set it to mute and increase or decrease the volume level. The six foot long cable that connects the Audio Box to the headphones was long enough that I didn?t have to worry about the Audio Box getting in the way of my listening experience.
The volume controller is embedded into the cable going to the headphones. The controller is about two feet from the headphones to provide easy access. The four control dials on the Volume Controller are a bit small and you might find yourself turning the wrong control a few times in the beginning. The Audio Thunder headphones have a built-in audio chip that enables the consumer to receive 5.1 surround sound audio. The headphones also have an adjustable microphone that you can position anywhere.
After configuring the Audio Thunder and making sure my DVD was set to play in 5.1 audio, I was then ready to go. In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, I jumped to the battle scene on the planet Geonosis. With laser fire and the intense musical score providing the backdrop, the scene played out in a more livelier and dramatic manner. With the vibration setting on the Volume Controller turned up to eight, you would feel every on screen explosion through the Audio Thunder headphones. Even if you're not a huge audio professional, the quality you would experience through the Audio Thunder is quite impressive.
The Content & Specs
Eight speaker embedded headphones
USB 5.1 Audio Box
CD-ROM containing drivers and applications
USB cable
Neck strap
Installation Guide
USB 1.1 or above compatible cable
Intel Pentium III or above
Minimum 128MB RAM
CD-ROM
Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 & XP
The Final Word
While I found the headphones to be a little heavy, the 5.1 audio quality that you can experience is worth it in the end. The headphones and the attached microphone are easily adjustable. You will probably want to keep the microphone away from your face when not in use as it is sensitive enough to pick up any breathing or other sounds around you. It would've been nice to see a control for the microphone so you can turn it off when not in use.
I found the Audio Thunder headphones to function as advertised. It delivered the 5.1 audio spec with no problems at all. The volume controller is completely black with its black raised lettering to denote which of the four control wheels (front, rear, center and vibration) is being used. It would be useful if the lettering were white or some other way to distinguish one from the other. I think it would be helpful to the user. Putting those minor issues aside, the Audio Thunder worked wonderfully in utilizing the 5.1 speaker capability while playing Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. While the film's music sounded fuller and dramatic using the Audio Thunder, it was the battle scenes where you noticed the headphone's true capabilities.
If you want to experience the 5.1 audio quality without the price of building an entire system, give the Tritton Technologies' Audio Thunder headphones a try. For a fraction of the price, you can experience your favorite DVDs at home or even on the road with the Audio Thunder.
About Tritton Technologies
Tritton Technologies is the maker of various audio and multimedia devices. You can visit the official website at http://www.trittontechnologies.com/.
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