Posted Tue Nov 17, 2015 at 09:42 AM PST by Brian Hoss
Could spell the end of optical.
Update: Check out our preview from CES 2016 here.
It's been five years since Mad Catz acquired Tritton, and the headset brand continues to stride forward. The same Tritton that produced a multi-driver 5.1 headset (see here) is at it again, but this time, the innovation is something that seems long past due for headsets.
The Tritton Katana HD 7.1 wireless headset eschews the standard optical/5.1 Dolby Digital design in favor of an HDMI LPCM connection (HDMI 2.0). The Katana HD's base station takes the multi-channel uncompressed LPCM signal via HDMI and passes the HDMI signal on while transmitting the audio to the headset where it is output in DTS Headphone:X surround sound to the two 50mm drivers.
Due out in December and priced at $249.99, the Katana HD is completely wireless with the PS4, PS3, PC (HDMI) for audio and chat. With the Xbox One, HDMI is used for game audio while the headset connects to the controller for chat. In effect the Katana HD can handle any HDMI audio wirelessly, including the Wii U or a Blu-ray player, and the headset itself offers a 3.5mm cabled connection as well for use with mobile devices.
The Katana HD is rated at a battery life of 20 hours via an included Lithium-ion battery. The headset contains a full cluster of controls on the right ear cup. These controls include EQ presets and Selectable Voice Monitoring (for the user to hear themselves if desired) among others. The left ear cup hosts the flexible, removable, boom mic and even more controls.
The Tritton Katana HD is being offered in both black and white colors.
The base station is powered via micro USB, but it really can't be overstated, with the uncompressed HDMI audio source, the Katana HD has the potential to outclass any number of wireless and wired headsets that depend on the optical port, or worse, the controller jack.
The Tritton Katana HD 7.1 Wireless is available to preorder here.
Source: Mad Catz
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.