TRITTON SWITCHBLADE HEADSET REVIEW ~ Technically Funny
Technically Funny

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

TRITTON SWITCHBLADE HEADSET REVIEW

11:07 , , 1 comment

Every generation of games consoles brings with it a whole new world of peripherals and accessories that technology has deemed necessary to be used with the new consoles. The current albeit ageing console generation bought online multi player gaming into the mainstream and instantly we all had the ability to play the same game with our friends without being in the same room and fighting over who has to use the broken control pad. Along with this came in game chat which created a whole new generation of trash talkers. But, trash talking and screaming at someone who just ended your kill streak on Call Of Duty can't just be done with any old mic or headset. With the choice of gaming headsets and earpieces increasing every week, we thought we,d take a look at the wireless solution for the PS3. A solution that doesn't involve huge cans on your ears. This, is the Tritton Switchblade.


HARDWARE AND DESIGN
Despite wireless and Bluetooth technology being the standard bearer for our consoles, most gamers tend to stick with good old fashioned wired headsets. As a gamer, I hate the fact that I'm using a wireless controller yet there's cables dangling from my headset to the console and TV. This is where the Switchblade comes in. Yes there are a plethora of Bluetooth headsets out there and you can use pretty much any old Bluetooth headset with the PlayStation 3 but quality of sound and comfort will always be lacking. This is exactly what Tritton and Madcatz have addressed with the Switchblade. The name of the headset hasn't been slapped on to appear cool or fit into the gaming worlds crazy naming schemes, the name has a purpose. The Switchblades microphone flips open and closed just like? That's a right, a switchblade. This also helps with storing the headset away when not in use and reduces the footprint of the device. The design of the headset is just classy. Made by high quality plastics, its has a white gloss finish with a matte black trim. 
The usual T logo sits on the main connection key above the indicator light. On the right of the headset, sits a volume down key and on the right you have the volume up and power switch. This is a fantastic move as most Bluetooth headsets have volume keys to close to each other so changing volume is a chore. As the volume keys are on either side of the headset, changing volume is a breeze. The only issue is the on/off switch as its sits flat against the casing so it might take a while to get used the switch. The top of the device houses the micro USB charging port and the back of the headset has the earpiece. The lower microphone is attached via a hinge to the main body but this is sturdy and solid and doesn't feel like there's a possibility of it loosening up or breaking. The hinge also acts as an on/off function so when you close the hinge, the headset will go on standby and when you open the hinge, its on and ready to go. Another neat touch. The ear hook is made of hardened rubber and coloured to compliment the rest of the headsets colour palette. However, the hook is not as sturdy as the rest of the headset and although it can clip on solidly to the earpiece, it is quite flimsy. Overall the headset feels solid and build quality is great.


AUDIO AND PERFORMANCE
So how well does the Tritton Switchblade do in the audio stakes? Well the device is aimed at the PS3 but the console is known for the fact that audio quality isn't great to begin with due to Sonys mediocre audio codec on the Playstation Network. This basically means that most headsets will be average at best and you shouldn't expect crystal quality sound. Now, I've used various Bluetooth headsets but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The audio quality of the Switchblade is fantastic and easily bests Sony's official PlayStation Bluetooth headset. As its online voice chat, there's still the same old static and background noise you normally find when talking on the PlayStation Network but the Switchblade did a fantastic job of reducing it and relegating the surplus noise in the background. After asking friends on the other side how I sounded, feedback was positive with most saying they could hear me clearly and loudly (which probably isn't a good thing for them) and with no background noise which is most likely helped by the switchblades noise cancelling microphone. It makes me confident that if I ever want to shout like a madman, the gaming world will hear me loud and clear. 
Another great feature is the ability to pair up a mobile phone alongside the PS3. This means that if you get a phone call whilst playing onlinebonafide geek/nerd , wearing the switchblade is very Sci-Fi-ish. Seriously. It looks awesome.


VERDICT
Many people may see the Tritton Switchblade as just another Bluetooth headset. The PS3 can be used with pretty much any Bluetooth headset but most are tacky and have poor sound quality. The Switchblade however provides great audio quality for a Bluetooth device and gives you a great feature to use your mobile phone alongside the PS3. It also looks the business and looks awesome when its on your face. Overall, the device is great. It might take a while to get used to the comfort level but it won't take too long until its second nature. I would definitely recommend this headset to any PS3 owner looking for a decent wireless headset solution.

1 comments:

I recieved mine today and very dissapointed, I always hear about how good tritton's mic's are however this isnt the case with the Switchblade for me. When I wasnt talking so much background noise is picked up, my friend could even hear the thunder outside when I wasnt near the window. It doesnt stay on my ear as the clip is too big, and after switching back to my normal ps3 headset my friend said the ps3 mic sounds so much more smooth with no weird BG noise. Was really hoping the Tritton switchblade would be an upgrade but wasnt :(

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