Tritton PC510 HDA

The Tritton PC510 HDA is a high definition, true 5.1 gaming headset. Put simply, it is a great piece of kit. There are many headsets out there a lot more expensive than this beauty, and the Tritton PC510 HDA is only $99.99. So let’s begin . . .

The first thing I noticed when taking the headset out of it’s bank-vault-door strength plastic box was how big and chunky the headset is. This is good in my books. They look and feel as though they could be thrown into Mount Doom, and not even get a scrape. They aren’t too portable, so wouldn’t be great if you’re wanting to constantly transport them. They’re pretty too, especially when they’re switched on, and the Tritton logo is lit up. This coupled with the bulky design works perfectly.

They’re also very comfortable. I initially thought they’d feel like I was resting a dumbbell on my head, but they don’t feel heavy at all. There’s a lot of padding on the ear cups, so the headset will sit well on all heads, big and small. The amount of padding also means that they are easy to wear if you require the use of glasses. There’s no need to awkwardly balance your glasses on top of the cups in an effort to avoid the discomfort that comes with many other headsets.

The 9 foot cable is handy, allowing you to sit comfortably with no tugging from the wire – unless you sit freakishly far away from your computer screen. Even if you are the laid back type who sits far away with their feet up on the desk, this wire is still easily long enough. Another nice touch is the in-line controller which allows you to independently control each 4 sound fields with ease. There’s the tiny issue of trying to figure out a good place for it to sit while you’re typing, because it’s in a pretty awkward place. The headset also splits from the main cable just above the controller, so you can simply disconnect the headset, leave the wire behind your monitor, and put the headset away if you don’t like it lying around.

Attaching the mic is nice and simple, and the sound quality is fantastic. I tested it numerous times on Counter Strike and Skype, and each time I could hear perfectly, and my own subtle tones were apparently clear too. The mic itself is sturdy, and is very good, especially since it’s detachable.

Now then. The main reason people buy a headset – sound quality. The Tritton PC510 HDA, and it’s 5.1 surround sound produces wonderful audio. Music is crisp, and the headset makes it feel as though the band or artist is sat in your ear playing away. The surround sound means that gun shots can be pinpointed, giving you the tactical edge that many gamers are willing to pay a lot of money for. Games like Deus Ex and Bioshock sound wonderfully atmospheric, and if you want to be truly scared – Dead Space 2 through this headset is amazing. It’s like you’re there yourself about to be brutally dismembered by a horrifying Necromorph.

Being able to just plug the headset in and listen is another positive. There’s no messing around with drivers, which is great if you’re hugely impatient like myself.

It feels as though I’m being a bit picky by pointing out a few negatives of the PC510 HDA. Although by no means bad, the bass isn’t as powerful as more expensive headsets – but you really won’t notice or care unless you’ve avidly listened to audio through other headsets. Music and sound with less bass is near perfect however. The length of the cable and slightly awkward placement of the controller can sometimes get annoying, but hey, I’d rather it was too long than too short.

Here are some specs:

SOUND
Speaker Sizes: Front – 30mm; Rear – 30mm; Center – 23mm; Sub – 40mm
SPL: 118dB+-3dB at 1mW, 1KHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 30KHz
Magnet Type: Neodymium

CONNECTION
PC or Mac with 5.1 Analog Sound Card
USB Port for Power

Conclusion

The Tritton PC510 HDA is a great PC headset. It sounds wonderful, and you can wear it for a long period of time with no discomfort at all. Tritton have created a piece of kit that is perfect for both competitive gamers, casual gamers, and everything in between. It’s fantastic even for your parents just to use on Skype. The pros greatly outweigh the cons of this piece of kit, and if you’re looking for a good PC headset for under $100, you can’t go wrong here.