A good pair of headphones can be hard to find. Luckily, NOX Audio was at E3 to show off two pairs of headphones specially designed to deliver clear, crisp audio for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and any mobile device you’d care to name.
The first headphones I got to try out were known as the Specialist. These headphones used super-comfortable ear pads to cover your ears and also featured a volume knob built into exterior the right ear pad. The left ear pad also had a retractable headset, making it easy to use for both online gaming and for playing solo.
I played a round of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with the Specialist headphones, and I was definitely satisfied with what I experienced. The audio came through loud and clear, and I was able to pick up all the audible cues as to where the enemy players were.
The Specialist headset can be used on any device with a standard headphone jack, but NOX also showed me a special device called the Negotiator. Using the Negotiator with the Specialist headset allows it to be used on both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The Negotiator also comes with a dial that lets you adjust the balance between game audio and chat audio. Although the Specialist is available now for $79.99, the Negotiator won’t be released until later this year. Expect it to go for about $19.99.
The other headset I got to try out was the Scout, which will be available in the fall also for $79.99. This super-compact headset consists of two small earbuds that use replaceable plastic flanges to rest inside your ear.
Using the Scout, I picked up a PSP and played a few minutes of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. I must say I was thoroughly impressed by what I heard. Every game sound was crystal clear, and clarity was maintained even when I pumped up the volume. I jumped in a car that happened to be blasting Anvil, and away I drove in audio bliss.
Although it’s designed with portable games and devices (such as iPods or Zunes) in mind, the Scout has a small microphone included, so it could theoretically be used with the Negotiator. Based on what I experienced, I may actually prefer that over the Specialist.
The Specialist is available now for $79.99. The Scout and Negotiator will be released later this year for $79.99 and $19.99, respectively. For more information, check out http://www.nox-audio.com.
I am a Los Angeles-based writer and gamer who is always looking to combine my two main passions. I believe video games have the potential to become the best storytelling medium of the 21st century, and it is the writer's responsibility to encourage this process. Oh yeah, I'm also a nerd.
