Pros
Solid battery life
HDMI connectivity
Works on PC, Xbox One and PS4
Above-average audio high quality
Cons
Feels low-cost
Virtual surround-sound would not absolutely ship
Key Specifications
Review Price: £120.00
Xbox One, PS4 and PC suitable
HDMI in/out
Attachable increase mic
Wireless
DTS Surround Sound
What is the Tritton Katana HD?
Tritton believes the Katana HD is the final word companion for audio-conscious players. Why? Because it’s the primary wi-fi stereo headset to ship uncompressed digital {surround} sound – a fantastic promoting level for those who want most immersion and comfort in a single.
It works on PC, Xbox One and the PS4 and options DTS {surround} sound tech to, hopefully, ship top-notch {surround} sound. The Katana HD typically delivers, too. It nonetheless can’t match equal wired headphones, nevertheless it sounds higher than headsets in its worth bracket and going wi-fi is nice for gaming.
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Tritton Katana HD – Design and Features
Central to the Katana HD is the little field of tips that does all of the heavy lifting. It’s powered by USB and has two HDMI ports – one enter, one output. You plug your console or PC into the HDMI enter and the HDMI output passes the video sign to your TV or monitor.
Once setup, you merely need to cost the headset utilizing the equipped micro-USB cable, screw within the offered omni-directional increase mic, after which activate the bottom station and headphones. From there the 2 will routinely sync. On PC, you’ll additionally need to set the Katana as your main audio and communications gadget in Windows Sound settings.
The setup course of was fast and straightforward on the PC, however a bit extra fiddly on the Xbox One. My Xbox initially didn’t recognise the Katana and required me to enter the console’s settings and manually instruct it to recognise the HDMI audio output. The increase mic additionally needs to be cable-connected to the Xbox One controller’s 3.5mm jack to work, which is extra faff than I’d like for a wi-fi headset.
Related: Best PC Games 2016This is isn’t a delicate headset, both. The white and orange unit I examined resembles a prop from Mass Effect and is among the most garish headsets I’ve worn in fairly a while. It’s accessible in a black and orange color combo, too, however that too seems to be a bit excessive.
In hand, the Katana HD feels a bit flimsy for a £120 piece of equipment. The headset’s body is principally made from clean plastic, and carrying it to a LAN get together, the headphones picked up loads of soiled marks. On type alone, I wouldn’t select them, however that’s my private desire.
Luckily, what the Katana HD lacks in type it makes up in consolation. The reminiscence foam pads and adjustable headband present a powerful, however not too demanding, seal round your ears.
There are ample controls on the headset, too. Each ear cup has a quantity dial: one controls the sport’s audio quantity; the opposite enables you to modify participant communication quantity. A mute button on the removable mic makes it straightforward to shutdown voice chat if get caught with a wannabe PewDiePie throughout matches.
Tritton Katana HD – Audio Quality
Tritton claims the Katana HD is the primary ever gaming headset to function uncompressed {surround} sound. The function works utilizing a mix of HDMI and DTS Headphone:X applied sciences to ship digital 7.1 {surround} sound.
Fake surround-sound headsets aren’t something new, however Tritton claims the Katana is particular since it could play eight, versus the extra commonplace six, uncompressed audio channels. This allows it to supply extra of a 360-degree sound utilizing the headset’s twin 50mm drivers.
Tritton additionally claims that proprietary software program will additional enhance the flexibility to create an genuine, digital {surround} sound. DTS X may also take stereo audio and re-render within the pretend {surround} sound setup.I’ve all the time taken claims about digital {surround} sound with a pinch of salt. I’m but to discover a stereo setup that may authentically recreate a real multi-channel expertise.
Past headsets I’ve examined have failed to supply a 360-degree sound and have as an alternative made audio seem as whether it is coming from a central place, even when the occasions on-screen make it appear like it ought to be coming from in entrance of me.
The Katana HD is among the higher digital surround-sound headsets I’ve examined, nevertheless it nonetheless doesn’t ship a real multi-channel expertise. Playing FPS video games, there was a imprecise sense of the course of incoming noises, however the soundscape was removed from 360 levels.
I by no means as soon as believed the sound was emanating from behind me – an expertise I preserve can solely be precisely recreated with a real multi-speaker association. Turning the {surround} hold forth, I did discover a drop in efficiency and total the sound grew to become flatter. Overall, this makes the Katana HD one of many higher pretend multi-channel setups I’ve examined.
Related: Best Gaming Mouse 2016Uncompressed audio additionally made a delicate however noticeable distinction to sound high quality. At average volumes, the Katana HD provides fairly well-balanced audio. The mid and high-end are suitably managed and I didn’t discover any harshness or sibilance on soundtracks or in recreation audio results.
The headset’s solely critical situation stems from its barely underpowered low-end. With the amount degree set to 50%, explosions lack oomph and automobile engines in racing video games lacked the rumble I anticipated.
The situation turns into worse whenever you crank up the headset’s quantity. While the mid and high-end degree up, after you get to round 60% quantity, the low-end appears to faucet out. It’s like Katana has put a cap on the max low degree in a bid to cease distortion from creeping in.
The finish result’s an unbalanced sound at excessive volumes. It stays markedly higher than many of the wi-fi headsets I’ve examined, nevertheless it’s removed from good – particularly when in comparison with targeted AV headsets or speaker setups.
Tritton Katana HD – Battery Life
Tritton quotes the Katana HD as providing a strong 15-hour battery life. In real-world use I discovered that determine a bit optimistic, however the Katana HD nonetheless provides nice battery life.
Using the headset at medium volumes, I managed to squeeze between 12-14 hours use out of the Katana HD. With the amount at its most, the battery life dropped and the Katana lasted round 10 hours earlier than needing a high up, which continues to be fairly spectacular.
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Should I purchase the Tritton Katana HD?
If you’re an audio-conscious gamer then the Tritton Katana HD is a superb alternative. The headphones provide superior sound high quality to competing wi-fi units and have a prolonged battery life. However, I’m not satisfied that that is an genuine 360-degree, multi-channel audio expertise. With that mentioned, this is a matter I’ve with near all digital surround-sound options.
With pricing beginning at £120, the Katana HD isn’t low-cost. You can decide up competing wi-fi headsets with digital {surround} sound, such because the Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 450, for lower than £100. Wired headsets will even typically provide superior audio and value considerably much less, however you’ll need to put up with the faff of being tethered to your video games console or PC.
Verdict
The Katana HD seems to be pretty ridiculous nevertheless it sounds nice.