STACK #128 Jun 2016

GAMES

FEATURE

visit www.stack.net.au

We took AudioTechnica's latest ventures into the gaming headset market, the ATH-PDG1 and the ATH-PG1, for a test drive. HEAD GEAR

ATH-PDG1

Headsets. It can be a nightmare picking a pair of these.With marketing phrases like surround sound and 7.1 splashed across packaging, navigating your way through the array of options on offer can be a challenging task, especially if you’re not overly tech savvy. So where do you start in this daunting task of selecting a new set of gaming cans?Well, probably like most of us: at the price point. The brand name Audio Technica is synonymous with quality headphones and the company has been in operation for 50 years now, so it’s fair to say they know a thing or two about the subject matter. While the gaming sphere is still relatively new territory for the company, they have hit the ground running. The PDG1 comes in at $199, a figure most gamers would expect to fork has a substantially smaller cloth-covered ear cup with 44mm drivers more in line with traditional gaming headsets than the company's AT ADG1 premium gaming headset. Forget all that sales gadgetry guff, this is a no BS plug-in-and-play headset that provides exactly what it says it will. Our test games for the PDG1s was Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare for the ‘boom’ factor and STACK’ s stalwart franchise for testing headsets in the office: FIFA. Advanced Warfare provided all the battlefield effects we needed to test with great results. Explosions suffered no distortion despite the varying volume levels. The sounds of bullet- ricochets, battle cries, grenades, etc, are excellent. Similarly, the FIFA 15 commentary and crowd noise is exceptionally clear; the crescendo of sound when the ball hits the back of the net is phenomenal – it's Old Trafford in the ear. A detachable, unidirectional mic on the left cup delivers crisp vocal communication and features out for a good set of all-rounders. There’s a lot of competition around the same price, so how do these perform? You won't be disappointed. By design, the Audio Technica PDG1

a mute option, with an in-line volume switch on the 1.2 metre cable. Also supplied is a 1.2 metre smartphone cable and a 2.0 metre extension cable. Remember though, that the PDG1s are open-backed, so while these are perfect for gamers holed up in the salubrious environment of home, or for keeping one ear open for baby noise on a monitor and your ears cool in a summer gaming marathon, if you’re playing in an area with extensive background noise, you’ll probably want to consider the PG1 closed-back version instead. The PDG1 has dispensed with the wing support, implementing a more traditional band system. It does sound clichéd, but the headset is so light, you really do forget you’re wearing it, and that's what you want from a set of gaming cans. If you’re on the search for a versatile headset for PS4 and PC out of the box (for Xbox One compatibility, simply buy a stereo headset adaptor) that delivers right across the board, for the price point, these really are hard to beat.

ATH-PG1

So, not a massive fan of open-back headsets? No problem; Audio Technica have got you covered – literally. The PG1 features the same standards in quality as the PDG1, except the headset has a closed back for those who like their gaming to be a little more personal and immersive. The cups are leather covered and designed to ‘seal’ and confine all the sound to the ear, effectively cancelling any external noise – you’ll be able to hear that assassin

sneaking up behind you before he even thinks of doing it. The weight is similar, providing a great deal of comfort even for extended periods of gaming.

JUNE 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.com.au

070