| | |  | Hardware | Home » » » » X-Tatic Dolby Headset | | | | | | | Description: | | Award wining X-Tatic Gaming Headset: the Dolby certified X-Tatic Digital. This high-quality headset features four speakers per earpiece a total of eight speakers and volume controls built into the cable. Through the included Sound Control Unit, the X-Tatic Digital can connect to the optical output of a game console (PS2, PS3, Xbox or Xbox 360), a PC, DVD player or other HiFi device and immediately delivers high-quality sound to listeners. The Sound Control Unit outputs analog Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic signals, and supports a second X-Tatic headset. With the newly developed microphone, the chat functions of the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are also supported. The ergonomic construction of the headset includes soft ear pieces and a plush headband, making the headset comfortable to wear even for long sessions. Sharkoon’s X-Tatic digital gaming headsets promises a high-quality sound that won't break the bank and will propel gamers into an immersive depth of Dolby Digital environment. Includes detachable in-line volume control cable for easy breakaway and installation. Allows two X-Tatic headsets and/or any headset with a standard G9 connection plug, so two can enjoy excellent sound. | | | Features: | |
• 5.1 channel headset; 8 speakers (4 in each earpiece); Digital, in-line volume control; High end amplifier; Independent, illuminated volume adjustment for each channel and master volume; Detachable microphone with QuickOn connection
• X-Tatic Sound Control Unit (SCU); Supports Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Pro Logic; Supports the chat function of PS3, Xbox and Xbox 360; Dynamic Range Control. Includes detachable in-line volume control for easy breakaway and installation
• Center speaker: 2 x 27 mm; Front speaker: 2 x 30 mm; Rear speaker: 2 x 30 mm; Subwoofer: 2 x 40 mm; Impedance: 32 Ohm; Microphone: 6 x 5 mm (L x W) / unidirectional; Cable Length: 360 cm; Connection: 1 x 9-pin analogue plug
• Digital optical input (S/PDIF) 2 analogue audio outputs for the X-Tatic headset 3 analogue 3.5 mm audio outputs (front, rear, center / subwoofer) 1 microphone connector for PS3 (USB A > USB B) 1 power connector
• Compatibilty: X-Tatic Digital; PC / MAC / other sources: analogue input (via cable adapter); X-Tatic SCU; Xbox / Xbox 360: optical input ;PS2 / PS3: optical input / USB microphone connection PC / MAC: optical input / analogue
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 0.0 inches | | Product Width:
| 0.0 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.0 inches | | Product Weight:
| 3.35 pounds | | Package Length:
| 12.5 inches | | Package Width:
| 9.9 inches | | Package Height:
| 4.5 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.7 pounds | | Release Date:
| April 28, 2010 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 80 reviews |
| | | Game Information: | | | Platform:
| Windows Vista / PlayStation / PlayStation2 / Xbox / Windows XP / Not Machine Specific / Windows / PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 | | Media:
| Accessory | | Item Quantity:
| 1 |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 80 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 68 found the following review helpful:
 New supporter of Sharkoon!! hoorah!May 13, 2010
By E. Reyes
This headset rocks! I definitely took a chance on these despite not having seen any previous reviews or ratings, but it was worth it. I wanted to test it out for a few weeks before writing a review. Also, this is my first Sharkoon product.
Along with the headset itself, it includes
- optical cable
- "sound control unit" (your little magic black box where all cables run to)
- adapters for PC (comes with 5.1 analog for those w/o pc optical), 360, ps3
- detachable boom mic (it does flex to your preference)
- power supply (single cord which splits off to power your SCU and headset separately) Ex.) you can still disconnect the power to the SCU and still have power running to the headset by itself. The power supply comes with swappable heads. I guess this is if you go out of the country and want to use their foreign outlets.
It took me a little bit of time to figure out all these adapters, settings, and wires (there are a lot of wires.)
The Sound Control Unit (SCU) is where your optical, power supply and 9-pin headset connector come together. You can also adjust the general volume here, but I usually just use the volume adjust attached the the headset cord. There is a 5.1 analog output as another option for those PC users without an optical option. With two 9-pin headset jacks, a second person with the same headset may also listen in. Two Dolby options include Dolby Digital and Pro Logic. There are two included settings called Time-Delay and Dynamic Range Control located on the SCU.
Both of these passages taken directly from the manual. Either setting can be turned on or off.
"Time-Delay - The Time-Delay function allows to define a time delay for the sound reproduction for each speaker. Thus a spacious playback of the audio signal can be achieved. Note that increasing the delay too much may cause unnatural results."
"Dynamic Range Control - Dynamic Range control limits the dynamic, decreasing the level differences between loud and quiet passages in the Dolby Digital 5.1 signal thus balancing the effect of loudness."
Other nice features include a volume adjuster which is attached the headset cord. The X-tatic logo on the headset AND also the attached volume adjuster light up. Looks good to me! The volume is indicated by the different colors lighted up on the volume adjuster - ranging from green (very low) to red (very high). The sound volume from each speaker can also be adjusted individually. So say you're sniping and you want to hear even more of the sounds behind you. You can "up" the volume on the rear speakers to do just that. Or you might be looking to get more "boom" from your sounds. You can increase the bass volume while keeping the other speakers at their current volume.
There is a switch to turn off your voice. You can't hear your own voice while speaking, but I prefer it that way. Voice volume from other people can also be adjusted independently from game volume. So when I hear a lobby full of annoying kids, I lower the voice volume and just "up" my awesome game volume. Bliss.
Comfort 5/5 - Took a night of gameplay to "break-in", so now it fits comfortably. Good padding so it sits well on your head. The ear cups can be tilted and also swivel to match your unique head shape (a BIG plus for me.) I can wear these 4-5 hours easy.
Sound 5/5 - Amazing! Playing MW2 and GOW2 is a whole new experience now! Sounds I never knew existed in these games gave me a whole new appreciation! Distant gunfire, rustling of bushes and grass around me, and even slight downpour can be heard. With that said, the 5.1 directionality will add a whole new dimension to your gameplay. For me, there is a clear distinction between if gunfire is coming from front, rear, front left, rear right, etc. Footsteps come in loud and clear. This keeps me more aware of my surroundings. Hurray for situational awareness!
Price 4/5 - It is quite the steep investment for me at $159.99, even with the free shipping from Amazon (love ya for that Amazon!) I did have to think twice before my purchase solely because the price. Now that I look back on it, it was the right move.
Overall, this headset definitely meets my expectations. It looks good and has some surprisingly cool features. Maybe if they could fix the amount of wires, but I guess that what it takes to work on the pc, 360, and ps3.
Good Hunting!
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
If all you need is a good gaming headset, go no further!Aug 30, 2010
By CrypticGuru
This isn't meant to be a very technical review, but I will share my opinion with hope that I can answer some questions that I had when reviewing these headphones.
I've been using these headphones mainly for PC and PS3 games. For those of you with intention of using these with an xbox 360, be warned you will need to purchase a specific xbox360 adapter for the optical audio (I would have tested MW2 already if I had the xbox360 connection). The PS3 has and most newer PC motherboards even have the optical audio connection. If you're really serious about having amazing PC audio, you might consider an aftermarket sound card ... but then again, if you ARE really serious, you'd be buying an ACTUAL 5.1 system and not just headphones.
These aren't meant for stereo sound and only do a mediocre job at best when just listening to music, unless you connect the 5.1 analog adapter and use the orange (center and sub channel), then it sounds better. I haven't compared these to any other gaming headset, but I have no complaints on the sound quality. You do have the ability to adjust the volume of the front, center, rear and sub channels which is very handy for getting the sound just right. You can go further and adjust other settings, but I haven't tinkered with that.
These headphones are also very comfortable. Most of the weight is on top of your head and not on or over your ears which greatly reduces ear fatigue. I have used them for 3+ hours with little discomfort!
Take note that these are in no way noise canceling headphones. If you have the volume down low, you will be able to hear what's going on around you, and those around you might hear what you are listening to if you've got the volume up very high. That's not a big problem though.
I've used the mic over Skype and in games such as SC2 and have had people comment on the good quality of the sound of my voice. It's nice that the mic is detachable, but honestly, it's never really in the way and I never detach it.
The headphones themselves glow green, quite brightly. This is a nice feature if you're trying to impress people with cool hardware, but it's annoying to have them sitting beside my bed on my desk at night when I'm trying to sleep -- an acceptable annoyance.
The mess of cables isn't really an issue considering I already have a mess of cables on my desk where I have a PC, PS3 and Xbox360. If you are worried about the mess of cables, you might consider purchasing a longer optical cable as the supplied one is quite short (approx 2 feet). This way you can have the adapter and all the cables hidden somewhere. The cable from the headphone is very long, so don't worry about that.
One last note, this purchase was a shot in the dark. I had never heard of Sharkoon before and am quite pleased. I was debating over this and the TRITTON AXPRO and chose these. I don't regret my decision!
26 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 Nice headset, but worth the price?Jun 28, 2010
By M. Brumelow
"ElectroBufff"
I ordered the Sharkoon Xtatic after quite a bit of online research. I was at first going to buy a surround sound system to play my PS3 with. After considering this and the fact that my roommate might not appreciate my midnight Call of Duty "boom sessions," I decided to check out surround sound headphones. These can range widely in price, and my budget was admittedly low.
After some browsing the web and reading lots of reviews, I came to the Sharkoon Xtatic. Not much was available online about it, as far as reviews go. I couldn't find many other 5.1 headset for the PS3, so I decided to take a gamble.
The verdict: I like my headset. It is a lot of fun to use and really immerses me in my first-person shooters, like Call of Duty. I also enjoy having the mic built in, as opposed to a standard 5.1 headphone set. However, I don't think the performance justifies the price tag. I feel like a stereo headset would be only a hint behind the Xtatic in performance, as the surround sound in the Xtatic is not very great. It does have a somewhat surround feel to it, but not what I had hoped for. If I could go back, I would have either paid more for a surround sound speaker set (and annoyed my roommate), or I would have paid less money for a nice stereo headset. I just don't think this headset performs well enough to justify the price. Also, I will add that the Sharkoon has quite a tangle of cables to connect in order for everything to work properly. This isn't a deal breaker for me, but for anyone obsessed with maintaining a clean, clutter free wire setup, I don't think you want this headset.
One more thing. I have noticed some nasty distortion when I play Guitar Hero World Tour. This tends to happen during the loading screen when the crowd is cheering. Haven't had any sound problems in CoD:MW, or MW2.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Great For Movies and Games and Digital Sources.Dec 06, 2010
By Nicholas Winn
"E-Bike Enthusiast"
Well based on the reviews, I purchased these headsets and I've had them for two days and I'm very satisfied. My review is from the point of view of a PC user and not X-Box.
I have a set of Klipsh 2:1 Speakers and was considering a surround sound system, but the family is already complaining about my loud music and games. I figured a better alternative was to get a surround sound headset which I can play loud as I'd like. I mostly watch movies and Game a little. I researched up and down and found that these have 4 speakers per side and claim to provide true surround sound in a headset.
Below are my impressions:
1. I have a Soundblaster Fatality Titanium Sound Card. Maybe your results will be different with a different card but these speakers work well with this model. I tried running the headsets both through the box connected to my Digital out put and through the analog plugs and by-passing the box. There is an option to not use the little box and connect the headset directly to your PC using analog cables. I had to pull out the manual because the color coding on these cables are European and don't match the Sound-blaster Color Coding. But using both manuals I matched up the right cables. There was no improvement without the box on any type of listening and you didn't get the full Dolby effect on the digital type sounds. The digital optical output through the box is the only way to run these you need the box to interpret the sound and bring out the beauty of Digital sound. Blue-Ray Digital Discs sound fantastic with these headsets.
2. Be careful there is a setting on the box (Button) that turns on Pro Logic. If the sound source is not Dolby or Digital than it sounds like crap. I believe this is why a few people may have given these Headsets bad reviews. Their fault they had the Dolby Prologic on with the wrong source. By the way the base is very strong on these at normal settings with options to turn it up directly through the headset control.
3. Music, If you are buying these to play YouTube stuff, forget it. It sounds fine but it just isn't Bose or Sennheiser Quality. If You are an audiophile about music and getting it from non digital sources, get a digital splitter and/or a different headset. This speaker set excels with gaming and movies and with anything that is using Digital DTS or Digital Dolby 5:1 or surround sound effects. Blue Ray Disks are incredible. You tube stuff is very mediocre.
4. Netflix When I first turned on Netflix it sounded horrible than I unchecked Dolby, wham 100% turnaround. I believe that my Soundblaster EAX took over because the next thing you know
I was listening to Apocalypse Now and Bullets are sounding all over the place I was wowed by the excellent sound. These don't just simulate surround sound, they are surround sound. I confirmed this in another scene from Apocalypse Now. In this scene near the end Sheen is first talking to Brando. The camera is switching perspectives. The stuff happening from behind sounded from behind and the stuff in front to the front. It confirmed without a shadow of a doubt that these do more than just simulate surround sound. I heard sounds behind in front and to the sides!!
4. Games. I played Crysis and it was very immersive. I haven't played enough games on this to comment but I believe that it excels at gaming, I was getting the forwards backwards sideways sounds and to it was great.I think alot is going to depend on the game and how it's programmed. But digital games are going to sound awesome!!
5. Comfort. I don't know why but even though these are huge they aren't hot and sweaty. This is the first two sided enclosed headset that I've used where I wasn't sweating rivulets. I really can't figure why they are so comfortable. I wear glasses and have no problems.
So in conclusion, don't buy these for Non-Digital Music. Buy them for gaming and High Def Movies and you'll be a happy camper. Be careful not to use the Dolby button with non Dolby sources. Use a Digital Optical output along with the box.
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Add on to original Review.
One of the complaints I've heard is that you can't turn these off. Actually you can, funny thing is that I picked this trick up in the reviews of a competitors Headset that's supposed to be similar to this one. If you push the Volume button and the "Front" buttons in at the same time the Headset will turn off. Kind of nifty because you'll never turn it off by accident and once you know the trick it's very simple.
I also felt that when I raised the volumes on the Box and used the volume of the headsets at lower volume that quality increased.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Headphones - Highly RecommendedJul 13, 2011
By Silvertooth Snowman
"SS"
First off, I was a bit skeptical buying a sub two hundred dollar headset. I'm not sure why I was leery, but it was at the back of my mind. I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by the Sharkoon X-Tatic True 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Gaming Headset, and then SOME. I've put these through their paces for the past month plus (which is why I waited to leave a review), and they have performed as advertised with excellent surround sound clarity and the sounds in general have a good punch to the overall sound stage itself.
Build quality: These things are extremely well made, and I don't see them breaking for a long time (if ever), unless I smash them against a wall or throw them on the ground repeatedly. This headset is nice and weighty, and the cups fit nicely over my ears (the cups also swivel for comfort). They're quite large, so I don't see them being a problem for people even with big ears (mine are average). This headset should last the average gamer/movie buff for a long time, barring some unfortunate accident on the user end.
Comfort: These headphones are extremely comfortable on my head and ears. This is a subjective area, as not all of us are created equally physically. In my experience and after having used them for hours on end, at times I completely even forget that I have anything on my head or covering my ears. It's probably because I'm completely engrossed with whatever game or movie that I happen to be playing or watching at the time, plus the addition of the surround sound field enveloping my senses; I have just found them to be one of the most comfortable headset that I've worn. The plush head strap that bridges the earpieces is soft and cushioned. I was extremely happy with the headphones in terms of comfort, as that is a big bullet point for me.
Installing: The setup was a snap, and quite easy to install. It literally took me about minute or two, and I was up and running. For those of you out there that might not know as much about audio/video hook ups, there is great documentation that comes with this package to help or guide you through the setup process. I don't mind running the wiring along my floor, as I much prefer a wired setup to a wireless solution. Now the one caveat I have here, once you have everything setup and running, is that you will need to tweak and make adjustments on the fly depending on what movie or game you happen to be playing. There's individual channels to play around with on the main cabling going to the headset: Front, Rear, Center, Sub. It's very easy to adjust, but you will want to tweak them according to your own preferences and based upon the media that you happen to be playing at the time.
Movies: For Blu-ray movies (this is just in general and have produced the best results for me), I keep the Center and Sub channels about two clicks down from maximum (at max sound level the individual channels will shine red) - it also depends on the movie and audio transfer. Next up, I keep the Front and Rear channels about 10-12 clicks from maximum (they will shine purple or green). This is just a general rule of thumb and have produced the best results for me based upon my experiences with this headset and its components.
Once again regarding movies, using my PS3 and Samsung BD-P1600, the fidelity and crisp tones of the dialogue, music, and background noise has been top notch in conjunction with this headset. You can hear minute and discreet sounds coming from your left and right side, back, and front/center. It's a pretty amazing experience, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the Sharkoon's for Blu-ray movies (along with DVD and HD DVD) exclusively. They produce very good bass, clarity, and have a very nice and tidy dynamic range from lows to highs. I was impressed with the sound piping into my skull with movies, suffice to say. Also of note, the Sharkoon X-Tatic True 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound Gaming Headset works quite well with DVD and HD DVD movies as I mentioned above. I still have a generous amount of HD DVD's and old DVD's and the sound stage works quite well with these discs.
So for movies themselves, I can't see someone being disappointed with this headset. It was a major reason that I purchased them, despite also being a gamer as well. I wanted a pair of cans that would be multi-functional for games, movies, and communication in games. These beauties' are an amazing swiss army knife in regards to those three aspects. They have exceeded my expectations, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to friends, family, or others. There is one con that I noticed, but it hasn't bothered me a great deal. When watching a game or movie for a long time, you can start to feel some heat being emitted. It usually happens when I wear these for over 5 hours straight (Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on Blu-ray comes to mind, of recent vintage) that I would start to notice it, but I would just take a break for a few minutes and everything would be fine again.
Back on point: games. After playing some L.A. Noire for a while with these, I was very happy with the sound stage that this headset produced. I could hear cars off in the distance honking their horns, subtle notes of music, gun shots ringing in my eardrums, dialogue was nice and crisp, and the overall ambiance of the city took on a whole new life of its own. It's quite an amazing experience. I've tried these with MW2, Oblivion, Torchlight, Read Dead Redemption, Batman Arkham Asylum, and some PC games - for the most part, I was extremely pleased with the surround sound and fidelity that the Sharkoons' produced from games. Games are a tricky thing, as not every game is created equally in regards to the audio. From what I've experienced though, most games that you play will take advantage of what the headset has to offer (even in stereo). It's when games are designed with 5.1 DD in mind, that is the life and soul of these headphones and will produce some bombastic sounds across the spectrum of your game.
The microphone works extremely well when talking with friends or coordinating with teammates in a competitive environment. People have commented that my voice sounds very clear and they can hear me as if I was right next to them. The nice bonus is that the boom mic is detachable and adjustable. I haven't had any drops or hiccups, and have found that the microphone is very reliable each and every time. No complaints here.
Depending on the game and the audio used, you will hear discreet sounds coming from behind, on your sides, and the front of you. For FPS games, this creates a nice advantage when you or your team are sneaking around and looking for red dots on the map. Another thing, I wasn't expecting that much out of the bass (boom boom) on these things, but I have found them to be plenty of muscle in pushing out some deep and punchy bass. If someone wants a clean, even, deep, and rich bass...you could probably do better, but then again you're going to pay much more for that. It just depends on what someone expects from their gaming and movie experience. For the price though, in my opinion, this is the best wired headset on the market at an affordable price. I had considered a nice pair of stereo cans with a dedicated mixamp, but that became a distant memory after using these.
I didn't mean to be quite so lengthy, but just wanted to cover the things that I thought to be pertinent and just describe some of my experiences with this product so far. Overall, I would highly recommend them - especially to people out there on a budget or that don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a pair of headphones. If you're a gamer or movie bon vivant alike, the Sharkoons' will give you an excellent surround sound audio experience. As you may be able to decipher from the tone of my review, I'm very happy that I took the plunge and purchased these headphones. I'd easily recommend the Sharkoons' for someone especially looking for 5.1 solution to gaming and movies.
Also of note, great packaging Amazon (very well preserved). Thank you!
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