Tritton AX 180

Tritton AX 180

Cross-platform compatibility is tricky for any gaming accessory. Most gamepads can't do it at all, and headsets have a slightly easier time, but you still wind up dealing with a tangle of wires. The Tritton AX 180 ($69.99 list) is a seemingly simple, basic pair of stereo headphones with a microphone, and getting it to work with a PC is easy. But if you want to use it with your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, you're going to have to work for it. DesignThe AX 180 is soft and nonthreatening, with half of the headset covered in padded foam. The inner surfaces of the ear cups and the headband are comfortable, while the outside of the ear cups and the adjustable part of the headband are flat black plastic, save for glossy black caps in the middle of the cups bearing Tritton's orange logo. A wiry, flexible black mic plugs into the left ear cup, and can easily be bent out of the way if you, say, want to take a drink of a nice, cold beverage while gaming. The headset connects to a breakaway cable with an inline remote that holds headphone and microphone volume wheels, mic and PS3/Xbox 360 switches, and an Xbox 360 mic port. At the end of the cable, there are USB, 3.5mm headphone, and microphone connectors.