Polk Audio recently announced a new partnership with Microsoft to develop audio products for the Xbox One and Xbox 360. The range was on display at E3 and includes three new devices: the N1 Surroundbar, 133t Xbox 360 gaming headphones, and 4 Shot Xbox One gaming headphones.
N1 Surroundbar
Polk is bringing its legacy of premium home audio to the gaming space with the N1 Surroundbar, which features multiple integrated speaker drivers and a subwoofer to deliver Dolby Digital surround sound. What’s more, the company is working with Turn 10 Studios and 343 to build custom audio modes for racing titles and shooters. The system is compatible with any optical audio-enabled device, including Blu-ray players and the PlayStation 4. It’ll also support wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth and is set to launch alongside the Xbox One for $299.
133t Xbox 360 Gaming Headphones
Unlike some competitors who use external mixers for managing audio levels and the various cable connection, Polk has opted to build a control module that connects directly to your 360 controller, connected to an external signal processor/input manager via a large cable. While it add bulk to your gamepad, it puts audio controls closer to the player and limits the number of cables nearest to the player. The 133t headset will arrive before the launch of the Xbox One for $199.
One of the most interesting features is the 133t and 4 Shot’s built-in microphone, which instead of a traditional extending boom mic will use a small near-field microphone built into the left earcup of the headset. When not in use, the microphone will collapse into the base of the headset and become invisible.
4 Shot Gaming Headphones
The 4 Shot will use a control module to connect directly to the Xbox One controller’s proprietary data port. The design is virtually the same as the 133t’s, but instead of having to plug in an additional processing unit to the console, audio will be transmitted directly from the Xbox One to the controller. The 4 Shot will launch for $159 with the debut of the Xbox One.
