Creative's new Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset

Kelvin Low | Sep 02, 2009

(Credit: Creative)

Remember the headphones with surround sound feature that we ran? Now, here's another headset worth throwing into the mix. While we were kept waiting in anticipation for the funky WoW headset, Creative announced the Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB gaming headset.

The Arena Surround connects to a computer directly via USB. Included audio enhancement technologies include X-Fi, Silencer noise cancellation, EAX (environmental audio extensions) and VoiceFX voice morphing. What we do like is the option to remove the boom mic when not needed (such as racing games that don't require voice commands).

(Credit: Creative)

Creative also revelated the Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII together with the Arena. While they may look similar and share identical audio specifications, the Fatal1ty seems to do away with the audio enhancement technology as well as the USB connection. The company claims the Silencer noise cancellation will still work when the headset is connected to a Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium sound card.

The Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset will go for S$159 (US$115.22), while the Fatal1ty version will retail for S$99 (US$71.74). These headsets will be available at the upcoming Comex fair in Singapore and subsequently at Creative outlets and online stores. It will hit the rest of the Asian regions from mid-September onwards.

Kelvin Low is CNET Asia's very own go-to intern for Music & Play. When he's not fiddling with gadgets or setting up new PC rigs, he can be found hitting the dirt tracks on his mountain bike. Kelvin is currently studying mass communications at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. Email Kelvin.

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