Mad Catz shipping the F.R.E.Q. 9 headsets for $299
I've experienced a few of the F.R.E.Q. headsets from Mad Catz and they've been pretty solid. Their latest one looks to be a completely bad-ass set of cans and it will let you use it with a multitude of products.
The Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 9 is a wireless gaming headset that's compatible with just about everything. PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, your phone, you name it it should connect to it. It connects via Bluetooth or an adapter box that will take in any audio source.
As with most gaming headsets, there's a mic but it's integrated into the headset and doesn't feature a long boom to get in the way. I always liked headsets like this and the F.R.E.Q. 9's mic is nicely hidden and out of the way.
It uses AM3D technology for its virtual surround sound implementation. I have never experienced it, but the technology will take any 2D sound and transform it to an accurate 3D representation.
To get rid of ambient noise, the F.R.E.Q. 9 also features active noise cancellation to make things quiet from the outside world. If you need to hear someone talking when you have the headset on, just press a button and the sound is fed to you through the headset.
The Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 9 comes in at $299.99 and can be picked up right now.
Mad Catz® Ships F.R.E.Q. ™9 Wireless Surround Headset For Gaming, Audio And Smart Devices
Surround Sound Bluetooth® Gaming Headset Adds New Dimension to Wireless Play
San Diego – January 5, 2015 – Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/TSX: MCZ) announced today the shipping of the F.R.E.Q. 9 Wireless Surround Headset, a gaming headset compatible with practically any audio source including PC and MAC, game consoles, mobile and smart devices.
Winner of a CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Award Honoree award, theF.R.E.Q. 9 represents the flagship in the Company’s F.R.E.Q. headset range and showcases a host of advanced technologies.
In an industry first, F.R.E.Q. 9 allows gamers to enjoy expansive wireless surround sound via AM3D® Audio technology. AM3D transforms wireless audio, allowing gamers to pinpoint enemy movements and team mate positions with unrivalled accuracy. Based upon the same virtual surround technology used in mission critical missile warning systems by an F-16 Falcon™ jet fighter, AM3D Audio can convert any standard stereo audio signal into highly realistic military-grade 3D sound.
Continuing a tradition long established in the Company’s F.R.E.Q. line of gaming headsets, the F.R.E.Q. 9 features a discrete integrated mic which allows gamers to communicate online as well as use the headset with smart phones, tablets and more, all without the need of a boom mic obstructing their movement. With no need for a boom mic to be attached, gamers can stay connected with multiple devices and enjoy the headset in a variety of situations.
The F.R.E.Q. 9 features premium Bluetooth® technology and can connect to practically any audio source thanks to the adapter box which connects to a standard digital optical or analogue source, transmitting wireless audio directly to the headset.
“Mad Catz makes products which appeal to the passionate gamer, but today even those who play games as a primary hobby, use headsets throughout their day. Traditionally we accept the notion of using different headsets for each task. A dedicated headset and boom mic for gaming, earbuds for sport, and noise-cancelling headphones for travel. We think there’s a better way to introduce quality and value to a gaming audience and Mad Catz is excited to introduce the F.R.E.Q. 9 which we believe will cover all the users’ needs, and do so with remarkable audio fidelity,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “We think a gaming-inspired, premium headset which can function with practically any format is a welcome addition to the F.R.E.Q. range, and one which we think will add positive growth in 2015.”
Reviewing the headset, Connected Digital World website remarked that the F.R.E.Q.9was: “The best gaming headset we have ever used,” awarding the headset a full 5/5 score.
The F.R.E.Q. 9 features state-of-the-art, digitally controlled Active Noise Cancellation (D-ANC) technology which reduces unwanted background noise. With noise cancellation active, gamers can hear the quietest of audio cues, crucial for providing the winning edge during play. The noise cancellation works in harmony with Binaural Monitoring, a further technology which constantly monitors ambient noise around the headset and allows users to activate a listen-through capability should, for example, they wish to engage in a conversation without needing to remove the headset.
Support for the F.R.E.Q.9 is included in the Mad Catz app for Android™ or iOS™, allowing gamers to check battery level and activate the various features of the headset.
aptX® enhanced wireless audio technology provides ultra-low latency audio over wireless, meaning that lip-synch issues, inherent to many Bluetooth headsets, are removed, crucial for enjoyment of gaming and movies.
