True though it is I am a self-professed gadget fanatic, attracted to feature-rich doodads like a magpie to aluminium foil, never before have I owned a flashy gaming headset. For the past three years my means of communicating with friends over the PlayStation Network (recently-rebranded the Sony Entertainment Network) has been a no-frills in-ear unit from Jabra which, for what I paid for it, performs admirably – well, it did. Alas, my beloved BT8040 bit the dust during a marathon Modern Warfare 3 session weeks ago, and suddenly I was in the market for a replacement.
 
Incidentally, this happened around the same time videogames peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz announced the Tritton SwitchBlade, the first in a new line of wireless headsets specifically designed for the PlayStation 3. Affordably priced and touting some impressive features, I decided to pick one up. If you’re curious to know whether MC’s flick knife-inspired product scores well, read on.

The first thing to notice about the SwitchBlade is of course its unique, name-appropriate design. Mass Effect fans might argue that the SSV Normandy might’ve been a better designation, as its sleek sci-fi styling and polished monochromatic colour scheme is somewhat reminiscent of the action RPG’s iconic space frigate. However, the title ‘switchblade’ serves to signify the device’s defining characteristic: a foldaway boom mic. Aside from being a neat way to halve the headset’s overall size for convenient storage, it is by extending and retracting the arm housing the microphone that you activate and deactivate it. To power on, flip out. To power off, flip in. The hassle of having to fiddle with tiny buttons or enter to your PS3’s XMB and manually disconnect the device is removed entirely. More importantly, you can be 100% certain the unit is turned off when the mic is tucked in. This is a function I definitely appreciate, as I was prone to unintentionally leaving my Jabra on after prolonged periods of play.
 
Another of the SwitchBlade’s cool qualities is its ability to connect to your PS3 and a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset or tablet simultaneously. This enables you to seamlessly switch between online game chat and incoming phone calls with a press of the helpfully large, intuitively-placed ‘multifunction’ button bearing the fluorescent orange Tritton logo. Now when my Samsung Galaxy rings during an intense Team Deathmatch on Call of Duty I need not desperately scramble for cover, mute my headset, remove it from my ear and locate my smartphone. Instead, I can accept the call (which automatically places my SEN communications channel on hold), terminate the call, or reject it altogether without taking my eyes off of the television.
 
Performance-wise, the SwitchBlade supersedes my old earpiece in almost all respects. First, it has a wireless range of approximately 30 feet, meaning I can nip to the kitchen and make a brew between bouts without having to leave an ongoing conversation. Second, the device utilizes advanced noise reduction technology to stifle ambient sounds, ensuring the quality of my voice isn’t compromised while I’m waiting for my unnecessarily noisy kettle to boil, and finally, talk time weighs in at about seven hours on a fully charged battery – that’s 90 minutes more than I’m accustomed to.
 
It’s also surprisingly comfortable; the ‘one size fits all’ swiveling ear hook supplied does indeed fit. The rubberized speaker nestles nicely in my lughole, and pleasingly the unit’s elongated chassis doesn’t interfere with the placement of my glasses. I do however have one criticism; there is comparatively less bass to others’ voices. When using the BT8040 my friends’ mutterings sounded much fuller, whereas the SwitchBlade seems to sacrifice depth in favour of clarity. Even so, it’s a minor moan, as I’ve used the headset so extensively now I barely notice the difference.    
 
On the whole, MC’s peripheral has really impressed me. Its durable but lightweight construction makes it light enough to wear for hours on end, but strong enough to survive the everyday knocks and accidental drops every commodity I possess is at some point subject to. Its dynamic folding boom mic combines innovation and practicality brilliantly, providing an expedient way to power-down properly and prevent battery wastage. Syncing the device with my PS3 and mobile phone was quick and straightforward, and its dual pairing facility has proven invaluable in helping me to handle my offline social life whilst online.
 
As attached as I was to my faithful little Jabra, the Tritton SwitchBlade is undoubtedly a cut above.
 
 
This review was published with permission from TheParanoidGamer.