Mad Catz Releases Tournament Edition F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 Gaming Headset
Mad Catz announced the release of the F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 Stereo Surround Gaming Headset. The new headset has been designed to withstand the rigors of eSports gaming and be versatile enough to be used with practically any device.
The company said it worked with competitive eSports players to make sure the Tournament Edition F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 headset is able to withstand the stresses of competitive gaming tournaments and long gaming marathons at home.
This model features 7.1 channel surround sound with a 50 mm driver that Mad Catz said delivers full 360-degree positional awareness. This feature is only available when connected to a PC via USB connection, although the headset is capable of connecting to practically any audio source with the included 3.5 mm audio cable. However, that connection is limited to stereo audio, but it enables support for all the latest gaming consoles and smart devices.
Along with the surround speakers, Mad Catz included a dual-chat microphone system. The company said the two microphones work in unison to actively cancel out background noise while enhancing voice clarity. Next to the microphone are on-ear controls for volume, mic and even a button to receive calls from a phone.
Mad Catz included proprietary surround sound software with the F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset that allows the user to customize their audio environment. The software has the ability to create and load customized EQ profiles and features some audio enhancement features. For example, Dynamic Bass mode enhances the low frequency response.
The software can be used to enhance the microphone input, as well. Voice Enhancement mode improves voice clarity, and VOIP mode allows you to alter the sound of your voice through VOIP services.
| Device | F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset |
|---|---|
| Sound Type | 7.1 Surround (PC only) |
| Driver Size | 50 |
| Connectivity | Mini-USB to Dual 3.5mm + Mini-USB to 3.5 mm |
| Microphone | Dual-Mic Comms System |
| PC | Yes |
| Mac | No |
| Mobile OS | Android + iOS |
| Smartphone | Yes |
The F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 headset is available today from Mad Catz website for $99.99, and it comes in black, red and white models. At the moment, only the black version is available to order.
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Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years.