Roccat Announces Analog Variant Of Kave XTD 5.1 Headset
Roccat's Kave XTD 5.1 Analog comes without the USB sound card, saving you a couple bucks and allowing you to choose what you hook it up to.
Roccat's Kave XTD 5.1 Digital gaming headset has already been on the market for a while, but if you were looking for a cheaper 5.1 headset from Roccat, you would be at a loss. Now, however, the German gaming peripherals maker announced the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog – a nearly identical version of its digital headset, but without the included USB sound card.
The headset's drivers are 40 mm on the front channel and 40 mm on the rear, with additional 30 mm "subwoofer" drivers. The front and rear units all have a frequency response between 20 and 20,000 Hz and have a maximum input power of 50 mW. The vibration driver responds between 20 and 100 Hz, and has a maximum input power of 300 mW, so it should offer some explosive bass.
The microphone on this headset can pick up sounds between 10 and 10,000 Hz, and it has an omni-directional pickup with four 1.5 mm coils.
To connect the headset, you'll have to plug in four different 3.5 mm jacks to your sound card, along with a USB 2.0 port. This being an analog headset raises the question of what the USB 2.0 port is for, but the answer is easy: to power the auxiliary devices, such as the LED lighting.
Also note that a lower price tag isn't the only reason you may want to buy an analog headset. Because it's analog, it allows you to connect it to your choice of sound card, which can potentially offer much better sound quality than the included USB sound card would.
The Roccat Kave XTD 5.1 Analog will be available sometime midway through this month, with Roccat suggesting a retail price of $119.99.
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Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.
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Ami Yamin So, it's basically like the previous Kave 5.1....Reply
I have a pair of Kave Headphones and the build quality is terrible.
"Subwoofer" Channel is making unbearable noises and had to be silenced to minimum.
Plus, Wires and Soldering inside are fragile and in low quality. very hard to fix those without proper equipment and steady hands.
On the other hand, Its cheap and Games / Action movies sound nice. I use it with Logitech Driving force wheel and a pair of Sony's HMD i got from a friend.
Playing GRID 2 is realy immersive.
Know what to expect when buying :) -
Qbuo Do Not Buy!! The connectors attaching the cups to the headphone strap are extremely fragile! Mic is decent-ish... Sound feels like a hack though.Reply -
Hyperman Have been using my Kave 5.1 for 3 years now. Have nothing to complain on them. Clean sound and the subwoofer is awsome. It's a huge difference on what soundcard you use with them. Have tried them on onboard soundcards, and they sound terrible. Are now using them on a old Sound Blaster Audigy, and it's a huge difference. Just bought me a backup pair on sale. The build quality isn't the best, but they have lasted for 3 years of almost daily use. If you know what you are buying, and use them with care i think they are a good set.Reply -
G3ox I had the original Kave 5.1 and they were terrible. The build quality is sub par and the sound is bad. They were also unusable after 1 hour of gaming because of the weight on your head also your ears got very hot inside. Do yourself a favor and buy good quality stereo headphones and a sound card, you can emulate surround sound with software.Reply -
Kirrlaos just save up another 150$ and get some sennheiser pc 363d good sound, good mice and VERY well made I'm a 400 pound man and I've stepped on these a few times and they havn't broke yet.Reply
:3