After a rep for the company asked "have you heard them yet?" several times, we took the PS500MM out of its boring packaging and plugged them in, waiting for a mind-numbingly audio experience in mediocrity. But that didn't happen. They sounded really, really good. So good that we actually had to swap back and forth with our road-hardened Sony MDR-EX71SLA and Shure E2C earphones to make sure something else hadn't happened. Why? We could hear the nuances of vocalists in our favorite songs, heard melodies that we had never heard before and there weren't the obvious crackles that usually plague the mid-range. Then it got better. Usually any new technology that "enhances" audio usually does so by handicapping the bass. Yet the PS500MM's produced a crisp sounding bass with almost no distortion (even when we loaded up a few bass-heavy MP3 tracks). Then it caused us to do the impossible, we actually turned down the volume.
Music in games from BioShock to Call of Duty: World at War sounded better and multiplayer sessions in Team Fortress delivered crisper audio (even the oh-so-many f-bombs sounded better).
And that's the point that Able Planet pitched us on. Listen to your favorite audio without jacking those sources up to a level that might leave you deaf. Oddly, the Linx Audio technology that makes this all possible doesn't come from music labs or audio engineers who think that records sound better than CD, it's based on the latest in hearing aid technology. As AblePlanet describe it, the technology filters out harsh or undesirable sounds, clarifying what you want to hear without forcing you to lose your hearing.
Well-constructed, the headset's cans are quite small at just under two inches wide and a little over an inch thick with pillow-like cushions. On top, there's thin but ample head padding and several screws helped it survive our twisting tests. On the side of the left can is a fixed angle boom mic. Volume and the mic are controlled via a control module that lies a few inches below where the left and right cords intersect.
Yet, it's the hardware design here that gave us some issues. Whereas other headsets allow us to rotate the mic out of the way, you'll have to maneuver the snake-like mic back to the headset, which just feels strange and makes the headset look like a lower-priced set. And the cans themselves only rotate on one axis, and only about 45 degrees so they never feel like they're positioned correctly. The tension of the over-the-head bar keep the PS500MMs secure but combined with a big head and one axis of rotation, some may find them slightly uncomfortable. Yet, we're still amazed at the audio voodoo that Able Planet's PS500MM headset creates. Which makes us wonder, do we need a hearing aid?
Initially priced with an MSRP of $99.99 and currently found around $40, Able Planet's PS500MM headset may not look beautiful and have slight issues with being ergonomically challenged but for gamers who think that jacking up the volume will mask their hearing issues or team members who want to hear their teammates better during matches, these puppies cast near magical audio that just has to be heard.

GameDaily









DSi owners found that bigger screens and faster operating speeds presented an unwelcome side effect, lower battery life. Thankfully,
Defined as a shell, the TekCase fits snuggly around the DSi without the need for adhesives, straps or clips. Cutouts around the hard case give you access to volume, game cart slot, SD card slot, L and R shoulder buttons and headphone jack. The DSi pen is accessed by using a small switch on the bottom of the device that pops it out from the DSi. At the back of the TekCase is a knob that plugs into the DSi's power port. This knob allows you to recharge the DSi and the TekCase using any mini USB cord (so you can leave your DSi charger at home) and the case does come with a USB wall charger that you use to charge the device or any other USB powered device. 
Keeping pace with the insane bass of Guitar Hero Metallica takes nerves of steel, a near unachievable level of speed and a good set of eyes. While Nyko can't legally speed you up or has yet to venture into eye accessories, its new Metal Pedal does offer Guitar Hero and Rock Band players a way to smack down that bass with toes of wanton destruction. 




With its contoured design and small LCD screen, the Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard resembles a reduced version of the G15 keyboard. It features 25 fully programmable keys and a mini-joystick so that can either compliment or replace a keyboard for gaming functions. 









Life would be easier if your Xbox 360 controllers were fully charged every time you played. That's the idea around NYKO's Charge Base 360 (MSRP$29.99). The package comes complete with a heavy charging base and two NiMH battery packs that fit right into the bottom of each Xbox 360 controller. Once placed, they look and feel similar in weight to the conventional battery pack. To recharge, you simple plop the controller onto the base unit. A big red light lets you know that it's charging and when it turns green, you're ready to go in about an hour.