Stereo Headphones
Score: 20% Developer: MadCatz
Function: MadCatz attempts to produce a quality set of stereo headphones for the Game Boy Advance and somehow manages to fail miserably. The so-called Stereo Headphones sport independent, clip-on earpieces, wired to a plug for your GBA or even GBC. Problem is, this has been done better elsewhere, and not just for the Game Boy.
Performance: Even when we see the dawn of a 128-bit portable, which can't be far away, the problem of sound reproduction will still be around. If you try to think of all the powerful, miniature electronic devices that have incredible sound and don't come up with anything, there's a reason. Miniature, high quality sound doesn't exist. We've miniaturized sound reproduction, and come up with...the headphone. Better and better headphones hit the market everyday, from the tiny 'plug into your ear' variety to the 'audiophile/air-traffic controller' bucket style. Buckets give the most immersive experience, but joggers know the joy of plug-and-play when it comes to small headphones. Someone at MadCatz may have thought that a combination between the ear-covering style and the plug would be a neat idea, and I couldn't agree more. What was lost in the translation seems to be comfort. These earphones are not comfortable in any way, shape or form. Each headphone earpiece attaches to its respective ear with a stiff, plastic half-circle. Not only does the design of this leave people with glasses (including sunglasses) out in the cold, but I spent enough time playing without my glasses to say that there is apparently no way to be comfortable in these things! The sound quality is fine, but I couldn't enjoy it for very long before needing to stop and rub my bruised ears. The headphones are small, but not as small as most plug-in models.
Features: Independent left and right earphones. 3-foot cord Stereo sound reproduction Plastic clip goes over top of ears
Drawbacks & Problems:: Beyond my clear opinion on the design flaw in the Stereo Headphones from MadCatz, the only thing I'd add is that most people, let alone kids, would find some serious style deficiencies in this hardware. Not only does each headphone stick out from your ear like a big, plastic, purple bubble, but the cord is long enough to be cumbersome and in your way if you're playing on the go. Why I would ever need to hold my Game Boy Advance 2 or 3 feet away from me is a real puzzler... So, a disappointing piece of hardware, all told. If you've got the clams to buy these, invest in a nice pair of small, jogging headphones instead, or just get a nice set of over/under buckets. The sound quality may not be any better, but your ears will thank you.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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