Review: Polk Striker ZX

Polk has made a name for itself in the realm of home theater equipment, with floorstanding speakers and subwoofers that come highly recommended. Not content to be confined to that arena, they’ve recently attempted to pierce into the crowded gaming market. Their latest spear is the Striker ZX stereo headset for the Xbox One. It’s got a few nicks, but otherwise is a sharp new weapon in their growing arsenal.

The Striker ZX’s aesthetics leave a good first impression. The earcups connect to the headband in a distinctive, L-shaped design. Our sample came in a fetching orange and light gray color scheme, though blue and black options are available. I’m also quite fond of its retractable microphone. It’s altogether a clean, sporty look, however it is made of plastic and not the kind that might survive a fall. There’s no fabric or aluminum to soften a blow. This causes the pivoting joints above the earcups to squeak as they rub against each other, too. That being said, its construction isn’t uncommon in this sub-$100 range.

A headset adapter for the Xbox One is included in the box, allowing the Striker ZX to stay competitive against comparably priced products that are built of sterner stuff. It plugs directly into the controller with volume control, audio mix options between game and party, and a mute button on its face. This accessory bypasses Microsoft’s annoying, proprietary input and allows any 3.5mm headset work with the system.

Despite its inability to survive being thrown at a wall in a fit of Call of Duty induced rage, the materials do make the headset extremely lightweight. It comes in at just over eight ounces. This helps to keep it generally comfortable. That said, you won’t always forget it’s there. The leather padding on the cups just aren’t deep enough, giving it the impression that the Striker ZX is more on-ear than over-ear. It pushed against the tips of my ears, causing some soreness and fidgeting after long sessions.

The 40mm stereo drivers within fare better than the enclosures without. The audio is delivered in clean, lively strokes. Mids are clear, lows have a solid but not overpowering impact, and overall the quality is balanced. This was true in either games or music on my iPhone, from the loud gunfire of Destiny to some of the subdued, classical beats of Parov Stellar. The closed-back cups produce decent noise isolation at mid to low volumes, as well.

The microphone is equally good, capable of distortion free recording. And if you think you’re being too loud while playing online with your Xbox One friends, the chat loop feature of the 3.5mm adapter lets you hear your own voice as you talk. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of it – my voice coming from both throat and headset makes me think I have a cold – but it can be disabled.

The Striker ZX headset is another good offering from Polk in their recently launched lineup of gaming peripherals. It doesn’t sacrifice sound quality for its $70 to $90 asking price, and better built headsets that cost the same don’t always include the 3.5mm Xbox One adapter. But it does sacrifice elsewhere. The limited height of the earcup padding in particular is questionable. For general purpose use, there are stronger choices. If you need an Xbox One headset on a budget, however, the Striker ZX is a powerful contender.