The Polk Striker Zx is a wired headset branded for use with the Xbox One. The Polk Striker Zx is priced at $89.99 on Amazon, and notable features include an extendable mic, spatial sound and a particularly lightweight design.
The Striker Zx has an overall more refined style than most headsets it competes with and that refinement follows into the sound, the looks, and design choices. This is an uncomplicated, stylish, lightweight headset with good performance at the price point.
Fit & Comfort
Overall the comfort is quite good. Polk markets the Striker Zx as a lightweight headset, and they have achieved that. It is notably more compact and lightweight than the average headset. I have a few nits though. The earcups could be deeper and a touch larger. The padding on the earcups is quite good, the material inside them is quite comfortable, but just a bit more depth would have been nice. Most people won’t even notice this.
The padding on top could maybe be a touch more firm. After a long session, it seemed to compress and I could feel the plastic band a bit more. In addition, the plastic has edges that can sometimes be scratchy. Those are nitpicks though; I was able to wear the headset for extended mutli-hour game sessions without any major issues.
Fit & Comfort Score: 8
Microphone
The microphone design is very nice. The microphone picks up voice well even when not extended. In multiple game sessions other players did not have any problems with hearing or understanding me. The boom is sturdy and should hold up nicely over time. When used on the Xbox, you get your own voice mixed into the headset, and that is a nice feature.
Microphone: 9
Sound
Polk is known for high-end audio. Sound was clear and distinct with vocals, grass, footfalls and weapons fire sounding great. There were no sound ranges that sounded harsh. The Polks are a little weak on the bass, but as the Polk pedigree may indicate the sound seems a bit more refined than your average gaming headset. Specs claim a 20hz – 20kHz frequency response with 40mm drivers. For the price range, this is great audio.
Sound Score: 9
Wrapping it Up
The Polk Striker Zx is a well-made headset focused on the consumer who wants a lightweight, stylish package for their Xbox playtime. The set is sturdy, with good sound, a quality mic and boom. While marketed as an Xbox One peripheral, the headset works just fine on PC and includes a three-way headset and microphone plug so you can use it with other devices when away from your Xbox One. The end result is a stylish headset that appeals to those seeking a lightweight, affordable headset without major compromises to quality.
Scores
Fit & Comfort: 9
Microphone: 9
Sound: 9
Overall Score: 9
Note: Review unit provided to GameSkinny by Polk Audio.
