Creative Tactic3D Sigma Headphones Review

There are two ways the headphones can be connected: USB or analogue. You can choose to use the headphone and mic jacks straight from your sound card, or connect it through the provided USB dongle that unlocks the THX TruStudio Pro control panel. It’s a neat looking software. You can choose to create and save profiles using different settings, hence the ‘Tactic’ name. You can even passcode protect it from prying ears. The THX TruStudio Pro gives you a number of options to tinker with, namely Crystalizer, Surround, Bass, Dialog Plus and Smart Volume, all self explanatory and all doing very minimal to help the sound. Crystalizer worked the best however, giving the sound a little ‘liveliness’ as promised. I choose to turn off Surround as it would bring the focus on the front speakers, absolutely killing immersion in movies and games. Bass had to be turned down from the default setting to let it not get overwhelming. Dialog Plus and Smart Volume had absolutely no effect but I kept that on anyway.

The control panel also features a fun little thing called VoiceFX that utilizes the mic. The software converts your voice, in real-time, to the available presets such as an Orc, or an Alien Brute or a scrappy kid. It’s fun to goof around with your friends and family with it…for about five minutes that is, before it gets boring. A rather cool inclusion, nonetheless.

The mic performed well, picking enough details with loud and clear voice. The only gripe I have with it is that you cannot hide it from your view. You cannot slide it over the headband when you are not using it; it stays fixed in its place. So if you are not using your mic, you will have to remove it and keep it aside. It’s minor but it does become an annoyance.

Okay, enough of talking now let’s get to the listening. Percy Jackson was a terrible movie, an abysmal adaption, but thankfully the action sequences were pretty fantastic and the DTS sound gave plenty of workout to the Sigma. I have no complaints on this front, the sound was brilliantly reproduced and I was wholly immersed staring at Alexan…err, watching the battles between the furies and the demigods. The music bit was a little botchy, though. Not that it was terrible, but the sound was a bit soft and I had to keep the bass in check to not let it get muddy.

However, the Sigma roars on its home ground: video games. Call of Duty: Black Ops just sounded simply fantastic. I could feel each and every corner of the headphones pumping, I could feel the bullets zipping by from the sides and behind, I could hear a shout or a scream from the top left corner, I could pinpoint were the rocket launcher was, I could feel the punch of my gun as I sprayed, crunching flesh and bones as I ploughed through the enemies. It was incredible. It was, to put it in a pun, music to my ears.

For approx. AED 600, the Creative Tactic3D Sigma maybe slightly too expensive but if you have the pocket, the Sigma is a serious contender among the competing lineup. It’s got great comfort, decent software support and excellent sound performance. However, if you are looking at these to do your music work, they may not be the best choice. For gaming and movies, you won’t be disappointed.