![]() ![]() The Spectra Enhanced now includes a built-in headphone jack and uses a soft-touch finish that, while more prone to show greasiness, is pleasant to the touch. PowerA has made a few other changes from the earlier Spectra controller. It doesn’t look half bad, and it’s easy enough to turn the light off if RGB isn’t your thing. There are seven colors available as well as a mode that cycles between each color. ![]() The Spectra Enhanced also gets the RGB treatment, with lighting around all of the face controls and the entire edge of the device. Also like the Elite, it has three-way trigger locks, which can shorten the travel distance of the triggers for quicker tapping. These work like the buttons you’d find on the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, except this controller costs a quarter of the price. You get all the same buttons as the Xbox One controller (minus the wireless pairing button), but the Spectra Enhanced takes it further with two mappable buttons on the back. I never once had the connection come loose, something I can’t say has been true of my Xbox One controller. And it uses a recessed, locking connection for the port on the controller. It comes with a braided cable with a quick disconnect near one end so you won’t accidentally yank your PC or console. The cable and micro USB port on the Spectra Enhanced are also far superior to Microsoft’s design. For PC gamers, that’s a perk over the standard Xbox One controller, which needed fully-charged batteries even when you were playing with a wired connection. The wired connection is latency-free, of course, and also cuts out the price of a battery and the need to keep it charged up. There’s a USB port at the front as well, which isn’t just for occasional use. It has smoother curves and the front edge is flat, as opposed to the angular design at the front of the Xbox One controller. They weren't hugely noticeable issues, but for gamers who prefer collector-quality goods, they may be difficult to unsee once spotted.Design and FeaturesIn shape, The PowerA Spectra enhanced differs only slightly from the traditional Xbox One controller. On the first unit, it was a couple of small specks, while the second gamepad had a large scratch-but in both cases, they seemed to be inside the non-removable front plate, so there's not a whole lot you can do. Additionally, on both of the controllers tested, I noticed small nicks on the metallic core panel that were visible with lights engaged. It could still be a good option for single-player games or as an extra pad for local multiplayer action, but the lack of headset support is a definite mark against it. ![]() However, the Spectra doesn't have a port at the bottom for a headset or audio adapter-a decision no doubt borne of technical needs, but one that rules it out as a primary option for online gamers. The Spectra is only available as a wired controller with a 9.8ft cable attached, which is probably for the best considering the extra power needs for the lighting. I received a second unit and put it through its paces without repeating the issue, so I'm inclined to believe it isn't a widespread design or manufacturing defect. One note, however: the first controller that I tested ended up having a sticky A button after a few days of regular use. Otherwise, the sticks and face buttons look and feel similar to the official pads, and while the shoulder buttons and triggers have slightly different shapes, I didn't notice any real difference in action. Additionally, the d-pad has a slightly more rigid feel to it, but it works well and feels just fine for a fighter like Killer Instinct. There are subtle differences: the back grips are raised slightly outward, which makes it feel a bit fuller in your palms. Also surprising is just how similar the PowerA Spectra is to the official Xbox One controller in overall design, feel, and build quality. It doesn't actually react to the gameplay or vibrations-that would be one heck of a fun gimmick-but it's nicely subtle, given that it's a glaring light show in your hands. What seems like it would be a chintzy and perhaps lame effect is actually really well-executed, almost coming off like a slick music visualizer built into your gamepad. Or if you'd rather just have static colors shine through, you can pick any color combination you'd like, or just use one light source and not the other. Each is separately controllable with small buttons on the back of the controller (along with a brightness selector), and if the color morphing is too much, you can switch to a simple alternating option that swaps through the available colors sans animation. The translucent metallic center panel offers one light source, while another shines through the dots on the front grips (and the analog stick bases). The Spectra cycles through 15 different colors in an impressively fluid and bright sequence. ![]()
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