On the left side of the remote is master volume and microphone volume controls. You can tailor both volume levels to your taste and with respect to the microphone example, turn it off completely.
The front of the remote has the SRS surround sound control switch along with the 3D audio effect strength dial on the right hand side. Turning the switch off will have the headphones operating is their standard everyday configuration. Switching the surround power on will add a little volume along with adding some acoustical depth to your gaming audio. I liked my gaming with the normal configuration, but it is up to the buyer's personal taste.
Powering the surround ability is one standard AAA battery which is installed into the end of the remote like I have pictured it above. The built in surround circuitry will not work without the battery but you can use this headset normally if you don't have a AAA handy.
Now my personal thoughts on this remote can be summed up as a mixed bag of impressions. On one hand, I do like the features possessed within the remote and found them handy when fine tuning my gaming audio. On the flipside I found the remote to be a little awkward and cumbersome. For the life of me I just could not find a place to put the remote while gaming. Now gamers don't game while standing up so attaching this remote to a pair of pants or a belt was really uncomfortable when seated in a chair. The only comfortable alternative was to just place it on my lap and from time to time is would fall off and give the headset a irritating and uncomfortable yank.
Solution could be to include the controls and surround circuitry in the headphones themselves. It wouldn't take much and would make this headset a little more comfortable to use.
