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Date: |
January
9th, 2002 |
| Type: |
Review |
| Supplier: |
Guillemot
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| Author: |
mayhem |
| RRP: |
$329
AUS (R.R.P.) for Game Theater XP 6.1, $199 AUS (R.R.P.) for XPS-510
Speakers |
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These days the personal
computer is not just a work device, many people use them for playing games
or even watching DVD's, this means that not only do you require a decent
graphics card but also a decent sound card with full dobly digital surround
sound and of course what you need to go with this is a set of speakers
with decent power output and a Subwoofer. With this kind of setup you
have a powerful home entertainment system at your fingertips.
The Game Theater
XP 6.1 (soon be released later this week - $329 AUS (R.R.P.)) has many
features that are not found with other setups, for starters not only do
you have the sound card, but it is connected via a large parallel style
cable (DB44) to an external unit (rack) which provides additional functionality
and more power.
The Game Theater
6.1 Package Contains:
Game Theater XP
PCI Sound Card and External Rack
2 meter cable
to link Sound Card to External Rack
Headphone Adapter
Installation CD-ROM
Installation Guide
As you can see by
the above photos the bundle is rather packed full of big goodies, the
three main parts are the soundcard itself, the rack and then finally the
2m DB44 cable to connect the rack to the sound card. Even though the rack
is yet another component its simple and stylish design make it pleasant
to the eye. One of the main benefits from having this external rack is
that the volume controls and ports are easily accessible whenever needed.
The Soundcard:
A powerful Cirrus
Logic audio processor to take full advantage of the 3D audio effects
in games on 2,4,6 or 7 (6.1) speakers, without slowing down performance
(Microsoft DirectSound 3D, EAX 2.0 and A3D 1.0 Hardware Accelerators).
360 degree sound
positioning, thanks to Sensaura audio technology.
External rack for
easy access to the audio connectors, game port and the 4 USB ports.
The circuit board
itself looks just like a normal soundcard, the only main differences are
that there are far fewer chips on the circuit board (mainly because the
rack has alot of the hardware within it), and the second is that there
is only two main plugs on the back, firstly the DB44 one and then a AUX
Input jack.
6.1 Channel Surround
Sound for DVD Fans - Using PowerDVD Pro 6.1 and the Game Theater XP 6.1,
users can enjoy:
Dobly Digital
5.1 Surround Sound
6.1 Channel Surround
Sound with the new generation of Dolby Digital EX 6.1 DVD's.
6.1 Channel Surround
Sound with standard Dobly Digital 5.1 DVDs.
Dobly Headphones
to discover the pleasures of surround sound on a standard headphone
set.
DTS technology,
via the digital outputs (coaxial / optical).
A Complete Studio
for Audiophiles and MP3 Fans:
MP3 encoding and
MP3 hardware decoding (MP3 Encode provided with MUSICMATCH Jukebox)
Accessible USB
ports to connect USB MP3 players.
Gold-plated digital
and optical audio inputs and outputs.
Pre-amplified
microphone input with gain control.
Complete MIDI interface
(DIN MIDI-In/MIDI-Out connectors)
As with any new
products it also comes with free bundled software:
Gameloft package
(utilities to play online and game demos including Rogue Spear, Midtown
madness and others).
Sensaura Virtual
Ear (3D sound positioning configuration utility).
PowerDVD (DVD
player with 5.1 and 6.1 decoding and Dobly Headphones Technology).
MusicMatch Jukebox
(complete digital audio solution).
Yamaha Soft Synthesizer
S-YG50.
Sonic Foundry
ACID Xpress (25 free loops).
Sonic Foundry
SIREN Jukebox press (20 free MP3 rips/encodes).
Koolkaraoke Lite
(up to 20 free songs).
Magix playR Jubebox.
Minimum System
Requirements:
Windows 98/98/Me/2000/XP
Intel Pentium
MMX 233MHz and higher or compatible
PCI 2.1 slot
16MB RAM
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive
Headphones or amplified
speakers
| Technical
Specifications |
| Data
Transfer |
PCI 2.1 bus
|
| Audio
Processor (DSP) |
New Generation
Crystal CS4630
|
| Audio
Converters |
18-bit ADC
/ 20-bit DAC
|
| Wavetable
Synthesizer |
DSP accelerated
synthesis engine allows for an unlimited number of voices (64-voice
hardware)
8MB General
MIDI / GS sample set
DLS support
- GM (General MIDI)
Yamaha Soft
Synthesizer S-YXG50 (676 instrument and 21 drum kit soun
|
| PCI
Card Connectors |
DB44 connecter
to rack
1/8"
Aux Line-In jack
|
| Front
Connectors |
1/4"
Headphone ouput jack with volume control
1/4"
Line-In 2 / Mic-In toggle with mic gain control
1/4"
to 3.5mm adapter provided
RCA Line-In
jacks (left and right)
Game port
& 2 USB ports (1 and 2)
|
| Rear
Connectors |
1/8"
Main stereo Line-Out jack
1/8"
Surround stereo Line-Out Jack
6 gold-plated
Line-Out RCA connectors for speakers
2 Additional
USB ports (3 and 4)
DB44 connector
to PCI card
Digital S/PDIF
Input (Coaxial & Optical)
Digital S/PDIF
Output (Coaxial & Optical)
MIDI In/Out
DIN Connectors
|
| Rack
Dimensions |
4.3 x 21.6
x 15.5cm (1/2 U)
2m cable between
rack and PCI card
|
The rack has a nice
stylish design and is rather well constructed making it a durable piece
of hardware, along with the many features that it has all of the RCA plugs
are gold plated to provide better quality connections.
The above photo is
just a quick snap to show what it looks like sitting onto of a normal
computer tower, although it would be better mounted in an easily accessible
place like your workstation computer desk.
As with any PC hardware
you want to make sure that your Device Drivers are up to date, for this
reason we downloaded version 3.02 (latest current release at time of review)
for the Game Theater XP which was available at http://au.hercules.com/support/
(Drivers for Windows 95/98/98SE/Me/2000/XP). Once you have the Game Theater
XP setup its time to plug your speakers in. These drivers will be required
when you install the Game Theater XP into your computer system.
NEXT: Hercules
XPS-510 Speakers
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