Gainward Music2Go 7.1 & SoundXPlosion 5.1 headphones

Product Specs - Music2Go:

·         The 7.1-channel, same as Dolby Digital EX standard from Dolby Lab and compatible with the DTS-ES standard from DTS Lab.Dolby ® digital audio streaming via S/PDIF out 8 channel DAC with 16-bit resolution

• 48 / 44.1 KHz sampling rate
• C-Media's Xear 3D sound processing
• Full function Remote Controller
• Easy-to-Use Graphic User Interface audio console and speaker configuration software
• Hardware controls for volume up/down
• Complete Audio I/O connections
• Power On LED
• USB 2.0 system interface with USB remote wake up support

The Music2Go has pretty much the same features as a conventional sound card that you would install inside your PC's case.

It has 8 channels of analog output matching every new sound card, including support for Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES.  It supports a fairly boring 16 bit/48kHz sample rate, but it played a 24 bit/96kHz sound file just fine. It's also got an optical S/PDIF out.

USB cable input on far left.  It will tend to look like ORAC with all the cables connected.

What you can't tell from these pictures is that it has four very bright blue LEDs that flash at a seizure inducing rate while it is playing sound. It is distracting enough to have you reaching for something to cover them up, quickly. And I like LED's.

Like so. Oh, the buttons on the top are volume, up and down.

The 3D positional audio is handled by C-Media's Xear3D technology. Xear 3D is a software solution combining Sensaura3D and two other API's. It's not a hardware solution, but it gets the job done. Sensaura provides the HRTF 3D ear fooling, while the other two API's, EnvironmentFX and C-Media Xear 3D Filter, provide some interesting reverb and mixing effects. The 3D filter is a 5.1 channel API, converting 5.1 channel on stereo speakers (or headphones) and expanding 2 channels to 5.1.

Internally the Music2Go caught my attention. It still has the trademark Gainward red PCB.  It's also a single chip solution by C-media.  The DAC's are good for 16-bit/48kHz on all 8 channels. There's no information in the datasheets about fidelity, other than 'high-end.'

Note the metal disk on the right to keep puck from flying away.

Trademark red, C-Media's CM106-F is in charge. There is a USB controller on the back of the PCB, but other than that it is a clean design.

Product Specs (SoundXPlosion):

Technical Specifications

• Subwoofer: 40mm Ø, 2 pieces with 100mW @ 4 OHMS 
• Front/Rear: 30mm Ø, 2 pieces with 30mW @ 32 OHMS
• Centre: 30mm Ø, 4 pieces with 30mW @ 64 OHMS

Frequency Response:

• Subwoofer: 50-400Hz
• Front/Rear: 250Hz-17KHz
• Centre: 180Hz-14KHz

Since we're doing expose's on internals, lets have a closer look.

Four drivers in all: three for each surround channel, and one in the boot for some thump.

That's the force-feedback rumbler.