Creative Labs Inspire T3300 and T6300 Desktop Speakers

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 11

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Creative announced the Creative Inspire T3300 and the Creative Inspire T6300 speaker systems that are built for great audio performance. These two latest additions to the Creative Inspire line of multi-channel speaker systems stay true to Creative's long held audio heritage of providing the best possible sound quality at great value. New innovative design techniques and enhanced design features enable these high performance speakers to deliver superb audio quality at very high decibels, yet with minimal distortion. They are Creative Inspire line's 'loudest' speakers yet, capable of delivering full spectrum audio playback with impressive loudness and robust bass.


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Pioneer DDJ-SX DJ Controller For Serato Software

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

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Yum ! Pioneer has unveiled the DDJ-SX DJ controller for the newly released Serato DJ Software. The DJ controller provides a complete system that includes the controller, a new Serato DJ software, a four deck sampler function, dual deck control, slip mode, FX mode and more. Pioneer will release the DDJ-SX DJ controller later this month for $1,199. The first 10,000 buyers will receive a free license for the Serato Video plug-in.


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ASUS Xonar Phoebus soundcard review

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

We review the ASUS Xonar Phoebus 7.1 soundcard. Gamers are not quite as strict as the audiophile market place, we would still suggest they like to have great sound, after all a great game is just that much better with high quality surround sound or headphone based audio immersing you into the action.

We have been following the development of this product since the beginning and today we have a brand spanking new Phoebus 7.1 bundle in the Guru3D Audio Lab.

Check the review here.


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ASUS ROG Xonar Phoebus Gaming Soundcard Set

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Entry by the Republic of Gamers into the dedicated sound product arena brings PC enthusiasts ROG Xonar Phoebus, a high fidelity audio component that directly addresses the needs and concerns of contemporary gamers. The Xonar Phoebus features the exclusive ROG Command technology which reduces up to 50% of ambient noise thus providing authoritative voice quality during online multiplayer gaming sessions. And with its clear 118 dB SNR, and a powerful 600 ohm headphone amplifier, the Xonar Phoebus delivers precise positioning and lifelike immersion audio for a distinctly impactful gaming environment. Its dedicated control box extends convenience and puts more intuitive functions within easy reach for a more ergonomic desktop gaming environment.

Exclusive ROG Command technology for clean, seamless in-game communication

Gamers often face noisy conditions that drown out voices during online multiplayer gaming. This creates lack of clarity and confusion within squads, leading to lower win ratios. Exclusive ROG Command technology offers the world's first design to specifically bring noise cancellation to a gaming soundcard set, as designed by the Xonar team. Intelligent sound detection algorithms and array microphones (two on the dedicated control box) enable up to 50% ambient noise reduction, effectively turning loud locations such as LAN parties into something as quiet as a lab. The technology works equally well whether using an external microphone or the microphones embedded into the ROG Xonar Phoebus control box. Gamers benefit from being able to communicate and coordinate with team members clearly and with greater precision, adding to enjoyment and win ratios.

Finest components and design for superior sound

ROG Xonar Phoebus utilizes a stylish and effective EMI shield and ASUS exclusive Hyper Grounding technology to ensure reduced electromagnetic interference. Based on the experience of Xonar professionals, Hyper Grounding technology brings ASUS motherboard expertise to audio products with a multi-layer PCB that helps block noise from nearby components and the power supply to render more lifelike and extra clear sound. The PCM1796 digital-to-analog converter on ROG Xonar Phoebus delivers clear and crisp 118 dB SNR high fidelity audio. The new soundcard's SNR profile therefore outperforms competing gaming audio products by a factor of four, and onboard audio by an impressive 32 times. It excels in total harmonic distortion (THD) performance, with a miniscule 0.00039% of sound output experiencing distortion.

Power for headphone users

Since many gamers choose headphones to refrain from disturbing others while insisting on the best sound quality and privacy, ROG and Xonar teams integrated the top-flight TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier on ROG Xonar Phoebus, driving up to 600 ohm impedance for genuinely impactful headphone output.

Dedicated control box

Clad in the trademark ROG red and black color scheme, the ROG Xonar Phoebus control box offers gamers improved response and convenience. Connected to the card via the back I/O, the control box can be placed on the desk so it remains within easy reach. Gamers can then adjust volume and mute quickly without bringing up game or operating system menus, or having to hunt around for display remote controls. The control box further offers microphone and headphone connectors, making connections easier.

The latest audio technologies

ROG Xonar Phoebus includes one-click activation of Dolby Home Theater V4, helping enhance audio through complete compatibility with new sound processing technologies. The latest standard offers greatly improved surround, with smart sound enhancement and a more user-friendly approach to high end audio. The exclusive ASUS GX 3.0 game audio engine has also been integrated, offering EAX compatibility to ensure boosted game sound, a wider range of simultaneous sound effects, and overall clearer sonic performance in every PC game.

Product crossover benefits consumers

ROG Xonar Phoebus presents the first soundcard set from ROG, the ASUS division entirely devoted to gaming as a lifestyle and branch of pioneering technology. This launch coincides with ROG's fifth anniversary, and delivers the results of cooperation between ROG gaming philosophy and innovative Xonar PC audio experts. As such, ROG Xonar Phoebus offers gamers enhanced sound custom-tailored to improving in-game experiences.


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ASRock Game Blaster audio card shows up

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

ASRock worked together with Creative to introduce the Game Blaster, a new audio card with Broadcom Gigabit LAN. It's a proprietary product though, it's only supported by ASRock's X79 based motherboards. Pricing and availability is unknown.
World's top 3 motherboard manufacturer, ASRock Inc., specially partners with Creative Technology Ltd, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for the personal computer, to introduce the most trusted sound card in mobo industry - Game Blaster!

Gamers need so much more from their rigs. ASRock Game Blaster was designed to exceed the expectations of even the most dedicated gamer. It is the first sound card coming with both Creative 7.1 CH HD Sound Core3D Audio and Broadcom Gigabit LAN in the world.

Creative Sound Core3D 7.1 CH HD Audio
Powered by Sound Core3D


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ASUS Essence One review

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

The ASUS Essence 1 is easily one of the most anticipated products to come along in the PC audio community in quite some time as many seen it as ASUS moving out of the general audio market and taking a shot at entry into the true high end audio marketplace. Can this new product offer excellent sound quality, features demanded by the external audio market and all for a reasonable price?

So, let


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Enermax DreamBass AP001 improves laptop audio output

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Well, ehm Enermax is releasing the DreamBass AP001, a new USB device that seeks to improve the audio capabilities of your laptop. It's only for headphones and microphones though, it won't do anything for your internal speakers.


It's based on a VIA VT1620A USB 2.0 2-channel HD audio CODEC for stereo output with 24-bit resolution and 96 kHz sample-rate. It has a signal-noise ratio of 80~90 dBA, which is not much of a departure from most laptops' HDA CODECs, if it isn't for the MOSFET-based amplifier circuit packed into the DreamBass AP001, that's capable of 80Hz/+6dB Bass.

It has a 3.5 mm stereo jack and mic input. Enermax also has a variant called the AP001E, which includes earphones that have 10 mm drivers, 95 dBA SNR, and 32 ohm impedance. The DreamBass AP001 is priced at 3,280 JPY (US $43); the AP001E goes for 3,980 ($52.2).


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ASUS ROG Phoebus Sound Card Pictured

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

ASUS is working on a new soundcard as it seems, the ASUS's new ROG Xonar Pheobus sound card, which is a PCIe 118db SNR standalone offering. Also on display was the ROG 'ThunderFX' USB powered audio breakout box (sequel to the R3E-Black Edition's Thunderbolt), to be bundled with a planned special edition of the ROG Rampage IV Formula.

The primary DAC for headphone/front-out channel of the ROG Phoebus is TI-BB PCM1792A. The ROG Xonar Pheobus (god of music and light) is a standalone product rated at 118db SNR at its regular outputs and has a dedicated amplifier for driving up to 300ohm headphones. Also included in the package is a volume control/wire extender for gaming headsets

High quality gold plated jacks are used at the I/O panel - Over at the bottom right, you can see the C-Media DSP which is normally used on the other high end boards like Xonar STX. On the board a Realtek ALC889 codec is used though, which we guess handles the headphone output and microphone input.

Also spot a 6-pin PCIe power connector. The card is covered up with a EMI shield. This card won't be cheap alright.

 


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Enermax Revolution87+ - The New Gold Class

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

The successful Enermax Modu87+ has found a worthy successor: Revolution87+ continues the outstanding power supply series. It carries over the main advantages of its predecessor such as the forward-looking, highly efficient Dynamic Hybrid Transformer Topology or the leading fan speed control that ensures a silent operation. On the other hand, Revolution87+ profits by the technological progress of Enermax engineering. Partially, the new power supplies already follow the path-breaking technology of the Enermax flagship series Platimax ensuring an extremely high efficiency and rock stable voltages.

Golden Efficiency
Enermax engineers have refined the proved Dynamic Hybrid Transformer Topology of the Modu87+ series and come out with fabulous 87 to 93 percent efficiency at 20 to 100 percent load beating even some Platinum models in the market. Revolution87+ has been tested by the international 80 PLUS


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Auzentech Cappuccino EX Sneak Peek

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

The audio market is constantly expanding and evolving with new products for the internal and external market places.  We always do what we can to bring our readers the latest and greatest information on upcoming audio products for their audio systems.  So without further delays, lets get to the good stuff shall we?

Today, from the Guru3D Audio Lab we have our latest exclusive sneak peek of the Auzentech Cappuccino EX external USB 2.0 audio interface.

Read the preview here.


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Creative Tiny ZEN X-Fi Media Player

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Creative announced the ZEN X-Fi, a portable media player, this item actually is smaller than the majority of consumer electronics out there.

It has a 2-inch LCD and support many file formats, not just audio (like FLAX, AAC, MP3, WMA, Audible, etc.) but also video ( MPEG-4, WMV9, DivX), which can be kept on its 8 GB or 16 GB of built-in storage.

"With Creative, you will always get best value performance when it comes to portable media players,


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Windows 8 to ditch Dolby Technologies

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Dolby Labs reports that Microsoft has decided not to include Dolby technology in the upcoming release of Windows 8. This is a surprising move on Microsoft's part considering Dolby is included in Windows 7. Dolby shares fell 18% on Friday on the news. The absence of Dolby technologies in current Windows 8 builds does not inherently imply that the OS will not support DVD playback or digital surround sound. It is possible that Microsoft will choose to license these technologies from another provider. Check out what neowin had to say about it:

" So news from Dolby Laboratories


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Storm Sirus 5.1 surround sound headset released

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Cooler Master released the CM Storm Sirus 5.1 surround sound gaming headset. This product is aimed at hardcore gamers, it will start shipping in mid-August for 119.99EUR.

Boosting no less than 8 speakers (4 on each side) Sirus delivers powerful, immersive 5.1 surround sound and marks the beginning of a new range of CM Storm audio gear for gamers and audiophiles alike.

Immense Sound
Sending shockwaves throughout the industry, Sirus delivers real 5.1 surround sound with a dedicated extra large 40mm sub driver for explosive bass sound. Thanks to no less than 6 additional 30mm drivers, each fed by a discrete audio channel, Sirus produces precise and crisp directional sounds. Combine all channels and pair it with the bundled Tactical Mixing Console and you get full 5.1 channel-adjustable, real-time 360 degree audio. In addition, Sirus is coupled with a uni-directional microphone with background noise cancellation that enables crystal clear communications with teammates to coordinate strikes or mock your enemy


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Psyko Audio Carbon and Krypton headsets

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Psyko Audio Labs unleashed their Psyko Carbon and Psyko Krypton, two new gaming headsets that use the company's 5.1 surround technology. These headsets are available on the company's website for $199 and $149, respectively.

Both new products are based on Psyko


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Corsair Announces Enthusiast Series TX V2 Power Supplies

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Corsair announced the Enthusiast Series TX V2 power supplies.

The Enthusiast Series TX V2 is the successor to the award-winning Enthusiast Series TX power supplies, which have won dozens of awards worldwide and received widespread critical and customer acclaim. The TX V2 PSUs offer improved energy efficiency, with 80 PLUS


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Auzen has X-Meridian 7.1 2G out on the market

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Auzentech announced the immediate availability of the Auzen X-Meridian 7.1 2G, the second generation of the Auzen X-Meridian 7.1. The original Auzen X-Meridian 7.1 was a game-changing high-performance audio card which marked the dividing line between audio that sounds great, and audio that sounds perfect. It was the world's first custom-designed audio card based on C-Media CMI 8788 chipset, and received rave reviews for its audio quality. Now, the award winning Auzentech audio development team and chipset manufacturer C-Media have teamed up again.

With the X-Meridian 7.1 2G, Auzentech has taken what many consider the greatest sound card of all time and updated it with the best of today's technology, making the X-Meridian 7.1 2G more than simply the must-have PC Audio solution for audiophiles


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Hercules DJ Console 4-Mx for Pro DJs launches

Soundcard 105 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Hercules has unveiled a new DJ console for professional DJs that have some cool features. The new console is called the DJ Console 4-Mx and it will ship on November 22 for $449.99. The console has many features for the money with a pair of large jog wheels and a lot more.

Those jog wheels are 4.7-inches in diameter and


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