Creative gigaworks s750 review: Creative GigaWorks S750 review: Creative GigaWorks S750

Creative GigaWorks S750 review: Creative GigaWorks S750

summary

From 5.1 to 6.1 to 7.1, the march toward more audio channels presses ever onward. At the forefront of this trend is Creative, both at the source, with its 7.1-channel-supporting Audigy 2 ZS sound cards (as well as the Audigy 2 NX external device), and on the output end, with its GigaWorks S750 7.1-channel speakers. At $499, the GigaWorks S750 set defines the high end of PC speakers in price, and its performance with PC games demonstrates why. Music-listening bliss was just a notch or two away from ideal, but home-theater enthusiasts who lean more toward DVD watching will be more than satisfied.

Creative’s flagship multimedia speaker system, the $499 GigaWorks S750 is targeted at hard-core video gamers and DVD aficionados. This 7.1-channel ensemble is Creative’s best-sounding speaker system to date, but there are a few snags. For the uninitiated (for whom we’d recommend our recent surround-sound buying guide), a 7. 1-channel speaker set differs from a 5.1 set by supporting two rear-channel speakers in addition to 5.1’s standard combination of three front speakers, two on the side, and one subwoofer. These added outputs mostly benefit gamers because 7.1 discrete channels can be rendered in PC games via Microsoft’s DirectSound and Creative’s EAX software processing. Less accurate up-mixing is required to yield 7.1-channels from DVDs or CDs, as a true 7.1 standard has not yet been adopted for home-entertainment media.

The seven sealed, wall-mountable satellites are two-way units, with a 3.5-inch polymer midrange driver and a 1-inch titanium tweeter. The single-ported, down-firing subwoofer houses an 8-inch driver that blasts bass from the bottom of the unit. The speaker cables attach to the GigaWorks S750’s satellites via wire spring clips, and they plug into the subwoofer-based amp with RCA-type connectors. Though a little more complicated to set up, standard speaker wires do allow more installation flexibility and might be appreciated by some.

The Creative GigaWorks S750’s power specification rivals that of some A/V receivers; and Creative appears to have documented its power output ratings genuinely. Multimedia speaker vendors have had a habit of reporting what’s known as peak wattage, which refers to the output at its highest level. This number is not sustainable over time, however, so a more accurate value is continuous wattage, also known as watts RMS («—=»» rel=»nofollow»>&siteid=7&edid=&lop=txt&destcat=ex_1&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwhatis%2Etechtarget%2Ecom%2Fdefinition%2F0%2C%2Csid9%5Fgci213722%2C00%2Ehtml»>root-mean-square). In this case, Creative reports RMS wattage only in its documentation, which states that the amp delivers 70 watts RMS to each of the satellites and 210 watts RMS to the subwoofer.

The wired control module sports top-mounted power, volume-down, volume-up, select, and upmix buttons. Upmix toggles between three modes: off, 5.1 to 7.1, and 6.1 to 7. 1. Headphone and auxiliary audio input jacks adorn the front of the module, accompanied by a USB-esque M-Port jack, which lets you digitally stream audio to the speakers directly from Creative’s Nomad Jukebox Zen NX MP3 player. Downsides of the control module include its status LEDs; we’d rather see a more informative text or numeric display. We’d also prefer a volume knob to the puny buttons. At least the included remote control effectively untethers you from the control module.

The Creative GigaWorks S750’s performance chops are strongest with video games. When we fired up Soldier of Fortune II, the sonic canvas effectively surrounded us. Enemies could be tracked coming in from all angles, including from the sides and the back. The GigaWorks S750’s sub delivered explosions with suitable impact, and the satellites did a good job of creating a convincing 3D soundfield. In general, the 7.1-speaker system created a more engrossing gaming experience than we’ve had with 5.1- and 6.1-speaker setups.

Gladiator’s «Hell Unleashed» scene proved that the GigaWorks S750 is no slouch in the home-theater department, either. As the battle raged, arrows flew across the soundstage from front to rear, convincingly popping and whizzing. The center speaker delivered dialogue clearly, striking a good balance between brightness and smoothness of the treble so that voices pop out at you sufficiently, but not to the extent that they will hurt your ears. Partially thanks to its two-way satellite speaker design, the GigaWorks S750 doesn’t suffer from the huge midrange hole that plagues some subwoofer/satellite systems. The GigaWorks S750’s subwoofer doesn’t sound as tight as the subwoofer employed by the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 speakers, but respectably enough, it’s about on a par with the Logitech Z-680’s sub. By expanding the ambient soundfield, the up-mixing feature helped us feel that we were in the middle of the action, but it didn’t yield significant benefits over listening to a Digital Theater Studios DTS-ES-encoded soundtrack through 6. 1 speakers.

Music is the GigaWorks S750’s weakest performance point, but the set still performs better than average. To test the system’s clarity, we fired up Pachelbel’s Canon. The music did have a nice airy quality, but playing the same track through our Event 20/20 studio monitors revealed considerable additional sonic detail. While playing Outkast’s «Two Dope Boys in a Cadillac,» we were surprised to find that the GigaWorks S750 didn’t have enough volume on tap to get extremely loud. It’s certainly powerful enough for near and midfield listening, but don’t plan on using the system in a large home theater. The GigaWorks S750 did handle the track’s deep bass frequencies fairly well, though we’ve heard a punchier, more agile sound from high-quality, home-audio subwoofers, for instance.

If you’re a hard-core gamer, the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro and GigaWorks S750 combo is the rig to get. It’s also a good system for PC-based DVD theaters, but conventional home-theater users will generally fare better with a home theater in a box, such as JVC’s TH-M65, which includes a DVD player.

summary
From 5.1 to 6.1 to 7.1, the march toward more audio channels presses ever onward. At the forefront of this trend is Creative, both at the source, with its 7.1-channel-supporting Audigy 2 ZS sound cards (as well as the Audigy 2 NX external device), and on the output end, with its GigaWorks S750 7.1-channel speakers. At $499, the GigaWorks S750 set defines the high end of PC speakers in price, and its performance with PC games demonstrates why. Music-listening bliss was just a notch or two away from ideal, but home-theater enthusiasts who lean more toward DVD watching will be more than satisfied.

Creative’s flagship multimedia speaker system, the $499 GigaWorks S750 is targeted at hard-core video gamers and DVD aficionados. This 7.1-channel ensemble is Creative’s best-sounding speaker system to date, but there are a few snags. For the uninitiated (for whom we’d recommend our recent surround-sound buying guide), a 7.1-channel speaker set differs from a 5.1 set by supporting two rear-channel speakers in addition to 5. 1’s standard combination of three front speakers, two on the side, and one subwoofer. These added outputs mostly benefit gamers because 7.1 discrete channels can be rendered in PC games via Microsoft’s DirectSound and Creative’s EAX software processing. Less accurate up-mixing is required to yield 7.1-channels from DVDs or CDs, as a true 7.1 standard has not yet been adopted for home-entertainment media.

The seven sealed, wall-mountable satellites are two-way units, with a 3.5-inch polymer midrange driver and a 1-inch titanium tweeter. The single-ported, down-firing subwoofer houses an 8-inch driver that blasts bass from the bottom of the unit. The speaker cables attach to the GigaWorks S750’s satellites via wire spring clips, and they plug into the subwoofer-based amp with RCA-type connectors. Though a little more complicated to set up, standard speaker wires do allow more installation flexibility and might be appreciated by some.

The Creative GigaWorks S750’s power specification rivals that of some A/V receivers; and Creative appears to have documented its power output ratings genuinely. Multimedia speaker vendors have had a habit of reporting what’s known as peak wattage, which refers to the output at its highest level. This number is not sustainable over time, however, so a more accurate value is continuous wattage, also known as watts RMS («—=»» rel=»nofollow»>&siteid=7&edid=&lop=txt&destcat=ex_1&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwhatis%2Etechtarget%2Ecom%2Fdefinition%2F0%2C%2Csid9%5Fgci213722%2C00%2Ehtml»>root-mean-square). In this case, Creative reports RMS wattage only in its documentation, which states that the amp delivers 70 watts RMS to each of the satellites and 210 watts RMS to the subwoofer.

The wired control module sports top-mounted power, volume-down, volume-up, select, and upmix buttons. Upmix toggles between three modes: off, 5.1 to 7.1, and 6.1 to 7.1. Headphone and auxiliary audio input jacks adorn the front of the module, accompanied by a USB-esque M-Port jack, which lets you digitally stream audio to the speakers directly from Creative’s Nomad Jukebox Zen NX MP3 player. Downsides of the control module include its status LEDs; we’d rather see a more informative text or numeric display. We’d also prefer a volume knob to the puny buttons. At least the included remote control effectively untethers you from the control module.

The Creative GigaWorks S750’s performance chops are strongest with video games. When we fired up Soldier of Fortune II, the sonic canvas effectively surrounded us. Enemies could be tracked coming in from all angles, including from the sides and the back. The GigaWorks S750’s sub delivered explosions with suitable impact, and the satellites did a good job of creating a convincing 3D soundfield. In general, the 7.1-speaker system created a more engrossing gaming experience than we’ve had with 5.1- and 6.1-speaker setups.

Gladiator’s «Hell Unleashed» scene proved that the GigaWorks S750 is no slouch in the home-theater department, either. As the battle raged, arrows flew across the soundstage from front to rear, convincingly popping and whizzing. The center speaker delivered dialogue clearly, striking a good balance between brightness and smoothness of the treble so that voices pop out at you sufficiently, but not to the extent that they will hurt your ears. Partially thanks to its two-way satellite speaker design, the GigaWorks S750 doesn’t suffer from the huge midrange hole that plagues some subwoofer/satellite systems. The GigaWorks S750’s subwoofer doesn’t sound as tight as the subwoofer employed by the Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 speakers, but respectably enough, it’s about on a par with the Logitech Z-680’s sub. By expanding the ambient soundfield, the up-mixing feature helped us feel that we were in the middle of the action, but it didn’t yield significant benefits over listening to a Digital Theater Studios DTS-ES-encoded soundtrack through 6.1 speakers.

Music is the GigaWorks S750’s weakest performance point, but the set still performs better than average. To test the system’s clarity, we fired up Pachelbel’s Canon. The music did have a nice airy quality, but playing the same track through our Event 20/20 studio monitors revealed considerable additional sonic detail. While playing Outkast’s «Two Dope Boys in a Cadillac,» we were surprised to find that the GigaWorks S750 didn’t have enough volume on tap to get extremely loud. It’s certainly powerful enough for near and midfield listening, but don’t plan on using the system in a large home theater. The GigaWorks S750 did handle the track’s deep bass frequencies fairly well, though we’ve heard a punchier, more agile sound from high-quality, home-audio subwoofers, for instance.

If you’re a hard-core gamer, the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro and GigaWorks S750 combo is the rig to get. It’s also a good system for PC-based DVD theaters, but conventional home-theater users will generally fare better with a home theater in a box, such as JVC’s TH-M65, which includes a DVD player.

Creative GigaWorks S750 Review — IGN

By M. Wiley

Updated: Oct 24, 2011 10:03 pm

Posted: Dec 17, 2003 12:48 am

I previewed these monsters as soon as we moved into our new digs in the upscale section of the already upscale town of Brisbane, CA. At the time had an Audigy 1 installed on my baby Dell and hadn’t used the advanced 6.1/7.1 performance. Nontheless, as soon as I fired them up I knew they’d be earning good marks. For many people Creative’s MegaWorks were the speakers to get for high-end 5.1 sound. I’ve always been sold on the Klipsch sub, but the MegaWorks were no joke. Thanks to the additional speakers and the reworked configuration, the GigaWorks have the same impact on the market that the MegaWorks did a couple years ago.

One of the cool things (at least for Creative) about the GigaWorks S750 system is that it has no competition. Klipsch and Logitech are still both on 5.1 for their high-end systems and there’s no one else to speak of. (At one point Altec would have been included, but they’ve been sleeping.) If you want solid 6.1/7.1, the GigaWorks are the only way to go. At least Creative isn’t being lazy with its corner on the market. In fact, it seems as if the designers used everything they had for this excellent system.

The GigaWorks replace the MegaWorks as Creative’s flagship speakers. They are available in two flavors: 5.1 (S700) and 7.1 (S750). The prices are $399.99 and $499.99, respectively. The systems are the same except for the number of satellites and amps. The S750 is more powerful because it has to power two extra speakers. Because of the similarities, this review is applicable to both models. Value is not linear, but you can decide for yourself whether the extra two channels are worth the extra two bills.

There’s no hiding the fact that the GigaWorks S750s are squarely aimed at an extremely narrow slice of the high-end PC crowd. Obviously, the price will simply be too much for most users to stomach. The company understands this, and understands that the market for an upgrade of this magnitude is relatively small, but is committed to delivering cutting edge solutions. I know that sounds kind of corny, but it’s true. It takes nuts (and deep pockets) to release a high-end 7.1 system when you know it won’t be a top seller. However, Creative’s willingness to take this risk is admirable. And hell, no one else is doing it.

For the preview I had only used the system with an old Audigy, the first model. Afterward, I moved the heavy-ass system to my apartment, where I ran it with an Audigy 2 ZS. This was necessary to enjoy the 6.1/7.1 without a complete upmix on the part of the system. The upmix option is useful if you have an older card, but an appropriate card yields a superior sound.

As I mentioned in the preview, GigaWorks satellites employ a two-way design. The MegaWorks satellites delivered sound through a single driver that handled both midrange and treble. Logitech uses the same configuration for its flagship Z-680 system and it can work well. That said, the new satellites sound really outstanding. By now I have watched several movies, played several games, and listened to a ton of music. The satellites have performed well with all material. The addition of tweeters is immediately appreciable. The top of the treble is much cleaner and brighter than the MegaWorks satellites. The treble is also brighter than that from the Klipsch Ultra satellites. In a small, hard-surfaced environment, you might even have to attenuate the high end. (I have this problem with my B&Ws, which are too hot for my small, wood-floored space.) High frequency details come through clean and strong — not sizzly, but strong. The upside of this is that well-recorded material sounds great; the downside is that your library of 128kbps MP3s is going to sound like garbage. The messy high end will become obvious and you will wonder why you didn’t listen to everyone who told you to bump it up to at least 192kbps.

The midrange drivers do an equally good job with material. The response is balanced and wide open. Thanks to a wide, detailed sound stage, the satellites create an inviting environment with even stereo material. I never use anything but the fronts with straight stereo material, especially when I am testing speakers. It’s easy to create a lot of noise with more speakers, but it makes for a tricky experience. Off-axis sound from the drivers is very good, which means that you needn’t sit in a tight sweet spot to hear everything.

The new sub is a monster. The gargantuan ProMedia Ultra sub still dwarfs it, but it is still quite large. The design is the same as the MegaWorks sub, with sound coming from one downward-firing driver and a port on the side. The sub has a massive aural presence. It cannot match the Klipsch Ultra sub for detail and subtlety. The speed and low end extension are both very impressive; PC theater buffs will love the way it sounds. Demanding music fans will want to sample the Klipsch Ultras before investing, but there’s no way the GigaWorks will disappoint. (When you get to this level of performance it is really a matter of taste.)

Controls are split between a wired module and a wireless remote, both new. The remote is convenient, especially if you have the speakers installed in a PC theater system, but as a whole a find the controls a bit sluggish. Firstly, there is no volume knob. A knob might be old school, but it is good as control gets. The biggest advantage is the ability to quickly turn down the sound. With the GigaWorks you must use the volume buttons, which change the levels slowly. This was one of the weak points of the system. I got used to it, but when I returned to the Klipsch module I realized how superior a plain knob is.

The design of the module is pretty straightforward. Along the top are five buttons: power, volume up, volume down, select, and upmix. The select button toggles among master volume, center, side, rear, sub, and treble. A corresponding LED lights up on the front panel and then you adjust the level with the volume buttons. The upmix button allows the system to mix from either 5.1 or 6.1 to 7.1. I am guessing that it sends the surround signals and center signal to the rears in the first situation and simply splits the center rear signal in the latter. You have the same control options with the remote.

On the front of the control module there are three jacks: M-Port, line-in, and headphone out. M-Port is basically a USB audio port that allows you to plug an M-Port-equipped Creative portable directly to the system.

One thing the S750 really has going for it is power. At 700 watts RMS (70 per satellite and 210 for the sub) the system is the most powerful you can buy. I can say with confidence that it will fill any room with sound. I didn’t get to push it at extremely high levels, but after I move it home I can go nuts. At any rate, don’t worry about this system not being powerful enough. It is really loud and clean throughout its range.

Conclusion

This is a tricky one. I mean, it’s an outstanding system, but recommending a 7.1 rig is hard. Source material is just too rare for now. If you’re looking to future proof your PC sound system and can afford the price, then go for it. However, unless you can’t stand having a non-cutting edge system, you can save a good chunk of change and go for the 5. 1 version, or the Klipsch Ultras for that matter.

The GigaWorks sound excellent in every area. The sub might not lead the high-end category, but it is still impressive as hell. The control system could be better, but even that is not enough to hold back the GigaWorks. If you plan on investing in a high-end rig, then you need to check these before dropping money.

Highly recommended.

Creative GigaWorks S750 specifications, video review, reviews

Main characteristics
*

99 dB

type 7.1
Signal/noise 30007
The number of frontal columns 2

total capacity
*

RMS 700W

Power
*

Central Canal 70 W
RIGHTS 70 W
SABVUFER 9000 6 BT
Central rear 9000 70 VT 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000

Frequency
*

Minimum 20 Hz
Maximum 40,000 Hz

Decoders
*

9000 DTS ES

9002
*

Dolby Pro Logic II NO
Dolby Digital No
DTS NO
NO 9000
Front speakers/satellites plastic
Subwoofer plastic

Interfaces
*

Nadimniki connector is
Support for memory cards SD no
Linery input (stereo) is
USB Type A (for flash drive) not

Features
*

9000

* Check with the seller for exact specifications.

Review of active eight-channel acoustics Creative Giga Works S750

Review of active eight-channel speakers Creative Giga Works S750

Creative is well known to most computer users. It was she who released at one time a sound card under the Soundblaster brand, and soon this name turned into a household name in the same way that all photocopiers are called copiers today. In addition, the company produces the most «popular» sound cards and good acoustics in a very wide price range. The Giga Works S750 set belongs to the top of the range of multi-channel acoustics and costs quite a lot — about four hundred. Is it worth paying that kind of money? Let’s watch (and listen).

Delivery set:
— subwoofer with built-in channel amplifiers;
— seven identical satellite speakers;
— switching device — part-time acoustics control panel;
— infrared remote control;
— a set of stands for speakers;
— wires for connection: acoustic and network;
— a set of screws and screws, as well as sticky rubber pads;
— instruction.

Exterior
Theater starts with a hanger, shopping starts with a box. Needless to say, the box is rather big and full of loud slogans like: «Incredible sound!», «DVD-audio quality», «Hi-Fi», etc. a massive cooling radiator at the back and a stylish trellis grill covering the single speaker. He immediately mounts on the screw-on legs and takes his place under the table. The speakers are all the same, the only difference between the center channel and the rest is the horizontal position, as indicated by the company logo located on the grill accordingly. Satellites are made of high-quality black plastic and look quite stylish. Mounted on stands, they look even more elegant. The desktop switch and remote control are rather simple, but they do not cause any particular complaints.

Specifications
Manufacturer data:
— Speaker power: 70 W RMS per channel (7 channels).
— Subwoofer power: 210 W RMS.
— Frequency range: 20 Hz — 40 kHz.
— Signal to noise ratio: 99 dB.
The most important innovation of the company compared to the previous 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 sets is the equipping of all satellites with metal tweeters with a diameter of 19 mm. Now the speakers have become two-way: a midrange (75 mm) made of cellulose is located on a soft rubber suspension and wins back the middle frequencies (vocals, speech), and all high («clattering» and hissing sounds fall to the share of the tweeter: shots, crackling, etc. ). Certainly a wise decision. Previously, all speakers were equipped with full-range speakers, which, in principle, are not able to give a clear selection of different sounds from the overall sound picture. The new series is designed to solve this problem. The design of the columns is a «closed box». Dimensions of satellites — 120x205x140 mm in the installed state. All are magnetically shielded. Connection to the subwoofer is carried out using wires of different lengths: center — 5 m, front — 3 m, side — 5 m, rear — 7 m. All wires are attached using clamping terminals.

The subwoofer has not changed externally since the last series (Mega Works 550 THX) — the same cube with a side of almost 30 cm, a round bass reflex port with a plastic ring designed to soften air vibrations, and an 180 mm impregnated paper speaker aimed at the floor. On the back side there is a radiator, seven RCA connectors, analog inputs and a connector for connecting a switch.
On the switch block itself, there was a place for: USB input, headphone output and line input. A very thoughtful approach. Now you can connect a flash drive or CD player without bending down to the case and listen to new music brought by a friend. In addition, the volume of all speakers, high and low frequencies are adjusted from here, and the signal is also mixed from 5.1 and 6.1 options to a full-fledged 7.1. All this is clearly displayed by LED indicators. The same functions are available from the wireless remote control, plus mute (MUTE).

Installation
The most difficult process. Not because there are some difficulties when connecting — no. The acoustics are installed simply and clearly, the wires have a color indication, so there is no confusion. The trick is to find a place for all these speakers. It is much easier to work with 5.1 systems: in extreme cases, the rear channels can be placed on the sides there — this way the surround sound field is also well felt. But to place 7 speakers around the room: two in front, center, two side and two rear — not everyone will have a place. But you also need to observe the distances and symmetry … In short, I had to move the furniture a little, but in the end everything was placed correctly.

Listening:
— Future Sound of London «Explosive».
— System of a Down «Toxi City».
— «Bravo» «The road to the clouds.»
— Collection of symphonic music.
— DVD «Fast and the Furious», «The Matrix» part 1, «Gladiator».
— Far Cry game.

Impressions of using
First, I want to make one reservation: the purpose of the study was not only to determine how far the Creative acoustics had gone from the previous line, but also how close it was to real Hi-Fi, which the inscriptions on the box notify the buyer so intrusively . The same sound material was tested on Mega Works 550 THX acoustics, the previous top model of Creative, and on a full-fledged 6.1 home theater assembled from Whar-fedale/Pioneer components (worth about $2.5 thousand). The test computer had an SB Audigy 2 ZS sound card installed with the latest drivers.

We started with music. «Explosive» sounded great: compared to the previous series, the acoustics were noticeably enriched and the high frequencies began to be more clearly separated — the tweeters here are clearly not only for beauty. The operation of the subwoofer did not bring any tangible innovations: since the sub itself has not changed technically, it hummed just as confidently and quite low, without plunging, however, into the region of infra-low frequencies. The matching of the woofer and satellites can be described as good: there were no obvious «protrusions» or lagging behind the speakers, except for a few little things that not everyone will notice. The addition of two extra speakers was a boon in terms of volume, but stereo songs that sound «from everywhere» are a bit of an odd phenomenon, good for listening with friends, but not likely for classic stereo fans. System of a Down also proved to be on the best side: rather heavy music «bobbed» perfectly thanks to a very high-quality subwoofer.
The title single «Road to the Clouds» performed by Syutkin did not impress much: the enrichment with low and high frequencies does not make a difference when it comes to clean vocals. But the vocals sounded not so hot. In general, not bad, but at half volume, some «plastic» coloring of the mid frequencies became noticeable. When the volume level was raised, the vocals only worsened — they became screaming and clamped. We slightly corrected the matter with the settings, but we could not hear the romantic and natural Syutkin. There is practically no progress compared to the previous top series.

The symphonic music sounded a little more natural: here again a separate twitter helped. The sound stage has become less like a homogeneous porridge and more like a real concert. However, there is no need to talk about any three-dimensional rendering of the scene — not the right price category. In addition, there was a slight protrusion of individual voiced instruments. In general, symphonic music is a very difficult material for any acoustics — even for Hi-Fi components of much higher price categories, so you should not expect something stunning.
Movies. Power DVD also allows you to listen to 6.1 tracks, which is why it was used. By the way, everyone can purchase a hardware external decoder, which the manufacturer himself recommends for use with the S750 — for a fee, of course. We limited ourselves to a software codec. «Matrix» is a popularly recognized standard of multi-channel sound, «Fast and the Furious» is also very strong — it clearly reveals the integrity of sound transitions between channels (for example, when overtaking a car from the side), and «Gladiator» has an original 6.1 sound track. Discs were played in DD and DTS modes (if supported).

All films benefited slightly from the previous line. Enrichment with high frequencies and their better selection had a positive effect on the perception of the sound picture: in The Matrix, for example, skirmishes sounded in a new way, Fast and Furious became even more aggressive, and sword fights were perceived more naturally in Gladiator. In general, there is progress, although not too impressive. But the volume has clearly increased — in all films. Particularly pleased with «Fast and the Furious» and «Gladiator». In the first, the transitions between the channels have been significantly improved — they have become more solid and believable, and the second has made happy with a new degree of freedom — «behind». The chariots raced around me around the room, as if I were actually in the arena of the Colosseum!
Far Cry was chosen as one of the latest games with support for multi-channel sound (EAX 2.0). It cannot be said that the situation here has changed a lot since the time of the last top model. In games, however, the volume depends more on its software implementation, and not on the number of acoustic channels. In general, yes, the volume was felt, but since its implementation was not very impressive, it did not help much in the game: the atmosphere of immersion is achieved better by increasing the volume and the size of the monitor diagonal :). And the sound quality pleased — the system is great for toys: the shots sounded very loud and very natural, and the subwoofer was simply irreplaceable here. The localization of the enemy was also felt: if they fired from behind, it became clear immediately.
Tests on home theater (DC) I deliberately left in the end. There we listened to all the discs (except for Far Cry) and made one simple conclusion: computer acoustics are still very far from a separate-component DC. Both music and DVD sounded incomparably better, cleaner, more tonally correct and with better channel separation than PC. Alas, not everyone can afford even such a set of recreation centers. So don’t believe boxed slogans about DVD-Audio quality. The final score for acoustics was based on a purely computer application.

Pros:
— stylish design;
— ease of switching and use;
— good sound quality;
— the ability to lay out 5;1 and 6;1-tracks into 7 channels;
— well suited for heavy and energetic music, movies, games.

2024 © All rights reserved
Wall mount No
Built -in tuner not
power from USB NO
Remote control
Power supply from the network is 9000