If you promise to keep it to yourself Ill let you into a secret. I can remember when the only choice you had for your listening pleasure was limited to mono sound. Those were the days. Now, thanks to advances in technology, we can immerse ourselves in a surround sound environment using multiple speakers. Whether it is music or gaming, the capability is now within everybodys reach for an enhanced audio experience.
Terratec, a well-established German company, has released its Aureon 5.1 Fun Games package. Aimed specifically, but not exclusively, at the game-playing fraternity, the Aureon sound card offers 6-channel sound. That it to say you have the ability to have sound emerging from six speakers - generally a sub-woofer and five satellite speakers - as you are assaulted by sounds from every direction. While this type of six-speaker set-up will give the optimum effect, those with just two or four speakers will find that the technology will attempt to simulate a similar effect using whatever equipment is available.
In order to provide the full range of connecting socket for the discerning user, Terratec has opted to use a dual plate system as otherwise there would not be enough available space. This consists of the sound card and an additional plate which connects to the actual card via a ribbon cable. The sound card, which needs to be seated in a PCI slot, houses the Digital Out/In sockets, three Line Out connections including headphone output, and both Line and Microphone In sockets. The additional plate holds the Game/MIDI port. While the additional card does not need its own slot, it does take up one of the rear-mounted connecting bays. In most cases this should not cause any problems as modern motherboards tend to be well provided for in this aspect and you generally have a slot that is unused.
Appropriate drivers for the card are supplied on a CD-ROM. As can sometimes happen, the drivers for Windows 2000 and Windows XP have not yet passed the Windows logo test but this should not cause a problem. The CD-ROM also contains several software titles for playing and sequencing music, a DVD player, some Shareware titles and desktop backgrounds based on the Terratec logo. While not all of these titles are as useful as they could be, they do give you the opportunity to test the capability of a card that supports all common 3D sound standards and is capable of recording and playback at 48 kHz. The quality of sound produced should satisfy the audio senses of most users.
Earlier I mentioned that this package had Games in its title. The relevance of this becomes clear when you realise that Terratec has bundled three games with the product. If strategy is your chosen game-playing field then you can join a reign of chaos in Blizzards Warcraft III. Those more at home in controlling heavily armed robots can test their skill in Gun Metal while fans of the Tom Clancy environment can take on the role of Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell. Completing the package is a microphone headset.
The Aureon 5.1 Fun Games pack has been priced at £49.99. While not all the bundled items will appeal to everybody, those looking to add the game titles to their collection will be getting a bargain. Priced individually, the three games are currently available for a total of around £47. Those who purchase this package should not be disappointed.
Link: http://sounden.terratec.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=168&menu=213
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