Gainward Hollywood@Home SoundXplosion Pack Review - Exploring the USB 3D Sound Configuration
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One of the more interesting (and well engineered) parts of this set is the USB 3D Sound Configuration utility. Unlike other sound configuration utilities which are simply well adorned equalizers, the Gainward utility actually puts in place a number of options which allow users to customize their listening (and karaoke) experience. While tweaking the audio output settings, we were surprised at the flexibility of these headphones. The sound quality (especially the range) was nothing to get particularly excited about, but the localization qualities were surprisingly clear (for the most part).
In this first screen, we have the main settings. With the touch of a button, users can pre-define and tweak numerous settings, including speaker setup and speaker location. Although the presets are easy to use, the most advanced feature in this set is the 7.1 virtual speaker shifter, which allows a user to pretend to be using a 7.1 surround sound speaker set. The problem is that, like all virtual speaker software, this one doesn't do a convincing job of turning even 5.1 speakers (or headphones) into a 7.1 speaker set. That said, if users ignore every channel they don't have, the virtual localization technology actually works quite well. (For example, with a 5.1 speaker set, if you treat all the back speakers like simply left and right channels, as opposed to left side/right side and left back/right back, then the localization works pretty well. Yes, you can do channel by channel tests and you'll find that you can hear a light difference when you emphasize the left back and de-emphasize the right back, but don't expect this to make any notable difference during actual use.)
The most interesting feature is the Speaker Environment option [NEED PIC OF THE LITTLE HAMMER ICON], which gives users the option to enhance the bass output, and to swap the center and bass outputs. This works particularly well with the headphones (due to the physical design) for anyone who enjoys a very bass-heavy environment. (Those listening to rap, techno, playing video games, or watching action movies will enjoy these features thoroughly when using the Sound Xplosion headphones.)
The next screen is controls the mixers. Not much to be said here, except to note the stereophonics of the microphone, which is good for those experimenting with sound.
After that comes the Effect screen, which controls what type of effects to put on the sound, including what environment the sound is generating from, the environment size, and the equalizer. A couple of points to note. First, the environment size, which makes any of the environment effects into three, includes close, medium, and far ranges. This is rather nice for those who enjoy changing their music experience according to their mood. The second is the equalizer, which comes with twelve presets. (We're still trying to figure out what the supposed acronym RAP stands for. Perhaps they meant Rap, as in the genre?) A rather nice feature is the ability to save multiple presets, something not found in all sound configuration programs.
Finally, there's the Karaoke/Magic Voice menu. The first menu is the microphone menu for recording and, of course, singing Karaoke. It's a nice feature for those who wish to use their computer as a karaoke machine in parties or doing amateur music recording. For those who like to sing karaoke, but who lack a pitch center, or who believe that intonation is for the weak, then this card has something for you: a key shifting bar which allows the pitch to be raised or lowered up to four keys. Not exactly through the circle of fifths, but if you're that far off, then you probably shouldn't be singing anyways. The voice cancellation works by eliminating the channel and range through which most voice plays. Although it does reduce the prominence of the voice, it also makes the sound play as if it's being played in a tunnel. Certainly acceptable, but don't expect any miracles.
UPDATE (Sept. 16, 2004): With the software running, CPU utilization is listed by the company at around 7%. Our tests showed this to be around the range of CPU usage, and would routinely go as low as 5% CPU usage.
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