Displaying items by tag: Surround Sound

After the success of the Hyper X Cloud Pro Gaming headset Kingston went back to the drawing board to make a product that would be a worthy successor. The question was, how do you top something that is that good? The Hyper X Cloud Pro was (and still is) an amazing headset. The sealed enclosures for the larger than normal drivers along with the tuning make them one of the best headsets you can get for the money. Kingston’s team decided that throwing in their own USB audio controller, complete with simulated surround and amp, would be a good start. We had the chance to play with a set during CES 2015 and also got one to bring home. Since then we have used them in multiple environments and with more audio sources than we can really put in a single article. So now we can tell you if the Hyper X Cloud Pro II is worthy of the name or not.

Published in Enthusiast Audio
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You know that place in your living room where the sound from the television or the music from your stereo is just right?  Where, if you’re anything like me, you find yourself leaning toward it, ever so slightly, during the good parts of a movie or standing in it when you’re playing good music.  That’s called the sweet spot.  No really, that’s a technical term.   The sweet spot is the place where the sound waves from whatever your audio setup includes come together like they’re supposed to.  It’s the spot where your 24-speaker 22.2 surround sound system does its job best, delivering the highs and lows in perfect balance.  I’ve been known to move my recliner to that spot in my living room when I was watching a movie alone.  The sweet spot in my house is a one-person affair. 

Published in Editorials
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:33

Rosewill RHM-6308 Gaming Headset Review

hs01Audio is a part of the computing experience that is very often overlooked when people are building their system. We see this every day when someone is talking about putting together an HTPC (Home Theater PC), a gaming system or even a general usage system. They stick with the audio on the motherboard and call it good enough. Even when someone takes the time to pick out a good sound card, they often buy $20 speakers to play this sound through. Today we are going to take a look at a combination audio card and headset from Rosewill this is the RHM-6308. The RHM-6308 is listed as a Circumaural Gaming Headset; we are going to see if this $30 headset can live up to its name.

Published in Consumer Audio

sirus-05For those of you that have not guessed it yet, I am something of an Audiophile (ok snob). When it comes to the audio on my TV, PC, Car Stereo, etc. it needs to be very good quality. This is especially true on the PC where the sound quality of the games I play can make or break the game experience for me (and many others). Recently Cooler Master released a new gaming head set under their CM Storm line up. As I have found Cooler Master’s recent endeavors into the gaming peripheral world to be of excellent build and quality I wanted to check the new Sirus Gaming headset out. According to the write up the Sirus is true 5.1 surround with three 30mm drivers for front, center and rear along with a 40mm driver for a sub-woofer. Of course that is not all that you get with the Sirus so let’s dive in and see if this $130 headset is worth your time and money.

Published in Enthusiast Audio
Tuesday, 19 July 2011 21:26

CM Storm Unveils a New PC Gaming Headset

CM Storm Sirus Gaming Headset

CM Storm Unveils a New PC Gaming Headset

Taipei, Taiwan – July 19th, 2011 - Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, today announces the release of the new CM Storm Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. 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’s after a dominating victory.


Suitable for extended Missions

Engineered to provide ultimate comfort and style, CM Storm Sirus features a futuristic military design and extra large comfortable cushions that sit around your ears and not on them. You can choose between smooth leatherette and breathable weaved earpads that can be clipped on and off in-combat within a few seconds.


On-the-Fly Customizations

Setting itself apart from the competition, the CM Storm Sirus includes a Tactical Mixing Console that is capable of precise real-time adjustments to the all separate 8 speaker channels. Loading an FPS game? Quickly lower the center channel and raise the remaining channels to simultaneously reduce distractions from your own gun noise and steps and increase your ability to detect enemy footsteps with pinpoint accuracy.


Advanced Tuning

CM Storm Sirus features a Tactical Software Console to further tune the performance of the headset to each user’s needs. Those with a keen ear will appreciate the ability to delve deeper into the settings to make detailed changes to various levels or disguise their voices with a few simple clicks.


Praised with awards before hitting the battlefields!

Sirus has already won the Red Dot Design Award 2011 and Computex Design & Innovation Award 2011, both of them praising its futuristic rugged carbon looks with smooth rubberized surfaces that not only prevent fingerprints and smears but give it a solid comfortable grip, and its innovative 8 massive speaker design with on-the-fly channel control.



The CM Storm Sirus 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset will be available in mid-July 2011 at an MSRP of $129.99 at every serious gaming gear shop.
About CM Storm
Through long-standing research programs, CM Storm product are co-developed with the world's most prolific enthusiasts and eSport prodigies. Thanks to intensive testing and continuous feedback, the CM Storm division has been able to fulfill gamers' needs and produce creative gaming gear fit for intense firefights. Marking a new era for Cooler Master, CM Storm Gear gives you an edge over standard Peripherals in your digital conquests. For more information, please visit www.cmstorm.com.
Published in Press Releases



01-Cine5Asus is a common name in computer components. We have taken a look at more than our share of their products from the mundane to the extreme.  One area that Asus has been taking more of an interest is the higher-end side of the HTPC market.  Here is where things get interesting. Unlike gamers, or overclockers a person that wants to build a high-end HTPC is looking for the best combination of performance, cooling and power draw. If you can build it fast, cool and power efficient then they will want that.  But building an HTPC is not only about what you drop inside the system. You also need some good hardware on the final end of the output side. Not to worry, Asus has you covered there too. They have their own line of HD capable monitors and even speaker sets to keep you happy. We are taking a look at t new one to hit the market. It is a speaker bar that is capable of providing 5.1 surround sound to your viewing area. Called the Cine5, this small and stylish speaker system runs for about $130 on the internet. We are going to take a look and see if it is worth it.

Published in Consumer Audio