Creative today announced a new line of gaming headsets that create a completely 360-degree, 3D audio experience, surpassing even 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound headsets. The new gaming headsets, called the Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Alpha and Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Sigma, are the first Sound Blaster headsets to feature a unique 360-degree audio system, which is also fully customizable. Using THX TruStudio technology created by sound engineers at Creative Labs in conjunction with THX, the Tactic 3D headsets can create audio above, below and all around the wearer.

Wearers can completely customize their audio experience through the software included with the headsets. The headsets will also ship with pre-made audio profiles created by professional gamers such as Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel, as well as members from international professional gaming teams compLexity and Dignitas.

ASUS today expanded its Xonar series of sound cards and audio devices with a new value for money yet gamer-oriented PCI sound card, the Xonar DG. This low-profile card is driven [surprisingly] by C-Media CMI8786 Oxygen HD chipset, which is a 6-channel variant of the CMI8788 Oxygen HD. Pitched as a 5.1 channel sound card, the Xonar DG supports HD (24-bit/96 kHz) output with HDCP compliance. Apart from the four 3.5 mm jacks for 5.1 channel output plus one 2-channel analog input, there’s one TOSLINK-type optical SPDIF output. The card gives out standard HDA front-panel connections, along with internal analog and SPDIF inputs.

Despite its lean feature set, the card features an on board headphone amplifier circuit that lets you tune impedance to suit your headset, it lets you select between VOIP, Gaming, and “Exciter” modes. The CMI8786 chipset is aided by a Cirrus-Logic made DAC that has a signal-noise ratio of 105 dBA, with a frequency response 10 Hz to 48 kHz, supporting 24-bit sample resolution. The software is backed by an ASUS GX 2.5 Gaming Audio engine. ASUS’ new sound card is expected to be priced under £30 in the UK, well under $50 in the US.

Source: techradar

ASUS today expanded its Xonar series of sound cards and audio devices with a new value for money yet gamer-oriented PCI sound card, the Xonar DG. This low-profile card is driven [surprisingly] by C-Media CMI8786 Oxygen HD chipset, which is a 6-channel variant of the CMI8788 Oxygen HD. Pitched as a 5.1 channel sound card, the Xonar DG supports HD (24-bit/96 kHz) output with HDCP compliance. Apart from the four 3.5 mm jacks for 5.1 channel output plus one 2-channel analog input, there’s one TOSLINK-type optical SPDIF output. The card gives out standard HDA front-panel connections, along with internal analog and SPDIF inputs.

Despite its lean feature set, the card features an on board headphone amplifier circuit that lets you tune impedance to suit your headset, it lets you select between VOIP, Gaming, and “Exciter” modes. The CMI8786 chipset is aided by a Cirrus-Logic made DAC that has a signal-noise ratio of 105 dBA, with a frequency response 10 Hz to 48 kHz, supporting 24-bit sample resolution. The software is backed by an ASUS GX 2.5 Gaming Audio engine. ASUS’ new sound card is expected to be priced under £30 in the UK, well under $50 in the US.

Source: techradar

Plantronics today announced the new GameCom 777 Gaming Headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound, enabled by Dolby Headphone and Dolby ProLogic IIx technologies. The GameCom 777 combines immersive surround sound and Plantronics’ design excellence to deliver an unmatched sound and voice experience for PC gamers.

It features 7.1 Dolby Headphone technology in a plug-and-play USB sound card for the PC and Mac. In addition to its surround sound capabilities, the GameCom 777 headset was engineered with numerous functional and ergonomic wearing benefits including an open-ear design that keeps users connected to the game and their surroundings.

MSI continues to outdo itself. It recently rolled out the all-new 15.6-inch F Series FX610 laptop computer, featuring AMD’s advanced Vision Ultimate platform with the latest Phenom II three-core processor and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 discrete graphics card (1GB DDR3 VRAM) for superior graphics. The cinema-class THX sound allows the FX610 to crank out clean, crisp sound to maximize your multimedia experience.

MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern points out that MSI couldn’t be prouder of its FX610 laptop. It packs MSI’s own GPU Boost and Cinema Pro multimedia technologies to manually switch graphics modes, optimize screen color and clarity, and instantly rev up graphics performance. The FX610’s design is characterized by meticulous craftsmanship, including a distinctive raised totem seal coating which not only looks and feels great, it also protects against scratching, wear, and smudging to keep your laptop looking chic and new. We’re looking at the industry’s new standard.

MSI recently unveiled the stylishly classy FX400, a 14-inch laptop that comes equipped with Intel’s top-of-the-line Core i5 processor, the nVIDIA GeForce GT 325M discrete graphics card (1GB display memory), TDE technology, and GPU Boost technology to automatically switch graphics card modes to optimize graphics and processing performance.

MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern elaborated, saying that the FX400, MSI’s latest masterpiece, is sheathed in its own raised totem seal coating to prevent against scratching and smudging and features MSI’s stylish and meticulous craftsmanship that put the FX400 in a class all its own. MSI worked in close cooperation with internationally renowned sound system designer THX to craft the theater-class surround sound, enhancing the FX400’s sound output capabilities, giving you sound quality that blasts away the competition.

Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2 software suite – a powerful audio platform equipped with cutting-edge audio technologies designed to enhance ordinary PC systems limited by only basic onboard audio. The Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2 software suite builds on the success of the original Sound Blaster X-Fi MB, bringing enhancement of onboard PC audio to even greater echelons. Through THX TruStudio Pro audio technology and the latest Creative EAX Advanced HD 5.0, users get to enjoy premium audio quality, effects and features on their PC systems.

Gamers can anticipate being blown away by the amazing realism from the unrivalled headphone surround and gaming sound enhancement technologies delivered by the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2. Creative EAX Advanced HD 5.0 features state-of-the-art multi-environment rendering and reverb modelling, delivering an ultra-realistic and incredibly immersive 3D gaming experience for powering the next generation of cutting-edge PC games. The additional audio cues provided by EAX can also give gamers a competitive advantage in early detection of enemies.

Creative, a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, today announced availability of the Sound Blaster Wireless Rock Speaker, the latest addition to the Sound Blaster Wireless family of products, designed to be placed outside bringing the music playing from a Creative whole-home wireless audio system outside. The Sound Blaster Wireless Rock Speaker is a high-quality stereo speaker encased in a granite-rock like exterior, which complements any landscape. The Sound Blaster Wireless Rock Speaker is designed to withstand moderate weather conditions so it doesn’t have to be brought in every time it rains.

"I’ve set the Sound Blaster Wireless Rock Speaker up at my home and my friends can’t believe that such great-sounding music is coming from a speaker that they thought was a rock," said Steve Erickson, VP and GM of audio at Creative. "It’s such a fun addition to the party because the music is playing from right outside by the pool and patio and it’s totally wireless, so I haven’t had to install any systems in my yard to get music."

Creative Labs, Inc. today announced the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset is now available at AAFES, Amazon.com, Apple.com, BestBuy.com, Blizzard.com, Creative.com, Dell.com, Frys.com, Newegg.com and Tiger Direct for $159.99. "As the leading innovator in precision audio for PC gaming we were well positioned to develop a headset that could live up to the high standards set forth by Blizzard Entertainment games,” said Steve Erickson, VP and GM for audio and video at Creative. “The Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Wireless Headset is a result of this, providing an unprecedented combination of wireless technology, THX TruStudio PC technology for enriched audio performance and a unique design that stands out from anything else available to gamers."

Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the PCI-E Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and USB Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD, setting the gold standard for PC audio with the first discrete audio card and USB digital audio system to include THX TruStudio PC audio technology.

“The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and Sound Blaster X-Fi HD provide the highest quality audio playback of any sound products we have ever introduced, over a period of time where we have sold more than 400 million Sound Blaster cards,” said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager of Audio and Video at Creative. “We are thrilled to announce that our newest additions to the Sound Blaster line include THX TruStudio PC audio technology, bringing together two of the most respected names in sound quality to provide an unparalleled audio experience on the PC.”