Hercules Gamesurround MUSE 5.1 DVD

[DiscoStu]

Milambers just finished taking a look at the Hercules Gamesurround MUSE 5.1 DVD.

http://www.radiativenz.com/reviews/herculesmuse51/index.shtml

Comments/Questions welcomed.

[Joshsti_NZ]

Nice basic looking card, cool bluey colour too!

Seems like a good under $100 card ..

[Ragnor]

To be honest the review seems a bit lacking, mainly in detail on any tests performed..

Any reason why there are no gaming tests, no cpu utilization tests (under software and hardware modes), no benchmarks and no tests with DVD software detailed..?

Here are my questions after reading the review:

1) How does the card sound and perform under the various audio modes in games, ie: Under EAX, Software, Hardware? What is the performance impact of enabling hardware audio on this card?

2) Does it correctly emulate EAX in newer games like UT2002 and Warcraft III (my only gripe with my Acoustic Edge).. ?

3) What is the performance impact of using this card over onboard or an alternative, for DVD watching and gaming?

4) Does it do 3D sound correctly, can you face an enemy in Jedi Knight II, spin around in and clearly hear the sound of the enemies lightsabre move from the left to right channel as you spin..?

5) How does it sound in popular DVD software.. In for example the Matrix when a bullet flies from left to right in slow time type animation does the sound correctly move channels/speakers..?

6) How often does hercules update their drivers, do they abandon support for their cards after a 2 years?

For an example of what I mean take a look at the www.tech-report.com soundcard roundup, specifically the benchmarks and listen tests sections

or the 3DSS reviews:
GXP: http://www.3dss.com/reviews/GameTheaterXP/gtxp.html
AE: http://www.3dss.com/reviews/AcousticEdge/AcousticEdge.html
Santa Cruz: http://www.3dss.com/reviews/SantaCruz/santacruz.html

[Milamber]

Ragnor,

I did do most of the tests that you mentioned, and to answer your questions.

Most of the tests that you want to know about, the average punter that is buying a sub $100 souncard does not care about. If your getting an Audigy, or similar then you have already done your research


Average CPU usage was between 8 and 10%

EAX performance was adequate, I did not have the card when UT2003 or WC3 came out so I cant answer that question. The review has been sitting on my HDD for approx 2 months now ;-)

Performance difference between on-board and an alternative is hard to gauge, every card is different, so its virtually impossible to perform that kind of comparison.

The EAX performance in JK2 was ok, but did not compare to my Audigy's EAX HD.

The spacial placement of sounds in regards your JK2 and Matrix questions is that its EAX implementation was not great, but in DVD playback it was fine, and did not get out of sync (my Audigy does tho!)

Since the card is so new its hard to say how Hercules will support it, but since it sports a c-media chipset you can always revert to OEM drivers.

I hope tjhis clears up some of your concerns.

Regards
Milamber

[Ragnor]

Thanks for the reply Milamber..

The card is called the Gamesurround Muse, I figure alot of gamers would buy a sub $100 card like this one because AC97 onboard is shocking for static and noise when paired with decent headphones...

More detail in that area is always good.. but there's only so many hours in the day I know ;)

[Hans]

The tone is lacking a bit in the mid-range, and this does somewhat account for the lack of volume.

That's the exact problem I had with several C-Media based sound, on board or on a sound card. Don't know if the manufacturers designed it on purpose as it would be good for gaming. (ooh, listen to the BASS, lol)

[Milamber]

yes the lack of midrange freq's is a "fault" in most c-media chips, oh well, they aren't quite in the Live/Audigy/Audigy2 price range.

On a side note:

Lack in any frequency range in any audio device is a fatal flaw for me.

Midrange is where a system really shines or not, and since "most" music is in the midrange frequencies, the lack of mid is a huge mistake. Lack of high end I can cope with, and even lack of bass can be compensated for with a decent subwoffer, either passive or active.

BTW: Lack of mid range frequencies does not automatically mean better or more bass.

Regards,

[Maverick]

Milamber,

I think you could be in error with regards to the statement:

"Remember this card is a Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder, and when paired with a DVD drive in your PC and a good set of speakers, will equal the quality of many "all-in-one" home theatre systems you can buy"

The sound card does not do any decoding whatsoever (neither does any other soundcard on the market except Live 5.1 and Audigy 1 & 2, which can decode at driver level (still software though, not hardware). The decoding of the Dolby5.1 is done by PowerDVD 4 (ie by the CPU). Any 6 channel soundcard (in theory) coupled with PowerDVD (or other similar software) can decode the 5.1 and output to the respective channels on the soundcard.

my 2c,

Mav

[-DC-]

how does this compare with a SB Live! 5.1?

[Ragnor]

Going by the spec's and reviews I'd say it's better then the live but not by a significant amount..

An upgrade from a Sb Live to a Fortissimo III 7.1 would be more worthwhile..

[-DC-]

yeah... been thinking about that... though i'd rather the Digifire 7.1 as it has onboard firewire... are these in NZ?

[Chrisis]

Do you know any online retailers that stock Hercules Sound Cards?

[dumass]

This thread is 3 years old dude. Hercules got left behind when Creative came out with the Audidgy, then Audigy 2, and they have an even newer card out now.

Trademe would be your best bet if you cant find them on pricespy.co.nz

[-NiBbLeT-]

yes the lack of midrange freq's is a "fault" in most c-media chips, oh well, they aren't quite in the Live/Audigy/Audigy2 price range.

On a side note:

Lack in any frequency range in any audio device is a fatal flaw for me.

Midrange is where a system really shines or not, and since "most" music is in the midrange frequencies, the lack of mid is a huge mistake. Lack of high end I can cope with, and even lack of bass can be compensated for with a decent subwoffer, either passive or active.

BTW: Lack of mid range frequencies does not automatically mean better or more bass.

Regards,

I believe this fault was had by the sonicatheater or whatever the heck its called; my brother had one and changed back to soundblaster live (1/3 the price but better quality/midrange)

[Oblivian]

talk about a thread dig up 0.o

[Cataclysm_NZ]

I used to have a Hercules Gamesurround MUSE External 5.1 Sound Card. Its a little saucer looking thing that sits on your desk. Its made of brushed aluminium and is really heavy. It has a volume knob on the top. If its anything like this sound card, it would be great. It was a really nice card. Good sound.

[Distorted]

Jeebus way to digup an ancient thread. Foolio

[the triple P]

So what is the best bet under 200 dollars for a sound card?

The Xfi platinum seems to be nice, a friend purchased one and it cleaned up fear etc very very well.

Or
The venerable Audigy series a MK4 or some such?

[Cataclysm_NZ]

I want to get an Audigy 2 ZS. Anyone know if they are any good?