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Hot Hardware's Test System |
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Mid-Range Pentium
4 Performance |
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Test System Specs
- Pentium 4, 1.8GHz.
Processor
- Asus P4B533-E
Motherboard
- 512MB GEIL
PC3500Mhz DDR SDRam
- 30 Gigabyte
Samsung HD
- Joytech - Devil
Monster II Radeon 8500 LE 128MB
- Hercules Digifire
7.1 Digital Sound Card
-
Hercules DJ Console
- Pioneer DVD-116
Drive
- Plextor -
Plexwriter Premium CD-RW
- Windows XP Pro
with SP1
- Direct X 9.0 and
ATi Reference Drives Version 6.14.10.6343
- Cambridge
Soundworks FPS1800 Speakers with Subwoofer
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Utilities and Media Used For Testing |
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Software:
- Atomic Virtual DJ
- GMixon New DJ 2003
- Ots CD Scratch
- Winamp 3.0 Build
#488
- Windows Media
Player 9.00.003075
-
Power
DVD - EX Pro
Games:
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Movies (DVD):
- Lord of the Rings
: Two Towers
- Fifth Element -
Superbit Edition
- Saving Private
Ryan - DTS
- Indian Jones
Trilogy
- Braveheart
- Seven - Special
Edition
Music:
-
Crystal Method
-
Eminem
-
Roy Haynes
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Various Mp3's
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Performance |
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Quality of Sound |
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GAMES:
Switching
over from a Hercules 7.1 Digifire Digital, we were not
able to notice a huge difference in sound quality during
game play. True, the DJ Console does offer 24bit sound
quality, but the lack of EAX support, limits the
emersion level somewhat in games that utilize this
technology. Relying strictly on the Microsoft Direct
Sound compatibility, we fired up a few of our staff
favorites for a bit of head to head action. Spatial and
3D effects were both crisp and clear, which was a great
asset during a one on one in Raven Shield. Producing not
a single pop or hiss, even when sound quality and voice
channels where maxed out was a very welcomed result. In
the course of all our gaming we where surprised not to
hear a single glitch in the sound. Considering the
console is not marketed as a gaming product, we where
pleased with the overall performance of the deck in this
specific aspect of testing.
WINAMP v3.0 & Windows Media
Player:
Moving on to the next series of tests we listened to a
various mixture of high bitrate Mp3's ( > 192kps) and
audio CD's that spanned various spectrums of musical
styles. Initial we tossed in Crystal Method's Tweekend
CD due to its great sound range. Whether you are looking
for wall pounding bass, or screaming trebles, this CD
has it all. Throughout the various tracks we sampled on
this CD the sound was very intense and full bodied.
After thoroughly testing the structural integrity of the
H.H. lab walls for extreme bass, we moved away from Hip
Hop and Electronica music to the softer more organic
jazz sounds of Roy Haynes. Whether a riff on the base,
fast piano work or a blistering sax solo, was emanating
from our speakers, they all came across with a brilliant
clarity and "pro quality" reproduction. All in all we
where delighted with sound output, of all the audio we
passed through the DJ Console.
DVD PLAYBACK - Power DVD EX
Pro:
Using
PowerDVD EX Pro 4, we sampled a variety of movies but
mainly Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, and The Fifth
Element. The sound quality was fantastic. Though sound
quality is very subjective, we found the 24bit audio
made quiet a bit of difference when listening to DVD's.
During the Battle of Helm's Deep, the emersion into the
movie was surprising. Producing a very dynamic range of
crystal clear sound was impressive to say the least.
Hearing the shriek of arrows screaming from the front to
back speakers, while at the same time feeling the
thundering foot steps of thousands of Orcs charging the
fortress was impressive.
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