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Razer Barracuda Integrated Audio Solution Review |
[ Hardware Reviews ] posted by Delta*   on Friday, February 23, 2007 8:21 PM |
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A detailed look at Razer's first Audio products! |
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Viewed 4679 times. |
Razer’s move into the audio market was shocking, but definitely not unexpected. Observing how the market of similar companies is flowing, everybody is making gaming headsets nowadays, many of which are bound to be well engineered beforehand and fit their advertisement correctly.
Is the Barracuda audio solution a revolutionary thing? Is it just down the lane headset, making it another product to short-list whilst coming to a decision? In this Integrated Audio Solution Review, we’re having an in-depth look at the HP-1 Headphones, AC-1 Audio Card, and how do these 2 products poise upon uniting forces?
Page 1 : HP-1 Introduction & Specifications
Page 2 : Closer Look and Testing the HP-1
Page 3 : Conclusion and Awarding the HP-1
Page 4 : The AC-1 Introduction, Closer Look and Installation
Page 5 : AC-1 Software, Testing and Conclusion
Page 6 : The Barracuda IAS Conclusion
An introductory article on these products has already been posted with a brief overlook on what to expect from Razer. This review will be split into 3 sections: The headphones, the Soundcard, and the Integrated Audio Solution.
The HP-1 Headphones
So what are we to expect from this Lm55 headset? For a quite pricy headset, it must have something big (and I do not mean its oversized in-line controller). This has to be a gaming headset that pushes the cutting edge of Audio for gaming. Here is the fact-sheet for the HP-1.
● 8 Discrete Drivers: 6 for Mid-High Frequency, 2 for Bass.
● Individual Channel Volume Control / 1 Master Volume Control.
● Detachable Microphone.
● 6 Channel Analog Inputs.
● Eight Amplifiers contained within its volume control units.
● 99% Oxygen-Free Cable
● Frequency Response: 50 Hz ~ 20 000Hz
● Impedance: a. Front Speaker : 64ohm b. Rear Speaker : 32ohm c. Centre Speaker: 64ohm d. Sub-Woofer : 8ohm
● Total RMS Power Rating: 330mWatts
● Cable Length: 2 meter
● Connector plug: Razer HD-DAI
So that’s our playground: A surround headset with amplified drivers, 2 of which are dedicated for low frequencies. This set has a detachable microphone, short and sweet, but does offer noise-cancelling technology. Voice chatting with team mates on our Team-Speak Server reproduced clear vocals, even under heavy in-game fire.
● Frequency Response: 50 Hz ~ 16 000Hz
● Microphone Sensitivity: -58 +/- 2dB
●Pick-up Pattern: Uni Directional
● Impedance: 2.2k Ohm
The connector on the HP-1 looks like a Monitor’s DVI. It’s just one connector to connect them all: the surround channels and the microphone output. No more messing around the back of your rig, trying to identify which connector goes where. But as you have already pointed out, there are no such ports where one can attach the headset. Being Razer’s own propriety design, this only works with its own Barracuda AC-1 soundcard. Fear not if you don’t have this card. Razer has put all the tools you’ll for out-of-the-box experience, irrelevant of your equipment.
Regrettably if there is a conversion, something has to be weakened or omitted. Razer did not set out into producing the HD-DAI(High Definition- Digital Audio Interface) socket simply for convenience, so we won’t have to connect 4 minijacks and USB for power. By using the adapter (from HD-DAI to Analogue), we miss out the sound passed through the dedicated Razer channel (more on this later when we set up both products into IAS format). One must not forget that this is a surround headset, so at least you should have a 5.1 soundcard to use it efficiently.
Next ... Closer Look and Testing the HP-1 
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Posted by
Name
Christian 'Delta*' DeBono
Location
Malta 
Registered
9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
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