Recently, it was my pleasure to review the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones. Today I finally get to finish that review. You see, the HP-1's are designed to integrate with Razer's AC-1 Gaming Sound Card in a way no other audio card and headphone combo has before to form the Barracuda IAS (Integrated Audio System). With the implementation of the Razer HD-DAI™ proprietary interface, Razer hopes to set new standards in gaming audio with the Barracuda duo.
From Razer:
The Razer Barracuda™ AC-1 Gaming Audio Card features a 7.1 channel output, 24 bit audio technology and unprecedented 117dB SNR (output).The 117dB Signal to Noise Ratio (output) specification clearly outperforms all current sound cards in the market that only perform up to an average of 105dB. The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card is the world’s first gaming audio card that performs up to a 117dB SNR.
Gaming-specific positional audio, Powered by Razer Fidelity™, allows gamers to take advantage of an expanded dynamic sound stage for gaming tuned frequencies with Razer ESP™ (Enhanced Sonic Perception™). The in-built audio chip processes and optimizes audio signals from games to provide the ultimate positional gaming audio experience through the Razer 3D (720 °) Positional Gaming Audio Engine™.
The Passive EMI shield™ minimizes electromagnetic interference (EMI) by preventing unwanted interference from graphics cards and other electrical devices that may affect the gaming audio performance.
The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card also features optimized proprietary software drivers to provide for the prioritization of enhanced gaming audio signals while leaving as small a memory footprint as possible.
Razer HD-DAI™ (High Definition—Dedicated Audio Interface) further optimizes the Razer Barracuda IAS gaming audio experience by allowing for a proprietary connection for optimized signal transmission when used with the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones.
Well at the very least, the Barracuda doesn't suffer from low self esteem.
Specifications
Here are the specs on the Barracuda AC-1 as taken from the Razer product page:
The Razer Barracuda™ AC-1 Gaming Audio Card, powered by Razer Fidelity™ delivers optimized audio signals directly from the computer game to the gamer, creating the most realistic gaming environment. The Razer Barracuda AC-1 features proprietary Razer audio technologies including the patent pending Razer Enhanced Sonic Perception™ (ESP) architecture and Razer’s 3D (720°) Positional Gaming Audio Engine™ to allow gamers to pinpoint exact location of enemies more accurately than before.
Technical Specifications
- 16-BIT ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION OF ANALOG INPUTS AT 96KHZ SAMPLE RATE
- 24-BIT DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERSION OF DIGITAL SOURCES AT 96KHZ TO ANALOG 7.1 SPEAKER OUTPUT
- RAZER ESP (ENHANCED SONIC PERCEPTION)
- RAZER 3D (720°) POSITIONAL GAMING AUDIO ENGINETM
- 117 SNR (SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO)
- 0.002% THD (TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION + NOISE AT 1KHZ)
- RAZER HD-DAITM (HIGH DEFINITION-DEDICATED AUDIO INTERFACE)
- PASSIVE EMI SHIELD
Hardware Features
- PCI 2.2 interface with bus mastering and burst modes
- 4 synchronous I2S output pairs
- 4 synchronous I2S input pairs
- Multi-channel AC-link can support 2 AC97 codecs
- All I2S I/O pairs support 32-bit high-definition PCM data transfer and adjustable sample rate up to 192KHz
- Integrated 192k/24-bit S/PDIF transmitter
- Integrated 192k/24-bit S/PDIF receiver
- S/PDIF IN supports digital loop back path for transforming between optical and RCA connection
- Serial bus to communicate with micro control unit (MCU)lMPU-401 MIDI UART port support
- EEPROM control interface
- 9 direct access GPIO pins
- 128-pin LQFP high-quality thin package
- Optional: Front panel design available with AC97 codec
Software Features
- DTS® Interactive - real-time 5.1 encoder that takes any 2 or more channel and encodes it into DTS bit stream.
- DTS® NeoPC - an up mix matrix that turns any 2 channel audio into 7.1 surround sound
- Independent Dolby® Digital Live (AC-3) 5.1 real-time encoding bit-stream to facilitate the connection with CE AV receiver
- Dolby® Pro-Logic IIx surround processor spreading stereo audio into 7.1 channel surround sounds
- Renowned Dolby® Headphone technology conveying 5.1 surround or 3D gaming sounds over stereo headphones
- Latest Dolby® Virtual Speaker solution bringing amazing virtual surround sound fields via general two speakers
- Razer ESP Enhances positional audio in gaming to allow competitive gamers to take advantage of the expanded dynamic soundstage in-game
- 27 global reverberation environments
- Play3D demo program
- Supports most industrial standards of PC 3D sound for gaming, including EAX™ 1.0&2.0, A3D™ 1.0, and DirectSound™
- Support 7.1 CH digital audio playback for WinXP 64, WinXP ,Win2000 (Microsoft® DirectX V.9.0 above is required)
