The AXPC head phones (TRI-UA512) by TRITTON give you true 5.1 surround sound in the comfort of a headphone for use on your PC through USB. AXPC has a total of 8 speakers, 4 in each ear cup and a adjustable microphone that is perfect for online gaming or internet calling. Your computer does not need to have a 5.1 sound card, the AXPC includes a built-in 5.1 audio controller. Sound is separated into 8 speakers, four in each ear cup (Center, Front, Rear, and Subwoofer). Integrated into the external audio controller is a specialized chipset that amplifies each of the 8 individual speakers. Software is included to simulate your audio source from Stereo to 2.1 or up to 7.1 surround sound. Select from 23 Different EQ settings to customize your listening experience whether it is a game, music or a movie.Each ear pod consists of 4 speakers, a dedicated front speaker, center speaker, rear speaker and subwoofer. This means when playing a game or movie with 5.1 sound the AXPC delivers true 5.1 sound. Others may claim 5.1 sound but it is simulated or emulated which means you will never get the true 5.1 sound like it was meant to be heard. Inline controls allow you to adjust the volume, mute and microphone mute.rfect gaming headset, it is also ideal for enjoying DVD movies in crystal clear 5.1 Dolby Digital certified sound.
Customer Review: Poor Vista Performance
I wish I would have seen these reviews BEFORE I bought this headset. It is of very high quality manufacture and the sound quality with music is outstanding. Problem is it doesn’t do what I bought it for and what it is advertised to be; be a solid gaming headset.

As others have mentioned the Vista drivers seem to be the source of the problem and after writing the company I could not get any time frame on when they plan on updating the drivers. At times you can plug the headset in and it just won’t work at all. Other times the headphones work and the mic doesn’t. Other times everything will work for a few minutes and then give a system resource error and you are forced to reboot. It never just works without some sort of drama.

For those interested I using it on and XP machine you should have much better luck as it works on my XP machine just fine. It’s simply too much trouble to bother with this headset using Vista.

Customer Review: Excallent headset
So I got my Tritton AXPC today and like a little kid on Christmas I tore into them, eager to try them out.

After getting it all set up I pop in some of my favorite games, consisting of Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Call of Duty 2, Unreal Tournament 2004 as well as Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. These games work flawless with the AXPC. Taking full advantage of the positional audio, which really helps submerse you into the games, although most gamers know it’s more about reflex and counter attacks rather then pinpointing enemies.

The rumble effect that goes hand-in-hand with the subwoofer channel also provided a welcome extra dimension to my gameplay by emphasizing explosions and vehicle movement.

In three games however, the AXPC had serious issues with positioning ability. These games include Quake 4, PREY, Battlefield 2142. The rear audio in Quake 4 and PREY was completely missing. When you talk to a character and turn around so your back is facing them, all I could hear was ambient noise. There was no issues with my Logitech G51 speakers, I was able to hear the character loud and clear.

For battlefield 2142 I could not tell the difference between front and rear at all. I had also heard some popping noise as well. I tried both hardware and software rendering with no change. I attend to get some popping nose with my Logitech speakers using my onboard sound (Realtek ALC660).

After educating myself a little to see why these titles preformed poorly with the AXPC, I found out that these games use OpenAL which ties heavy with Creative Labs and X-Fi sound cards. Since Microsoft killed off DirectSound with Windows Vista, we are probably going to see more and more games using OpenAL. As to why the AXPC don’t work with OpenAL I am not sure. Until C-Media or Tritton rolls out a driver update to combat this issues we are going to be playing these games in stereo mode.

After testing the games I wanted to spend a little time trying out the detachable microphone. I quickly rounded up some friends in Skype and TeamSpeak to see how good the mic sounded… The quality was superb! There wasn’t a moment that someone couldn’t understand me and they all marveled at the audio clarity coming through to them. A +20dB mic boost feature exists which can be extremely useful for voice applications that don’t provide their own amplification, although a small amount of hiss is introduced.

I started to wonder “Can the AXPC be taken seriously outside of gaming?” I started to test some music to see how it sound. I played some my favorite bands consisting of Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails, Bullet for my Valentine, Daft Punk, Rage Against the Machine, and Guess Who. After just firing up some music, it sounded kinda plain with no real depth to the music. I popped open the equalizer and start to adjust some frequencies. After a little fine tuning I was able to get the music to sound remarkably well.

So now intrigued that the AXPC can be taken seriously outside of gaming, I wanted to explore other possibilities as well. I popped my copy of Lord of the Rings to see how it would sound with movies. I watched the climatic battle sequence in native 5.1 surround. Dramatic music, whizzing arrows, clanging swords, screams from behind and pounding orcs that set off the rumble motors… they all sound great on the AXPC, putting ordinary headphones to shame. Impressive would be an understatement here.

“BUY NOW”

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Bring your high-definition sources to life. With Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio support, plus 1080p upscaling of any source, the STR-DA5300ES is optimized for Blu-ray Disc and other high-definition formats.Elevate your home entertainment experience to amazing new levels with the STR-DA5300ES ES 7.1 A/V receiver. No matter what the source, this receiver integrates the latest audio and video technologies while making operations simple and easy to follow. Utilizing Sony’s Xross Media Bar inspired Graphic User Interface with Faroudja DCDi Cinema Technology, the STR-DA5300ES can upscale all video sources to 1080p in an intuitive environment for even the most novice user. It features BRAVIA Theatre Sync for one-touch play of select Sony HDMI components and can easily connect to optional Digital Media Port accessories to expand your listening choices. Video support meets the needs of today’s high-definition content. The STR-DA5300ES also brings you the best of high-definition audio with support of the latest high-fidelity audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio.
Customer Review: Another product of sony home theater sound thats terrible
First of let me begin the sound of this receiver is terrible this receiver may be good for some low or mid fi home theater but not hi fi if thats what you are looking for and the price they charge for this thing 1700 dollars found it on amazon and a couple of other places for 1100 dollars. i would say its worth no more than 650 dollars. But i would say the video is outstanding thats probaly the best thing about this receiver. the controls are easy configure this baby in about 7 hours. The is missing highs alright lows mids is ok(what receiver sound is probaly best in). I bought this receiver because i was looking for a 120wx7 receiver for less than 1100 dollars and i said i give this sony a try for my new home theater which consist of some very high end speakers. hook this bad boy up with some mit speaker wire (better cable than monster)listen to this receiver for about a month it made my speakers sound like they were little cheap stereo that you get in a home theater in the box system. and from me listen to music 90% of the time and movies the other 10%. Music on this receiver is just horrible and moveis are alright. i just needed something at the time my old school high end kenwood receiver thats 8 years old sound better than this and it its sound was pretty fair at the time it was release also this receiver has all the future things like hdmi an all the digital inputs but for music listening no and for movies alright but if you are looking for receiver with all the futuristic inputs and outputs this receivers have all the things you want for digital entertainment but this receiver is just not for me i packed it and let one of my family members have,on my way to oder a rotel amp rotel surround processor. sony may be good in portable devices and good vision because thier lcd and home theater projectors are excellent and their portable devices but when it comes to a home theater sound they just is not there yet just my opinion.
Customer Review: Pluses and minuses
Just purchased this unit which has taken me five days to install including one chat room discussions and four telephone service discussions taking over three hours. The unit is complex parly because of its inflexibility. Upward conversions seem to work but output to the second and third zones are limited to composite video and analog audio. The manual describes the analog signals as component through S and composite video but only composite works. This is one of the many confusing elements of the manual which seem to be the result of a Japanese manual converted to English. When you get the service people on the line in any configuration, they have no better understanding and also complain of the complexity. The next problem I have dealt with is the remote which claims to be a universal remote. In fact, according to my experience, is universal as long as all your components are Sony. In truth the remote will not operate and can not learn how to operate the remotes for my BluRay player (Panasonic), Satellite Receiver (DirectTV/RCA), or my monitor (HP HDTV). If you can through all the confusion and nonsense you can make this unit work but the ultimate function is not what one expects for the price. “BUY NOW”

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With more portable media players capable of playing movies, wouldn’t it be great to listen to them in surround sound? If you’ve invested in a quality pair of headphones or earphones for your home or portable entertainment, here’s a wonderful adapter that’ll upgrade your stereo sound. The JVC SU-DH1 uses Dolby Headphone technology to provide 5.1-channel surround sound through any two-channel headphones.

The slim, wallet-sized JVC SU-DH1 weighs in at just 3.5 ounces with two AA batteries installed and easily connects to a laptop computer, portable DVD player, handheld video game system or other portable product. With Dolby Headphone technology, it delivers virtual surround sound on-the-go from multimedia material labeled with Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Surround EX, DTS-ES and MPEG-2 AAC. In addition, the headphone adaptor includes Dolby Pro Logic II, which means that it can provide surround sound from two-channel sources, providing enhanced enjoyment with a variety of entertainment sources, like in-flight movies, portable music players and portable game systems. It offers three different Dolby Headphone modes: the DH1 replicates a studio environment - a room with little reverberation; the DH2 replicates a typical listening room environment and the DH3 delivers a theater or concert hall effect. You can select among three Dolby Pro Logic II settings: Auto, Movie and Music. In Auto mode, the DH1 automatically selects the Movie or Music mode, selecting just the right input source; Movie is selected when the source is digital DVD or analog; Music is selected when the source is CD. The Movie mode is used with Dolby Surround entertainment. Music is used for any two-channel music source.

The JVC SU-DH1 comes with an analog input cord that can be stored easily into the bottom of the unit. There is also an optical digital mini jack for use with an optional connecting cord. Separately, the two AA batteries provide
Customer Review: Awesome for gaming
Highly recommended if you need to game with headphones a lot.

I’m using it with an Xbox 360 (connected via optical SPDIF cable), on the DH1 setting, with Sennheiser Ovation HD650 headphones.

Optical digital connection is very important. If you connect it via the analog connection, you’re not going to get anything like the same experience.

PROS

- Great price, much cheaper than getting a DH enabled receiver.

- Great for gaming (and probably also other 5.1 sources like movies). It really is night and day compared to using headphones without this device, especially for FPS games like Halo 3 and Bioshock where directionality of sound really does matter. Creates a very smooth “out of your head” soundfield, can be a life saver in Halo online. Very easy on the ears. Initially I found myself taking the headphones off to check my surround speaker system wasn’t accidentally turned on!

CONS

- 2 channel music - just ok. Certainly takes the music “out of your head”, but quality/detail does suffer IMO, particularly the higher frequencies (some ‘ringing’?). May not be as noticable with less revealing headphones?

- Battery operated (does NOT accept a power supply, contrary to one other review here). Eats batteries (approx couple of hours with 2 AA alkalines?). Would be nice if it had a DC in socket for non-mobile use. Not the end of the world though - NiMh rechargables are pretty cheap these days…

Customer Review: UNIT DOES ACCEPT A POWER SUPPLY
A great unit but I have to correct several comments about the lack of a transfomer input. It does have an input for a transformer and JVC makes such a unit. You may find an alternate however. “BUY NOW”

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This HDMI cable is your link to pulse-pounding HD gaming on your high definition home theater. Whether you’re in the center of the action or watching a 1080p DVD on your gaming console, our cable boosts the bandwidth for ultra-accurate digital signal transfer. That means you’re not just playing, you’re in the game. Graphics are sharper and more detailed, colors are richer and more lifelike, and sounds are bigger and bolder. Bring the experience to life with our highest quality HDMI Cable! Comparable to the Monster Cable brand MC800hd. This cable meets their exact requirements for data and digital sound/video but does not have the fancy coloring or cable end. Performance is performance and we don’t like to overcharge $100 or more for “looks.” This cable comes sealed in the manufacturer’s plastic bag, no fancy packaging to charge you more for. Also available in a 6, 10, & 15 ft editions. “BUY NOW”

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Elevate your home entertainment to amazing new levels. This 7.1 channel A/V receiver is your complete digital hub, optimized for breathtaking Blu-ray Disc media.Deliver incredible high-definition video and digital audio into your living room with the powerful STR-DA3300ES 7.1 A/V receiver. This receiver integrates the latest audio and video technologies while making operations simple to command and easy to follow. Utilizing Sony’s Xross Media Bar (XMB) inspired Graphic User Interface with Faroudja DCDi Cinema Technology, the STR-DA3300ES can upscale all video sources to 1080p in an intuitive environment for even the most novice user. It features BRAVIA Theatre Sync for one-touch play of select Sony HDMI components and can easily connect to optional Digital Media Port accessories to expand your listening choices. Supporting both 1080/60p and 24p video formats, x.v.Color (xvYCC) and 3 HDMI inputs, the STR-DA3300ES is the perfect home entertainment hub for Blu-ray Disc and other high-definition sources.
Customer Review: Best deal in town
I bought this unit for 574 delivered.

If you have the following items you will want this reciever

a PS3 or blu ray player

a TV that has an HDMI input, preferably 1080p

I’ve read up on a lot of the connectivity issues on this unit prior to purchase. I think there is a lot of confusion regarding the new hd sound formats. I hope I can provide some help to individuals reading this post.

To get True HD, or DTS master audio from the PS3 you need to do the following.

Run audio from the PS3 to the receiver over HDMI. Go into the PS3 settings, make sure audio is passed over HDMI, then manually select the PCM 5.1 and 7.1 audio formats at 48khz. To test, put in a Blu ray disc, go into the audio menu of the movie and select one of the new HD formats or PCM uncompressed. If you have done this correctly the blue light on the from center of the reciever will turn on and the screen will show that multi channel PCM is running at 48khz.

Here is the deal, the PS3 and most other blu ray players cannot pass a raw hd bitstream signal to the reciver for decoding, but it can decode the signal itself and pass it over hdmi in multi channel format. Your ears get the same sound either way.

What this means to you. If you’re using the PS3 for a blu ray player it doesn’t matter if you buy the 3300 4300 or 5300 because the PS3 is going to decode and send the signal as uncompressed pcm. So spending the extra cash to get on board dolby true hd and dts hd decoders is pointless. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them, but unless you’re planning on running some huge speakers or really committed to a multi room setup the 3300 is the best value. I run my setup in a very large room, the 3300 can blast sound and I have not noticed any distortion at high volumes.

Also, I have an older generation xbox 360 without an HDMI output. Good news if you are in the same boat as me. This reciever will accept a 1080p input through component cables and pass to the TV as 1080p over HDMI.

I replaced an older Yamaha natural sound reciever that I have had over 7 years, it still works wonderfully and I am looking forward to moving it down into the man room in my basement. I was on the fence between a Pioneer, Yamaha, Onkyo and this Sony unit. The 3300-5300 seemed to have the best video options, and sound performance was comparable accross the brands. Once the price on the 3300 got into the 500 range I decided to pull the trigger. I love the on screen menu, the sound is great, and it has all the connectivity and functions that I needed for my gear. This is a great product and I would highly recommend it.

setup
str da3300es, polk audio RTI series speakers, JBL 12″ 500 watt sub, Sony 50″ LCOS SXRD TV 1080p, XBOX 360 with HD-DVD, PS3, and a Wii.
Customer Review: excellent receiver
I purchased this through Amazon and could not have been happier. The product was delivered promptly and in good condition. It was a breeze to set up and has worked flawlessly. It is a great product and I would recomend it and would buy it again if the need arose. “BUY NOW”

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Many of us think of ourselves as pretty capable when it comes to (DIY). In fact, home improvement which used to be monopolized by professionals has been filled with do it yourself individuals who want to tackle the job themselves. This also extends to other areas such as setting up a home theater.

Do you really need a professional to set up a home theater system? Must you spend money on a task that can be done yourself? If you have brought a system that is simple to put together it would be a waste of money to call in a professional. Many of these are designed specifically to allow a person to open the box and install the system themselves. Even some of the higher quality home theater systems may come in components that do not require a professional. Somewhere along the line of home theater systems, there comes a point where it would be wiser to hire a professional to set your system up.

What can a professional do that you can?t?

A professional can make sure the system is put together properly. They will ensure you don?t damage the system with errors. Some of these glitches take awhile to become noticeable and cost a lot down the road. At the very least, a professional installer would be able to make optimal use of your home theater system.

A professional installer is an expert when it comes to wiring and cable choices. They can make a judgment about the positioning of your television. Unlike a regular self installer, they have diagnostic equipment to make this judgment and since they are professionals experience has taught them a lot about setting things up.

They can take care of details such as positioning the speakers and optimizing the sound quality. They can help your make decisions about which the kind of power strip that is needed or even the kind of surge protection you should get.

When setting up a home theater system, your task doesn?t end after you have plugged in a few cords, you have to make adjustments and the professional installer may have shortcuts or tips on how to improve your experience.

We all like to think we are capable of doing most projects at home and there is quite a bit we can do but sometimes it is wiser to know when to call in the professionals. When you have spent a lot of money on a high end home theater system it would be worth your while to get some one to set it up properly.

About the Author:

Beverly Kane is a staff writer at Home Theater Gazette and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including The Shopping Gazette.

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Bring your music to life with a patented, reflected-speaker design that creates a virtual surround sound effect.

• Powerful, neodymium speaker drivers for improved sound quality
• CCAW voice coil for high sensitivity
• 24k gold-plated plug ensures pure sound transfer
• Asymmetric cabling system for wearing convenience
• Unique, Flexi-Grip design prevents cable damage
• Headphones and cables fit into compact case
• 90-day manufacturer’s warranty

When not in use, they tuck away in a flexible, molded-rubber carrying case.
Customer Review: Still working well after 2 years
I have owned these for about 2 years and they have stood up to daily use. The sound quality is good enough for me, I’m not an audio engineer or anything that might make me a discerning observer, but the sound quality is some of the best I’ve had for head phones in this price range. The clear rubber ear “fittings” will come off the ear piece so be careful not to loose them.
Customer Review: Good sound, but poorly engineered for the ear.
I bought this product, based on the impressive display and characteristics the container boasted. While the product does deliver great surround sound other impressive characteristics, this product’s good characteristics are quickly outweighed by its one most problematic circumstance-They fall out very quickly usually 2-3 minutes after applying them. To ensure that the earbuds sustain themselves in your ear, you basically have to thrust them into your ear, an deep within them to the point it hurts at that. I would not recommend this product at all, not because its has horrible sound quality, but because its tendency to repeatedly fall from your ears disallows you to efficiently listen to and keep comfort with your music. “BUY NOW”

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Defining the best home theater system is a matter of personal choice. Does a system worth $250,000 offer better quality than one that cost just $3000 to put together? Probably, but how many people can afford to spend a quarter of a million dollars on home entertainment?Take my case for example. I’m a home theater nut who loves nothing better than being engrossed in my favorite movies in the confines of my own home. In my spare time it’s my relaxation. My home theater system which includes the basics such as a television, DVD and speakers as well a a few optional extras set me back about $6000. I love it! My two closest friends who happen to be my next door neighbors are also home theater nuts with rather deep pockets. Their interpretation of the best home theater system includes the best that Bang And Olufsen have to offer and they are happy to fork out a six figure sum to get the best quality. What’s my point? It’s personal choice!Satisfying Your BudgetSetting a budget you can afford and then doing a little due diligence is your first step towards finding your best home theater system. Is your budget $3000? Do you realise that for this amount you can get yourself a very reliable and neat little system. A television, either plasma or LCD, a DVD player, speaker system and projection system plus accompanying cables for between $3-4000 is achievable. You simply need to spend a little time researching the options available.The entry level home theater market is cut throat so bargains are there to be had. The majority of people searching for systems are usually looking at this end of the scale. Comparison shopping should be your number one priority. Spend some time checking out the various local stores. Don’t even consider making a decision until you’ve “sniffed out” each one. Once you’ve done this, then it’s time to get online. Why? Because this is where you will in all probability, find the best buys.Home Theater OnlineA search for best home theater systems will get you a myriad of results. Some sites are extensions of the major stores repeating many of the deals you checked out physically however, many aren’t and this gives you extra choice flexibility. Other sites offer any amount of information with some going the “extra mile” and offering mix’n'match alternatives or reviews on the “best bang for your buck” available. The message here is don’t be hasty and purchase the first television or DVD combination from the first salesperson you come across.Personal choice is what it’s all about. The best home theater system on the market, taken literally, will set you back thousands upon thousands of dollars however, choose what’s best for you and your budget. Let me assure you, for just a few thousand dollars you can experience some pretty serious home theater pleasure!

About the Author

Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Do you know what the best home theater system is? Get the latest home theater news and reviews at:http://www.hometheaterinfoline.com
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The Griffin FireWave gives you what you have been missing in your Mac experience - Surround Sound. FireWave has Dolby Digital processors to bring Surround Sound to Macs for gaming, DVD players and iTunes. With the multitude of 5.1 surround sound speakers for PCs readily available, FireWave gives Mac users the ability to affordably upgrade their sound systems, with spectacular results. FireWave’s small size makes it easy to incorporate into any computer setup, and portable enough to use on laptops. For the ultimate in mobile convenience, FireWave gets its power through its FireWire connection to the computer - no separate cables or power supplies to tote. And FireWave features an extra FireWire port so you can chain other devices through it.With 5.1 surround sound, you’ll experience music and movies on your desktop like never before. FireWave brings DVDs to life, unleashing their full audio potential. FireWave’s Dolby virtual surround sound technology makes any audio source come alive, whether from iTunes, QuickTime, or streaming audio. FireWave is a must-have for gamers and DVD enthusiasts. With FireWave’s support for OpenAL, the cross-platform 3D audio standard, games like World of Warcraft and Unreal Tournament 2004 will come alive in a way you’ve never heard before.
Customer Review: Late-model MacBook Pro owners: don’t bother
While 5.1 output might be enticing for many, you’ll suffer a definite loss in quality. Low frequency response definitely suffers in music, as many critical listenings revealed for me. At times cellos would sound nearer to trombones and ProLogic II is pretty much bunk.
Customer Review: Does the job
Works nicely, great sound out of a MacBook and Logitech 5.1 speaker system. I had to go around twice on the installation to get everything to work, but may have been operator error. “BUY NOW”

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