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Review: M-Audio Revolution 7.1 |
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 I recently blew my iSub. I was listening to a DVD a little too loud, and with a "pop" it was done. After disconnecting my iSub, I was left with just my Apple Pro Speakers. In other words, no bass. The very next day I went shopping for new speakers. As much as I loved the way the Apple Pro Speakers, and the iSub looked together (I got more compliments on my iSub then any other part of my computer) I wanted something with a much "bigger" and definitely louder sound.
I ended up purchasing a cheap 5.1 home theatre system from Durabrand at my local Walmart for around $60. I was going to get some nice computer speakers, but the ones I wanted were $125. The only place I could hook it up through on my G4 tower was in the headphones port. The system sounded good. It was loud, and had a good sound, but I wasn't taking advantage of the dolby 5.1, and the sound wasn't as clear as I would like. So that's when I started looking in to PCI sound cards.
The card I purchased was a M-Audio Revolution 7.1 from Amazon.com for $98.99. It seemed to have the best reviews, it had everything I wanted, and the price was right.
As soon as I got it, I installed it. The drivers on the CD were not the most current, so I downloaded the latest drivers. They worked flawlessly, but instead of a true preference pane it installed an application called "M-Audio Revolution 7.1" and put an alias to it in the preference panel. It did take me a minute or two to realize I had to select digital output in both the sound preference pane, and the Revolution 7.1 settings application. (I have it hooked up through the digital out on the card) Though, once I did that it worked flawlessly.
For the first test I wanted to watch a DVD with some explosions, car chases, and kung fu fighting. I am of course talking about The Matrix, Reloaded. I skipped right to the fight scene with Neo in the Merovingian's mansion, followed by the best car chase scene in the history of the motion picture industry. The sound was simply amazing. I heard things in the movie I never heard before. I honestly think it sounded better then it did in the theatre. (our local movie theaters suck, but that is beside the point)
Everything sounds so much better with this card. Way better then my old set up sounded. I wish I had done this sooner. Plus the card came with bonus CD's. One was Tony hawk 3 for windows, which I promptly threw away. It came with an applications CD that, I was surprised to learn, did have OS X software on it, but it was demo versions only. But the last disc became very useful. It is full of audio loops that are compatible with garage band.
Here are the full specs of the M-Audio Revolution 7.1 PCI sound card:
PCI solution for high-quality surround sound up to 7.1
24-bit/96kHz audio playback on up to 8 channels; high-definition 24-bit/192kHz audio playback on two channels
digital out transmits PCM, AC-3 and DTS (coaxial)
DTS output and Dolby Digital 5.1/EX (6.1 DVD) decoding
8 analog line outs (4 stereo 1/8" mini jacks)
true professional 24-bit/96kHz mic/line recording (1/8” stereo)
SRS TruSurround XT delivers virtual surround with stereo speakers
SRS Circle Surround II transforms stereo content into surround
game support with Sensaura, EAX, DirectSound and A3D
powerful control panel for bass management and other features
The Skinny
Good
Great sound
Good price
CD full of GarageBand compatible audio loops
great control over sound
Bad
Preferences not actual preference pane
Drivers on CD not current
Windows only game included
With everything considered, the good seriously outweighs the bad, I give this product a 5 out of 5 pants.
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April 20 2004, 11:03 PM EDT, by
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Comments:
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| rlhamon |
4/21/04, 11:40 AM EDT |
The sound card sounds cool but I going to have to BOO you for shopping at WAL-MART (I personally hate walmart if your wondering).
so iKen --- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Walmart shopper BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ... Shop at a locally owned place. BOOOOOOO that Walmart shopper!
Thumbs up though on the sound card that does sound killer. I do wish Apple products was available in Lima, Ohio (Small Hell Hole in Ohio).
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| iKen |
4/21/04, 12:59 PM EDT |
Hey... I like Walmart, or as you pointed out WAL-MART. They have good prices, and the fellow patrons make the worlds best freak show!
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| sweetjimmyhugs |
4/21/04, 2:39 PM EDT |
M-Audio makes some nice stuff. I have the Mobile-Pre USB hooked to my G5 and I love it.
I would never shop at WAL-MART though. I only shop at the fancy French boutique, Target.
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| Jonahan |
4/26/04, 8:06 PM EDT |
Hey, watch it - my Mom is a Wal-Mart door greeter (or dork-reader as those clever Wal-Mart employees say!)
Great review there monsiuer iKen :)
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| Paul |
5/29/04, 12:08 AM EDT |
iKen, I have a G4 powerbook. If i get this sound card will it slip into the card slot next to my current headphone jack? Is this a no-brainer, i'm just new to apple. thanks for the help...in otherwords other then inserting the driver cd, how do I install this puppy?
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