Hercules Muse Pocket: 5.1 In Its Simplest Expression, Continued : Listen Through USB: Five External Sound Cards

Hercules Muse Pocket: 5.1 In Its Simplest Expression, Continued

By Jean-Pierre Roche, published on February 23, 2004
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: listen, through, usb

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creative MP3+: A Good Start
3. Creative MP3+: A Good Start, Continued
4. Software: Exclusively Creative
5. Behavior At 44.1kHz
6. Behavior At 48kHz
7. Creative Audigy 2 NX: Top Range With No Concessions
8. Creative Audigy 2 NX: Top Range With No Concessions, Continued
9. Behavior At 44.1kHz
10. Hercules Muse Pocket: 5.1 In Its Simplest Expression
11. Hercules Muse Pocket: 5.1 In Its Simplest Expression, Continued
12. Simple But Effective Software
13. Simple But Effective Software, Continued
14. Comparison At 44.1kHz

11. Hercules Muse Pocket: 5.1 In Its Simplest Expression, Continued

Hercules Muse Pocket USB
Interface	USB 1.1
Audio chip	Sonix SN1116
Maximum playback	48 kHz
Digital-analog conversion	16 bits
MIDI / game port	no
Power	USB
Inputs
Card	line, mic
Outputs
Card	line, 3x 3.5mm jack (5.1), 1x headphone
DVD and Cinema
Standards	5.1
Configuration	up to 5.1
DVD Audio	no
3D Gaming Audio
Standards	DS3D, EAX 1.0/2.0
Configuration	2x 5.1
MIDI
Connections	none
Software synthesizer	Microsoft
Minimum System Requirements
Processor	Pentium III or AMD Athlon 500 MHz
Memory	32 MB or more depending on the OS
Interface	USB 1.1
OS	Windows 98SE or higher

On the printed circuit (which of course is round) is a USB Sonix SN1116 sound controller for the six channels needed for surround sound, an AC97 2.2 compliant VIA VT1616 codec with those six channels and 18 bit resolution for both playing and recording. This little lot can run at a maximum sampling rate of 48kHz, as you'd expect. It's a pity the Muse Pocket has no S/PDIF output, since the circuit is designed for it. It even has the place for the connector.