23. A Familiar Song But The Software Is Extensive

Inside the Aureon is a Sonix SN1116 USB audio with the six channels for surround sound and an AC97 2.2 compliant VIA VT1616 codec with six channels and 18 bit resolution for both play and record. The same as in the Hercules Muse Pocket. It all runs on a maximum sampling rate of 48kHz, as you'd expect. The card's software itself just has a control panel to configure outputs and set the levels of the channels and mixing table. It's all very similar to what you find on other Terratec cards, not that we're complaining: it's very well done.

With the Aureon USB, Terratec provides a nice range of software, starting with WinDVD to play your DVDs with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. If the DVD has it of course. Then there is a version of Traktor to play at being a DJ or, more modestly, to do your own mixing. These are two features to be considered when calculating the quality/price ratio. The only trouble is that this card seems incompatible with older versions of Windows: you have to have 2000 or XP.

Results: Keeping Up The Reputation Of The Brand

Highly popular with audiophiles and music lovers, Terratec hardly ever releases products which are not worthy of their name. The Aureon USB is no exception and its performance was very good for its category. The only criticism we have is a stereo crosstalknot nearly as good as on much cheaper devices like the Creative MP3+. Though it's true that, in practice, this will not be very noticeable.