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Hercules Gamesurround Muse Pocket USB

REVIEW DATE:03.28.05

Hercules Muse Pocket USB

REVIEW

By Don Labriola

The Gamesurround Muse Pocket USB, a hockey-puck-size silvery knob that sits on your desk, draws power from a USB port, offers many of the features you'd expect to find in a conventional sound card and one you might not expect to see front-and-center: VoIP support.

red arrow Read the Hercules Gamesurround Muse Pocket USB full review

Company

Guillemot Corporation

http://www.guillemot.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $80.00 List
  • # of channels: 5.1
  • Analog Inputs: Mic In, Stereo Line In
  • Analog Outputs: 5.1 Line Out, Headphone
  • Breakout Box?: No
  • 3D APIs Supported: DS3D, EAX
  • Max Playback Bit Depth: 16
  • Max Playback Sample Rate: 48
  • Max Playback # of channels: 5.1
  • Max Rec Bit Depth: 16
  • Max Rec Sample Rate: 48
  • Max Rec # of channels: 2

Bottom Line

The Hercules Gamesurround Muse Pocket USB is an external 5.1-channel USB sound module that combines a handy volume/mute control with vanilla soundboard functionality. But when used with its bundled Skype VoIP software and headset, it becomes a convenient turnkey solution for making free long-distance phone calls over the Internet.

Pros

Portable and USB-powered. Delivers 5.1-channel sound functions. Turnkey solution for Internet telephony.

Cons

Uneven audio specs. Meager software bundle. Can drain notebook batteries. Needs broadband connections on both ends for good sound on Internet phone calls. Requires third-party application to play Dolby Digital DVD soundtracks.

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