eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset Review Posted!

Dashken · 26th Jun 2005, 10:09 PM

Gaming headsets are all the rage these days, integrating good drivers for excellent audio reproduction with a microphone for team discussions during heated battles.

Today, we take a close look at the new eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset, with its unique amplified bass vibrations. Let's see if they really make a difference!

Link : eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset Review!

Olle P · 27th Jun 2005, 05:25 PM

The humming when connected to the laptop shouldn't be too hard to explain. Just take a look at the supplied voltage, using an oscilloscope...
I guess it's not a stable low voltage but a chopped, or at least varying, voltage.

Cheers
Olle

Adrian Wong · 27th Jun 2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle P

The humming when connected to the laptop shouldn't be too hard to explain. Just take a look at the supplied voltage, using an oscilloscope...
I guess it's not a stable low voltage but a chopped, or at least varying, voltage.

Cheers
Olle

Low voltage? But it's a notebook. Power is supplied through the battery.

In any case, the AudioFX doesn't appear to be powered through any of the USB ports. A check of the Device Manager showed no current flow.

Also, the vibration feature did not work... so my guess would be some kind of incompatibility that's not allowing the AudioFX to be powered by the notebook's USB ports.

Incidentally, I also tried running the AudioFX off a notebook cooler's USB ports. Still the same - background hum + no vibrations.

Olle P · 28th Jun 2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Low voltage? But it's a notebook. Power is supplied through the battery.

The batteries are typically at a higher voltage than the USB supply, so it has to be reduced somehow.
Exactly how the motherboard designers chose to do it I don't know.

Quote:

In any case, the AudioFX doesn't appear to be powered through any of the USB ports. A check of the Device Manager showed no current flow.

I wouldn't rely on the DM to measure the AC flow in a supposedly DC outlet. There should be a small DC curent though, if the article is correct.

As I've understood the general design of this feature, it's a simple matter of the audio signal going through a LP filter to an amplifier, the output of which drives the magnet.
The USB power should thus drive the amplifier.

Quote:

Also, the vibration feature did not work... so my guess would be some kind of incompatibility that's not allowing the AudioFX to be powered by the notebook's USB ports.

Again, depending on the design of filter and amplifier, it might need a fairly "clean" DC supply, that the notebook doesn't provide.

The easiest way to check it out is by using an oscilloscope to study the USB voltage.

Cheers
Olle

Adrian Wong · 28th Jun 2005, 10:15 PM

Usually when you plug in a USB device, Device Manager will show the amount of current used. However, with the AudioFX, nothing is shown.

I'll double check with the desktop later.

26th Jun 2005, 10:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dashken Administrator! Join Date: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Penang Posts: 30,337 Reputation: 2417 Rep Power: 62	eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset Review Posted! Gaming headsets are all the rage these days, integrating good drivers for excellent audio reproduction with a microphone for team discussions during heated battles. Today, we take a close look at the new eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset, with its unique amplified bass vibrations. Let's see if they really make a difference! Link : eDimensional AudioFX Force Feedback Gaming Headset Review! __________________ \| Intel C2Q Q9450 \| MSI P45 Neo3-FR \| 2 x 2GB OCZ / 2 x 1GB G.SKILL DDR2 800 \| 1 x Seagate 250GB HDD \| 2 x Seagate 750GB HDD \| 3 x Seagate 1TB HDD \| NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT \| Cooler Master CM690 chassis \| Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 550W PSU \| Dell E248WFP 24" Widescreen \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 \| Blog : Dashken's I-Blog Gallery : Dashken's I-Paintings

27th Jun 2005, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Olle P Active Join Date: 12 Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 815 Reputation: 315 Rep Power: 9	Interesting... The humming when connected to the laptop shouldn't be too hard to explain. Just take a look at the supplied voltage, using an oscilloscope... I guess it's not a stable low voltage but a chopped, or at least varying, voltage. Cheers Olle

28th Jun 2005, 10:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 34,020 Reputation: 3948 Rep Power: 81	Usually when you plug in a USB device, Device Manager will show the amount of current used. However, with the AudioFX, nothing is shown. I'll double check with the desktop later. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? My blog posts : - The fuss over Genetically Modified food - It's been a really bad day... - Dreambuilders - The 4Life Riovida MLM Scam - Murder From The Grave - Cancer-free water? - Alkaline Water Filter - Fact or Crap? - Live Blood Analysis (LBA) - Junk Science!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Razer Diamondback Professional Gaming Mouse Review Posted!	Dashken	Reviews & Articles	16	17th Sep 2007 01:12 PM
Steelpad S&S Professional Gaming Mouse Pad Review!	News Writer	Reviews & Articles	13	17th Jun 2006 03:20 AM
Steelpad QcK+ Professional Gaming Mouse Pad Review!	Dashken	Reviews & Articles	1	5th Jan 2005 08:15 PM
Steelpad 4D Professional Gaming Mouse Pad Review!	Dashken	Reviews & Articles	0	18th Nov 2004 11:32 PM