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: 29,763 Reputation: 2162 Rep Power: 56	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 Core 2 Duo E6850 @ 3.2Ghz \| ASUS P5B-E Plus \| G.SKILL 2x1GB DDR2 800 \| 6 HDDs (2TB+ only ) \| NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT \| Dell E248WFP 24" Widescreen \| 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: 7	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: 30,146 Reputation: 3081 Rep Power: 67	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? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

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