{"id":24644,"date":"2011-03-14T04:40:30","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T04:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=24644"},"modified":"2011-03-15T16:28:39","modified_gmt":"2011-03-15T16:28:39","slug":"diamonds-xtreme-sound-external-digital-hd-7-1-sound-card-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/diamonds-xtreme-sound-external-digital-hd-7-1-sound-card-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Diamond&#8217;s Xtreme Sound External digital HD 7.1 Sound Card review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n  google_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>External PC Sound cards have been around for quite awhile.\u00a0\u00a0 Starting with 2.1 stereo years ago, they have been upgraded to 7.1 for BluRay.\u00a0\u00a0 Diamond Multimedia has also been around for a long while, since the early 1990\u2019s continuously putting out the latest in graphics cards, TV tuners, USB display adapters, video capture devices, sound cards, modems, and electronics accessories.\u00a0 They make a very bold claim about their new Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB Sound card &#8211; <em>&#8220;The Diamond Xtreme USB 7.1 Sound Device Will Improve Your Computer&#8217;s Sound Experience for MP3s, Games, Movies, Music and more!&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24662\" title=\"TheBox-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-1.jpg?resize=480%2C624\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-1.jpg?resize=480%2C624 480w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-1-230x300.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Considering that it retails for only fifty dollars, that is a pretty bold claim and we will test it out for you today.\u00a0 Using the Diamond Xtreme Sound USB Sound card, you can use your Notebook, PC or MAC USB 2.0 port to send full 7.1 audio to a speaker system equipped to handle it.\u00a0 And of course it handles 2.0\/2.1 stereo and everything in between.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheDevice-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24663\" title=\"TheDevice-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheDevice-1.jpg?resize=480%2C274\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheDevice-1.jpg?resize=480%2C274 480w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheDevice-1-300x171.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>Probably one of the very best uses for this sound card is in conjunction with Diamond&#8217;s BVU1000 Multi-Media USB to HDMI adapter that allows you to turn your notebook into a home theater PC (HTPC).\u00a0 It is\u00a0 just like watching your movies from the DVD\/BlueRay player but using your notebook instead.\u00a0 Senior Editor David McOwen reviewed it <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=24314\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/IMG_0084.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24698\" title=\"IMG_0084\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/IMG_0084.jpg?resize=420%2C399\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/IMG_0084.jpg?resize=420%2C399 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/IMG_0084-300x285.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watching HQ YouTube videos, TV, and Netflix all from your notebook on the big HDTV screen is awesome.<\/p>\n<p>Believe-it-or-not, the next standard for BluRay is 11.1 audio.\u00a0 However, the very best audio systems in the world &#8211; genuine audiophile systems &#8211; are stereo.\u00a0 This editor used to be an audiophile with extraordinary hearing who got to evaluate and own many high-end systems in the 1970s.\u00a0 My favorite stereo system included two pairs of stacked, mirrored and imaged Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers, a Mark Levinson modified Harmon-Kardon Citation tube pre-amp, Great American Sound amplifiers bridged to 1000W per channel, a Thorens turntable and a Grado Signature cartridge.\u00a0 Many years ago, this kind was kind of system was far more affordable; nowadays a similar system might cost a hundred thousand dollars.<\/p>\n<p>Working as a consultant in high-end audio, this editor soon found that most specifications for audio are ridiculous over-exaggerations as most speakers and other audio components never come close to their advertised specifications and he soon came the belief that most audio engineers are deaf, considering the low quality of the mass-produced products that they put out.\u00a0 A genuine audiophile system has no tone controls &#8211; the preamp is a straight wire with gain and neither are there balance controls which would add distortion to the pure sound.\u00a0 CD audio is still quite deficient sonically when compared to analog vinyl records according to audiophiles.<\/p>\n<p>There are no shimmering transients to hear from CD as there is with analog, as CDs are under-sampled and much of the sound is simply left out; and the imaging is gone.\u00a0 From listening critically to a high-quality  analog recording of a good live performance played back on a high-end system, you can not only tell where the piano is, you can tell its orientation and size as the sounds become fully 3-Dimensional.\u00a0 And MP3s are disgusting to the audiophile as the compression is annoying, exhibiting aural artifacting and &#8220;breathing&#8221; &#8211; even at the very highest bit rate. Only DVD audio has finally caught up with the analog recordings of decades past.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually this editor lost some of his ability to hear the extreme high-frequencies and I sold my audiophile audio system and most of my vinyl collection.\u00a0 I resigned myself to playing music in the background and no longer listened critically.\u00a0 I bought an inexpensive Cambridge SoundWorks quadraphonic system just for gaming when I traveled to Hawaii for 3 months in 2001 and I ran it off of my old notebook&#8217;s integrated sound.\u00a0 It is still my portable system that I use in this way connected to my notebook because the tiny built-in speakers are absolute garbage.\u00a0 Sadly the Cambridge speaker system doesn&#8217;t sound great running off the headphone jack and a Y-adapter is used to get sound to the rear speakers as shown below:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeStereo2.11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24665\" title=\"CambridgeStereo2.1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeStereo2.11.jpg?resize=480%2C350\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeStereo2.11.jpg?resize=480%2C350 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeStereo2.11-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It sounds so poorly that it is rarely used for playing music &#8211; not even in the background; it is mostly used for listening to video on YouTube and for light PC gaming.\u00a0 And the Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 v200 system that this editor has sounds even worse, magnifying the deficiencies of the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound.\u00a0 It sounds like the sub-woofer is damaged &#8211; the bass is flabby, missing the experience that this particular Klipsch multimedia system is known for.\u00a0 Therefore it is never used with the notebook at all as it is reserved just for gaming on the desktop although it was used to evaluate this Diamond soundcard.\u00a0 And to be fair, desktop audio is noticeably better than the average notebook audio although the sound quality for anything over 2.1 is still seriously lacking.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24669\" title=\"Klipsch\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch2.jpg?resize=480%2C228\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch2.jpg?resize=480%2C228 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch2-300x142.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Well, enter the Diamond Xtreme Sound external 7.1 sound card.\u00a0 This editor had expected this evaluation to be short and full of synthetic tests.\u00a0 After a few moments spent installing the card, its driver and rebooting, there was a real surprise.\u00a0 Instead of the same old distortion, there was a &#8220;wow&#8221; moment with the sound card; music just sounded noticeably better &#8211; and this is with the cheap Cambridge system!<\/p>\n<p>Fact: <em>decent speakers just sound better <\/em>with a sound card than with the integrated audio, not to mention the flexibility of being able to hook up 8 speakers for 7.1 audio for a full home theater PC experience from your notebook.\u00a0 All you would need to listen to BluRay 7.1 audio and watch HDTV movies on your big screen from your notebook is this Diamond Xtreme 7.1 USB sound card and the Diamond Multimedia BVU1000 USB to HDMI converter that ABT Senior Editor McOwen reviewed <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=24314\">here<\/a>.\u00a0 And it now looks and sounds amazing!<\/p>\n<p>There is absolutely no comparison with what comes out of the same speakers that were playing from the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound.\u00a0 The difference is between music reproduced by the sound card and the noise belched out by the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound card.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Notebook_device-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24666\" title=\"Notebook_device-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Notebook_device-1.jpg?resize=480%2C282\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Notebook_device-1.jpg?resize=480%2C282 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Notebook_device-1-300x176.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB Sound card is a fairly small at approximately 5 x 2.5 x 1 inches (the specifications listed on Diamond&#8217;s site are wrong; they are listed twice for the packing dimensions). It gets its power from the USB port, so it doesn&#8217;t need an external power supply.  Before we check out the specifications, read about Diamond MultiMedia.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>About Diamond Multimedia<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>For over two decades, Diamond Multimedia has been widely  recognized as a pioneer in the graphics, sound and communications  industries and a key player in launching the multimedia revolution. Our  mission is to provide our customers with the latest quality technology  combined with outstanding service and support.<\/p>\n<p>Diamond offers a complete multimedia solution featuring ATI  Radeon graphics cards, TV tuners, USB display adapters, video capture  devices, sound cards, modems, and electronics accessories all from one  convenient location.<\/p>\n<p>Diamond video cards use the latest technology to offer the  best solutions for gaming, home media and business applications. Powered  by ATI Radeon Graphics from AMD, Diamond is continuously striving to  manufacture the highest quality video cards to ensure reliability and  stability in your computer system.<\/p>\n<p>Diamond products are available to the public throughout  North America and Europe through retailers, resellers and systems  integrators as well as top technology product distributors. Diamond  products stand for performance, quality and value. Our corporate  headquarters are located in Chatsworth, California.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><!--pagetitle:Introduction--><!--nextpage--><!--pagetitle:Specifications, Features & Important Information--><\/p>\n<h2>Specifications, Features &amp; Important Information:<\/h2>\n<table style=\"height: 106px;\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"435\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"435\"><strong>Package Contents<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"435\"><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">DIAMOND Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB Audio Device<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">INSTALL CD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">Quick Start Guide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">USB Cable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"435\"><strong>System Requirements<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"150\"><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Operating System:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>WIN 7 32 , WIN 7 64<\/p>\n<p>WINVISTA32 , WINVISTA64<\/p>\n<p>WINXP , WINXP64<\/p>\n<p>WIN2000 , MCE<\/p>\n<p>LINUX32 , MAC OS X,<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>System CPU :<\/td>\n<td>Intel Pentium III or AMD K6 500 CPU and above<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CPU Speed :<\/td>\n<td>850 MHZ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>System Memory :<\/td>\n<td>128MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Power Supply Instructions :<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hard Disk Space :<\/td>\n<td>50MB free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CD DVD :<\/td>\n<td>YES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BUS :<\/td>\n<td>USB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>USB :<\/td>\n<td>YES<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"435\"><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>General Product Information<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"150\"><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Form Factor (Profile) :<\/td>\n<td>External Device (USB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Product Dimension :<\/td>\n<td>5 x 2.5 x 1 inches<em> (corrected here)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Package Dimension :<\/td>\n<td>8.6 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Product Weight :<\/td>\n<td>.30 LBS.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Weight with Content :<\/td>\n<td>1.0 LBS.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SKU :<\/td>\n<td>XS71U<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UPC :<\/td>\n<td>757448010534<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SB SKU :<\/td>\n<td>XS71USB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SB UPC :<\/td>\n<td>nosbupc534<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div><strong>FEATURES<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li> USB spec. 2.0 full speed compliant<\/li>\n<li> USB audio device class spec. 1.0 and USB HID class spec. 1.1 compliant<\/li>\n<li> IEC60958 spec. compliant (consumer format S\/PDIF input and output with loop-back support)<\/li>\n<li> Dolby\u00ae digital audio streaming via S\/PDIF out<\/li>\n<li> USB remote wake-up support<\/li>\n<li> 7.1 channel DAC output with 16 bit resolution 3.1 Vpp (1.1 Vrms) biased  at 2.25V output swing \u00a0control and mute function Earphone buffer 2X  interpolator for digital playback data to improve quality<\/li>\n<li> 2  channel ADC input with 16 bit resolution 3.2 Vpp (or 4.0 Vpp programmed  by vendor driver) biased at 2.25V input swing Volume control and mute  function<\/li>\n<li> Stereo MIC support with 33dB maximum capability<\/li>\n<li> Recording source select from S\/PDIF, MIC, Line-in and summation of MIC, Line-in and front channel<\/li>\n<li> MIC, Line-in monitor from front channel (all channels optional) with volume control and mute function<\/li>\n<li> Master volume control by default; per-channel volume control by C-Media driver<\/li>\n<li> Playback with soft-mute function<\/li>\n<li> Support 48 \/ 44.1 KHz sampling rate for both playback and recording<\/li>\n<li> MCU support with two-wire serial interface<\/li>\n<li> Volume up \/ volume down \/ playback mute HID button<\/li>\n<li> LED indicator pins: operation \/ recording mute \/ SCMS protection<\/li>\n<li> Cmedia value added software (multi-channel positional 3D sound, EQ, speaker shifter, etc.)<\/li>\n<li> Embedded USB transceiver and power on reset circuit<\/li>\n<li> Microsoft Vista Premium Level Compliant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"435\"><strong>Warranty <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"150\"><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Warranty :<\/td>\n<td>One Year Limited Warranty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24670\" title=\"The-contents-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-1.jpg?resize=480%2C567\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-1.jpg?resize=480%2C567 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-1-253x300.jpg 253w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-1-866x1024.jpg 866w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Everything looks good.  Let&#8217;s set it up and listen to music, play PC games and watch DVDs!<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle:The Card, Setup, Software & Conclusion--><\/p>\n<h2>The Card, the Setup and the Software<\/h2>\n<p>As you can see from the last page, the device is well-protected for its journey to you.\u00a0 Here is the bundle outside of the box:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-14.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24674\" title=\"The-contents-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-14.jpg?resize=480%2C567\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-14.jpg?resize=480%2C567 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-14-253x300.jpg 253w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/The-contents-14-866x1024.jpg 866w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Diamond Multimedia Xtreme Sound package comes packaged with the USB 2.0 device itself, a USB cable, the installation CD, and the quick start guide. Diamond products are found in retail stores so the box also advertises its features of dramatically improving notebook sound and its ability to use Dolby Digital Audio through S\/PDIF.\u00a0 In fact you can find this device at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Sound-Cards\/15572018?sourceid=1500000000000003142050&amp;ci_src=14110944&amp;ci_sku=15572018\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Sound-Cards\/15572018?sourceid=1500000000000003142050&amp;ci_src=14110944&amp;ci_sku=15572018', 'WalMart']);\" >WalMart<\/a> for $39.99\u00a0 Here is the back of the box; you don&#8217;t really need the quick-start guide. Karaoke, anyone? Yes!\u00a0 Just bring the mic.\u00a0 There is even a basic wav-editor included.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-back.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24675\" title=\"TheBox-back\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-back.jpg?resize=480%2C608\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-back.jpg?resize=480%2C608 800w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-back-236x300.jpg 236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>And the end flaps give you a choice of reading in English or French:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-side1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24676 aligncenter\" title=\"TheBox-side1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-side1.jpg?resize=240%2C821\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-side1.jpg?resize=240%2C821 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/TheBox-side1-299x1024.jpg 299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>One end has the USB connector and a headphone out jack, the other end is for S\/PDIF connections to your receiver for HTPC.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/SPDIF.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24678\" title=\"SPDIF\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/SPDIF.jpg?w=720\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>The top of the device has record functions and also volume up and down.\u00a0 Two light will show its status.\u00a0 S\/PDIF connectors are there for your receiver and the other end has a headphone jack next to the USB connector.<a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/in_out.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24680\" title=\"in_out\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/in_out.jpg?resize=550%2C216\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/in_out.jpg?resize=550%2C216 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/in_out-300x117.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The outputs are on the front and you have options to use them all simultaneously, or not &#8211; line-in, microphone-in, F-out for the front speakers in a 2.0 or 2.1 system, SS-out for the side speakers in a 4.0, 4.1 or 5.1 system, BS-out for the extra two side speakers of the 7.1 system and C\/B for either a center speaker or a sub woofer.<\/p>\n<p>You can also use this audio device together with Diamond&#8217;s BVU-1000 Multi-Media USB device that allows you to turn your  notebook into a home theater PC (HTPC).\u00a0 It is\u00a0 just like watching your  movies from the DVD\/BlueRay player but using your notebook instead.\u00a0  Senior Editor David McOwen reviewed it <a href=\"..\/?p=24314\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/IMG_0089.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-24334\" title=\"IMG_0089\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/IMG_0089.jpg?resize=300%2C258\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/IMG_0089.jpg?resize=300%2C258 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/IMG_0089.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>It is absolutely ideal for using your notebook to watch Internet TV, HD YouTube videos and streaming NetFlix videos all on your big screen HDTV in full 7.1 audio.<\/p>\n<h2>Software<\/h2>\n<p>Installing this device is simple as it is plug and play.\u00a0 After Windows recognizes it, you will want to use the installation CD to install the driver<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-install.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-24682\" title=\"CD_menu-install\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-install.jpg?resize=300%2C233\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-install.jpg?resize=300%2C233 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-install.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After you reboot your PC, you can set up Audacity which will give you some basic wav editing functions.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-24683\" title=\"CD_menu-audacity\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity.jpg?resize=300%2C230\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity.jpg?resize=300%2C230 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-24684\" title=\"CD_menu-audacity-2\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity-2.jpg?resize=300%2C51\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity-2.jpg?resize=300%2C51 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity-2-1024x176.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CD_menu-audacity-2.jpg 1359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Check out your setup and make sure that you have the highest quality sound available.\u00a0 Here is my notebook&#8217;s integrated sound at the highest settings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Conextant2.0Notebook.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24685\" title=\"Conextant2.0Notebook\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Conextant2.0Notebook.jpg?resize=438%2C467\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Conextant2.0Notebook.jpg?resize=438%2C467 438w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Conextant2.0Notebook-281x300.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Next set up your speakers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-win7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24686\" title=\"manual-explanation-win7\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-win7.jpg?resize=476%2C230\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-win7.jpg?resize=476%2C230 793w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-win7-300x144.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is the 5.1 configuration we chose on the left for our Cambridge Soundworks portable system plus an additional powered speaker for the center speaker.\u00a0 On the right, you can see what a 7.1 system looks like; you would need two additional speakers over the 5.1 setup.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-5.1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24687\" title=\"manual-explanation-5.1\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-5.1.jpg?resize=515%2C335\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-5.1.jpg?resize=515%2C335 858w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-5.1-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is the kind of control we have how by using our sound card from looking at the .pdf on the CD.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-7.1configlevels1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24689\" title=\"manual-explanation-7.1configlevels\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-7.1configlevels1.jpg?resize=379%2C495\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-7.1configlevels1.jpg?resize=379%2C495 379w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/manual-explanation-7.1configlevels1-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 379px) 100vw, 379px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>There is an equalizer available and each speaker&#8217;s level can be set independently.\u00a0 It&#8217;s remarkable that such an inexpensive device can do so much.\u00a0 Let&#8217;s now listen and hear how it sounds compared to the woefully inadequate integrated notebook sound.<\/p>\n<h2>Listening Tests<\/h2>\n<p>For our listening tests, we used the well-recorded DVDs of Steely Dan and Carlos Santana that this editor is very familiar with.\u00a0 We also used 3 sound systems over several weeks to evaluate this Diamond Xtreme Sound USB external sound card.\u00a0 Of course, we ran the usual audio synthetic tests and naturally they showed some differences but they absolutely cannot tell you how either of the sound cards actually sound when playing music.\u00a0 That is what trained ears are for!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/RightMarkAnalyzer-resultsCON_PhaseDist.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-24696\" title=\"RightMarkAnalyzer-resultsCON_PhaseDist\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/RightMarkAnalyzer-resultsCON_PhaseDist.jpg?resize=300%2C237\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/RightMarkAnalyzer-resultsCON_PhaseDist.jpg?resize=300%2C237 300w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/RightMarkAnalyzer-resultsCON_PhaseDist.jpg 782w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>First up, we used our Cambridge quadraphonic system; it is 4.1 which means that only the Front-out and Side Speakers-out are used on the device&#8217;s front.\u00a0 We then decided to make our 4.1 into a 5.1 system by using the Diamond self-powered mini-speaker as a sixth speaker &#8211; for the center channel missing in Quad systems<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/center-speaker.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24691\" title=\"center-speaker\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/center-speaker.jpg?resize=550%2C223\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/center-speaker.jpg?resize=550%2C223 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/center-speaker-300x121.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here it is set up with a center speaker &#8211; it works well for DVD movies and we tried several movies to test the positionality of the 5.1 sound over quadraphonic 4.1 sound.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/DiamondSpeaker1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/DiamondSpeaker1.jpg?resize=405%2C568\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Diamond self-powered mini-speaker fit in surprisingly well with the other speakers after some adjustments in the control panel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeQuad4.1plus1center1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24693\" title=\"CambridgeQuad4.1plus1center\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeQuad4.1plus1center1.jpg?resize=540%2C369\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeQuad4.1plus1center1.jpg?resize=540%2C369 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/CambridgeQuad4.1plus1center1-300x204.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>As you can see in the above image, you have full control over that center speaker in the Diamond USB 7.1 control panel and can test and adjust each speaker individually.\u00a0 What was amazing was the sound of the music. It was set free from the stereo that the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound outputs and it became music that was enjoyable to listen to &#8211; not tiring as before on the same cheap system.\u00a0 It had never sounded so good as it had in many years since the Creative Audigy sound card succumbed to bad driver support and was retired.<\/p>\n<p>Next up was the Klipsch Promedia v200 4.1 400W quad system.\u00a0 It sounded absolutely awful on the notebook&#8217;s sound card.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24694\" title=\"Klipsch\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch3.jpg?resize=480%2C228\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch3.jpg?resize=480%2C228 1000w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Klipsch3-300x142.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The difference is like night versus day with the Diamond Xtreme Sound 7.1 external USB sound card versus the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound chip.\u00a0 The bass that sounded so flabby on the notebook&#8217;s integrated sound now sounds tight and the highs are back necessitating a backing down on the treble!\u00a0 As with the cheap Cambridge system, it was tiring to listen to music before, but not any more thanks to Diamonds USB 7.1 Xtreme sound.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, neither of these systems are &#8220;audiophile&#8221; and are not even close to high-end, yet the difference between the integrated notebook sound and the Diamond Sound card is obvious to a trained ear and even an inexperienced listener will appreciate music that is not tiring to listen to because of distortion.\u00a0 And finally, we had to break out our Grado SR60 headphones.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Grado.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24695\" title=\"Grado\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Grado.jpg?resize=550%2C378\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Grado.jpg?resize=550%2C378 550w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Grado-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These headphones are well worn but still have the ability to reproduce remarkably clear and accurate audio.\u00a0 In this case, the deficiencies in the high and the lows of the notebook sound were clearly evident and were completely mitigated by the excellent sound of Diamond&#8217;s Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB Sound Card.\u00a0 This editor is enjoying his music again!<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Easy to install software, plug and play hardware and great flexibility in an inexpensive package<\/li>\n<li>Easy to hook up the USB cable and connections to the audio and\/or receiver including S\/PDIF<\/li>\n<li>Excellent sound with 8-speaker 7.1 audio possible from your notebook<\/li>\n<li>You can have an excellent HTPC system by adding a Diamond BVU1000 USB to HDMI adapter and use your notebook to watch Internet TV, YouTube and NetFlix on your big HDTV in full eight-speaker 7.1 surround.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>None whatsoever<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you want to listen to music on your notebook, I highly recommend this adapter.\u00a0 You will do your ears a big favor by dumping your notebook&#8217;s integrated sound and you have the option to use 8-speakers for 7.1 audio reproduction, for PC gaming as well as for recording and karaoke.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Recommended1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Recommended1.png?resize=150%2C251\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>The Diamond Multimedia Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB external Sound Card retails for $50 and is available at WalMart for $40 and I\u2019ve seen sites offer it as low as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.buy.com\/prod\/diamond-xtremesound-7-1-24-bit-internal-sound-card-diamond-multimedia\/q\/loc\/101\/202115095.html\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.buy.com\/prod\/diamond-xtremesound-7-1-24-bit-internal-sound-card-diamond-multimedia\/q\/loc\/101\/202115095.html', '$32.07 at Buy.com']);\" >$32.07 at Buy.com<\/a>.\u00a0 That alone makes the Diamond Multimedia Xtreme Sound 7.1 device a great value!\u00a0 Enjoy your music again!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/GreatValueAward1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/GreatValueAward1.png?resize=150%2C251\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Become a Fan on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/AlienBabelTech\/123268467142', 'Facebook']);\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\" target=\"_blank\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Join our Distributed Computing teams<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folding@Home &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech &#8211; 164304<\/li>\n<li>SETI@Home &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech &#8211; 138705<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1', 'World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech']);\" target=\"_blank\">World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=24644\"><img decoding=\"async\" align=top title=\"Author: Mark Poppin\" src=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Article-Image4.png\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":24711,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2533,7814,7],"tags":[4570,4569,4525,4565,1554,4568,4567,4566],"class_list":["post-24644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abt-news","category-articles","category-technology","tag-7-1-audio","tag-bvu1000-usb-to-hdmi-adapter","tag-diamond-multimedia","tag-diamond-xtreme-sound","tag-home-theater","tag-notebook-integrated-sound","tag-sound-card-review","tag-usb-7-1-external-sound-card"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}