M Audio Computer Hardware Revolution 71 User Manual

Revolution 7.1  
Surround Sound Audio Card  
Reviewer’s Guide  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Contents  
A Note To Product Reviewers  
Key Editorial Contacts  
2
3
Today’s Audio Cards: Pro Sound at Low Prices  
Top 5 Cool Things To Do With The Revolution 7.1  
About The Revolution 7.1  
Product Info Box  
4
5
6
9
Te sting The Revolution 7.1  
Product Specifications  
10  
28  
30  
32  
33  
35  
36  
37  
38  
Bass Management  
7.1 Surround Sound Receivers  
DVD Test Scenes  
Music Listening Samples  
Additional Resources  
Company Backgrounder  
Press Release  
iii  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
A Note To Product Reviewers  
We’re pleased that you have chosen to review M-Audio’s Revolution 7.1  
high-definition surround-sound audio card. It’s a product we are very ex-  
cited about. This guide provides you with editorial background information  
to assist you in writing your review. It is not, however, a replacement for the  
user guide; you should use the two together. We hope you’ll find this re-  
viewer’s guide useful. We’d like your feedback on this document and look  
forward to reading your published review.  
Additional resources are available to assist you with your review. A list of  
telephone contacts is provided on the next page. Don’t hesitate to call when  
any question—big or small—arises. If this guide accomplishes one goal, it  
is that we want to make sure you publish a factually accurate review, re-  
gardless of your opinion of the product itself. Also, be sure to read the  
printed documentation that is included with the product you received. Fi-  
the-minute information.  
About our company name: Midiman Inc. is changing its legal name to  
M-Audio Inc. In your review, please refer to “M-Audio,” not Midiman.  
Product photos: You can download high-resolution photographs of the  
2
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Key Editorial Contacts  
As you conduct your review, we encourage you to call with questions. Though  
we’ve worked hard to ensure that you have all the facts needed to write an accurate  
and comprehensive review, occasionally a question may arise that isn’t covered in  
this guide. For publication purposes, refer your readers to the M-Audio Web site,  
Media/Editorial/Press-relations contact:  
Jason Ivan  
Director of Product Marketing  
M-Audio Consumer Products Group  
M-Audio  
Cell: 408.209.8901  
Technical support contact:  
Erik Andersen  
Technical Specialist  
M-Audio  
Phone: 626.445.2842 x381  
Public-relation agency contact:  
Valerie Foster  
Shotwell Public Relations  
Santa Clara, Calif.  
Phone: (408) 855-8608 x102  
Refer your readers to:  
3
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Part  
1
Today’s Audio Cards:  
Pro Sound at Low Prices  
Two-channel stereo just doesn’t cut it anymore as users  
demand high-quality surround sound for their DVD  
enabled computers  
OusMePrsUTsEeRttlaedudfioorhaaspcaoimr eofatlionnngy,wloayw.-Jfiudsetliatyf,ewbaytteearrys-paogwo,erPeCd asnpdeaMkearcs  
driven by a mediocre sound card that generated a lot of background noise.  
How that has changed! As savvy consumers have become accustomed to  
C
low-cost, high-performance, easy-to-use surround-sound DVD home theater sys-  
tems, they are placing similar demands on computer audio—just as they did with  
computer video. The Revolution 7.1 answers these demands by delivering profes-  
sional-quality, high-definition audio signals to as many as eight speakers.  
M - A U D I O’ S  
M I S S I O N I S  
T O B R I NG  
As video technology advanced, sound lagged. Now, major vendors are continually  
introducing new technologies that support multi-channel surround sound and pro-  
mote media as a key purpose for the computer:  
P R O - Q U A L I T Y  
A U D I O P E R -  
F O R M A N C E T O  
T H E M A S S  
Apple Computer: “Digital Hub”  
Intel: “The center of your digital world”  
Microsoft: Windows Media Center Edition  
M A R K E T I N  
E A S Y - T O- U S E ,  
A F F O R D A B L E  
P R O D U C T S  
In addition, “power gaming” demands the ultimate in both video and audio. Most  
movies are now released to DVD with at least six audio channels (Dolby Digital  
5.1), and, in some cases, with DTS ES 6.1, or Dolby Digital EX 6.1 (which Dolby  
and THX recommend playing on a 7.1 system). Two new music formats, SACD  
(Super Audio CD) and DVD-audio are likely to become increasingly important.  
Yesterday’s audio cards simply can’t keep up; they’re mired in hopelessly obsolete  
1990s technology.  
4
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Top 5 Cool Things To Do  
With The Revolution 7.1  
The Revolution 7.1 offers phenomenal high-definition sound and provides to up  
eight channels of professional-quality audioall for less than $100. But so what?  
It’s what your readers can do with the product that matters. Here are some examples  
you can share with your publication’s audience.  
Games: You’ve never heard games sound like this before! Surround your PC with  
up to seven speakers and a subwoofer for a totally awesome gaming experience.  
Games enabled with Sensaura simply sound amazing. And M-Audio hasn’t forgot-  
ten about the thousands of games encoded with two-channel stereo. They’ll sound  
better than ever, thanks to Revolution 7.1’s Circle Surround II technology.  
W I T H U P T O  
S E V E N C H A N -  
N E L S O F S U R -  
R O U N D S O U N D  
A N D A S U B -  
W O O F E R ,  
Virtual DVD hardware player: Turn any DVD-equipped Mac or PC into an awe-  
some-sounding hardware DVD player.  
Digital recording: Convert those old vinyl record albums to professional-quality  
high-definition digital audio. With The Revolution 7.1 and a user’s favorite digital  
recording software, those precious old albums can be preserved in glorious 24-  
bit/96kHz fidelity.  
G A M E S A N D  
P R E S E N T A -  
Hnaommiec trhaenagteerg:rTeahtelyRiemvporlouvtieonth7e.1lisstehniignhgerex2p4e-briiet/n1c9e2koHf czofmidpeulitteyr-abnadse1d0p7ladyBbadcyk-  
of CDs, MP3s and Internet radio. The Revolution 7.1 elevates computer-based  
audio to the level where the computer can play a viable roll as an audio source in a  
sophisticated home entertainment system. Internet radio, for example, can be real-  
ized in sufficiently high fidelity to warrant connecting the computer to the home  
entertainment system. And with new high-definition TV tuner cards and high-  
quality DVD playback, the PC is more capable than ever of replacing a stack of  
home theater components. The best quality surround sound is key.  
T I O N S H A V E  
N E V E R H A D I T  
S O G O O D .  
Presentations: Make business presentations memorable by enveloping an audience  
with seven channels of high-definition surround sound and a seat-rattling sub-  
woofer. PowerPoint never had it so good.  
We know of no other audio card that offers support  
for 7.1 surround, a coaxial digital connection with  
AC3 and DTS support, high-definition 24-  
bit/192kHz audio fidelity, and virtual surround  
sound from only two speakers—let alone at a street  
price of about $99.99.  
5
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Part  
2
About The Revolution 7.1  
With this card, gamers, media enthusiasts, and business  
users can add speakers and supercharge their systems  
with eight channels of pro-quality audio  
HyeEarRseavgoolu, tyioent i7t .d1eliisvehraslfupthetoseizigehotfsethpearastteerecohasnonuenlsdocfasrdosunodf, jiussftaar qfeuwi-  
eter, and is priced less than $100. It includes full (not trial) versions of Tony  
T
Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, WinDVD4 Dolby Digital EX Edition,VJ Lite, and  
trial versions of other software.  
Key Revolution 7.1 Features  
Up to eight separate channels—left, center,  
Surround Sound  
right, surround (2), and surround center/rear  
(2) plus subwoofer—completely envelope users.  
Time to Upgrade:  
Stuck with poor  
sound for years,  
many computer  
users don’t know  
they can upgrade  
their sound card  
and speakers to get  
professional, high-  
quality audio. Now  
is the time.  
SRS TruSurround XT technology gives sur-  
round-sound effect from a traditional stereo  
two-speaker set-up or headphones.  
Surround effect  
from two speakers  
Advanced Circle Surround II technology creates  
true multichannel surround sound from stereo  
MP3s, CDs, and other audio.  
Convert stereo into  
true surround sound  
Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3), Dolby Pro  
Logic, DTS, and other encoded multi-channel  
formats.  
Ready for most  
encoded formats  
Even the 106dB SNR of Creative’s Sound Blas-  
ter Audigy 2 Platinum eX can’t match The  
Revolution 7.1’s SNR of 107dB.  
Best signal-to-noise  
ratio available*  
6
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
WGlhaadtyMoaukaesskeItdSoaGndoowde?’re sure your readers will want to know, too. Here are the  
two key factors in achieving superior sonic performance in the Revolution 7.1.  
First, we’re using cutting-edge components, including the Envy 24HT chip from  
Via Technologies and components from AKM Semiconductor. These have only  
recently become available and they allow us to generate such high audio quality.  
W E ’ V E T A K E N  
M - A U D I O’ S  
E X P E R T I S E I N  
D E V E L O P I NG  
P R O F E S S I O N A L  
S O U N D C A R D S  
A N D B R OU G H T  
I T I N T O T H E  
C O N S U M E R  
Second is the critical issue—and some may say art form—of circuit board design.  
The board layout and design were done in such a way as to keep the audio signals  
as clean as possible. This is more difficult than it would seem. Laying the wrong  
trace over the wrong area, or placing it too close to an electronic component can  
introduce noise into the signal, degrading sound quality. For over a decade, M-  
Audio has developed professional audio cards used commercially to master albums  
and to do other high-quality audio work, including playback. We’ve taken our ex-  
pertise in the professional audio market and brought it to the consumer market.  
M A R K E T .  
IEsvnetnathCooumgphuatenrasuIdnitoercnaardl ScoaunnrdeCpraopdaubcielitsyigEnnaolusgahc?ross the entire frequency spec-  
trum (20Hz to 20kHz ), that doesn’t mean it does so with smooth, linear response.  
Dynamic range and noise may be sub-par, too. The Revolution 7.1 features excel-  
lent linear frequency response, delivers superior dynamic range, and virtually elimi-  
nates noise.  
But Aren’t CDs and MP3s Are Recorded In Two-Channel Stereo?  
They sure are. And we’ve taken care of that. After investing in a Revolution 7.1  
audio card, seven powered speakers, and a powered subwoofer, users will undoubt-  
edly remember that their CD and MP3 music collections were recorded mostly in  
traditional two-channel stereo. Circle Surround II from SRS solves this shortcom-  
ing, using advanced algorithms to transform two-channel stereo (or even mono)  
source material into real multichannel audio for playback through a full comple-  
ment of surround speakers. This is the same technology that many high-end home-  
theater receivers use.  
WRehvaotluIftiAonU7s.e1rwDooerkssng’trHeaatvienAsu7rr.1ouSnpdemakoedreSseott?her than 7.1. It fully supports 4.0,  
4.1, 5.0, 5.1, and 6.1 as well as 7.1 surround, so you can use almost any surround  
speaker set. And users who have only two speakers or headphones can still enjoy  
the effect of surround sound. TruSurround XT places virtual individual surround  
channels where they should be, as though a full complement of speakers had been  
installed. This capability transforms 5.1 or 6.1 multichannel sources, such as Dolby  
Digital or Pro Logic encoded DVDs or movies into virtual surround from a pair of  
stereo speakers or headphones. It can even enhance non-surround material such as  
music and some games.  
7
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Outclasses Audigy 2 At A Lower Price  
For a little less money than Creative’s new Audigy 2 sound card, the M-Audio  
Revolution 7.1 offers more audio channels, higher fidelity, lower distortion, and  
twice the platform support. The following chart compares major specifications of  
the Revolution 7.1 with the Creative Audigy 2 and the Hercules Gamesurround  
Fortissimo III. In every category, the Revolution 7.1 is superior.  
Competitive Matrix  
Revolution vs. Audigy 2, Gamesurround  
Hercules  
Gamesurround  
Fortissimo III  
M-Audio  
Revolution 7.1  
Creative  
Audigy 2  
W I T H I T S  
1 0 7 D B S N R ,  
7 . 1 S U R -  
Price  
MSRP  
$119.99  
$99.99  
$129.99  
$119.99  
$49.99  
$49.99  
R O U N D , A N D  
G A M I N G S U P -  
P O R T , T H E  
R E V O L U T I O N  
7 . 1 I S T H E  
U L T I M A T E  
*Street  
Audio Fidelity  
Stereo  
24-bit/192kHz  
24-bit/192kHz  
24-bit/192kHz  
18-bit/48kHz  
7.1  
24-bit/96kHz (5.1 only) 18-bit/48kHz  
ASIO support  
Playback  
Record  
C O N S U M E R  
A U D I O C A R D .  
24-bit/192kHz  
24-bit/96kHz  
16-bit/48kHz  
16-bit/48kHz  
Unsupported?  
Unsupported?  
Platforms Supported  
Macintosh, PC  
PC only  
PC only  
Audio Quality  
SNR  
THD+N  
106dB on L/R/SL/SR  
90dB on C/Sub/Rear C  
107dB Stereo to 7.1  
.003%  
90dB Stereo  
.017%  
.004%  
Sources: M-Audio company data, specifications from  
*street price available at a major  
retailer, such as CompUSA  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Understanding the 24-bit/192kHz Capability  
Digital audio quality depends on bit depth and sample rate. Bit depth refers to how  
many bits of information are available to represent each sample, a factor that trans-  
lates to dynamic range. Sample rate is how many times per second the sound is  
sampled. The standard for today’s audio CDs is a sampling rate of 44.1kHz at a  
resolution of 16-bits per sample. The Revolution 7.1 supports sampling rates up to  
192kHz and resolutions up to 24-bits—the highest available in both the professional  
consumer markets.  
Product Info Box  
Revolution 7.1 Product Summary  
The Revolution 7.1 is the ultimate consumer  
audio card for PC or Mac. It’s perfect for  
power gamers who want to supercharge their  
audio they way they’ve already cranked up  
the video. DVD enthusiasts can use their  
computer as the centerpiece of a high-quality  
In Brief  
home-theater. Music buffs can revitalize their  
existing CD and MP3 collections or enjoy new  
surround music. And business users will get  
wows from their presentations.  
Operating systems  
supported  
Windows Me, 2000, XP; Mac OS 9.2.2 or  
later, Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later  
Price MSRP/Street* $119.99 / $99.99  
Warranty  
1-year limited  
Full version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PC  
only), WinDVD 4: Dolby Digital EX 7.1 Ver-  
sion (PC only), VJ Lite, VLC Dolby-Digital En-  
abled DVD player for Mac; 100 ProSessions  
sounds and loops, free M-Powered Artists En-  
hanced CD  
Included Software  
Audio card, driver CD, applications software  
CDs, M-Powered Artists Enhanced CD, User  
guide, Registration card  
In the box  
M-Audio  
Arcadia, Calif.  
Vendor  
Web site  
*Estimated. Actual prices may vary.  
9
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Part  
3
Testing The Revolution 7.1  
There’s only one way to check out the features of any  
audio card, and that’s to install it, load a CD, and  
listen to the music.  
Oh, baby, let the music play”  
The Doobie Brothers  
T H E R E V O L U -  
T I O N 7 . 1 I S A  
G R E A T  
HEN you work with the Revolution 7.1, it’s important to remember that  
you’ll be examining two separate products—the hardware and the driver  
software—that work together as one. Several applications ship with the  
sound card; they are beyond the scope of this reviewer’s guide.  
C H O I C E F O R  
G A M E R S A N D  
D V D O R M U S I C  
E N T H U S I -  
W
In this portion of the Revolution 7.1 Reviewer’s Guide, we’ll cover the following:  
Test bed considerations  
Hardware set-up  
A S T S ,  
W H E T H E R  
Software installation  
Listening tests  
T H E Y H A V E  
E I G H T  
S P E A K E R S O R  
J U S T T W O .  
The Test Bed  
The best test of a sound card is to listen to it—just the way a gamer, or music or  
DVD enthusiast would use it. You’ll need the following equipment for testing your  
Revolution 7.1:  
Computer  
You can use a Macintosh or a PC as long as it has a free PCI slot and meets the  
minimum system requirements. For a PC, Windows Me, 2000, or XP are required.  
For a Macintosh, Mac OS 9.2.2 or later is required (OS X 10.2.3 or later is recom-  
mended).Speakers  
10  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
To best experience the Revolution 7.1’s awesome sound you should have:  
Seven powered speakers (left, center, right, surround (2) and rear (or center)  
surrounds (2). Ideally, you’ll use 6 matched speakers, plus a center speaker  
designed to work with the others. You can use passive speakers with a high-  
quality multi-channel surround receiver for even better quality playback.  
Powered subwoofer  
A C C O R D I N G  
T O D O L B Y A N D  
T H X , D O L B Y  
D I G I T A L E X  
D V D S A R E D E -  
S I G N E D T O B E  
P L A Y E D B A C K  
O N A 7 . 1 S U R -  
R O U N D S Y S -  
T E M .  
The Revolution 7.1 works well with almost any receiver or powered speaker set. It  
fully supports stereo, headphones, stereo with subwoofer, 2.1 (with discrete sub-  
woofer), quadraphonic, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 configurations. Though 7.1 multimedia  
speakers sets for the consumer market are just appearing, 7.1 is firmly entrenched in  
the home theater receiver market. See additional information about speakers in the  
next section, and refer to the “7.1 Surround Sound Receivers” section for a list of  
some of the many 7.1 receivers currently available.  
Content  
You can use your favorite game, movie, DVD, MP3, WMA or other audio file, or  
just about anything else. However, the appendix lists sample scenes and songs that  
make great test content for certain applications. We recommend you use the rec-  
ommended content unless you have known content that you are comfortable with.  
Not all movies, for example, are mixed with use of surround channels, which can  
skew a surround listening test.  
About Consumer Multimedia Speakers  
Revolution’s audio quality exceeds that of any consumer multimedia speaker  
system. Consequently, you should use the best speakers and amplifiers available  
for your evaluation.  
If you do not have access to a quality 7.1 home theater receiver and  
speakers, you can use any off-the-shelf multimedia system.  
If using a set of multimedia speakers, it is best to use a “higher end” set  
rather than an inexpensive set with poor sound quality. Klipsch, Logi-  
tech, Cambridge, Midiland, and Harman Kardon can be good sources  
for better quality multimedia speakers. Creative’s Inspire 6.1 offers an  
additional surround speaker, but at under $100, we believe the set sacri-  
fices quality for price.  
Sgepneearkaellryaavvaailialabbilliety. .TAhsisoifs Mlaargrcehly2b0e0c3a,u7s.e16m.1u/7lt.i1mesoduiandspceaarkdesr asreetsownleyrennoowt  
reaching the retail market. Now that these sound cards are available, several  
speaker manufacturers have begun development of 7.1 multimedia speaker sets.  
Since Revolution provides discrete 7.1 line outputs, some users may elect to  
“upgrade” their existing 5.1 multimedia speaker set by connecting a stereo set  
of powered speakers to the rear surround channel. Though this may not provide  
11  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
the best sound quality or balance possible, it is an inexpensive and quick way to  
upgrade a consumer 5.1 speaker set to 7.1.  
Hardware Set-Up  
Simply install the Revolution 7.1 in an available PCI slot in a Macintosh or PC.  
Next, you’ll connect the speakers. Finally, reboot the system and install the software  
drivers. Optionally, you can install the included software applications. For the DVD  
playback tests, you should install the included WinDVD 4 application (PC) or the  
Video Lan Client (Mac) which may be available in your Revolution retail box or  
can downloaded from www.videolan.org.  
Note the color coding and intuitive labeling of the card’s seven jacks. Refer to the  
chart below to understand the color-coding system and which speaker channels or  
inputs each of the seven jacks represents.  
12  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Connection Color Coding  
S/PDIF Coaxial output. To use, purchase an RCA or  
Coaxial Digital cable for connection to a digital re-  
corder, mixer, or receiver.  
Digital Output  
(orange)  
Connect a microphone for recording, videophone,  
or voice-recognition applications. Jack is a 3-  
conductor TRS-type for condenser (2-conductor)  
and electret (3-conductor) microphones.  
Mic In  
(pink)  
Line In  
(blue)  
Line-level input. Used to record into user’s favorite  
audio-recording program.  
Connects to powered Left and Right speakers, lo-  
cated to the left and right of computer monitor. For  
a two-speaker stereo setup, use this jack. Also  
used for stereo headphones.  
Front L/R speakers  
or headphones  
(green)  
W I T H I T S I N -  
T U I T I V E J A C K  
L A B E L I N G A N D  
C O L O R C O D -  
I N G , T H E  
Connects to powered Center and Subwoofer  
speakers. Locate the center speaker above or be-  
low monitor. The subwoofer, with its low, non-  
directional frequencies, can go almost anywhere.  
Center/Subwoofer  
(orange)  
R E V O L U T I O N  
7 . 1 I S A S N A P  
T O H O O K U P  
T O M U L T I M E -  
D I A S P E A K E R  
S E T S .  
Connects to powered Surround Left and Right  
speakers, located to left and right sides, just be-  
hind listener’s head.  
Surround L/R  
(black)  
Connects to powered Surround Center (or “Sur-  
round Rear”) Left and Right speakers, located di-  
rectly behind listener.  
Surround Rear L/R  
(silver)  
Source: Revolution 7.1 user guide  
Speaker Output Jacks  
You can see in the preceding photo that Revolution employs 1⁄8" stereo output jacks  
that can be connected to powered speakers or to the inputs on a surround-sound re-  
ceiver. Each jack combines two speaker outputs, saving space and simplifying in-  
stallation. (For example, the Center/Subwoofer output is actually the output for both  
the Center and Subwoofer channels.) Most multimedia speakers use 1⁄8" stereo in-  
put cables with the same color coding as used on Revolution 7.1. Simply match the  
colors to easily connect speakers.  
If your speaker or receiver jacks are of the RCA type, instead, use a 1⁄8” to RCA  
cable (see following photo). This common cable can be purchased at most local  
stores, such as Radio Shack or Best Buy.  
13  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Use a 1⁄8” to RCA cable to connect with  
speakers or receivers outfitted with RCA  
jacks. The white connector (top) connects  
to the first listed channel, the red jack to  
the second. For example, with the orange  
Center/Subwoofer jack, the white jack  
goes to the Center speaker, the red to the  
Subwoofer.  
Shown: Radio Shack Part #42-2550. Note: higher quality cables yield better sound quality.  
Software Installation  
The User Guide provides detailed information, including screen shots, about in-  
stalling the software drivers on the various versions of the Windows and Mac OS  
operating systems. For your convenience, here are the appropriate User Guide page  
references:  
Windows XP..........................Page 5  
Windows 2000................................7  
Windows Me...................................9  
Mac OS 9 ......................................10  
Mac OS X .....................................11  
M-Audio continuously improves the quality and feature set of its driver software.  
We recommend that you download the latest Revolution 7.1 driver software for  
your operating system from:  
New features have been added, and existing ones enhanced.  
Surround Sound Formats  
From simple stereo to 8-channel surround, a variety of sound formats are found on  
DVDs. More detailed information can be found on pages 14–16 of the User’s  
Guide. The standard speaker configurations, listed in the following chart, are used  
to play the most common audio formats. Note that not every encoded format has a  
separate encoded channel for each speaker. For example, a true 2.1 speaker configu-  
ration plays back a stereo source, but relies on bass management to route bass fre-  
quencies to the subwoofer, creating the third discrete audio channel. Similarly, the  
extra signal for the two surround speakers in a Pro Logic or 7.1 (Dolby Digital EX)  
format is actually encoded into other channels and subsequently broken out by a  
decoder.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Speaker Configurations  
2.0  
“2.1”  
2.1  
Left, right  
Left, right with subwoofer (no discrete subwoofer input)  
Left, right; discrete subwoofer  
4.0  
Left, right, two surrounds  
4.1  
Left, right, two surrounds; subwoofer  
Left, right, center; two surrounds  
Left, right, center; two surrounds, subwoofer  
Left, right, center; three surrounds, subwoofer  
Left, right, center; four surrounds, subwoofer  
5.0  
5.1  
6.1  
7.1  
R E V O L U T I O N  
S U P P O R T S A L L  
O F T H E M O S T  
C O M M O N — A N D  
E V E N S O M E O F  
T H E M O R E O B -  
S C U R E — T Y P E S  
O F S P E A K E R  
C O N F I G U R A -  
T I O N S .  
7.1 Surround Sound  
Because 7.1 surround sound is new, some of your readers may be unfamiliar with it.  
To assist you in providing your readers with an authoritative overview, we’ve pro-  
vided you with answers to the five most commonly asked questions about 7.1 sur-  
round. For more detailed information, visit the web sites of Dolby, DTS, THX, and  
Microsoft about their respective technologies.  
“Why would I want more than 5.1 surround sound?”  
Q
A
Simply put, 7.1 provides a more immersive surround experience.  
Sound goes not only from the front to the side-positioned surround  
speakers, but also goes straight from front to rear, and from the sides,  
can loop around the listener in a half circle. The following graphic il-  
lustrates this idea. The 7.1 experience provides a level of realism that  
5.1 cannot deliver. For those interested in the ultimate surround experi-  
ence, 7.1 is the way to go.  
The best way to compare is to audition an EX title with a scene that has  
good surround mixing, such as the Star Wars Pod Racer scene. Com-  
pare the surround experience in 5.1 vs. 7.1  
“Where do the extra speakers go?”  
Q
A
The extra speakers go directly behind the listener(s) as shown in the  
following illustration.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Speaker Placement Guide  
5.1 Surround Sound  
7.1 Surround Sound  
“What’s the difference between 6.1 and 7.1?”  
For today’s cinema content, it’s first important to note the distinction  
between the number of audio channels encoded in the content, and the  
speaker configuration on which that content is to be played.  
Q
A
Perhaps the easiest way to illustrate this with new technologies, such as  
Dolby Digital EX or DTS ES, is to first look back at the original Dolby  
Pro Logic format. Though Dolby Pro Logic contains only four decoded  
channels (Left, Right, Center, and Mono Surround), it is designed to be  
played back with two surround speakers, each playing the same mono  
surround information. The newer 7.1 is similar: Content is en-  
coded/decoded as 6.1 information, but the Rear (or Center) surround  
channel is intended to be played on a 7.1 speaker configuration, rather  
than 6.1. Using two rear surround speakers provides better fill, more  
natural sound, better sound dispersion, and—with multiple listeners—a  
wider “sweet spot.”  
For more information, read the Dolby Digital EX listener’s guide, lo-  
The Revolution 7.1 can also output 7.1 discrete channels. This is great  
for today’s new surround formats, such as Windows Media Audio 9  
Professional, that already support discrete 7.1 surround sound. It also  
makes the Revolution 7.1 ready for future formats that take advantage  
of 7.1 surround.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
“What content is available in 6.1 or 7.1?”  
Q
A
With Microsoft’s January 2003 launch of Windows Media Audio 9  
Professional, both music and movie content will be available in 7.1 sur-  
round sound (in addition to 5.1). Circle Surround II generates a 7.1  
content mix from any stereo source, Pro Logic, or Circle Surround-  
encoded material. Using the “Virtual 7.1” or “7.1 Expansion” feature in  
Revolution’s Control Panel, you can experience added surround fill  
when listening to any 5.1 content. Also, 6.1 content, including Dolby  
Digital EX, DTS ES, and DTS Discrete ES, are all designed for play-  
back on a 7.1 setup.  
“Where can I get a 7.1 receiver or 7.1 speaker set?”  
Q
A
See “About Computer Multimedia Speakers,” above, and the “7.1 Sur-  
round Sound Receivers” section, located in the Appendix.  
Revolution Control Panel  
After installing the hardware and software, use the control panel to manage all as-  
pects of the Revolution 7.1 audio experience. As you go through the suggested lis-  
tening tests, detailed later in this section, you will choose many options from the  
control panel.  
Launching the control panel varies by operating system:  
Windows: Double click the “M” icon in the system tray  
Mac OS9: Open the Control Panels folder and select “M-Audio Revolution”  
Mac OS X: Double click “M-Audio Revolution” in the Applications folder  
Launching the control panel displays the speaker set-up screen. Note the folder tabs  
that appear horizontally across the control panel. They provide access to the Revo-  
lution 7.1’s various audio-management features. Detailed information about all as-  
pects of the control panel is located on pages 17–24 of the User Guide.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Speaker Setup  
(Mac). Indicates  
number of installed  
speakers, their  
sizes, distances  
from the listener,  
crossover fre-  
quency, and more.  
Specifying more  
speakers than are  
connected may  
cause sound to be  
routed to non-  
existent speakers,  
resulting in audio  
information being  
unheard. The  
“Test” function en-  
sures correct  
speaker connec-  
tions and levels.  
S E T T I N G U P  
T E C H N I C A L  
S P E A K E R O P -  
T I O N S C A N B E  
A S E A S Y A S  
C H O O S I N G  
Output Mixer (PC).  
Faders adjust levels  
for each installed  
speaker with a high  
degree of control.  
“Solo” sends sound  
to selected speaker  
only, muting the  
others. This is useful  
to ensure that left  
and right are not  
reversed, for exam-  
ple.  
T H E I R M O D E L  
N U M B E R F R O M  
T H E R E V O L U -  
T I O N C O N T R O L  
P A N E L ’ S P O P -  
U P L I S T  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Surround Sound  
(Macintosh). Con-  
trols all surround  
functions, including  
Sensaura (PC),  
TruSurround XT,  
Circle Surround II,  
Dialog Enhance-  
ment, and TruBass.  
Refer to the fol-  
lowing “Listening  
Tests” section of  
this guide for de-  
tailed information  
and suggested  
evaluation proce-  
dures.  
Speaker Setup  
(Windows). Pro-  
vides identical  
functionality to the  
Macintosh version.  
“Bass Manage-  
ment” option  
routes full-range  
signal to speakers if  
they are large  
enough to handle  
bass frequencies. If  
small speakers are  
specified, bass sig-  
nals are automati-  
cally routed to  
subwoofer.  
Operating System Considerations  
Operating systems for the PC and Macintosh differ in their support of mul-  
tichannel audio, a fact of life that affects all third-party developers. The fol-  
lowing sections provide information on which tests are supported under  
which operating systems.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Listening Tests  
With the Revolution 7.1, the proof is in the listening. Ideally, you would have two  
computers that are identical in every way except for the sound card installed. This  
will allow you to make direct A-B comparisons with Revolution 7.1 and the com-  
peting sound card of your choice. If not, you’ll use one system and swap the sound  
cards in and out as necessary.  
Note that some competing sound card driver software assumes single card function-  
ality and this software can conflict with other sound cards. We’ve noticed that even  
after a full uninstall of some competitors’ drivers and software, some residual soft-  
ware is left on the system which can still cause problems if a new sound card is later  
added to the system. We recommend installing the Revolution 7.1 on a clean, up-  
dated system.  
G A M E S W I T H  
E A X 1 . 0 , E A X  
2 . 0 , D I R E C T -  
S O U N D 3 D ,  
A 3 D A N D  
Test 1: Inherent Noise  
This test compares the inherent noise—or lack of noise—present in the sound  
cards. The Revolution 7.1 features a professional 107 dB signal-to-noise ratio.  
DO NOT PLAY AUDIO CONTENT DURING THIS TEST.  
Doing so may damage speakers and cause hearing loss.  
O T H E R S  
S O U N D  
1. Connect the competing sound card/computer combination to pow-  
ered speakers or a stereo receiver, then turn the volume up all the  
way. Listen for the amount of noise present.  
A M A Z I N G L Y  
R E A L W I T H A  
T H E R E V O L U -  
T I O N 7 . 1  
2. Turn the volume all the way down, then connect the speakers to the  
Revolution 7.1.  
C A R D  
3. Repeat the same test with the Revolution 7.1. You should hear no  
noise from the Revolution 7.1.  
You may hear noise associated directly with the powered speakers, cables,  
stereo system, or amplification, but not from the Revolution 7.1. It helps to  
test with a higher-quality sound system that doesn’t introduce a lot of noise.  
Note that it is also important to listen for noise during quiet parts in music.  
Some competing cards utilize “muting circuitry,” which eliminates noise by  
muting when no sound is playing back. Unfortunately, these turn off when  
sound is playing, so noise is again introduced into the audio signal.  
Test 2: Surround Gaming  
Here’s where you surround yourself with the Revolution 7.1’s 3D position-  
ing using Sensaura technology. Games enabled with EAX 1.0, EAX 2.0,  
DirectSound3D, DirectSound, I3DL2, and A3D offer amazing realism when  
played through the Revolution 7.1.  
1. Choose a game that supports positional audio, such as Unreal Tour-  
nament 2003, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, or Warcraft III.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
2. Open the Revolution control panel software, and select the “Sen-  
saura/Game Mode” option in the “Surround Sound” pane.  
3. Launch the game and choose a positional audio setting in the game’s  
audio settings such as DirectSound or EAX 2.  
4. Play the game, listening to both the audio quality and the immersive  
surround effect the Revolution 7.1 provides.  
5. On games with good use of positional audio, you gain a competitive  
advantage by being able to hear where danger or a target is coming  
from. You can test positional audio simply by playing, but you may  
want to try triggering sound in one direction (such as by throwing a  
grenade), turning your “character” around or to the side, and noting  
which speaker the sound effect comes from.  
While neither Mac OS 9 nor X have an established API for positional or  
3D gaming audio, there are some games for the Mac that can be provide  
positional audio by using Circle Surround II’s Cinema Mode. Starcraft  
supports Dolby Surround and will provide positional audio with CSII  
enabled on Revolution. Games that use the Miles positional sound sys-  
tem are also supposed to be Dolby compatible and can provide positional  
audio on the Mac when Circle Surround II’s Cinema Mode is enabled.  
Warcraft III from Blizzard is a good example of this. Note that the com-  
bined system requirements of game processing and Circle Surround Ii  
decode may be somewhat high.  
Test 3: Stereo Music  
This test demonstrates the Revolution 7.1’s superior sound quality when  
playing a stereo CD, MP3, or Internet radio.  
1. Audition one or more CDs, MP3s, and/or Internet radio selections  
using the competing sound card.  
2. Switch to the Revolution 7.1 and access the control panel software.  
3. Enable the “Stereo” or “Stereo w/Integrated Subwoofer” speaker sets  
if you have a stereo speaker set or a “2.1” set with a stereo speaker  
and crossover that sends bass to the built-in subwoofer. If you have a  
true 2.1 set that has a discrete subwoofer input channel, choose the  
“Stereo w/Discrete Subwoofer” set and enable Bass Management.  
4. Audition the same music as before.  
Note the superior audio quality of the Revolution 7.1. You should notice the  
improved dynamic range, lower noise, and increased clarity of the audio. On  
sources that are inherently very compressed or low fidelity—such as Internet  
radio—you may have a more difficult time telling the difference in sound  
quality. You may want to use one of the CD tracks listed in the “Music Lis-  
tening Samples” section.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Test 4: Surround Sound on Stereo Speakers  
These tests demonstrate virtual surround sound through stereo speakers using  
SRS TruSurround XT. It’s perfect for users who have only two speakers or  
headphones connected to their system. The software can create an enhanced  
sound mix from either an original 5.1 surround soundtrack or from the stereo  
mix placed on many DVDs, as well as CDs or MP3s.  
1. Open the Revolution 7.1 Control Panel. In the Surround Sound tab, turn  
on TruSurround XT and set it to “Cinema” mode.  
2. Audition an action scene on a DVD that offers a good dynamic range  
and use of surround channels. For best results, use the included  
WinDVD 4 software (PC) so that surround information can be pulled  
from the decoded Dolby Digital soundtrack and virtualized with TruSur-  
round XT on stereo speakers. On the Macintosh, this can be performed  
using Apple’s DVD Player.  
3. Test Revolution’s ability to enhance dialog. Turn “SRS Dialog Clarity”  
on and audition a DVD passage featuring dialog along with music or  
sound effects. Experiment with the Dialog Enhancement Level control,  
as well as toggling Dialog Enhancement on and off. You should notice a  
marked improvement in the clarity of the dialog. Try enhancing bass  
using the TruBass slider.  
T R U B A S S  
C O N V E R T S  
T H E R U M B L E  
O F M I S S L E  
L A U N C H E S  
4. Switch to a competing card or built-in audio and watch the same scene in  
basic stereo mode.  
A N D E X P L O -  
S I O N S I N T O  
F R E Q U E N C I E S  
T H A T H O M E  
S P E A K E R S  
5. Switch to the Revolution 7.1, and access the control panel. Turn off  
TruSurround XT.  
6. Open a Media player, such as Windows Media Player or iTunes. Audi-  
tion a song, such as one of the tracks recommended in the Appendix.  
7. Open the Revolution 7.1 Control Panel. Turn on TruSurround XT and  
switch to “Music” mode. Play the same song and listen for the increased  
sense of “dimension” that TruSurround is able to provide.  
C A N H A N D L E  
8. Try enhancing dialog or vocals using the Dialog Clarity slider and en-  
hancing bass using the TruBass slider.  
You should notice a significant improvement with the Revolution 7.1 audio card.  
With TruSurround engaged, notice the aural impression of surround sound even  
though there are only two speakers. When you switch the output back to the  
competing audio card, you’ll certainly notice a marked contrast.  
Since the SRS software boosts key frequencies, it may compensate by easing  
the overall volume setting. To maintain comparable volume levels, you may  
find it useful to boost overall volume when TruSurround features are en-  
abled.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Test 5: DVD Surround Decode  
This test shows the Revolution 7.1’s ability to decode Dolby Digital and Dolby  
Digital EX encoded surround sound using the included WinDVD 4 DVD player.  
This illustrates how the Revolution 7.1 can be used with any surround speakers  
or receiver, even if they do not have a built-in decoder. It also highlights the ex-  
cellent audio quality of Revolution’s digital to analog performance. (This test  
works with Windows Me/2000/XP. Mac OS 9 and X do not support this feature)  
1. Connect the Revolution 7.1 to a surround-sound receiver or multimedia  
speakers via the 1⁄8" analog connections. Select your speaker configura-  
tion from the Revolution 7.1 control panel. Make sure “SRS Circle Sur-  
round II” is not turned on.  
P O W E R E D  
S P E A K E R S  
T H A T C A N ’ T  
D E C O D E  
2. Launch the WinDVD 4 Dolby Digital EX version included on the  
Revolution 7.1 Applications CD. The first time you use the application,  
you may need to go into the program’s “Setup” screen and change the  
“Audio Speaker Configuration” to match the number of speakers you  
have connected.  
D O L B Y  
D I G I T A L O R  
D O L B Y  
3. Audition a DVD with a wide dynamic range and good use of surround  
sound audio, such as an action scene. The Revolution 7.1 delivers the  
full 7.1 surround sound experience.  
D I G I T A L E X  
A R E N O T L E F T  
O U T : R E V O -  
L U T I O N 7 . 1  
A N D T H E I N -  
C L U D E D  
4. Switch to the competing sound card. You should notice a marked con-  
trast between the Revolution 7.1 and the other audio hardware.  
Test 6: DVD Surround Sound Pass-Through  
This test shows the Revolution 7.1’s ability to play back Dolby Digital and/or  
DTS surround-sound signals to a surround decoder. (These tests work with Win-  
dows Me/2000/XP. Dolby Digital output works with the VideoLan Client DVD  
Player in Mac OS X. Mac OS 9 does not support Dolby or DTS output.  
W I N D V D 4 . 0  
A R E A L L Y O U  
N E E D  
1. Connect the Revolution 7.1 to a surround-sound decoder using the S/PDIF  
coaxial digital connector. Select the “Digital Output” speaker set in the  
Revolution Control Panel. On the Mac, you may also need to go to the  
“Sound” Control Panel or Preference Pane and choose the “Revolution  
Digital Out” driver.  
2. Launch your DVD player and enable digital or S/PDIF output from the  
player’s preferences or audio output options. Audition a DVD with a large  
dynamic range and good surround sound support, such as one of the sug-  
gested scenes in this document. The Revolution 7.1 delivers the full sur-  
round sound experience. Your decoder should note that it is receiving a  
Dolby Digital or even DTS (PC only) stream,  
Test 7: Circle Surround II Decode  
This test shows the Revolution 7.1’s ability to decode Dolby Pro Logic, Pro  
Logic II, or SRS Circle Surround II encoded material using SRS Circle Surround  
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II technology (These tests work with Windows Me/2000/XP, and both Mac OS  
9 and X. )  
1. Connect the Revolution 7.1 to a surround-sound receiver or powered speak-  
ers using the analog audio outputs. Choose the speaker set in the Revolution  
Control Panel that most closely matches your speaker setup. Depending on  
your operating system, you may also need to go to the “Sound” or “Sound  
and Multimedia” Control Panel and choose the “Revolution Analog 7.1  
Out” driver if you have previously changed output to digital.  
2. In the Surround Sound section of the Revolution Control Panel, turn on Cir-  
cle Surround II and enable “Cinema” Mode.  
3. Launch any two-channel DVD player application and audition a DVD with  
good surround sound mixing, such as one of the scenes suggested in the ap-  
pendix.  
S R S C I R C L E -  
S U R R O U N D I I  
E N A B L E S  
5. Switch to a competing sound card. You should notice a marked contrast  
between the Revolution 7.1 and the other audio hardware’s ability to expand  
a stereo signal into surround sound.  
S U R R O U N D  
S O U N D F R O M  
A N Y D V D O R  
M E D I A  
6. Switch back to the Revolution 7.1. After listening to Circle Surround II  
processed audio for a while, open the Revolution 7.1 control panel and turn  
off “SRS Circle Surround II.” Note the added depth that this mode provides.  
Some volume overhead is necessary for Circle Surround processing; you  
may need to increase the volume slightly with Circle Surround enabled.  
P L A Y E R , I N -  
C L U D I N G T H E  
A P P L E D V D  
P L A Y E R  
7. Turn “SRS TruBass” and “SRS Dialog Clarity” on. Experiment with vari-  
ous levels, as well a toggling TruBass or Dialog Clarity on and off. You  
should notice a marked difference in bass response and dialog sharpness.  
Test 8: Playing Music In Surround Sound  
These tests demonstrate the Revolution 7.1’s ability to play music in true sur-  
round sound (using Circle Surround II), and the ability to play multichannel  
Windows Media Audio 9 Professional (WMA Pro 9) audio files. (The Circle  
Surround test works with Windows Me/2000/XP, and both Mac OS 9 and X.  
Windows Media 9 does not yet have Macintosh support).  
1. Open the Revolution Control Panel and make sure Circle Surround II is off  
in the “Surround Sound” pane.  
2. Audition a stereo WMA or MP3 music file, such as one of the following:  
avquality/wmapromp3/default.htm  
3. From the same site, audition a multichannel WMA 9 Pro file.  
Note the far more “immersive,” or enveloping feeling of the 5.1 or 7.1 WMA 9 Pro  
mix. You can hear instruments surrounding you and a multichannel experience that  
matches what the artist wanted you to hear.  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
4. Audition a song from a CD or high-quality stereo WMA or MP3 file using  
a media player such as iTunes or Windows Media Player.  
5. Open the Revolution Control Panel and turn on Circle Surround II’s “Mu-  
sic” mode in the “Surround Sound” pane.  
6. Listen to the same song again. While any music will benefit from Circle  
Surround II’s enhancement, music recorded with better channel separation  
provides a better surround experience. Try the “Recommended for CSII”  
tracks listed in the “Music Listening Samples” section.  
7. Switch to the Revolution Control Panel’s Output Mixer and note the meters  
representing additional surround channels. If you don’t see additional chan-  
nels in the mixer, the source music may be mono and require you to set Cir-  
cle Surround II to the “Mono” setting. Many Internet Radio broadcasts are  
mono.  
Note the immersive surround mix. On live albums, you can hear crowd noise in the  
rear speakers, instrument and vocal separation, and great sense of “being there.”  
The beauty of this feature is that it works with your entire CD, MP3, and WMA  
collection.  
8. Hook up an external MP3 player, DAT, MiniDisc, XM Radio, Satellite Re-  
ceiver, or other external music/audio source to Revolution’s “Line In” jack.  
9. Open the Revolution 7.1 Control Panel and with Circle Surround still en-  
abled, check the “Enable Monitoring” or “Monitor Input on Output”  
checkbox in the Surround Sound pane. Leave the Control Panel open or  
minimize it without quitting or closing the Control Panel.  
10. For stereo music, you should leave CSII in “Music” mode. For audio that is  
Dolby Pro Logic or Circle Surround II encoded—such as many TV broad-  
casts—set CSII to “Cinema” mode.  
You can perform real-time stereo-to-surround sound conversion of any external  
audio source and breathe new life into audio coming from your satellite TV re-  
ceiver, digital or satellite radio, hard disk MP3 player, or other source. Now any  
audio source can be played back in surround up to 7.1, thanks to the Revolution  
7.1 and Circle Surround II. This is an extremely useful and powerful feature in a  
home theater environment.  
Test 9: Laboratory Audio Testing  
Listening is the true test of any sound card. Yet for the engineers among us,  
some prefer to see objective “laboratory tests” that corroborate what the ear  
hears. This document’s technical and audio performance specifications (see  
charts on pages 8 and 25) list some of the card’s audio performance specifica-  
tions with competing cards. The results speak for themselves.  
Audio testing with standard equipment (such as Audio Precision), especially at  
higher audio qualities—such as 24-bit/96kHz and 24-bit/192kHz—confirms the  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Revolution 7.1’s sound quality. Revolution’s sound quality results do not rely on  
brick wall filters during testing, or muting circuitry to reduce noise when no  
audio is playing, or on any other “smoke and mirrors” tricks that manufacturers  
may use to inflate their audio quality measurements. Some items to consider as  
you test:  
The Revolution offers superb line-input quality, but its line-out quality is  
even better. Test methods that perform loopback tests (from output to in-  
put), such as the Rightmark Audio Analyzer program, underestimate the  
quality of Revolution’s audio output.  
Use high-quality test cables. Poor quality or poorly-shielded cables can de-  
grade audio test results. Use a short 1/8” to 1/8” cable with good shielding  
for a loopback test.  
Watch for cable interference: Make sure to isolate the test cable from noise  
sources commonly found behind a computer. Cable modems, power strips,  
power supplies, AC cable—all of these emit noise and can degrade signal  
quality on an audio cable, especially if it’s poorly shielded.  
Do not plug anything into the Mic jack while testing line input or perform-  
ing a loopback testing using the line input. The Mic and Line In jacks are  
summed together and, while the Mic input provides high-quality audio in-  
put, it is not as high quality as the Line in or Line outputs. Performing a  
loopback test with a cable plugged into the Mic in jack (even if testing the  
Line in) will degrade test results.  
Use a good power supply. A poor quality power supply can leak 60Hz  
noise into the board power. You can see this noise and its harmonics on a  
noise plot as 60Hz, 180Hz, and 300Hz spikes. This will seriously degrade  
audio quality scores and adds about 30dB to noise level. Of course, with  
220V power, these spikes are at 50, 150, and 250Hz. This can be fixed by  
using a good power supply (such as Antec TruPower, etc.).  
Watch for crosstalk noise. This is where noise is coupled in to Revo from a  
noisy network card, video card, etc. There are no real indicators—such as  
spikes—that this is happening; you will just get poor quality test scores.  
This can be generally be fixed by moving the Revolution card to a different  
slot, farther away from other cards.  
When using RightMark Audio Analyzer, make sure to follow the steps be-  
low for proper setup/configuration. Improper setup of RightMark can easily  
provide erroneous test results.  
M-Audio can provide you with additional detailed Audio Precision test results. If  
you’re interested in this information—more than 110 pages of very technical re-  
sults—feel free to contact us (see the contacts list on page 3). Our testing, as well as  
results from partners and press, objectively support that the Revolution 7.1 is the  
best sounding consumer audio card available today. We’ve also seen a number of  
user RMAA Revolution tests on the web that support this. If your test results don’t  
agree, please contact us. We’ll be happy to discuss your test configuration.  
26  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
PleRasieghsteMeatrhke AseucdtiioonAnabaolyvzeerfoTremstoinreg notes on test configuration. We highly rec-  
ommend using RMAA version 5.0 or later as it has more accurate test capabilities.  
For RMAA 4.3:  
1. Open RMAA and the Revolution control panel.  
2. In the Revolution control panel’s "Speaker Setup" tab, set current set to Ste-  
reo. Also, set the crossover to "off," turn off Bass Management, and set the  
output volumes to maximum.  
3. On the "Output Mixer" tab, verify levels are at maximum (they should be if  
you configured output in Speaker Setup).  
4. On the "Surround Sound" tab, switch to “No Processing.”  
5. In the "Input/Other" tab, set the input to minimum and disable monitoring.  
These are crucial.  
6. Set the master volume (the speaker icon in the Windows system tray) to  
maximum. This is also crucial.  
7. In the RMAA application, click "Adjust I/O levels" and check the levels.  
They should be around -0.8dB (*see explanation below).  
8. In RMAA’s "Soundcard Settings..." set the device to Revolution, and  
choose the sound quality you wish to test (24/96, for example).  
9. Click "Run Tests." Your testing was accurate if you get around -101 dBA  
noise level.  
For RMAA 5.0  
1. Perform steps 1-7.  
2. Select "Loopback Test"  
3. Levels should be around -1.8dB  
4. Set playback/ recording settings.  
5. Press the loopback button in the lower left.  
6. Scores should be higher than those found in RMAA 4.3, especially in dy-  
namic range and crosstalk. Noise level should be better than –101 dBA.  
*The Revolution card was designed so that at full scale output, you can loop-  
back to the input and not overdrive the ADC (about .5 dBu less than the ADC's  
maximum value).  
27  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Part  
4
Product Specifications  
The following series of charts lists all technical specifications for the M-Audio  
Revolution 7.1 high-definition surround sound audio card. Specifications are sub-  
ject to change without notice due to continuing product improvement programs.  
Hardware Features  
8 analog channel line outputs (through 4 stereo 1/8" Mini jacks)  
Output  
Input  
S/PDIF digital coaxial output (RCA)  
S/PDIF out can transmit either linear PCM or AC-3  
Stereo 1/8" Mini Analog Line Input  
Mono 1/8" Mini Analog Microphone Input with electret mic power  
Driver Features  
24-bit linear PCM  
16-bit linear PCM  
Up to 24-bit AC-3 output over S/PDIF (not available in Mac OS 9)  
Up to 24-bit DTS output over S/PDIF (not available in Mac OS)  
SRS Circle Surround II processing PC & Macintosh  
SRS TruSurround XT processing PC & Macintosh  
Sensaura (for 3D gaming) (PC Only)  
Playback Formats  
28  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Product Specifications (cont’d.)  
Audio Performance  
Line Outs  
Dynamic Range  
Signal-to-Noise Ratio  
THD  
106 dB (typical, -60 dB input, a-weighted)  
107 dB (typical, a-weighted)  
0.003% (i.e., -90dB)  
Max. Line Output Level  
1.26 Vrms (+2 dBV)  
+0.8/-0.0 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz  
+0.8/-3.0 dB, 20 Hz to 80 kHz  
Frequency Response  
Crosstalk  
-120dB  
Mic In  
Dynamic Range  
Signal-to-Noise Ratio  
THD  
90 dB (a-weighted)  
90 dB (a-weighted)  
0.003% (i.e., -90dB)  
+0.0/-3.0, 80Hz to 17kHz  
Frequency Response  
Line In  
Dynamic Range  
Signal-to-Noise Ratio  
THD+N  
105 dB (a-weighted)  
100 dB (a-weighted)  
0.003% (i.e., -90 dB)  
1.45 Vrms (+3.2 dBV)  
Maximum Input Level  
Sampling Frequencies (KHz)  
No sample rate conversion  
32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 172.4, 192  
With MME rate conversion  
All sample rates up to 200kHz  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Product Specifications (cont’d.)  
Minimum System Requirements  
With SRS Circle Surround II disabled  
200MHz Pentium with MMX  
PC  
64 MB RAM  
Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP  
PCI-based PowerMac with built-in USB  
64 MB RAM  
Macintosh  
Mac OS 9.2.2 or OS X (10.1.5 for Dolby Digital pass-through)  
With SRS Circle Surround 7.1 enabled  
700 MHz Pentium III  
PC  
128 MB RAM  
Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP  
PowerMac G4 500  
Macintosh  
128 MB RAM  
Mac OS 9.2.2 or OS X (10.1.5 for Dolby Digital pass-through)  
Bass Management  
One of the least flashy, but most revolutionary features of the Revolution 7.1 is its  
advanced theater-grade bass management. First, we should discuss what bass man-  
agement is and why it’s important. Then we can talk about why Revolution’s im-  
plementation is so advanced.  
The most common home theater or surround sound speaker sets are made up of  
small speakers (satellites) that surround the listener. These speakers are generally  
not full-range, tower-type, speakers capable of reproducing everything from the  
lowest bass to the highest highs. The key to using type of speaker configuration is to  
route bass that would normally go to these satellite speakers to a subwoofer instead.  
This works because bass is perceived as “non-directional,” meaning that you can  
place a subwoofer almost anywhere in the room and have it represent audio coming  
from any speaker. The simplest method of implementing bass management is to set  
a single crossover frequency for all your satellite speakers, below which all sound  
goes to the subwoofer.  
30  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Bass  
Management  
(PC). Simply select  
the subwoofer in  
the “Speaker  
Setup” pane. With  
the “Bass Man-  
agement” checkbox  
enabled, you gain  
access to a number  
of powerful controls  
over your system’s  
bass settings.  
The power of Revolution’s bass management technology is that it provides more  
control over bass than most high-end surround sound receivers. It is possible to set  
the crossover at “none” for your full-range front left/right speakers, a 40Hz cross-  
over for the surround left/right, a 60Hz crossover for the center, and 80Hz for the  
surround center left/right. Even with a complex speaker setup like this, Revolution  
is able to accurately route bass where needed. Also key is the discrete handling and  
control of both types of bass: LFE (Low Frequency Effects, or the dedicated bass  
audio channel on a DVD), and Bass (all of the redirected bass that would have gone  
to the satellites). This is important since it allows a level of fine-tuning for audio that  
home theater enthusiasts have been clamoring for. Revolution’s bass management  
makes the subwoofer channel work in a 5.1 system used for music, can extend the  
life of your speakers by not routing audio to your satellites that they are not capable  
of handling, and improves the sound quality of your speaker system by playing the  
right audio through the right speaker.  
R E V O L U T I O N  
F E A T U R E S T H E  
M O S T P O W E R -  
F U L B A S S  
M A N A G E M E N T  
O F A N Y S O U N D  
C A R D — I T I S  
M O R E P O W E R -  
F U L T H A N  
M O S T H I G H -  
E N D S U R -  
Note: M-Audio is in the process of providing additional enhancements to the Revolution  
7.1 bass management software. Depending on when you review the product, the soft-  
ware you download from our website will use one of two methods. Both are accurate and  
powerful, but you may want to understand in more detail how bass is handled in each:  
R O U N D R E -  
C E I V E R S  
The current bass management reduces overall volume by 6dB to ensure accurate  
levels and to keep from overloading the subwoofer with the additional bass coming  
1
from other speakers. If you notice a slight volume drop when bass management is  
enabled, this is the method being used. When using this bass management, you can  
slightly increase the main volume level to adjust for this.  
Soon the software will only have a 6dB drop in the subwoofer channel when bass  
management is enabled, to protect against overloading the subwoofer channel with  
2
redirected bass. You can adjust the “Bass Boost” and LFE Boost” sliders to “0” to  
31  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
maintain the flattest level balance, but you should optimize all of your output levels  
to reduce the chance of overloading your speaker system. If you notice no volume  
drop when bass management is enabled, or only a slight volume drop on the sub-  
woofer, this is the bass management scheme used in your Revolution 7.1 driver ver-  
sion.  
7.1 Surround Sound Receivers  
Though 7.1 technology is new to PC audio, it is already well-established in the  
home theater market. The sampling below lists just a fraction of the 7.1 surround  
receivers available today. There are numerous manufacturers, not listed below, who  
also offer 7.1 receivers or processors including Krell, Yamaha, Lexicon, Rotel, Me-  
ridian, Outlaw, Integra, NAD, and Myryad.  
Receivers with 7.1 Support  
Manufacturer  
Model  
B&K  
AVR-307  
Denon  
Denon  
AVR-3803  
AVR-4800  
AVR320  
AVR325  
AVR520  
AVR525  
AVR7200  
AVR8000  
AVR8500  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
Harman Kardon  
JVC  
DPR1001  
RX-DP10VBK  
RX-DP9V BK A/V  
SR9200  
JVC  
Marantz  
Onkyo  
Onkyo  
Onkyo  
Onkyo  
Onkyo  
Pioneer  
Pioneer  
Pioneer  
TX-DS898  
TX-DS989  
TX-DS989ver2  
TX-NR900  
TX-SR800  
VSX-AX10i  
VSX-D1011  
VSX-D2011  
STR-DA4ES  
STR-DA7ES  
Sony  
Sony  
Source: M-Audio  
Representative list only.  
Subject to change.  
32  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
DVD Test Scenes  
The following chart identifies scenes that are great for auditioning surround sound.  
The DVD chapters below highlight one or more significant parts of the surround  
audio experience or another: bass, directional audio, environmental audio, audio  
clarity, dynamic range, etc. Titles designated “6.1” are specifically designed for  
playback on a 7.1 surround speaker configuration (see 6.1 vs. 7.1 on page 15 for  
more information). Note that the chapter numbers in the chart locate start scenes for  
particularly good sections. While some may be short, others may be as long as a  
few chapters.  
Note also that most DVDs contain multiple audio tracks. For the best experience,  
choose the Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital EX tracks rather than the Dolby Stereo  
track when using the included version of WinDVD for PC, or the VLC Player for  
Mac. If you have a DTS-decoding DVD player or decoder, try the DTS track avail-  
able on many of these titles. While most disks default to the correct setting, it is  
worth checking this to avoid auditioning a stereo audio track accidentally.  
Suggested DVD Viewing  
DVD Title  
Scene  
Chapter Comments  
Support* Channels  
Star Wars:  
Episode 2  
Jango Fett  
Fight  
Great bass. Good Music.  
Great directional Audio.  
26  
DD EX  
6.1  
Lord of the  
Rings: The  
Fellowship of  
the Ring  
Opening scene,  
Cave Troll,  
Others  
Great ambient audio and  
bass. Great dynamic  
range and fidelity.  
1/29  
DD EX  
6.1  
The entire film makes  
almost constant use of  
surround channels. Oscar  
nominated for best sound  
and music.  
Fifth Element:  
Superbit Edi-  
tion  
Great directional Audio-  
Great Bass.  
ZF1  
13  
DD  
5.1  
Star Wars:  
Episode 1  
Excellent directional  
Audio in 6.1. Great Bass.  
Pod Racer  
Taxi Chase  
22  
9
DD EX  
DD  
6.1  
5.1  
Fifth Element:  
Superbit Edi-  
tion  
Good directional Audio-  
Great Bass. Great Music.  
Star Wars:  
Episode 2  
Great bass. Good Music.  
Good directional Audio.  
Chase Scene  
Rain  
7
DD EX  
DD  
6.1  
5.1  
Dolby’s “Ex-  
plore our  
World”  
Nice highs and bass.  
Great channel separation.  
19  
Good bass & surrounds.  
Little directional audio  
The Matrix  
Lobby  
29  
DD  
5.1  
33  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Suggested DVD Viewing  
DVD Title  
Scene  
Chapter Comments  
(environmental only)  
Support* Channels  
Room shaking explosions  
and bass. Great environ-  
mental audio.  
U571  
Depth Charge  
15  
DD  
5.1  
5.1  
IMAX Super  
Speedway  
Michael An-  
dretti Test  
Drive  
Great directional and  
positional audio- Great  
visuals.  
21/22  
DD 5.1  
Toy Story 2:  
Toybox Edition Minutes  
Opening 5  
Great audio. Great Bass.  
Little directional.  
1
DD EX  
DD EX  
DD  
6.1  
6.1  
5.1  
6.1  
Balls bouncing  
in toy store  
Great audio. Great Bass.  
Great directional.  
Toy Story 2  
21  
4
The Fast and  
the Furious  
Use of music in surrounds  
is unique.  
NOS Fest  
Terminator  
Two: Ultimate  
DVD Edition  
Light, but effective use of  
surrounds.  
Chase  
18  
DD EX  
The Matrix  
Dodge This  
30  
Great directional audio.  
DD  
DD  
5.1  
5.1  
Great directional audio  
and room shaking bass.  
Pearl Harbor  
Battle of Britain 11  
Attack on Pearl 22  
Great LFE effects. Subtle,  
but effective positional  
audio.  
Ice Age  
Opening  
1
DD  
DD  
5.1  
5.1  
Great ambient audio and  
music. Oscar nominated  
for best sound.  
Moulin Rouge Sparkling  
6
Sad Diamonds 30  
Source: M-Audio  
*DD = Dolby Digital  
34  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Music Listening Samples  
The recordings listed in the following chart are great for auditioning sound quality  
and stereo-to-surround conversion. Items checked “CSII” are excellent for Circle  
Surround II playback. Music with a “hard center” recording style may not provide  
much surround separation when used with Circle Surround II; recordings with good  
stereo separation provide a better multichannel experience.  
Suggested CD Listening  
Artist  
Album  
Track  
Notes  
CSII  
Dave Matthews Listener Sup-  
Granny,  
Try with Circle Surround II on and  
off. Note crowd noise broken out  
into rear speakers and good chan-  
nel separation. Great live feel.  
Band  
ported (Disk 2) Two Step  
The Eagles  
Hell Freezes  
Over  
Hotel Califor- Try before and after with Circle  
nia  
Surround II. Note crowd noise bro-  
ken out into rear speakers and  
good channel separation. Great live  
feel.  
Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Fast Car  
Clean guitar and tight bass.  
Diana Krall  
Love Scenes  
All or Nothing Very clean recording. Good bass  
at All  
and vocals. Quiet spots for noise  
checks.  
Sting  
Ten Summon-  
ers’ Tales  
Fields of Gold Clean recording. Clear vocals, rim  
shots, and guitar. Less separation  
in Circle Surround II, but wonderful  
in Stereo.  
Sting  
Nothing Like the Englishman in Smooth recording. Clear vocals,  
Sun  
New York  
high hat, and guitar. Less separa-  
tion in Circle Surround II, but won-  
derful in Stereo.  
Jewel  
Spirit  
Standing Still Try with Circle Surround II.  
Pink Floyd  
Queen  
Pulse (Live)  
Money  
Try with Circle Surround II.  
Try with Circle Surround II.  
Bohemian Rhap- Bohemian  
sody  
Rhapsody  
Enya  
Enya  
A Day Without  
Rain  
Only Time  
Try with Circle Surround II.  
Soundtrack to  
Fellowship of  
the Rings  
May it Be  
Starts with nice vocals and great  
bass. Nice ambient feeling with  
CSII enabled. This recording con-  
tains clicks near middle of song  
that sound like vinyl pops.  
John Mayer  
Room for  
Squares  
Your Body is a Nice bass. Clean recording.  
Wonderland  
Source: M-Audio  
35  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Additional Resources  
Both Dolby Laboratories and Digital Theater Systems (DTS) are an excellent source of  
technical information regarding surround sound. You may find the following links useful.  
Dolby Explains 5.1 vs. 6.1 vs. 7.1:  
dolby.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/dolby.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=RSAeb1Dg&p_lva=  
&p_faqid=135&p_created=1013441850&p_sp=cF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTcxJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li  
Previous and Upcoming Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Surround EX films:  
DTS ES Explained:  
DTS ES and DTS ES Discrete Titles (since January 2003):  
36  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Company Backgrounder  
M-Audio, Inc (formerly Midiman Inc.) was founded in 1988 with the goal of of-  
fering complete audio solutions to meet the needs of recording artists, audio profes-  
sionals, and consumers. To achieve this goal, the company leverages cutting-edge,  
high-quality technology, offering features and pricing that are accessible to musi-  
cians, audio professionals, and consumers. That strategy is on track: Sales in Janu-  
ary 2002 grew 109 percent compared with the same period one year earlier.  
In December 2001, M-Audio launched its consumer division, bringing pro-quality  
audio products to the consumer. The consumer division was established to leverage  
M-Audio’s professional audio technology in order to make the highest-quality con-  
sumer audio products, and to establish M-Audio as the premier and preferred sup-  
plier of innovative audio products to the consumer.  
While much of M-Audio’s early growth resulted from the development and sales of  
its computer sound cards, it is the integration of software and hardware that has  
powered M-Audio’s transition from an audio and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital  
Interface) products company to a provider of complete solutions with significant  
influence in the industry.  
M-Audio has created several programs to support new and emerging artists. The M-  
Powered Artists program sponsors both known and unknown artists, providing  
wider recognition for their musical contributions. M-Audio also created MORE,  
(M-Audio Outreach Recording Ensemble), a program designed to teach music and  
music technology to abused and underprivileged young people.  
In addition to its U.S. headquarters, M-Audio maintains ongoing operations in Can-  
ada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan.  
37  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
Press Release  
M-AUDIO LAUNCHES INDUSTRY’S FIRST HIGH-DEFINITION  
7.1 SURROUND SOUND CARD  
Revolution 7.1 delivers up to eight channels of pristine quality,  
24-bit/192kHz audio for immersive music, movies and games.  
Arcadia, Calif., December 9, 2002—M-Audio today announced Revolution 7.1, the  
first high-definition 7.1 surround sound card providing up eight channels of profes-  
sional 24/192kHz audio with consumer-oriented features. Revolution 7.1 allows PC  
and Mac owners to play DVDs and all their music in surround sound, experience  
more realistic gaming, and record or mix their own music.  
With output for up to seven speakers and a subwoofer, the Revolution 7.1 rivals  
even the best movie theaters. Where 5.1 places speakers beside the listener, 7.1  
places them both beside and behind them for a much more immersive and believ-  
able surround sound experience. Revolution 7.1 even lets users experience eight  
channels of high-definition 24-bit/192kHz audio simultaneously. The included  
Dolby Digital EX DVD player allows listeners to immerse themselves in today’s  
highest quality DVD surround sound. Revolution 7.1 fully supports stereo, 4.1, 5.1,  
and 6.1 formats as well.  
Full support for Microsoft Windows Media Audio 9 Professional delivers high-  
quality, discrete multi-channel audio over the Internet today. With Windows Media  
Audio 9 Professional and the Revolution 7.1, PC users can enjoy incredibly high-  
quality, high-resolution surround sound streamed live or on demand from the Inter-  
net. Revolution 7.1’s support for surround sound up to 7.1 and for high-definition  
audio playback make it a great way to experience high-quality Windows Media  
Audio 9 Professional content at lower data rates than other formats. Whether play-  
ing back video files in surround sound, or today’s latest music released in stereo or  
surround Windows Media 9 format, Revolution provides you with the most realistic  
and immersive audio available.  
Built-in SRS Labs’ Circle Surround II™ technology instantly transforms CDs,  
MP3, and other content into incredibly lifelike surround sound, dynamically sepa-  
rating instruments, vocals, and even crowd noises for a dramatically enhanced lis-  
tening experience. “Revolution is the first consumer audio card to offer the same  
high-quality Circle Surround II technology found in many home theater receivers  
around the world,” said Ted Franceschi, Executive Vice President, Marketing and  
Sales. “SRS Labs is excited to partner with M-Audio in providing PC and Macin-  
tosh users the ultimate surround sound experience on a computer.” Those without a  
5.1 or 7.1 speaker system can still enjoy stunning results from Revolution 7.1,  
thanks to built-in SRS TruSurround XT™ technology. This powerful virtual sur-  
round sound process delivers the multi-channel audio experience over standard ste-  
reo speakers or even headphones. TruSurround XT enables two channel listening  
38  
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R E V I E W E R ’ S G U I D E  
that brings home what the filmmakers intended to be heard, even if additional  
speakers are not present.  
Revolution 7.1 is also designed with gamers in mind. Ultra-realistic 3D positional  
audio makes players feel like they’re really in the game while providing the extra  
advantage of hearing exactly where danger lies. Revolution 7.1 supports today’s  
popular game technologies such as Sensaura, EAX, DirectSound3D, and A3D.  
M-Audio has distilled years of experience making audio solutions for recording  
professionals into this powerful, easy-to-use, PCI surround sound solution for the  
consumer market. Specs such as a high 107dB signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio and ex-  
ceptionally low distortion (THD) rating of 0.0031% insure that sound is clear and  
clean—from whisper quiet music to room-rattling explosions. Revolution 7.1’s in-  
tuitive control panel also makes it easy to access powerful pro features like Bass  
Management, Speaker Optimization and Input Metering.  
“Revolution 7.1 earns its name as a truly revolutionary product by simultaneously  
delivering fully immersive 7.1 surround sound and amazing high-definition 24-  
bit/192kHz audio,” says Jason Ivan, Director of Product Marketing for M-Audio’s  
Consumer Division. “And where most cards sacrifice audio quality for surround  
sound playback, Revolution delivers all eight channels at full 192kHz fidelity. Lis-  
teners can finally enjoy movies, music and games the way they were meant to be  
experienced. Revolution 7.1 delivers serious audio performance and quality with  
ease of use designed to appeal to a wide segment of the consumer market.”  
Revolution includes over $200 of high-quality bundled software with full versions  
of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, MixMan Studio, VJ Lite, and the Dolby Digital EX  
version of WinDVD 4. Also included are award-winning music creation programs  
with over 100 sounds and loops as well as a free sampler CD of music from M-  
Powered artists who use M-Audio products.  
Revolution 7.1 is scheduled to ship in January 2003, and will be distributed in major  
retail stores throughout North America. It will be released soon after that in Japan  
and Europe. Estimated street price for Revolution 7.1 is $99.99.  
# # #  
39  
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