Brand new Razer Barracuda AC-1

[Indybird]

Check out todays woot! (www.woot.com)

I just couldn't help myself, not for that price! I didn't even wait, I ordered it right here from school.

So whaddya guys think? I'll be giving you all a review as soon as it comes!

-Indybird

[dragonicecks]

www.woot.com

Woot has the Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Sound Card on sale today. New not refurbished as most of there deals are. I haven't use this myself but it has good reviews on newegg and normally retails for 160+.

Enjoy.

[SgtM]

(merged and moved)

[Greco101]

Why does it have a DVI port?

[Spawn-Inc]

it's for the audio cables or headset.

Here (http://www.ocia.net/reviews/razerbarracudaaudio/page2.shtml) is a review of it that shows the dvi port.

[Chewy_Solo]

i have that soundcard :D but i got mine for 200 bucks :P and it works great with my Razer Barracuda HP-1 headset.... HD-DAI FTW

but i am having some issues with my headset atm... or it could be the SC still trying to figure out

[Spawn-Inc]

chewy, did you look at the review i posted above? it mentions the dvi connector is a big close to the back part of the case, is yours? he/she said it was hard to plug in the cables.

this picture,
http://ocia.net/aimages/63_13_full.jpg

[J-Roc]

There is plenty of room on my case to plug in the dvi connector. I know how to fix the problem in that pic. Its acctually really really simple. Loosen the screw that holds the card in, plug in the adapter or headset then tighten the screw.

With the HP-1 headphones it is absolutly killer!! When i tried to run the sound from my RF modulator to my reciever, i got weird distortions like a lisp on all S sounds. It might just be from the modulator. Just a caution.

[Indybird]

I'll probably buy the HP-1 sometime in the near future.

By the way, what kind of speakers are you using when your not using the headphones?

-Indybird

[J-Roc]

Well, the headphones are most ideal for me right now. When i do get around to connecting my reciever the way it was with my onboard audio, i'll be using my sony 500watt 4ch amp in bypass with my kenwood 15" front speakers and a 10" powered sub on the tape out.

Im looking to upgrade my amp but i have strict requirements on what i want to its not going to be cheap and thus, not speedy.

[J-Roc]

Ok, i've directly connected the AC-1 to my reciever. Wow! Way better clarity than running it though my rf modulator. No distortion and the bass it crystal clear and thunderous! Definite improvment over my onboard in every aspect.

[Indybird]

Ok, i've directly connected the AC-1 to my reciever. Wow! Way better clarity than running it though my rf modulator. No distortion and the bass it crystal clear and thunderous! Definite improvment over my onboard in every aspect.

Very cool, I can't wait until this card comes on wednesday!

-Indybird

[crenn]

Bah... why is the majority of these type of things USA only?!

[Indybird]

I just got it today in the mail! Expect a review very soon.

All I'll tell you right now (you prolly know this already), is that the difference between this and the integrated sound are mind-blowing!

-Indybird

[J-Roc]

I found the best results with ignoring the AC sound app. Forget the equalizer and junk. With it there are too many options and its almost impossible to get the desired effect's through various types of media, mp3, movies, and games. Use the sound options in the program's you use.

[Indybird]

I found the best results with ignoring the AC sound app. Forget the equalizer and junk. With it there are too many options and its almost impossible to get the desired effect's through various types of media, mp3, movies, and games. Use the sound options in the program's you use.

Well heres the thing; the Razer Control Panel doesn't work. Whenever I change the settings in the Razer Control Panel it does do anything, nor do the little bars move to audio when it is played.

I can control it from the windows sound card control, but it is very limited and I can't access most of the features I bought this card for. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Indybird

[J-Roc]

Did you disable your onboard in the bios? Did you remove the drivers for it aswell?

Do you have the right analog output selected and the SPDIF turned off?

[Indybird]

Did you disable your onboard in the bios? Did you remove the drivers for it aswell?

Do you have the right analog output selected and the SPDIF turned off?

I disabled it in the BIOS and removed the drivers.

I want to use Digital, not analog. I haven't even tried analog yet.

Thanks,
Indybird

[Indybird]

Well I did a simple driver re-installation and I have full control-panel functionality back. Now heres a new problem that I didn't think I had the chance to run into last time:
When I have the Digital Audio set to any 5.1+ output it does not come out of the center speaker. I get the normal sound out of all of the rest, just no center. When I "test" the speakers sound comes out of the center, so its definitely hooked up and working.

Does anyone have a fix for this?

Thanks,
Indybird

[J-Roc]

It could be that the dolby decoder doesnt reproduce the center channel from mp3's. The center channel works with dvd's?

Have you also used your Nodes modes to select diffrent types of dolby decoding?

[Indybird]

It could be that the dolby decoder doesnt reproduce the center channel from mp3's. The center channel works with dvd's?

Have you also used your Nodes modes to select diffrent types of dolby decoding?

I've tried every single setting on the card, dolby or not, and I can't seem to get any sound from the center speaker. I've also noticed that, without any effects turned on, that sound comes out of the rear speakers while playing 2ch audio.

By the way, what are nodes?

Thanks,
Indybird

EDIT: By the way, I don't want to submit a review here until I have the software working 100%.

[J-Roc]

When you open the ac-1 program, there is a hidden menu to the right and another on the bottom. The right menu will reveal a "Modes" section that lets you adjust dts settings and environmental controls.

Sry for the type-o, its modes not nodes, the writing is so small and i only glanced at it. If you allready found it, my bad.

I can only change environmentals, it doesnt let me change the dts settings but it might be because i dont have fiber hooked up. My amp is analog so its of no concern to me right now.

[Spawn-Inc]

well i just placed my order for the combo deal for the headset and card for 149.99 should be here in a couple of days! so happy, also got a q6600. man i love having a job and money!

[Indybird]

well i just placed my order for the combo deal for the headset and card for 149.99 should be here in a couple of days! so happy, also got a q6600.
Yeah I saw that deal on ncix canada (for some reason I'm signed up for the canadian newsletter). At first I was like: "Ouch, I should've waited" but then I realized that deal was only in Canada, so then I didn't feel as bad.


man i love having a job and money!
...and helz yeah!

Sadly I still cannot seem to fix this problem. I e-mailed Razer's support, but they are retardedly slow (no mean pun intended), and/or they don't know much about the AC-1.

-Indybird

[Spawn-Inc]

did u get the headset with your card indy?

it says 8 speaker drivers or something and on there site is says it has front, center, rear, sub speakers so does that mean there are 4 speakers in each side?

[Indybird]

did u get the headset with your card indy?

No, I got card by itself off of woot.com for $70 + Shipping. Still an insane deal, of course, but I really wish I could've gotten the headset to go along w/ it. I'm probably going to get the headset sometime after I get my new graphics card...


it says 8 speaker drivers or something and on there site is says it has front, center, rear, sub speakers so does that mean there are 4 speakers in each side?
Yeah there are two for Front L/R, two for Rear L/R, two for Bass L/R (Split) and two for center L/R (Split). I think they might have a diagram somewhere on their site.

-Indybird

[Spawn-Inc]

another question, at least for those who ordered from ncix, how do they ship it (in a box or the package itself?) i selected the 1-2 business day and it says it got my order and processed payment just needs to ship. will i get it 1-2 days?

[Indybird]

I don't want to be pushy but does any one here know of any fixes for my digital audio problems?

I've been e-mailing Razer and I have quickly found out that they are pretty much useless.

Thanks,
Indybird

[J-Roc]

another question, at least for those who ordered from ncix, how do they ship it (in a box or the package itself?) i selected the 1-2 business day and it says it got my order and processed payment just needs to ship. will i get it 1-2 days?

They allways put the item(s) in an NCIX marked box with packing pillows or peanuts. It could take up to 5 days for the order to be processed and shipped then the quoted ship time (just stating for thoes who dont know). For 1-2 day they should have given you a tracking number.

Indy... If the sound comes out of the center during "test", im inclined to belive the problem might be with your amp and not the card. Maybe you've got some funky setting enabled on your amp like matrix mode or somthing like simulated dolby.

I would recheck the analog, use the adapter and hook up some speakers or headphones to the center channel and play a video game because they offer a more true 3d environment. If you get nothing then its obviously the card. If you can hear sounds then try the same thing with the toslink.

If you get sound from the analog and not the optical, then its probly a setting that your missing. Also, have you turned up the center channel's volume in the ac-1 program?

[Spawn-Inc]

ya i just got the email saying its shipped. i didn't realized they consider it being shipped part of the processing. should be here tomorrow or Thursday.

[Indybird]

Indy... If the sound comes out of the center during "test", im inclined to belive the problem might be with your amp and not the card. Maybe you've got some funky setting enabled on your amp like matrix mode or somthing like simulated dolby.
I've tried all of the different digital settings: DTS Interactive, Dolby Digital, Digital Audio (48 and 96Hz). Under every digital setting (even the 2-channel output ones) I get sound out of the 4 surround and no center. I don't even purposely have the rear speakers turned on. for DTS and Dolby Digital I can't even change the settings on my amp (Logitech Z-5500's); the Z-5500's disable all of the options under those.



I would recheck the analog, use the adapter and hook up some speakers or headphones to the center channel and play a video game because they offer a more true 3d environment. If you get nothing then its obviously the card. If you can hear sounds then try the same thing with the toslink.
I've tried it out w/ my xbox 360 and I get perfectly normal 5.1. I am 100% sure it is not the speakers because I had no problem when I used my integrated sound.



If you get sound from the analog and not the optical, then its probly a setting that your missing. Also, have you turned up the center channel's volume in the ac-1 program?
Yep, its set even with all the rest of the speakers. And even when I raise it above the rest it doesn't do anything.

Thanks again,
Indybird

Almost forgot, +rep for all of the help.

[J-Roc]

Dude, i dont know what to say... Maybe the channel is blown? Try contacting razer again. Dont they have a ticket process you must go through?

I'll see if there's anyway i can borrow an amp or somthing and test mine. Maybe its just a problem with the razer software. There hasnt been an update to the drivers, same as on the disk.

Send multiple tickets and emails telling them to update there crap. For a $200 product, i want some damn support!

[Indybird]

ude, i dont know what to say... Maybe the channel is blown? Try contacting razer again. Dont they have a ticket process you must go through?

I'll see if there's anyway i can borrow an amp or somthing and test mine. Maybe its just a problem with the razer software. There hasnt been an update to the drivers, same as on the disk.

Send multiple tickets and emails telling them to update there crap. For a $200 product, i want some damn support!

Thats what I've been doing: I've sent them tickets several times and every time they tell me to check stuff I've already checked. If I try and reply again then they don't e-mail back.

Also, I don't think the channel is blown because I get sound when I do the windows 5.1 tests.

Thanks for all of the help still,
Indybird

[Spawn-Inc]

ok so now that i got my sound card and headset (w00t) how do i hook up the front connects from my case to the sound card? it has a port for it but says dick all in the manual. any idea's?

[Indybird]

ok so now that i got my sound card and headset (w00t) how do i hook up the front connects from my case to the sound card? it has a port for it but says dick all in the manual. any idea's?

I don't know what the one labeled "Front Panel" is for but the front panel audio connector is near the back of card near the DVI port.

-Indybird

[Spawn-Inc]

ya i later was going to do that ticket thing and on mine there is 3 jumpers on it, do i remove them and plug in the various pins?

[Indybird]

ya i later was going to do that ticket thing and on mine there is 3 jumpers on it, do i remove them and plug in the various pins?

yep, exactly. The jumpers are because the front panel has a the connector sensing that turns off the rear output when you plug it into the front. The jumpers keep this switched in the "not-plugged-in" mode.

-Indybird

[Spawn-Inc]

wow, your right there support is absolute CRAP! i did a ticket thing and said this


I am unable to connect my front panel audio connector to my newly bought Razer Barracuda AC-1 sound card.
How do I know the pin layout?

i have looked at the faq regarding this but there is a connection at the "back" of the card (next to the cd and aux in connections) and i want to know the pin layout for that.

THanks
Rob.W

Response


Hi there,

Thank you for your support for Razer.

Please refer to this link for the instructions on how to connect your PC's front panel to the Razer Barracuda AC-1 soundcard -
http://www.razersupport.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=95&nav=0

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Razer Customer Support
www.razersupport.com

i just told them i know about that and they send it again. it's obviously computer generated crap... i'd send off a emial but then again it would be pointless.


Indybird if/when you do a review mention the crappy customer support and take off .5 or 1 point from the over all score.

[Indybird]

wow, your right there support is absolute CRAP! i did a ticket thing and said this



Response


i just told them i know about that and they send it again. it's obviously computer generated crap... i'd send off a emial but then again it would be pointless.


Indybird if/when you do a review mention the crappy customer support and take off .5 or 1 point from the over all score.

Don't worry I was already going to do that. I can't get this card working right so I'm not going to review it until I do. Razer claimed that the Vista ready software (non-beta) was going to be ready April of last year. Sounds like their driver support isn't any better than Creative's...

-Indybird

[J-Roc]

This is very strange. Razer's other products are top notch all the way. I've never had any problems or heard of any problems with there mice and keyboards.

Maybe they think that they cant make "a bad product" and dont put any work into items that have allready hit the shelfs.

[J-Roc]

Just to top off the anti razer conversation, i recently sent them a ticket inquiring about linux drivers. This was the reply.
---------------------------------------
Hi there,

Thank you for your support for Razer.

We do not have any Linux compatible drivers for our products.

Thank you.
---------------------------------------

What a joke.

[Indybird]

I am starting to get very annoyed with these problems I am having. On top of that I am really starting to annoyed with their support not replying after one e-mail. If I describe the problem in detail and they take one sentence and answer only that part of my question. Then on top of all that its just one out of their 6 or 7 generic answers.

I can't listen to music properly, I can't watch 5.1 DVDs because there is no center channel, and now the control panel crashes half the time and none of my inputs work.

I'm not going to write a review until the software actually works, so sorry guys.

I don't think I've been this disappointed in a product since I got my Microsoft Wireless mouse. At least their support got back to me and stated that the problems I was having was due to the mouse's low dpi, which was true.

-Indybird

[J-Roc]

You should write the review regardless. Make sure to send a copy to Razer.

[.Maleficus.]

You should write the review regardless. Make sure to send a copy to Razer.
True that. Maybe they'll rethink their customer support after a bad review lands on our front page :D.


And no Linux drivers? Come on! With the prices they charge for their products, I'm sure they could afford to take a 3 person team and make a Linux driver. If people all over the world can manage to make Linux drivers (1 person too, on their free time) then there's no reason that a big company shouldn't have them.

[Spawn-Inc]

after sending that info in my last post i got pissed off and sent then another email saying how stupid they are for making a computer respond and they send me this.

(here is a the whole thing)




Posted On: 06 Feb 2008 04:40 PM
I am unable to connect my front panel audio connector to my newly bought Razer Barracuda AC-1 sound card.
How do I know the pin layout?

i have looked at the faq regarding thing but there is a connection at the "back" of the card (next to the cd and aux in connections) and i want to know the pin layout for that.

THanks
Rob.W


Posted On: 06 Feb 2008 10:52 PM
Hi there,

Thank you for your support for Razer.

Please refer to this link for the instructions on how to connect your PC's front panel to the Razer Barracuda AC-1 soundcard -
http://www.razersupport.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=95&nav=0

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Razer Customer Support
www.razersupport.com



Posted On: 07 Feb 2008 05:09 AM
wow, thanks for the USELESS response. i told you i have seen that, what the hell is the connector for at the back....!



Posted On: 07 Feb 2008 09:30 PM
Hi there,

Please ignore the panel connector at the back of the card as we recommend our customers to use the J26 connector instead.

Thank you.

Best Regards,
Razer Customer Support
www.razersupport.com