PC speakers are mainly used for music. When working I listen lots of music and it is also a good test of audio quality. PC created sound effects in a game are all well and good, but it can't even start to copy quality and depth of recorded music.

But before beginning, I determined to do a small test. I set PC to mute, and turned volume dial on speakers to max. This caused speakers to rise a little bit of static, and create a visible pulsating buzz. This was though at very loudest, and I think that to have music or a game that loud would be potentially harmful to my health. If system was wall-mounted in a big room extra volume may be needed, but still they obtain very loud before reaching this static.

Next I determined to play some of my music. There are particular tracks that I recognize almost by heart, beat for beat, through constant use of my MP3 player and Icemat Siberia in-ear headset well full Rage against Machine self-titled album is permanently scratched into my skull. This album has some incredible bass lines in it, amazing guitar solos from Tom Morello and biting lyrics with Zack's voice, so this is a great place to begin.

The front three speakers are clear and work well with quick-switching stereo mix of Rage tracks. The central speaker does be likely to outshine the two side speakers when volume is down, but at higher levels they work as one. The back speakers though were quieter, not including a lot, but creating a background level that made tracks a little immersive.

The subwoofer base is very strong. With dial to max, it surely destroys remaining music. I found that at about a fifth it is not visible, but any lower I miss it, and for me this is good way to tell when it's right. On a side not, if you are a boy-racer "chav" you will like it.

Then I broke out the classic Hendrix. The high solos were electric and clear. The drum brakes were good, but I found cymbal crashes lacking a little. Hendrix's combination of fast and low riffs sounded good. I place on Led Zep next to notice how cymbal crashes fared up, and it should have Hendrix tracks as these sounded crystal.

I have played few games, though frequently many years after their first release. Sound does play large part in gaming, giving both depth and realism, and permitting for a story to grow around characters. Finally who wants to play a game where graphics effects are stunning but with mono-tonal one liners and boxy explosions?

The 5.1 setup includes many in-game depths and permitted bigger perception of where sounds were coming from. Because I do not have an uber-sound card I was not able to enable hardware acceleration for higher EAX-3D effects, though I was happy with how well standard included chipset managed and I did not see anything poor or dull in games I tried out.

It is not too bright, but when it is just on the side of your minor vision it can be distracting and I find this kind of blue LED irritating. I have utilized to it being there over some weeks, but when room is dark it still irritates me.