Are any of you out there using the SRS audio sandbox?

I am absolutely astounded with the value this adds to your PC's soundcard.

I guess it'll go on my list of things to get.

Some of the features mentionned are a load of ****. "SRS WOW HD" is one of these "recover lost information" gimmick. "SRS 3D Center Control" is a equalizer trick. It could still be good and they only add those teenager traps because their competitors do. But, then again, they could just dismiss the others' claim.

I remember a "The myths of soundcards" article that explained how some of these things are achieved (often just boosting some more sensitive frequencies so we can "hear" the improvement). If I ever find it (i.e. try to find it ), I'll post it here.

A patent is mentionned. May be worth a look as they are public and easily accessible through the Internet.

I've got the Sound Blaster X-Fi, and the included software seems to be very similar to the SRS program, with features like the "24-bit Crystalizer", "CMSS-3D, "THX Optimizer", etc.

I do very little music-only listening on my computer, mostly gaming. The right combination of those features along with setting the EQ to where I like it, does enhance the gaming experience by improving dynamics and bass extension, for me.

I have straight digital sent from my sound card to my receiver...that means my sound card plays no part in how good/bad the sound quality is...since it is all digital and the signal is unmodified.

I'm now addicted to the sound from the SRS audio sandbox. The difference is like night and day. Everyone that's heard it has been totally wowed. If I end up keeping the audiobytes, I think I'll shell out $20 for this program.

I noticed on their web site that quite a few TV manufacturers use the SRS signal processing technology under license.

Dan, since this is presumably software intercepting the digital stream before it exits the card I imagine it could "do its thing" on a digital output as well.

EDIT -- actually, I'm pretty sure my crappy old Sanyo 26" CRT tv had SRS processing and I remember being quite blown away with the surround sound it could produce from two speakers.

Apparently the SRS in TVs is not nearly as advanced. And I agree with your assessment on the digital output.

You guys really owe it to yourselves to try this particularly if you are using PC speakers.

My computer is hooked up via optical digital cable from my computers sound card. Are you saying this would make my music sound better? I use FLAC with Winamp, and I already can't tell the difference between my computer and the actual CD.

It's not a matter of how well your soundcard reproduces the actual recording. It's a matter of how big, full and spacious your PC speakers can sound with the use of the SRS sandbox. It's a free trial so if you don't like it, you haven't lost much except a bit of time.

Ahh gotcha - I didn't know there was a free trial... nothing to lose except for perhaps my sanity (see below).

My computer is hooked up to my m60's through my reciever. I'm tempted to try this out, but I'm such a tweaker I hate to have access to yet another sound tweaking option...:) I think I'm developing audio OCD.

Yes, I know what you mean. I was at my brother-in-law's earlier this week and I showed him the EQ in iTunes. He hasn't been able to stop tweaking .