Razer launches Barracuda Integrated Audio System

Posted on Wednesday, March 15 2006 @ 11:17 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Razer is proud to launch the Razer Barracuda Integrated Audio System (IAS) comprising of the Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card and Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones at CeBIT in Germany.

Designed and engineered from ground up by the Razer engineering team, the Razer Barracuda AC-1 and HP-1 are integrated as a single, pure gaming audio system, the Razer Barracuda IAS is the world's first integrated audio system built specifically for gaming. Powered by Razer Fidelity, the Razer Barracuda IAS delivers optimized audio signals directly from the computer game to the gamer, creating the most realistic gaming environment possible. The Razer Barracuda IAS also features proprietary Razer audio technologies including the patent pending Razer Enhanced Sonic Perception (ESP) architecture and Razer's 3D (720°) Positional Gaming Audio Engine.

Razer believes that audio solutions today fall short of demanding gaming requirements as most existing soundcards and headphones are built for music playback and then repackaged as a gaming soundcard or headphone. Pre-requisites for gamers such as accurate positional audio and expanded dynamic soundstages are poorly integrated into the current audio solutions, often as an afterthought. Audio card software drivers are repeatedly built over legacy code that was designed for music playback, resulting in bloatware that slows down computer systems and compromises overall audio quality during fast paced gaming sessions.

Enlisting the help of top audio experts, designers, engineers, audiophiles and pro-gamers, Razer re-engineered audio hardware chipsets to remove unnecessary hardware components, optimized and upgraded the essential audio components as well as streamlined drivers to specifically focus on gaming applications.

Over thirty top pro-gamers worldwide were tasked to stress test and critique the Razer Barracuda IAS in the course of its development. Based on their various comments and contributions, voluminous lines of code were thrown out, circuit diagrams redesigned and components selected to provide top notch gaming audio performance.

Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card
The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card features a 7.1 channel output, 24 bit audio technology and unprecedented 117dB SNR (output).

The 117bB Signal to Noise Ratio (output) specification clearly outperforms all current soundcards in the market that only perform up to an average of 105dB. The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card is the world's first gaming audio card that performs up to a 117dB SNR.

Gaming-specific positional audio, Powered by Razer Fidelity, allows gamers to take advantage of an expanded dynamic soundstage for gaming tuned frequencies with Razer ESP (Enhanced Sonic Perception). The in-built audio chip processes and optimizes audio signals from games to provide the ultimate positional gaming audio experience through the Razer 3D (720°) Positional Gaming Audio Engine.

The Passive EMI shield minimizes electromagnetic interference (EMI) by preventing unwanted interference from graphics cards and other electrical devices that may affect the gaming audio performance.

The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card also features optimized proprietary software drivers to provide for the prioritization of enhanced gaming audio signals while leaving as small a memory footprint as possible.

Razer HD-DAI (High Definition Dedicated Audio Interface) further optimizes the Razer Barracuda IAS gaming audio experience by allowing for a proprietary connection for optimized signal transmission when used with the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones.

Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones
The Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones uses 99% oxygen-free copper cable for gaming audio signal purity. The Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones also provides for eight discrete audio drivers for optimal positional audio without compromising the gamer's comfort when using the headset.

With some of the best components selected for the ultra-sensitive speaker drivers, the Razer Barracuda HP-1 Gaming Headphones delivers pinpoint positional accuracy essential for gaming.

The Razer Barracuda HP-1's built-in microphone is designed specifically for in-game communications, featuring a short shaft for enhanced comfort and audio pickup, the microphone also features advanced noise cancellation capabilities ideal for frenzied in-game correspondence.

Powered with Razer Fidelity, the Razer Barracuda HP-1 may be used with all soundcards; however, using it with the Razer Barracuda AC-1 gaming soundcard is strongly recommended as it delivers the best gaming audio experience in the world today.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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