Philips Aurilium 5.1 Channel Audio Processor - USB

Manufacturer:	Philips
List price:	~~$99.99~~
Our price:	$34.88 that is 65% off!

Philips Aurilium 5.1 Channel Audio Processor - USB

Average rating: Stars

Solid External Audio Card

The Aurilium does a wonderful job of upgrading both the quality of sound that you get from your computer system and the control you have over that sound. It features easy to install but comprehensive software that helps you configure your sound to fit the room you are in and control and adjust that sound. I listen to a great variety of music on my system, including classical, jazz and rock, and the ability to adjust for the right sound is critical. The Aurilium's interface is really a work of art and a pleasure to use.

Several notes: somewhere in the description I was led to believe there was an internal amp; there is only a pre-amp, and you either need powered speakers or a further amp to combine with this. It is very difficult to get powered speakers with quality sound. This easily controls a 2.1 or a 5.1 system, and easily configures each.

Highly recommended.

Philips Aurilium 5.1 Channel Audio Processor - USB - Philips

Excellent low-cost solution for work

I bought this item from Amazon when they had it on sale for $25, and have to say it's been one of the most useful things I've brought to work.

I have an extensive collection of MP3s that I've ripped at high bitrates (VBR ~224Kbps), and I want to hear them through something other than the standard headphone jack on the PC, which has a lot of hiss, crackles, CPU interrupt noise whenever I type or scroll.

This is a super low-cost external digital solution that answers almost all of my requirements -- absolutely noiseless until you start playing, no CPU interrupt noise, and the EQ bands are centered where I like them (31, 62, 125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k 4k, 8k, and 16khz) for good, beefy bass and crisp highs.

I have a pair of Koss PortaPro headphones I use at work. Just get these. I still blow away my friends with the bass and clarity that comes out of these things (15-25k!) This combo will give you a hugely satisfying audio experience for such a low price.

Philips - Philips Aurilium 5.1 Channel Audio Processor - USB

The perfect simple 5.1 audio solution

To echo the most recent review here,
I'm something of a audiophile myself, also having
sold high-end audio products years ago, but
I was getting annoyed that my new Compaq PC
with the basic Realtek97 onboard audio wasn't even
close to the quality I was hearing from my new
Sony DVD player matched to a set of good THX/Dolby Altec
Lansing surround speakers, just no comparison.
But to spend $200 on a sound card for a PC that's
not high end anyway is absurd, yet I wanted to make the PC
5.1 digital out capable, and boost the general stereo audio,
and when I found out about the Aurilium I jumped on it.
I got mine about two weeks ago and I think for the money
it's a really great device, couldn't be easier to set up,
looks fabulous and sleek, it even reminds you if the speakers aren't configured right, or if you need to enable AC3/Dolby Digital pass-through to an external Dolby decoder or receiver,
which is a really useful touch. The software is simple,
intuitive, helpful and easy to navigate and use.
I don't know how Philips makes this USB-bus powered,
but it works damned well for a sound card that doesn't
require its own AC power source, although most internal cards
don't anyhow. The test was playing a new copy of the DVD
of 2001: A Space Odyssey in remastered 5.1 sound, which
sounded devastating on my main Sony surround system, and it
sounds just as good now on the PC DVD player through
the Aurilium, digital out or not, both methods sounded great.
I can't recommend this more highly, a wise purchase
for those who want good audio and 5.1 digital surround
sound for music, movies and gaming, on a budget.
Plus you don't have to open up your PC or laptop to install it,
something I found to be just icing on the cake.
If you want audiophile high quality go buy yourself
an Onkyo or Harmon Kardon surround system and $1000 Klipsch 5.1 speakers, but if you do that, why bother with the PC audio anyway? For quality PC sound the Aurilium is aces.
I was also impressed with the thorough, easy to understand
nature of the instructions and software Help menus, they
really cover almost everything you would need to know to
operate the card and set it up for optimal performance.

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