Looking Good
One thing's for sure: Microsoft knows how to make good-looking peripherals. And the jet-black Microsoft Digital Sound System 80 sounds nearly as good as it looks, producing fantastic 3D audio effects in Jedi Knight. When bad guys jumped out on my flank, I could hear them coming. The speakers also lent crisp, balanced sound to the Star Wars score. The subwoofer can really growl, shaking the floor when I raised the gear on my dual-prop Saab as it climbed out of Burlington International Airport. One concern for business buyers: The Digital Sound System 80 placed dead last in our jury's MIDI test.
The speakers are a snap to set up and include volume, treble/bass, and mute control buttons on the top of the right satellite. The set also offers more extensive control software than the ADA70, adding the ability to tweak frequency response. The speakers cost $260, but Microsoft offers a $50 mail-in rebate. Among USB speakers, these are the best, though they are still flawed.
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