Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Sound Card

Other products by Razer

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000IBV8SE
• Item model number: RZ05-00130100-R2M1
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,722 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 2, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card delivers optimized audio signals directly from the computer game to the gamer, creating the most realistic gaming environment. It features proprietary Razer audio technologies including the patent pending Razer Enhanced Sonic Perception architecture to allow gamers to pinpoint the exact location of enemies more accurately than before.

Expanded In-Game Dynamic Soundstage for Explosive Gameplay The Razer Enhanced Sonic Perception enhances the sonic level of your 3D audio, so that you can have increased audible range in-game.

Onboard Dolby Pro-Logic technology for Surround Sound The Razer Barracuda AC-1 comes with built-in Dolby Pro-Logic IIx technology. Using advanced processing algorithms, it converts a stereo or 5.1-channel source into 7.1-channel audio.

Surround Sound with Only Two Speakers The Dolby Virtual Speaker Solution employed within enables complete immersion in virtual surround sound fields delivered via stereo speakers.

Technical Specifications

• Razer Fidelity gaming audio engine
• S/PDIF receiver/transmitter
• Dolby Prologic IIx surround processor
• Dolby Digital Live 5.1 hardware encoder
• Dolby Headphone technology
• Dolby Virtual Speaker
• DTS NeoPC
• DTS Interactive real-time hardware encoder
• 7.1-channel digital audio playback
• Supports EAX 2.0, Aureal3D 1.0 and DirectSound

Audio Characteristics

• Signal-to-noise ratio (output): 117dB
• Frequency response (at 24-bit / 96KHz): 20 to approx. 20,000 Hz
• Dynamic range: 116dB
• Total harmonic distortion + noise: -97dB
• Simultaneous voices: plus or minus 128

Hardware Characteristics

• Razer High Definition-Dedicated Audio Interface (HD-DAI connector)
• S/PDIF in/out Toslink connectors
• CD-in
• Aux-in

System Requirements

• Pentium II 350MHz, AMD K6 450 MHz or Higher
• One Available PCI 2.1/2.2 Slot
• 128 RAM Memory or Higher
• At least 55MB of Hard Disk Space
• Graphic Display at 800 x 600 High Color (16 bit)
• CD ROM Drive
• Headphones or Amplified Speakers
• Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/MCE

Product Description

The Razer Barracuda AC-1 Gaming Audio Card, powered by Razer Fidelity delivers optimized audio signals directly from the computer game to the gamer, creating the most realistic gaming environment. The Razer Barracuda AC-1 features proprietary Razer audio technologies including the patent pending Razer Enhanced Sonic Perception (ESP) architecture and Razer's 3D (720?) Positional Gaming Audio Engine to allow gamers to pinpoint exact location of enemies more accurately than before.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not happy with the AC-1 Sound Card, May 4, 2008

By	Jonathan Q. Manning (Plainview, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this sound card with the Razer gaming headphones. When everything is working the sound is phenomenal. Unfortunately, I am mostly stuck with only the center channel working when I use the headphones, and when I use speakers I often have random channels cutting in and out for no reason.

This really could be a killer sound card, but Razer needs to work out the bugs first.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audio Card Review, July 5, 2007

By	Steven R. Jackson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great audio card that will work with any speaker system and head set using the adapter, which is supplied. When used with the Razer headset, it provides complete surround sound when gaming or listening to music. The card has optical out, which many people will not be able to use. I have a high end Logitech digital speaker system and therefore am able to use this feature. The control panel for the card, which is loaded into your PC via a CD, is easy to use and it does work well with the headset and speaker system. I highly recommend this card, especially for those who are considering purchasing the Razer headset. A great gaming experience!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Razer - what's up with this card - ever heard of driver updates?, March 21, 2008

By	Terry Walker "Computer Philes" (Spartanburg, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own a Razer mouse, keyboard, headphones, a mouse pad and finally this audio card. I guess I just love the underdog, or maybe it is their cool product names. But unlike the headphones this card is not top notch. The card itself is fine and the potential for awesome 7.1 sound is there, but the software and drivers have given me nothing but grief. It won't save personal settings as it should, individual speakers settings can mysteriously lock on full high, even when the volume is turned down. The list goes on and on.

Of course I have called and e-mailed Razer and spoke to most of their tech' staff, and I have done the various driver/hardware un-re-installs. But still this card won't function properly in any of my computers. Bad unit? No, I rma'd it and the new unit is the same, a simple case of bad software.

So frankly, this particular Razer product just doesn't cut it. I guess it is back to Creative audio for me.

It is a shame really, because for gaming, the headphones are perhaps the best 7.1 surround sound 'phones that have ever graced my head. I just wish Razer would get of it's lazy butt and update the driver to solve some of these problems. It takes more than pretty lights and a cool logo to keep customers like me loyal. We want good products, reasonable service and killer performance. So if I were you, I would head to Creative, 'cause in this case the "big dawgs" win.