The amp

If you're cramped for space as it is, you're likely going to have trouble fitting the rather large and surprisingly heavy amp anywhere near your computer (20,4cm wide x 6,6cm high x 34cm deep).

Features: The amp allows you to connect up to 3 soucres simultaneously:

Source 1 also offers an additional cinch connection for AC3 LFE (low frequency effects), i.e. subwoofer input. Sadly, the system doesn't offer a center channel, so that it is limited to 4.1 output. While you can theoretically simulate a center channel with a couple of cinch cable splitter and an extra speaker, it isn't really worth the effort, on the whole. AC3 fans will have to make do with a phantom Phantom center mode. Since the satellite speakers can be placed quite flexibly and you can achieve very good stereo effects this way, it is nonetheless a very acceptable solution.

The 80 Watts the black box squeezes from its 28000µF two-way ringtransformer will guarantee you one thing: lots of power and volume! Well, two things, then...

A look at the front: The controls left me with a very good impression. The volume regulator has just the right resistance to it - it doesn't turn to fast, nor is it too slow and has a well-chosen levels. Other regulators control the subwoofer's volume and the fading for the front/rear speakers. The fourth knob is the input selector. Nice touch: Pressing the button marked "Quad" puts the stereo signal of source 2 or 3 on all four speakers. Finally, a 3,5mm headphone jack is also implemented on the front of the amp, a feature your neighbors will no doubt come to appreciate. When in use, the headphone jack automatically mutes the speakers. On the far right you also find the Power LED, faintly glowing in calming blue hue...

The back is also quite packed: To guarantee good connections, all the connectors are gold-covered. The grouping of the connectors is slightly confusing. Intuitively, one would expect them to be grouped into front and rear, but instead you'll find them divided into left and right speakers. Nothing that 15 minutes of extreme confusion and puzzlement wouldn't solve :-). Towards the top you'll find the slightly hidden power switch, which I would also have expected on the front of the box, but then I guess PC components are meant ot be exotic and...different, I guess.