Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III 7.1 Review

Good Points
8 channels of sound!! Dolby Digital EX decoding, great software package included, won't break the bank.

Bad Points
Unshielded chips means sound frequencies become somewhat distorted by surrounding electromagetic interferrence.

General Comments
After purchasing the Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III 7.1 sound card recently for $100 AUD (about £36 GBP), I was pleasantly surprised by the software outfit it came in. Including Hercule's own MediaStation II and PowerDVD Pro EX DVD, I was instantly able to make my own CDs and start watching DVDs on my computer.



This card has 8 channels available over 6 3.5mm sockets and 2 optical digital out, where 2 of the 3.5mm sockets double as either a headphone out or surround channel stereo for one, or microphone or line level in for the another. Very nifty!



Compared to more expensive sound cards, the sound quality is quite ordinary. Connected to a quality 5.1 speaker system (VideoLogic ZXR-500), it never seems to be able to hit the highest of notes on DVD soundtracks, nor the lowest of beats in many R&B CDs. Of course, this is only noticeable if you've heard sound from one of the higher quality sound-cards (I heard music from Creative Sound Blaster Extigy at a friends place before purchasing my Hercules Fortissimo III), so to most people, the difference is negligible.



None-the-less, for its price, this is a quality soundcard, lots of channels, brilliant regeneration of DVD surround sound and great for gaming.



Overcoming its fairly minor flaws, the Hercules Fortissimo III is for any average gamer/dvd watcher who are enthusiastic about entering the age of surround sound, but who don't want too much of a burden being placed on their hip pockets.