Gainward Hollywood@Home 7.1

Conclusion

I was extremely sceptical about the Hollywood@Home 7.1 at first. The cheap price set my initial way of thinking. Upon inspection, seeing Envy24HT-S cripplied with the DAC choice for audio playback, my initial fears were still present. Along with the relative pointless need for 8 audio channels on the PC at this point in time, on the surface of it, the Hollywood doesn't seem like it'll score many points.

Stepping back a little though and you begin to see the beginnings of some real appeal. Think about the eight channel argument conversely. It's pointless, we know that, but then again, so what? You don't have to use them all and as a cheap 2,4 or 6 channel output device, the Hollywood@Home 7.1 does just fine. It's not subjectively any better than bundled motherboard audio in that respect, eight channels is its selling point, but if your onboard audio is more than a little lacklustre and you don't want to break the bank, you may as well consider the Gainward.

It's tempting to criticise it too much but I'll say this: as a method of adding good quality (although not audiophile level), multi-channel audio with a digital, optical output port to your PC, without going nuts and breaking the bank, the card has a market.

It's not a big market and many of you will scoff at the thought of adding one to your powerful PC, but it's a decent card on merit, considered at its price point. Add a set of T7700s and get true eight channel audio on your PC, including the all important speakers, for less than many models of Creative's Audigy 2.

As a method of getting the Envy24 ASIC into more PCs, giving you cause to consider it in future soundcard endeavours, it does well there too.

Decent features, nice and cheap, just don't expect sonic miracles. Now excuse me while I make my ears bleed with some more Chemical Brothers, eight channel style.