Turtle Beach upgrades, iterates USB soundcard line, adds optical output for true 5.1 surround
The USB soundcard race may not be the hottest, but it just got a little warmer just the same. Turtle Beach upgraded its Amigo and Micro external cards to be the -- wait for it -- Amigo II and Micro II. Both feature a new design that makes them larger than before but extends the device away from your laptop (or whatever you connect it to), giving a bit more flex room to connect your headphones or microphone. That's all you'll be connecting to the Amigo II, as it sports a pair of 3.5mm connectors: audio output and microphone input. The Micro II ditches the input, but adds S/PDIF digital optical output (via adapter) so you can get proper 5.1 out of your laptop. Both devices are said to be available soon for a very reasonable $24.95.
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Turtle Beach® Announces Audio Advantage® Amigo II and Micro II USB Sound Cards for Mac® and Windows® PCs
Portable, Low-cost USB Audio Devices Pack a Sonic Punch into a Small Package
Elmsford, NY (PRWEB) January 4, 2010 -- Turtle Beach, a pioneer in digital audio and gaming headphone technology, today announced the latest addition to its Audio Advantage product line, the Amigo II and Micro II USB audio adapters. Designed for Mac and PC, the Amigo II and Micro II are inexpensive, easy to use and deliver a rich audio experience in a package that's about the size of a USB memory stick.
The Amigo II USB sound card adds a stereo output and mic input to a Mac or PC. Because it uses a USB digital connection, the Amigo isolates the audio signal from the noisy electronics inside a PC or laptop to provide higher-quality sound. The stereo output can be used for connecting powered speakers, headphones or an external recording device and the microphone input can be used for connecting an external microphone or the boom mic on a headset. This makes Amigo ideal for converting a standard analog headset into is USB headset for voice communications programs such as Ventrilo™ and Skype™.
The Micro II USB sound card adds a stereo line output and an optical digital audio output to a Mac or PC. The stereo output can be used for connecting powered speakers, headphones or an external recording device. The S/PDIF digital optical output connects a notebook or desktop PC to home theater systems, allowing pass through of 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital or DTS surround sound. This makes it ideal for enjoying DVD or streaming digital movies on your notebook while listening to immersive Dolby surround sound on your home theater system.
"The Amigo II and Micro II each offer significant benefits for PC and laptop users who want improved sound quality without a lot of hassle, at a price that's hard to beat. They're both incredibly simple to use. Just plug them into a USB port and you're ready to go." said Peter Ronick, Director of Marketing.
Both the Amigo II and Micro II work with Mac or Windows PCs without the need for external power adapters, special drivers or software. The devices will be available in January from major US retailers as well as the Turtle Beach web site at www.turtlebeach.com. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for each model is $24.95. Turtle Beach products are distributed in Europe by Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ www.madcatz.com.)
Turtle Beach (www.turtlebeach.com) designs and markets high-quality audio peripherals for PC and video game platforms, including its growing line of Ear Force gaming headphones and headsets for XBOX, PS3™ and Nintendo® game consoles and for personal computer games. Turtle Beach, with headquarters in Elmsford, New York, is a brand of Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc., which has been at the forefront of music and audio technology for more than three decades and is recognized as a pioneer of today's PC audio industry.
Turtle Beach, Voyetra and Audio Advantage are registered trademarks of Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Labs. Ventrilo is a trademark of Flagship Industries, Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Mac is a registered trademark of Apple Computer. Skype is a trademark of Skype Limited. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.
