Listening Tests

a. Music
Tested with both DVD player using CD audio and PC audio.

The Binaura system offers binaural stereo mode and Dolby Pro-Logic to help enhance stereo signals. I personally preferred binaural stereo Mode over Pro Logic in this configuration for stereo audio enjoyment. The Pro-Logic algorithm would up mix the stereo audio at the expense of bass impact and a directional sound field. The audio was very dispersed in the Pr-Logic made and lacked usual weight and bass impact. The Binaural stereo mode definitely catches your attention and makes you listen more closely. The sonic imaging produced by this system can easily surpass standard 2.0 or 2.1 systems for detail and envelopment. For 2 channel audio this system has Binaural stereo, Dolby Pro-Logic and Binaural Vocal mode which gives TV dialog clarity sometimes lost on certain types of systems.

b DVD Movies
System Tested with DVD Player with SPDIF output

Spiderman III was released locally during my review time and I decided to use this for a new test DVD and to audition the Binuara system. I replaced my standard 5.1 home theater system with the Binuara system using a Digital SPDIF cable for connection. The sound field produced by this system is wide and deep with action on the side and in front. You have to hear this system to believe it and truly appreciate the sound quality and imaging produced. I thought it could have used a bit more Bass impact but this could be the result of the way certain movies were mixed as bass would easily appear from nowhere and hit hard during certain scenes. This audio system has clear front to rear depth produced and amazing side stage imaging. This system can easily shake my mid sized living room at about 75% of total volume available.

Movies Tested
Spiderman III
Star Wars EPII
Saving Private Ryan: Omaha Landing
Pearl Harbor: Japanese Attack Sequence
I, Robot: Using both Dolby Digital and DTS Soundtracks.


c Gaming
Soundcard used: Auzen Prelude 7.1 w/ Dolby Digital Beta Driver.

I understand this is a home theater piece but I couldn’t resist and I also considered many people have console gaming systems as part of their home theater so game tests were in order. I tested this system connected to a Auzen Prelude using a fiber optic connection and the Dolby Digital Live Beta driver which encoded my gaming audio to the Dolby Digital audio standard. I ran gaming audio tests with a few newer first person shooter games and some older classics. I was very impressed with the quality of sound produced and the size of the sound field the system was capable of producing. Games had a very enveloping quality to them and the sound produced made my games much more enjoyable when compared to a standard 2.0 output. Forward and side directional audio was very accurate, I also would turn my head a bit to the side wondering where those sound were coming from! This system is one of the best I have heard in comparison to existing 2.0 or 2.1 configurations and is somewhat comparable to a 5.1 system. Quite a few times I was just amazed at the audio quality and imaging produced; I would try and duplicate the action to further examine the sounds produced by the system. The depth of field and the virtual surround were very impressive when used in a gaming context. This system is very impressive, indeed.

Games tested:
Strangle Hold Demo
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Call of Duty 4 Demo
Call of Duty 2
Unreal Tournament 3 Demo