SRS iWow: Indulge your Ears
While Apple laptops have better speakers than most laptops, they could still use some help. Even most external powered speakers could use some improvement. The SRS iWow plugin for iTunes from SRS Labs can make your built-in speakers sound good or your good speakers sound great. The plugin uses SRS Labs’ technology to “provide amazing audio immersion and maximum thump for a personalized audio experience.”
SRS iWow is a plugin for iTunes and is powered by Rouge Amoeba’s iTunes Enhancer technology. After installing the SRS iWow plugin, its window opens up when you open iTunes. You have the option of keeping it open or closing it (which reduces its already low processor load).
The plugin allows you to choose what type of speakers you are using (headphones, external, or laptop) and a preset or custom setting (although there is no way for you to save multiple custom settings). There are many customization options including SRS 3D (enhances the stereo environment), Definition (highlights high frequency details), FOCUS (changes the “height” of the sound stage), and TruBass (maximizes bass by adjusting the frequency of the low-pass filter). If you are an audiophile, the SRS audio enhancement website provides more technical details.
Not being a huge audiophile myself, I just stuck with the presets and did some testing with both my Logitech X-230 speakers (which I highly recommend) and the built-in speakers on my MacBook Pro. I was very impressed with the results on with all types of music. I also noticed a difference on the clarity of spoken-word audio files such as podcasts and audiobooks. The effect is of course more noticeable on lower quality speakers (ie. built-in speakers) but was still made a big enough difference on my Logitech speakers to make it worth the $19.99 it costs to purchase. I’d be curious to hear what an audiophile thinks as well as other people’s experiences.
I recommend highly recommend the SRS iWow plugin for iTunes from SRS Labs for anyone who spends time listening to either music or spoken word on their laptop or external speakers. You can download a free trial from SRS Labs and give it a try before you have to pay $19.99 to register the plugin.
You can actually get this as part of MacUpdate’s bundle for $49.99 which includes a few more apps, namely GarageSale, Cocktail, ProfCast, Amadeus Pro, Fetch, GraphicConverter X, and Little Snitch. As more people buy bundles there’s a chance of unlocking Intaglio and TechTool Pro.
To purchase the bundle just head over to http://www.mupromo.com
After testing both, Volume Logic (http://volumelogic.com/) and iWow, I must say that Volume Logic is a lot cooler. Less options but a fantastic result. Volume Logic sounds more naturally, but extremely powerful.
Would be great to have such audio enhancer built-into iPod or iPhone.
I’ve been using iWow since it first arrived on the scene and consider it a “must have.” It really shines is with high-end headphones on the MacBook Pro.
I agree it would make a great iPod addition. I would immediately replace my much loved 5G/80 if it were included.
just get at a cowon media player, their sound quality is 10x better than an ipod.
iWoW is a truly great app – I could not believe the difference it made when listening to music on my Imac speakers. I got it as part of the MacUpdate bundle and really was not expecting it to become my favourite application of the bundle.
I’ve tried the “Big 3″ of iTunes enhancers (SRS iWow, Volume Logic and OSS3D) and found the results of iWow to be the worst of the three. Now that doesn’t mean that it’s bad by any stretch. I just think that it does the least of the three.
FWIW, OSS3D was by far the best – but it’s also the most “flakey” in that with every OS or iTunes update it takes months for OSS3D to be updated to work correctly (if at all).
I’m glad to see all the discussion going on here! I might just have to try to get my hands on Volume Logic and OSS3D and do a comparison.
thou shall not talk bad about the ipod eh?
You got to admit the sound quality sucks when compared to (most) other companies products, specifically Cowon.
Anyways I might have to try out one of these apps…now if only apple added FLAC and OGG Vorbis support.
Just downloaded Volume Logic which is made by Plantronics apparently.
I’m extremely impressed. Never thought my default MacBook Pro speakers could sound so good.
I’ve also used all three plugins and prefer iWow by a wide margin. OSS3D has potential, but it requires too much fiddling IMO. Volume Logic finished a distant third for me.
I should add that I don’t listen to music on my MacBook Pro’s speakers, and all tests were done using quality headphones only.
I might have to try out this one..
Made a huge difference on external stereo speakers and iBook speakers. Sound is dead and mushy without it, will have to check out volume logic as well though.
I have iWow v1 and loved it! Makes a huge difference!
Having said that, SRS’s latest (v2) version is basically bug fixes and features that should have been there to being with and they want their users to pay for the upgrade. I don’t mind paying upgrade fees when they make sense (added value), but this is just gouging.
I’ll stick with v1 until they get off the MS incremental upgrade bandwagon.
Too bad they aren’t really interested in keeping customers.
Rich
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