From a technical standpoint the card's hardware is relatively easy to figure out. It connects to a standard PCI slot on your motherboard and requires no other interior connections to operate. On the outside there are three connections: HD-DAI, optical in, and optical out. As you remember from our HP-1 review, HD-DAI is Razer's digital audio connection. This will enable the HP-1 headset to connect directly to the video card and do multiple channels over a single physical connection.

The only accessory the sound card comes with is a HD-DAI splitter. This cable will split the HD-DAI connection into six analog connections so you can run the video card without using the HP-1 headphones or another HD-DAI device. This means it can be used with stereo headphones, or up to a 7.1 speaker system.

As with any other sound card, the installation was quite easy. The task basically consists of inserting the card in a PCI slot and then installing the included software. You will have to choose which connection to use, the HD-DAI, optical, or analog through the splitter, but all are simple to set up.

The software is installed of an included CD or can be picked up from Razer's Support site. The installation went extremely smoothly though it is Windows only, so some Linux users and Apple fans will be out of luck. The software is relatively easy to use but is quite powerful and presents the user with a large amount of options and opportunities for customization. Drivers like these are something that Razer has done exceedingly well at, as we saw with those included with the Tarantula keyboard.

The AC-1's Audio Control Panel gives the users a number of customization options so you can adjust just how the sound card renders your audion. This control panel will take over your system's sound controls and here you can tell the computer what listening device you are using, control the bass and equalizer, and even do extras, like create environmental effects to tweak your sound.