Philips SGC5103BD amBX 2.1 PC Gaming Speaker System Peripherals Premium Kit (Includes 3 Free Games)

So I went a bit overboard with these kits. Was lucky enough to get my first set for free, then a second speaker kit and 2 additional light kits on Woot when they were getting cleared out....so a total of 4 kits for ~$200 I love them, although one of my control units did see it's green and blue LED controllers burn out. The default support isn't great, but there are some 3rd party programs out there (Aurora synethesia) that work great for ambient screen or audio. Takes a little bit to get it installed on win 7 / 8, but there's a nice wiki out there for it In my case, I've got them hooked up to my HTPC in the living room, and it's great for gaming on my TV. I also have a set hooked up to speakers in the kitchen, and they provide some great lighting above my cabinets. They also work nicely in conjunction with sound activated EL wire for a very tron-styled effect. (I would call it man-cave, but for those in their 20s, they seem to be female approved too). 4 stars because the fan and rumble strip are pretty much useless clutter. The speakers may not win over audiophiles, but it's not a half bad 2.1 system overall, weaker at the top end but good on mids and low (adjustable subwoofer is great for apartments. Sadly I have to have mine almost flat or I'd likely piss of neighbors)

The feeling of gaming with this thing is really enhanced when you're playing something that has full support. Games without support don't do anything, unfortunately. I wish this would do some simple hooks into the underlying graphics interface for Windows, and detect when a game is using 3d acceleration, and appropriately sample the data passing through it to produce at least a generic complement of lighting. If you want the full AmbX experience you have to stick to AmbX enabled games (games specifically written with AmbX in mind.) Oh yeah, the wrist pad is a waste. I never use it. This kit is all about the lighting and fans. Oh, and last complaint is the volume control. I have no clue why they thought this was a good idea, but the volume control actually controls the volume control slider in Windows. It's not an actual volume control for the speakers themselves. I find that there's not enough granularity when it comes to adjusting it. It's either on at a modest volume, and scales up from there to become really loud. You can't adjust it to play at really low volumes. This could be related to my sound card and OS, but if this was an actual volume control as opposed to a multimedia Windows volume control, it wouldn't be a problem. I think AmbX has a ways to go before it becomes really powerful, but it's a neat effect for the time being.

Gaming on my pc is even more immersive now with games that support the ambx backlight, fan, and rumble effects. Even games that don't have built in ambx support utilize the ambient backlight effect very convincingly. On top of all the extra gaming effects, this is a REALLY solid set of speakers. I upgraded from a 50w Logitech 2.1 setup to this, and WOW! 160 watts blew my old speakers out of the water! Overall, great buy although I wouldn't go for the full $400 price tag when it can be had brand new for less than $300.

I first saw the amBX in early 2007, I had a mixed reaction to seeing it play. Great ideas take some time to mature and while this is still in infancy, there is maturity here enough to bring it into your home if you are willing. The light effectss are hands-down fantastic. There is integration in games (even some without native support). The effect adds something to the game IF you play in a "den" like environment with dimmed lights and like to feel a little more immersed into the ambiance. The wall washer (3 behind monitor lights) and the L/R lights are the best reason worth looking into or at least trying the amBX. So far the effects are great and worth it! The sound is mediocre. The speaker and subwoofer are flat, with a range broad enough for the job, but if you don't really care for superb audio, you should be okay. Thankfully the amBX speakers are an option, and while the speaker/subwoofer do work, I skipped 'em and use my own speakers. If you too like your speakers, you might want to go with the starter and expansion kits and save $. The wind L/R channels are the really new idea. Good programming makes or breaks these little guys. I've seen both good and bad uses in game programming for them so far and I look forward to better adaptation in the future (hopefully). The wrist rest/rumble bar is by far the weakest link here. It's ranged from simple to disturbing but that's all in the programming. The unit is about an inch tall and I find it uncomfortable, so I've unplugged it awaiting a gen2 hopefully a new generation will bring some ergonomics into the mix. The software is getting better for driver support and in-game/movie/music effects. Overall I've not had any major issues as of this writing (Jan 08). The original software was obviously written for XP, but I'm running Vista 32-bit OS and the latest software revs available on Philips' website work well for me.