I got the SRS iWOW Plugin for iTunes from the MacHeist/MacUpdate Bundle a few weeks ago. SRS iWOW is a plugin in that it installs a window that shows up inside iTunes, although it’s only compatible with the Mac version of iTunes (SRS does offer a Windows app that does similar functions, but is not limited to just iTunes). Essentially, it’s like a mini soundboard/mixer for iTunes which lets you enhance the sound output using the SRS WOW HD technology, developed in part by Rogue Amoeba.
After trying it out, I do have to say that it really lives up to its name. Using one of the appropriate presets, music sounded a whole lot louder and clearer, with a lot more emphasis on the important details of the sound quality, than it did when I would switch the plugin off. The plugin provides a window which allows you to mess with the settings to make it sound perfect, plus includes a cool looking pulser.
The plugin includes a number of patented technology to actually expand the digital scope of the music and get better performance out of the sound card. SRS 3D allows you to control 3D stereo enhancement, SRS 3D Center Control actually finds a way of “zooming” in and out of the “3D space” that the music is playing in, SRS TruBass allows you to appropriately maximize the use of the bass, SRS FOCUS allows you to optimize speaker output and reposition audio placement, and SRS Definition helps highlight high frequency details. This brings a whole new surround quality to the music which makes the music sound dull when you turn the enhancements off. In addition, the plugin allows you to select the speaker type that you’re using to optimize the sound output for that speaker size. Although you _could_ use SRS iWOW in conjunction with the iTunes Equalizer, they recommend that you don’t because it can have an effect on the sound output.
There were a couple of downsides to this, however. SRS iWOW come with a number of presets, however it isn’t a very large number and their scope is limited. It doesn’t appear to have a way to edit or save new custom presets yourself, and since I’m really not one that likes to risk messing around with the settings for fear of outputting something horrible, I find myself having to pick a preset. Although most of the songs I listened to sounded better with SRS iWOW on, they usually only sound good when you have the correct preset on, and this changes. Personally, I listen to a variety of different styles of music, so I tend to have to go in and switch the appropriate preset in SRS iWOW to get the best quality. The other thing that’s sorely missing here is the ability to assign an SRS iWOW preset to specific songs and have them change automatically. If I want to listen to iTunes while doing something else that’s actually productive, it’s more worth it to just use the inferior iTunes Equalizer than have to change the settings myself every time the song changes. There was one song which just seemed to be better with SRS iWOW off: Speed of Sound by Coldplay. No matter which setting I picked, it just seemed to emphasize one part of what (in my opinion) was an already remarkable audio mix. Also, SRS iWOW doesn’t seem to benefit spoken word that much.
In conclusion, the SRS iWOW plugin is totally remarkable in its ability to optimize audio quality, and when you try turning it on and off in the middle of a song in iTunes, it’s amazing how much difference there is. However, it’s sorely in need of closer integration with iTunes. At the very least, I need the ability to edit/add new presets to SRS iWOW and the ability to assign presets to my iTunes music before I become a die-hard fan.
Final Rating (out of 5): 
