The_Phew

The folks at 3dsoundsurge.com could give you the most help. The reason the AE has only three jacks is that each connection caries two channels, the same reason that plugging your headphones into a walkman gives you stereo. 2*3=6 channels of audio. Any 5.1 card will 'decode' Dolby Digital. But this usually only applies to DVDs(as currently, DVDs are the only thing with DD content), so you will still get boring stereo from music and most games. The GTXP may play from all the speakers, but there are only two different CHANNELS playing regardless of how many SPEAKERS are playing. This means that the front left and rear left will be playing the exact same thing at the same time, same with rights. The AE will take a stereo stream (music, games) and 'expand' it into a 5.1 stream(which you can't really call DD, but don't get lost in the terminology). This just means that every speaker is playing something unique at a given point in time, and there is no duplication between the two lefts like on the GTXP. Basically, if you want '3D' sound from your CDs and MP3s, buy a AE. If all you care about is DVDs, both cards will play the exact same thing for them. Games are more complicated, but with the AE you know EVERY game will have 5.1 discrete channels, whereas with the GTXP you may get 4 for some games, maybe just stero for others. Hope this helps.

Don't forget the Phillips Acoustic Edge. If you buy a GTXP, you get boring old stereo from your music, and at most 4 channel from your games. The AE will take ANY stero stream and 'expand it' into 5.1 channels. You don't get all those funky connections though. It depends what is important to you; sound stage or the ability to plug your electric Kazoo into your soundcard.

Tabby, HSN.com has some really nice metal stands for less than US$40. I ordered them cus they ended up being like US$32 after rebates, etc, and the quality is good. Only go up to 4 ft though.

Any card will play SOUND from all 5.1 speakers, but the phillips AE plays DISCRETE sounds on each of the five speakers, whereas normally the left front and rear would be playing the same thing, and the center would play both right and left channels. Phillips will send certain frequencies to certain sats, or certain intensities, or just do something really complex that ends up sounding great in the end. If you want '3D' music, then AE is your card. This message has been edited by The_Phew on 07-18-2001 at 11:31 AM

Amy, Why are you waiting on US Customs? The press releases say that Klipsch has manufacturing facilities in AK and CA. So unless you guys recently set up a sweatshop in Bolivia to build 5.1s (in which case don't expect me to buy them, because sweatshop labor is not known for its quality), there shouldn't be any customs delays for US sales. Sounds like something fishy is going on here....

The lower gauge wire should help with hissing some (thinner wire=hotter wire=more excited electrons=more hissing).

No one from Klipsch ever said they would be out the 15th, they just speculated 'the week of the 15th'. I predict wednesday the 18th at 9:42 AM EST. Let's see how close I am =)

Build it yourself. Mucho cheaper, better control over components u get. I just built an AMD Athlon 1.4 Ghz, Elsa GeForce 3, 512 MB of PC 2100, 40 GB IBM 7200 RPM HD, Epox 8k7A Mobo, Phillips Acoustic Edge, Pioneer Slot DVD, 350W Enermax PSU, ThermalRight SK6 HSF, in a Lian Li PC-68 + USB aluminum case for exactly $1320 total, after shipping. Dell/Gateway can't even come close (Dell doesn't even sell AMD).