jonpratt Posted February 15, 2001 Share Posted February 15, 2001 I want to inject my opinion into this arena... The best soundcard, without CRUSHING your wallet.... TURTLE BEACH FIJI! check out the test http://www.pcavtech.com/soundcards/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokejag Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 i just got a sb live x-gamer 5.1. i cant believe the difference. i first had my v2 400's hooked up to a pci 128 card and it was just crap. the speakers were good but the card sucked for games. i just got my sb live x-gamer 2 days ago and the fact that it has EAX is so cool. also the sound quality is much better in games. plus its not too expensive. i only paid 65 for mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bataar Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 I'd have to say that the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live 5.1 series is probably the best right now. There are 3 models, the Platinum, X-Gamer, and MP3+. I think the MP3+ is kind of worthless because most of the software it comes with can be downloaded for free. The X-Gamer is a good deal because it comes with the full versions of Unreal Tournament, Deus Ex, Thief 2, and MDK2. The Platinum is the best. It comes with all the games the X-Gamer comes with, as well as all the software the MP3+ comes with. It also comes with the Live Drive and a wireless remote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoggy Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 heheh, the platinum also comes with a fairly phat price tag, I have a soundblaster Live Value and think it's the best bang for the buck, it's half the price of the Gamer/MP3 cards and is the same thing minus gold plated connectors and games you can borrow from friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rol1 Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/Digital-NX/DigitalNX.html Hoontech, 96dB Digital Input(Coaxial, Optical, AES/EBU) & Digital Out ( Coaxial, Optical, AES/EBU) with NX DB II & ST DB III Supports 4Speaker Digital AMP (PA Digital/4ch, ST Digital AMP/4Ch) with NX DB II Supports Digital Out (Coaxial,Optical) with NX DB I worth a closer look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmerry Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 My votes for the X-gamer. It's the card I have and for the price it's perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluegun Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 Philips Acoustic Edge - $70. Pros: Best gaming soundcard ever made. Better than the entire Sound Blater line. Comes with WinDVD. Has QMSS, which ROCKS. Cheap. Cons: headphone quality isn't up to par, a few CD playnack problems, a couple of problems with win2k... Of course, the "best" soundcards are the professional ones, but they aren't good for games...but you can use the, say, Audiophile 2496 WITH an Acoustic Edge...heehee... ------------------ "Feh." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonpratt Posted February 16, 2001 Author Share Posted February 16, 2001 I don't think you understand.... The Fiji scored well above all the SB products, along with every other card except the "professional" ones.... Sound quality coming out of a FIJI is better than these stinking SB's!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KorrMuraan Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 quote: Originally posted by tmerry: My votes for the X-gamer. It's the card I have and for the price it's perfect. Same here kickass sound! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardG Posted February 16, 2001 Share Posted February 16, 2001 Keep in mind that the Phillips Acoustic Edge may be great but it has the following problem Windows 2000 and they aren't planning to fix this - wish it weren't so. I had to return mine because of it. From Phillips: "The PSC706 Acoustic Edge sound card is compatible with the Windows 2000 Professional operating system. However, there appears to be an issue with the way the operating system handles the surround capabilities and quad expander technology. Therefore, you may only receive 2 channel sound from the card on the system thus defeating the purpose of the 5.1 channel technology. It is not know at this time if updated drivers will be developed to correct this issue." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted March 11, 2001 Share Posted March 11, 2001 Thanx for the leads on the Phillips and the Fiji.... Will be upgrading my soundcard within a month or two and was leaning towards SB Live Platinum but apparently its so buggy with my Mobo (Asus P3V4X) that I am a little nevous to spend 270 for a paperweight. Klipsch Rocks The BB Is The Best & Amy Is A Goddess of Tech Assistance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike... the real one Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 I have the X-Gamer (standard version) and the sound is really great! Plus the fact that I was lucky enough to get gold plated jacks on it. The value is really good also, but still, I would rather spend the money to get the box with all the softwares that come with it. Anyone has tried the ISIS from Guillemot? I wanna know what this sound card sounds like. I can be find at around 400$ canadian. It's not professional, but almost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gxcad Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 I would like to say I have seen many people say they like the acoustic edge over the sblive series, also gluegun I can't find it anywhere for $70, I'd like to revise your claim to $85.-Gxcadc> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamyourzero Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 From what I've heard, the people using and liking their Acoustic Edge cards must be able to enjoy bassless sound, as those cards supposedly have very weak bass. Not sure if it's a driver bug or part of the hardware, but I know I wouldn't like it. Neither would my ProMedia sub or my 15" floorstanding speakers or my 15" powered sub...they'd be kinda bored dontcha think? I own a Live! X-Gamer and I'm not saying that it's the best card ever made, but it is excellent for the price. Like monitors and speakers, sound cards are something you don't have to upgrade often (unlike CPU's/video cards) and this card has definitely proven its worth in millions of systems. I guess I've always thought of Sound Blaster as being the universal compatible sound card...the standard by which other (non-professional) cards are judged...so I'd have a hard time picking up a Philips AE or another "off-brand" sound card (even though they might offer a great sound solution as well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fawwaz Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 If you're using klipsch 4.1 then you don't need a 5.1 card .The live Value! is a great bargin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rol1 Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 Have any of you checked out 3dsoundsurge.com? Compare then choose. Turtle Beach has better distortion, Creative has all the bells, Phillips is the new guy on the block w/QMSS. Has anybody bought the Hoontech gear yet? You can trick out their cards for less than a bare Live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billie Jean Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 Hey rol1, do those hoontech cards have analog 5.1 channel output? I know they are really good cards, but I don't think any of them have 5.1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike... the real one Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 Plus the fact that Creative Labs was one of the first company (non professional again) to make sound cards... So I trust their work. Hey and by the way, who here never actually got an old SB16 on his first computer....? That sound card rocked for the time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rol1 Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 Do you want to listen to AC3 and DTS audio? Then you will need a decoder. There is no software DTS. If you want surround gaming thats 4 point surround. Do you want to go into settings to switch between movies and games? With a decoder you just switch source on the remote. Has someone mentioned driver problems with the phillips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatKnight Posted March 12, 2001 Share Posted March 12, 2001 mike-i had the original sound blaster! 8 bit! then i got a soundblaster pro (stereo, yay)...then moved to awe32, awe64, then sblive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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