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Creative Labs raises the standard in PC audio to pleasing new heightswith a line of sound cards based on its new Audigy chip. The impressive result:audiophile-quality digital sound processing for mainstream PC products.
Audigy-based boards deliver that high-quality sound by using about fourtimes the processing power of Creative's Sound Blaster Live series, which letsthe chip calculate more 3D sound effects for more-realistic 3D sound.
The Audigy's 24-bit/96-kHz digital-to-analog converters significantlyoutperform the 16-bit/48-kHz DACs that today's better cards contain. The newDACs put Audigy-based cards on a par with good-quality home stereo componentsand allow them to decode 24-bit DVD-Audio discs as well as standard 16-bit CDs.Home recording enthusiasts will appreciate both the board's 32-bit digitalmixing capability and its excellent 100-decibel signal-to-noise ratio.
We tested the top model in Creative's new line, the $250 Sound BlasterAudigy Platinum EX, a unit well suited for the pickiest PC audiophile.Mainstream audio buffs may be satisfied with one of the company's lessexpensive Audigy boards that target specific activities, such as the SoundBlaster Audigy Gamer and MP3+ cards, each $100.
The Audigy line is built around a basic board with a microphone input,as well as digital and analog outputs supporting six audio channels for fullDolby Digital 5.1 3D sound. The card also ships with an IEEE 1394 port, calledSB1394, for connecting external devices such as DV camcorders or setting uppeer-to-peer networking.
Our test board came with a breakout box called the Audigy Drive, whichhouses optical and coaxial digital I/O connectors, an infrared remote, andMIDI-in and -out connectors--important if you enjoy creating home recordings.
Setting up all of these pieces was complicated: You can expect tospend at least half an hour installing the hardware and bundled software. Butonce complete, the set-up yielded impressive sonic results.
CDs, DVDs, and MP3s were crisp and clear, with better depth, presence,and range.
But perhaps the greatest potential of the card was revealed by itsability to produce truly jaw-dropping effects during 3D game play. Imagine thesound of your steps as you walk from the floor of a canyon into the closedconfines of a mine shaft. In the real world the sound in the two environmentswould be quite different. Now imagine walking out of the mine shaft while avoice deep within it calls out.
The Audigy card is particularly impressive at reproducing suchcomplex sonic environments. Music creation and audio editing are served byextensive bundled software. The Platinum EX includes full versions of ImageLine's Fruity Loops, Sonic Foundry's Acid DJ 2, Steinberg's Audio Suite, andUlead's VideoStudio 4 SE Basic, along with standard WAV editors and MP3applications. But unless you're setting up a home recording studio, thePlatinum bundle may be more than you need. Most PC audio fans would be betterserved by the less expensive Sound Blaster Audigy cards. Either way, you shouldfind the results appetizing.
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