Sound Card recommendations?

[Leempi]

Hey all. My SB Live! Value crapped out on me so im in the market for a new sound card. What are y'all recommending? I have these available to me: The Acoustic Edge. Hercules Game Theater, or something in the audigy line (not too expensive mind you.

Thanks for any help =)

 

[dionx]

audigy gamer since the audigy gamer has gold contacts whereas the audigy MP3+ had colored contacts. I'm recommending retail, not OEM since there are no full drivers to download from soundblaster.com. The only audigy drivers on their site are upgrade drivers meaning you need the drivers from the retail audigy driver cd already installed.

 

[LoneWolf1]

Go for the Acoustic Edge. The latest drivers have really helped to improve the performance of the card. For reviews of all the cards mentioned, go to 3D Sound Surge.

 

[QuestionsandAnsweres]

dionx you shouldnt of posted here. u know why? Cause u dont know wtf your talking about

THE MP3 version of the audigy does have gold connectors. but that doesnt make a bit of difference. its just for looks really.

the oem has colored meaning its easier to install stuff like speakers. but thats not a biggy for most

also the audigy oem has to come with a cd. trust me creative isnt that dumb. just the cd only has drivers a basic stuff on there. NO GAMES or MP3 software etc

 

[Leempi]

Hrm reading the reviews. Has anyone who has used the breakout box of the Game Theater found it usefull at all?

 

[Leempi]

*bump* any other opinions?

 

[dionx]

<< THE MP3 version of the audigy does have gold connectors. but that doesnt make a bit of difference. its just for looks really. >>



Not the MP3+ version I got. In the Hot Deals forum of AT, there was a deal for a Audigy MP3+ retail for $75 ($100 - 25 coupon). Anyways, the deal was from staples and when I got my retail MP3+, it was colored connectors. Maybe a few batches have the colored connecters. You would need to take a poll from Audigy owners and ask what kind they got: colored or gold.

In the thread of the deal I mentioned, a guy who also received the same deal also got colored contacts.

Link to old thread for Audigy deal & one member who said he got colored contacts too for retail version of MP3+

 

[dionx]

<< also the audigy oem has to come with a cd. trust me creative isnt that dumb. >>



it depends where you get the OEM audigy from. in some san diego mom&pop computer stores, if you ask for an OEM audigy, they basically open up a drawer and pull a card out from a pile of other cards and put it in a antistatic bag. that is true OEM. they dont give you a cd or nothing. that's how they manage to keep prices real low in sandiego. sure some places give you the cd but you will have to look around.