Sound Cards, which to buy

[Kazy]

I'm about to build a new computer and can't decide on a sound card. I was going to go with the Sound Blaster Live!, although lately I have been reading bad things about them. Any suggestions on what to get?

 

[Shooters]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Hercules Game Theater

 

[Alienwho]

I love my GTXP. I LOVE IT.

 

[rommel]

santa cruz

 

[ImNoFun]

Santa Cruz refurb from Dell. Use Turtle Beach drivers. Not a gamer but mp3s sound awesome.

 

[Calum]

Santa Cruz for sure. My SBLive! died about two months ago, for no apparent reason. I replaced it with a Santa Cruz and have never looked back. No messing about with Live!ware etc, just install drivers and go!

Just my 2p

Calum
--
calumUNDERSCOREmcfarlaneATyahooDOTcoDOTuk

 

[randomlinh]

i don't get it, why can't sb users also "just install the drivers?" Not saying go buy sb or santa cruz, just pointing out why is that always a reason... i installed the bare drivers w/o a prob (i dropped my sb live in favor of another vortex2 for the optical out.. ugh.. sad they went down )

 

[NOS440]

If your going to stay with Windows 9X then get a Hercules GTXP. If your going to run Win2K or XP steer clear of it for now there drivers suck.

 

[pillage2001]

Let me be the first, SB LIve!!

 

[Atlantean]

Hercules game theatre xp

 

[bulldawg]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz blows away the Live series cards. I have been very happy after getting rid of the Live crap.

 

[Wah]

What is the Dell TB santa cruz? I saw it on there site... it says its for the optiplex. It should work with other computers right?

 

[wfbberzerker]

hercules game theater xp

 

[mdXtreme3d]

Philips Acoustic Edge

 

[bulldawg]

<< It should work with other computers right? >>



Works fine for me. Using the drivers from TB and I love it.

 

[Squibby]

Another vote for the Game Theater XP (if you want a whole lot of options - $114 OEM from NewEgg) or the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (if you just want a basic sound card). They use the same chip, so they should sound identical.

Squibby

 

[Tyrant333]

Anyone know of a review with the Santa cruz and the Philips Acoustic Edge. Priced about the same and haven't heard a complaint from anyone about them. Looks like 2 of the best for the price.

 

[NFS4]

Santa Cruz. It can be had for under $70. The Herc GTXP is too expensive with too much bloat for my tastes.

 

[Wallydraigle]

I personally haven't come across any of these Win2K issues with my GTXP. I love mine and am about to get another one for a new computer.

 

[LuciferHaze]

For the best compatability you're gonna want a SB Lve! Value at least.

 

[Wah]

<< Santa Cruz. It can be had for under $70. The Herc GTXP is too expensive with too much bloat for my tastes. >>


Maybe its too expensive for some, but I would not say it has too much bloat. Software bloat, definately none... the rack lets me plug in my earphones and joysticks whenever I want w/o fumbling behind my computer. It also lets me put my subwoofer whereever I want it. I love it.

 

[thetinkerer]

I use SBLive value, but I would be first to admit that they fail to heed Scotty's advice (from Star Trek) and I paraphrase, &quot;the more complicated the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain...&quot; I use SB Live BUT...I load only the SB basic drivers (the ones that load when you first install the card and are prompted for the disk, AND I disable the SB16 emulation (Dos drivers) AND I don't load any of the fluff that SB invites you to load after you have installed the basic drivers when you are directed to their &quot;welcome&quot; screen. All that &quot;live wire&quot;, &quot;audio HQ&quot;, &quot;Launcher&quot; etc etc are just asking for trouble IMHO

 

[Metropolis2000]

Tyrant333:



<< Anyone know of a review with the Santa cruz and the Philips Acoustic Edge. >>



This site does some very in depth reviews. Here are the linkies...

Santa Cruz

Acoustic Edge

Enjoy