Does anyone use the HT Omega Claro series?

[asdftt123]

I've been searching for a good sound solution and I've only heard things about Creative's line. I want a good sound card for gaming, music, and video and the HT Omega Claro and Claro Plus+ stood out on newegg. I've heard only bad things about Creative's Vista 64 bit drivers, but does the HT Claro have any issues? Also, can anyone comment on the sound quality and performance of this card? Also, does this card function well as a gaming card like the XtremeGamer and Fatal1ty series? Will I see increased frame rates like I would if I were to use the other cards? Thanks a bunch.

 

[trOver]

I have the regular claro, and it is amazing imho. i have it hooked up via optical to my z-5500's and dolby live enabled, and the effect is incredible. Also- i am running vista ultimate 32bit, and it works great. loses some of the features, but the overall drivers and everything work fine. I got them online at their webpage, so im sure the 64 bit edition is there and works fine.

Functions great as a gaming card, but i think lacks some of the EAX settings (doesnt effect much).

It will increase framerates, no matter what card you get, because it will be taking some load off the cpu no matter what the case is.

 

[ForSciGuy]

Hey ashdftt123 (that looks like one of the random names I would type in when I have to create an account at snapfish to see pictures someone sent me🙂

I have been researching a build (set for January) for the last month or so now and have pretty much narrowed every component I would like. Funny enough I am planning on getting everything you have, although I will be going with the XFX 640 @600Mhz. But MB, RAM, Proc, OS, HS?are all the same.
For my sound card I started out with the X-Fi b/c that is all I heard about. But then, when I made it down to my sound card (I keep going though, and revising if necessary, all of my components in a cycle) and did some further research I ran in HT Omega. If you sort the PCI sound cards on Newegg by best rating, all 3 of HT Omega?s are in the top 4. The only one above it is the Bluegears b-Inspire (which has been referred to as Claro?s ?slightly older cousin??possibly why it is above Claro on Newegg), which the HT Omega Claro is usually compared to in reviews (note: I know they are just Newegg reviews and but they still offer an insight). The Claro uses a little more CPU (I think 1-2%) compared to the Bluegears, but the Claro is also supposed to have more quality parts.
Since I don?t own a sweet rig yet, let along a sound card (but as of now I am getting the Claro) I am basing this all off of the reviews I have read on the various sound cards (one reviewer says he used the HT Omega Claro in Vista Ultimate with no problems) (the Creative cards did seem to be filled with issues from what I read). But every review I have read loves HT Omega so it seems pretty sweet.
Hopefully more people with the Bluegears, Creative, and HT Omega Claro will pipe in (I also read there is not too much difference with the Plus).
Good Luck?please post an update with whatever you decide and how it is.
Mike

Here are some reviews (There is another good review from some website abbreviated HL but I cant think of it now?I will post it if I find it)

http://www.cluboc.net/reviews/..._Omega/Claro/index.htm

http://benchmarkreviews.com/in...sk=view&id=23&Itemid=1

http://www.elitebastards.com/c...=view&id=318&Itemid=27

http://www.dragonsteelmods.com...view&id=1776&Itemid=38

PS. Since this is my first post I just want to thank everyone in the Anandtech forums?you guys ahh wicked smaht (add Boston accent). I will definitely be posting a ?new build? thread in a few months and look forward to your insight.

 

[ForSciGuy]

Well I figured out HL was for http://www.hardwarelogic.com/ but the review was for the MB (a nice review of the P35C DS3R) not the Claro...sorry. If I find anything else on the Claro I will post a link. Hopefully more people out there with a sound card will add to this thread.
mike