Hercules Game theater XP or Phillips Acoustic Edge?

[Joony]

shall i spend 30 bucks more for that good lookin external rack?

 

[MasterHoss]

In my opinion, yes. The GTXP has room to grow. More specifically, it has the ability to run a 7.1 speaker set as future versions of software DVD players allow for such a solution.

 

[GustySoul]

Hey Joony,

I have a GTXP right now and I owned an Acoustic Edge a few months back.

Both cards are very nice.

If you think you are going to use some of those connectors on the external rack I would go for it. I find it nice just because it makes it so easy to plug in headphones for late nights.

Ironically though, the big advantage of the AE is that it doesn't have a rack. The GTXP rack isn't huge, but it's not tiny either and the cable that goes from the rack to the sound card is the size of garden hose :Q - a bit unwieldly.

Personally, I found the sound that the AE produced to be slightly more pleasant than that of the GTXP and the Creative cards, but I can't really say why, just seemed a somewhat livlier.

I ended up not keeping it though as at the time the AE had pretty lousy Win2K drivers. Not sure if they've been fixed since then.

 

[Maverick]

<< In my opinion, yes. The GTXP has room to grow. More specifically, it has the ability to run a 7.1 speaker set as future versions of software DVD players allow for such a solution. >>



how would that work? I only see 5.1 analog setups..would you have to use the optical/coax outputs for 7.1?

 

[MasterHoss]

No, using minijack plugs and RCA plugs and whenever Dolby releases the 7.1 specs and software DVD companies adopt the codec into their DVD player...

GTXP = 7.1 potential.

 

[Sugadaddy]

hmmm, Cyberlink needs to release PowerDVD with DTS-ES...

 

[Santhrax]

I don't have any way to compare the two, so I'll tell you why I give my GameTheater a hug every night

1. Sound is superb mmmm hardware mp3 decoding
2. Volume Controls for both microphone and headphones on box.
(need to hear that last guy in CS, crank it up to max )
3. USB .. no more short mouse cords if you have a usb mouse ... also great for gamevoice, which takes me back to the volume control point!
4. It's NEAT!!!
5. See number 4.

I haven't used the Phillips product, so I can't tell you which is better, but this might make it a bit easier

 

[culex]

I don't have an Acoustic Edge either but I've heard numerous praises about the card.

I personally went ahead and purchased a GTXP few days ago. It took me a few hours to tweak everything just the way I want it but if the AE has similar or par quality with the GTXP as far as sound goes, it should rock. I've had a SBLIVE for the past 2 years and after hearing music and games thru the GTXP, I couldn't believe what I was missing out.

I could actually pick up the small details in games and music with this card. Should I had no need for the extra inputs and outputs, I probably would have saved money and got the AE instead.

Hope this helps.

 

[thephew]

The AE is an amazing card; 5.1 discrete channels in games, music, and DVD. GTXP can only do it for DVDs. The QMSS algorithms take a boring stereo stream and 'expands' it into full 5.1 surround. And you get to decide what algorithms to use in this process, depending on the soundstage you want to create. Now, if you are using 2.1 speakers, the GTXP might be a better choice. If you are doing alot of audio editing/recording, the GTXP's connector choices would make it best.

 

[astriy]

none of the above, go with turtle beach santa cruz

 

[Joony]

wahoo i got the acoustic edge, where are the new driver updates?

 

[whitelight]

you can get driver updates from the philips driver updater