New drivers out for Philips Acoustic Edge...

[Insane3D]

You can snag them here...

Philips Drivers

I have downloaded them and they work great..no issues even in Win2k.

 

[SUOrangeman]

I'm just waking up to this card. Any thoughts on how it compares to the Santa Cruz? (I've read favorable comments from former Live! users).

I'm collecting some related links:

http://www.philipsusa.com/cgi-bin/pusaimgr/PUSA/products/prod_template.jsp?
BV_SessionID=631241092.978839426&BV_EngineID=daljkjemmehbeflcffcgecggk.0&oid=12744&
mpath=/PC+Peripherals/Sound+Cards&msection=PC+Peripherals&msectLinks=products/perip_main
(Can anyone clean this up?)

http://forums1.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=304363

http://www.gamecenter.com/Hardware/Audio/Pae/index.html

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/acousticedge_psc706/index.html

-SUO

 

[Conroy9]

NeoSeeker has a list of 5 or 6 reviews and a sblive 5.1 vs AE comparison

i think i have to get this card

 

[tboo]

Just updated the drivers. I dont care for internet updates though. Thanks for the link!!

 

[fkloster]

Hey 3D, just yanked 'em, (strange install process) Is this what your driver info says now?


1)Install software version:------2.17
2)Update software version:-------2.28
3)Audio driver DRV:--------------4.05.1172
4)Audio Driver VXD:--------------4.05.1133
5)Joystick Driver VXD:-----------4.05.1006
6)Virtual Device Driver VXD:-----4.05.1011

...in that order?

 

[tboo]

fkloster-thats what my driver info says

 

[Insane3D]

Yup, same here fkloster. I prefer downloading the drivers and then installing them myself as well. It was a strange update process...ala Windows Update...

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Cool, Thanks!


Mike

 

[Insane3D]

^

 

[Insane3D]

up, up, and away....

 

[StrangeRanger]

YEAHHH to Philips for new drivers so soon!!!
BBBBBOOOOOOO to online update that totally sucks.
j

 

[noxipoo]

yeah the online updater is kinda stupid. Check out Gamersdepot.com's review of the Acoustic Edge.

 

[Wingznut]

I'm really curious to hear a comparison between the Santa Cruz and Acoustic Edge cards.

Almost makes me run out and get an AE, so that I can compare. I would just miss the versa-jack so much. I assume with the AE... To switch between headphones and speakers would require unplugging/plugging? Yes/no?

 

[StrangeRanger]

wingnut, i may not fully understand the "versa-jack" thingy but it makes me have to ask...if you so love the versa-jack couldn't you just get an extension cable at like radio shack for $1, like a 3 foot one, and keep that near you with your speaker plugged into it and then when you want headphones just unplug the speaker and plug in your headphones? all from your chair and just turn down your front speakers? like i said, i don't really know what the versa-jack does but the rest of the "connectivity" on the AE card is awesome.
j

 

[fkloster]

This card simply rocks. That is, if you are a gamer, which I am.

 

[Wingznut]

The Versa-Jack is just a fifth jack on the back of the sound card. You can use it for a few different things (i.e. center channel speaker, headphones, etc...) I plug my headphones in it. When I want to use my headphones instead of my speakers, I bring up the Santa Cruz control panel, and just change my sound output from "4 speaker" to "Headphones (VersaJack)".

Yeah, I know about the extension cord setup. I've used it before, but I'd rather have my cluttless desktop. Besides, the versajack is easier.

I guess what it comes down to is what I'd be gaining by switching cards. The Santa Cruz is an excellent card. Yet... I am very curious to compare the two.

 

[Noriaki]

Yeah Wingnut the AE is missing the headphone connector function of the Versa Jack. It has everything else though. It has RCA SPDIF input and output (the Santa Cruz has the Versa Jack digitial output, but with the AE you get to skip an adapter as it has straight out RCA). It has 3 analog connectors so you get Center/Sub with no need for the versa jack. The headphone out would be nice though.


I've never heard the AE myself, these two points are just things I've read about it, but it might be interesting to you:

Appently the AE has better EAX than the Santa Cruz. Mark (a reviewer) from www.3dss.com told me that when I posted in their forums about it.

They have the neat QMSS thing....I'm not sure how well the Santa Cruz or Live 5.1 performs when paired with a 5.1 speaker set but using 2 or 4 channel sound, but the AE has specific algorithims to upmix 2 or 4 to 5.1 (and it's not just stereo mirroring).



I think I saw an AE vs Santa Cruz a couple weeks back I'll see if I can find it for you.