I got an SB Live! Value to replace a MX300 and I am getting more and more convinced the SB sucks compared to the vortex. The sounds (in NFSPU) are delayed about half a second and EAX is really bad! You get only a little reverb completely uncoordinated with whatever is happening. I don't know if there is some problem here, but I have been using it for a few weeks (granted, with some video card hicups in between...), used different drivers, different directX, and still get the same exact problems. Please, someone prove me wrong!