Sound Card, Looking to Buy, Give opinions

[johnjohn320]

I want a relatively cheap sound card, full duplex, 3d support, etc. I have no idea what environmental effects are, but everyone's talking about them. Basically, as long as it has full duplex support, 3d audio (directX whatever), and is better than my current SB 64, then we're in good shape.

BTW, links are appreciated.

 

[John]

Define cheap.

 

[pay]

How about the Phillips Accoustic Edge?

 

[johnjohn320]

Cheap < $100

 

[Heddis]

I like my Turtle Beach Sanat Cruz and I got it for $60.

 

[Synapse9]

If you're not worried about extra software, I'd say just get the Sound Blaster Live! Value. It has everything you mentioned and it's cheap.

 

[johnjohn320]

Linky? I want to be positive. I hadn't heard of the Live! Value, only the Live!

 

[Synapse9]

Value is just the cheapest of the Live! series. It's basically an SB Live! X-Gamer without the extra software (games etc.) that come with the X-Gamer.

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/gamer5.1/

Pretty much like that.

 

[glenn1]

If your price range is > $100, then you have five main choices, none has an overwhelming true advantage over the others in every category (price, price/performance ratio, features, etc). Where one card might excel in a given category, another card will be tops in a different category. All 5 are fine choices with superb drivers and would do fine for you. In no particular order:

A. Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
B. Philips Accoustic Edge
C. Hercules Game Theater XP
D. Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live series
E. Creative Labs Audigy