Soundblaster Live! Platinum or Live Platinum 5.1

[nexialist]

Comp USA has the Live! Platinum for $99. I haven't checked but I'm sure it's not the newer 5.1.

Anyone know what the difference is? 5.1 has digital sound and what else? Maybe it's time to buy one for $99?

 

[Pariah]

If you don't care about 5.1 DD audio and getting a remote control or TOS connectors, go with the original platinum. It is quite a good deal at $99.

 

[Madcowz]

EVERY Live! has digital audio and the original Live! and Live! platinum are capable of passthrough Dolby Digital! But yea, if you want a remote (I have yet to find any use in it) and toslink than get the 5.1

 

[nexialist]

I can live without a remote, but what's TOS, or toslink connectors?

Will 5.1 make my music/games sound noticeably better through an excellent sound system? If not, then $99 sounds good.

 

[Pariah]

5.1 is much easier on the Platinum 5.1 and a bit more versatile. If you have a PS2 or decent receiver, the TOS connectors are nice.

TOS connectors are optical cables. 5.1 is only useful for DVD watching at this point.

 

[dcdomain]

If you don't use TOSlinks already.. I don't think it matters. Only reason I got it was for the optical out (toslink) for output to my MD player... if you are thinking about going the MiniDisc route in the future... go for the 5.1 which includes the Live!Drive IR. You'll definitely want the optical output. If you won't be using ANY of the outputs or inputs on the Live!Drives, save yourself the $50 bucks and get a Soundblaster Live! Value... of course the Live!Drive does look cool as hell on the front of your computer.

 

[mjquilly]

I just stumbled accross this thread, and I'm in the same situation. I really want to get a Live! Platinum, but I don't think I'll need the 5.1 version. Is there any difference between the two models other than one does 5.1 and one doesn't? I know the 5.1 comes w/ alot of good software (games and mixing s/w), does the non-5.1 have the software too? I am just now getting into recording music on my PC (midi, live audio), and this seems like a great thing to have. Plus, $99 at Comp USA sounds great. Let me know what any of you think about these 2 options...