Soundblaster Live! Vs Soundblaster Live Platinum 5.1.... Is SB 5.1 worth its money?

[MANKOU]

I have the opportunity to buy a SB Live! (the first one, not Platinum nor 1024 and such. Is there any difference between it and the new SB 5.1? Someone told me that they are the same thing, since they are both connected in SPDIF (if I'm correct) and since even the SB Live! can produce 5.1's special dolby surround sound with the special speakers.
Sorry for possible mistakes, I'm kind of confused with these soundcards specifications. So, the question is : CAN I ASSUME THAT SB LIVE 5.1 IS SB LIVE! IN A NEW PACKAGE?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Hercules]

I wouldn't go for the 5.1, as it's essentially the same card. It has a few options, read them over carefully. Unless you really need them, it's not worth the money. I bought the X-Gamer, because of the software bundle with it, and I think it's great. The only benefit you get is the Live! drive, which I have no room for anyway

Just my advice, others may think otherwise

 

[jaydee]

That is a sweet drive though, if you have room. Can hook up keyboard, secondary speakers, input devices, microphone, right into the front in a 5.25" drive bay. Very convinient if you have use for it. The software bundle that the Platinum come in is outstanding as well. What are the price difference of the two anyway?

 

[MANKOU]

OK, 5.1 has some more options, but are they completely new? I mean, the original SB Live! has SPDIF(?) and other things that are the same with those of Platinum 5.1. I have the impression that it is the same card, even that this "5.1" feature exists in the first SB Live!, but somehow "hidden". Is it true?

 

[nippyjun]

Is it true that the non-5.1 card can become 5.1 cards?

 

[Lore]

jaydee: I don't think you can hook up a keyboard - those are MIDI IN/OUT ports.

 

[broadwayblue]

lol

 

[dcdomain]

From what I've heard, no, the non 5.1 cards cannot be converted into 5.1 cards. What do you plan on doing with the card? I mainly bought it for the Optical out ability so I could record onto my MD... of course, the front jacks for the headphones and mic are also good to have. The normal Platinum which includes the Live! Drive I is a pretty bad deal... of course, if you can find it for $100 (Best Buy and CompUSA sold it around that price when the 5.1's came out), it's an ok deal.

I don't think there's really much of a price difference between the normal Live! card and the Live! 5.1 card... so if you had the chance, grab the 5.1 card. Then again, you could also pick up the X-Gamer for around $50 after coupon and free shipping from Staples. Think the $25 off coupon expired yesterday, the $20 off coupon is still around. The X-Gamer basically gives you a bunch of pretty good games. The Live! Mp3 gives you some Mp3 software and the Platinum 5.1 basically gives you both software bundles and the Live!Drive IR.

The Live!Drive IR includes Optical in/out ports, RCA auxiliary in ports, IR and remote, Midi in and out, line in/mic, line out (headphone) and S/PDIF in/out. So... aren't Midi in/out ports for the keyboards? I was under the impression that they were... if I'm right, then I think Lore made a mistake.

Finally... if I had to buy it all over again, would I? I'm not sure... the Optical out and headphone out and mic in ports on the Live!Drive IR are the only real ports I use on that thing. I don't even play the games it came with, which to some people might be worth it to buy alone. Unreal Tournament, Thief, Deux... and a couple of more, don't remember. I would have probably just picked up a Hoontech Optical daughter card.

Up to you to decide if the Live!Drive IR and 5.1 ability is worth the extra $100-$150... depending on how much you pay for it.

 

[LXi]

The Live! Platinum non-5.1 is just a Live! in a new package(with new bundle and hardware), but I wouldnt say the same thing to Platinum 5.1, there is something they changed(I heard the DSP EMU10K1 is a new revision) to get 5.1 support.