Turtle Beach Santa Cruz questions

[zippy]

I am considering buying this sound card, just a few questions though.

1. Since it has "S/PDIF digital input" connectors on the the card (on the PCB)- I would hook up the DVD drive to the card for the Dolby Digital 5.1 output on it, right?
2. How does the sound quality compare to the Aureal Superquad (well, any Vortex2 soundcard I guess)? How about to the SBLive!? Live!Value? Philips Acoustic Edge?
3. The W2k drivers are rock solid, right? Just verifying what I've heard.

Any other good information that you want to give is greatly appreciated because I have a funny feeling I didn't cover all of the questions I had.

Thanks guys.

 

[zippy]

I know there are a bunch of Santa Cruz owners out there...so answer my freakin questions!

 

[LocutusX]

1. no idea

2. sounds about the same if you're referring to PCM sound quality. but the noticeable difference when on a VIA/AMD platform is the lack of hisses/clicks/pops when playing MP3s et al. If referring to 3D audio for games, it kicks SB Dead's ass.

3. solid... but not rock. I posted a msg a while ago about a recurring BSOD I get with the TBSC driver.

 

[Sundog]

Zippy, this subject has been beat to death. I think that is why there have been no responses. I can think of at least 2 or 3 threads within the last week that have addressed some of these issues.

 

[Sephy]

I just got mine today. I've been listening to music and playing Anarchy Online all day, and no problems in 2k. I had a volume issue but it seemed to just go away, as it gets very loud now, with very little distortion. Great card

 

[Sephy]

I can't speak for any other card's quality, but it does beat out the Live in SQ. Although... not as much as some claim. It can definitely reach higher volumes with better quality and no distortion, and the little BG sounds in AO are a little clearer and crisper, but it is not night and day like some people claim(at least for me). I will admit, I did have no problems with the Live, but I had the upgrade bug, and bought it, and don't plan on returning it.

 

[Sephy]

Upon further review, the Santa Cruz owns. I have it hooked up to the rear speaker slot for my headphones(Sennheiser 545), and my Midiland S4/4060s in the front. The SB Live never drove the phones this good. I now finally have a worthy late night listening platform...woohoo.

 

[Blayze]

dont know about your other questions but I installed the Windows 2000 drivers that came with the card, and so far I have had no problems at all.

I need to update to the newest drivers, but I haven't been in a hurry due to the fact that these are stable.

 

[whalen]

I'm kinda disappointed with it. I get alot of BSOD's in win2k with it...mostly in CS, although i DID get one in IRC once!

 

[RedShirt]

You gotta make sure it has its own IRQ. It doesn't share with anything. If it gets it's own, it is happy. (Unless you use ACPI in WIN2K, but still, you don't want to put it next to your videocard or anything like that)

 

[LocutusX]

I'm actually kinda dissapointed with the SC now. 4-speaker mode is broken in the latest Win2K drivers, since I've tried 4 different DVD player programs and none will do 4-speaker downmixing at all. Although in Win98 they do.

 

[SilverThief]

God is going to bless me with one of these cards. I just know it.