I got this card a few days ago, it replaced an Audigy2 in my gaming system. The Audigy2's drivers had driven me crazy, the card is good, the drivers are horrible. As for the Mad Dog, it is an awesome card. I have a Revo 7.1 in another machine and had actually gone to buy another only to find out they didn't carry them any more. I can't tell you about the digital output, as I have this going into the analog 5.1 inputs of a Kenwood receiver and outputting to a JBL 5.1 speaker system. To compare this to the Audigy2 (same system, same receiver and speakers) is pretty easy. For music the Mad Dog KILLS the Audigy2 - period, no comparison. Gaming is a mixed bag. For Unreal Tournament, the Mad Dog sounds better. For UT 2K3, there is nothing that gives the realistic spatial sounds (someone behind you) like the Audigy2. That being said, I DO hear sounds on the Mad Dog that were not there with the Audigy2, and I can run the EAX3 sound option with the Mad Dog - this is what got the Revo put in my business machine, the drivers were horrible for gaming. Apparently VIA (as Mad Dog doesn't even try to hide the fact these are VIA drivers) got the picture and addressed the gaming issues. Overall which card would I prefer to run... the Mad Dog. If Creative could make decent drivers the Audigy2's gaming would get it back in my machine, but then pigs would be able to fly as well. Since they can't, the Mad Dog is a STEAL at $59.95 and just plain stupid at $29.95.
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