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Creative Labs raises the standard in PC audio to pleasing new heights with a line of sound cards based on its new Audigy chip. The impressive result: audiophile-quality digital sound processing for mainstream PC products.

Audigy-based boards deliver that high-quality sound by using about four times the processing power of Creative's Sound Blaster Live series, which lets the chip calculate more 3D sound effects for more-realistic 3D sound.

The Audigy's 24-bit/96-kHz digital-to-analog converters significantly outperform the 16-bit/48-kHz DACs that today's better cards contain. The new DACs put Audigy-based cards on a par with good-quality home stereo components and allow them to decode 24-bit DVD-Audio discs as well as standard 16-bit CDs. Home recording enthusiasts will appreciate both the board's 32-bit digital mixing capability and its excellent 100-decibel signal-to-noise ratio.

We tested the top model in Creative's new line, the $250 Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum EX, a unit well suited for the pickiest PC audiophile. Mainstream audio buffs may be satisfied with one of the company's less expensive Audigy boards that target specific activities, such as the Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer and MP3+ cards, each $100.

Inside the Sound

The Audigy line is built around a basic board with a microphone input, as well as digital and analog outputs supporting six audio channels for full Dolby Digital 5.1 3D sound. The card also ships with an IEEE 1394 port, called SB1394, for connecting external devices such as DV camcorders or setting up peer-to-peer networking.

Our test board came with a breakout box called the Audigy Drive, which houses optical and coaxial digital I/O connectors, an infrared remote, and MIDI-in and -out connectors--important if you enjoy creating home recordings.

Setting up all of these pieces was complicated: You can expect to spend at least half an hour installing the hardware and bundled software. But once complete, the set-up yielded impressive sonic results.

CDs, DVDs, and MP3s were crisp and clear, with better depth, presence, and range.

But perhaps the greatest potential of the card was revealed by its ability to produce truly jaw-dropping effects during 3D game play. Imagine the sound of your steps as you walk from the floor of a canyon into the closed confines of a mine shaft. In the real world the sound in the two environments would be quite different. Now imagine walking out of the mine shaft while a voice deep within it calls out.

The Audigy card is particularly impressive at reproducing such complex sonic environments. Music creation and audio editing are served by extensive bundled software. The Platinum EX includes full versions of Image Line's Fruity Loops, Sonic Foundry's Acid DJ 2, Steinberg's Audio Suite, and Ulead's VideoStudio 4 SE Basic, along with standard WAV editors and MP3 applications. But unless you're setting up a home recording studio, the Platinum bundle may be more than you need. Most PC audio fans would be better served by the less expensive Sound Blaster Audigy cards. Either way, you should find the results appetizing.

SUMMARY

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum EX It's the best commercial sound card available, but the wealth of software and connections may overwhelm some audio enthusiasts. List: $250

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