Another Philips Accoustic Edge Review...

[Doomguy]

LOL driver support is not one of Creative's merits. Back when Aureal was still alive and win2k pro was in beta Aureal already had working sound drivers included in win2k. It was a few months after win2k was released when Creative finally released sb live! drivers.

Creative couldent innovate if its life depended on it. They tried to beat aureal in 3d sound but failed miserably. Creative sued Aureal to drain their money because they couldent win.

 

[Possum]

Conroy9, in the main Recording screen of Windows volume control, move the checked box from "What you hear" to something else, like Wave. Then you should be able to unmute the line-in, cd audio, and microphone checkboxes in the Playback screen of Window volume control. Not positive, but by moving the recording check, you only limit what device will have certain EAX effects (or some other effects provided by the Live!). Though, with my SB Live!, I've never been able to completely disable the effects, like when I wanted to send an un-alterred signal out to my minidisc recorder - bass and treble sliders in Windows always changed the way the minidisc recording sounded, even when using digital out (which is basically the same as the speaker out jack, but in a digital signal, in my case with SB Live! value and Hoontech add-on).

 

[Wingznut]

"stop your "Live! overrated" propaganda and try not to get into people's way of choosing a soundcard. " --Lxi

Dude, you really need to lighten up. It's just a piece of hardware, not some conspiracy. You act the same way when someone mentions the CUSL2. You take this stuff WAY too seriously, when someone has a different opinion of your favorite piece of hardware.

Are you really saying that I shouldn't express my opinion, if it differs from yours? Get a life.

 

[Kulgan]

I'm interested in getting one of the 2 "alternative" cards (Phillips/SC), but after being burned three times by lack of driver support: Media Vision/Diamond MX200/Aureal (no SPDIF in Win2k)It's kinda hard to spring for anopther card. I'm just hoping that phillips and Turtle beach do a much better job since I can still use my horrid SB 16 in win2K

 

[WWDude]

AE sounds really exciting. I've seen several technologies in my life which take a stereo source and try to emulate 5.1, but the distortion was so terrible that you couldn't enjoy music at all! These QMSS algorithms sound really great. Has anyone done a full test on them (Read: Listen to a complex song with QMSS turned on, than listen again to each individual piece of a 5.1 setup, with all the others muted)? Was distortion an issue?

Can anyone give me a general idea of how much each card costs in the US (AE\SC\Live! 5.1)?

 

[Wingznut]

WWdude... check them out here.

 

[Paladinexe]

Creative is a conspiracy. Just ask those familiar with Vortex and other companies fallen victim of their strong arm tactics. I have 2 systems with SB Live!s. They are great cards. But greatness is also relative and can be improved upon. I for one am hoping Phillips and others do surpass Creative and continue the competition that best feeds technology and benefiting consumers.

 

[Maverick]

This is how I feel about this situation...

Creative has had a huge monopoly on the world of PC sound for some time now. Every since companies like Adlib, Gravis, and others disappeared...no one has been able to give Creative competition. Aureal tried, and they succeeded with better technology, hoping that it was enough to compete with Creative. Sadly, it wasn't enough. Since Creative hasn't had any real competition, the quality of their products has declined. Companies like Turtle Beach have been nipping at Creative's heels for years now, with no real success. I'm glad that Phillips, a big company that has established itself in other markets, has decided to go head to head with Creative on the PC sound front. This could be a huge boon to PC sound since it will press both companies to produce better quality products and new exciting technologies. I hope that Phillips succeeds with this new card and that more people buy it. I'm not saying that I think Creative is an evil empire that needs to be destroyed (thats Microsoft , but that whenever there is a lack of competition, it leads to a lack of innovation. Everyone knows that lack of innovation is a bad thing. I think that if Phillips succeeds with this new line of sound cards, PC sound will only get better