Overall Verdict:	Audigy turns your PC into an entertainment Centre, quality of the digital files it can produce is excellent.  It has its own brilliant musical instruments built in, but these can be customised. This will replace most of our Stereo systems with something far better
Computerbits rating

Most of us are happy with basic sound, all we want is decent sound effects in
games and the possibility of playing the odd CD as “background” whilst
we are doing other work

If you want music – use your hi-fi ?? well this was once true but now the PC
is coming into it’s own as an entertainment centre.

Creative Labs rapidly became the major player in computer sound over ten
years ago. The initial SoundBlaster card gave us the effects we wanted at the
time, mainly bleeps and whistles and squeaks! They rapidly saw off competition
from Gravis and Aztech Labs and became “the standard”

Nowadays most PC’s come with soundcards fitted (usually built into the mainboard)
- but in the add-on and replacement market the Sound Blaster Live! series is the
major mover. These cards have 1024 voices (or instruments) and produce quality
“surround sound” that will indeed rival most Stereo systems.

But now Creative have produced a sound card which simply puts this into the
shade, the Sound Blaster Audigy is an upgrade that will really make your PC into
a Stereo System worth having.  For £80 you will get an interesting piece
of equipment, firstly along with the usual audio connections you will find a
FireWire port (FireWire is a very fast system to connect Video cameras, external
Hard Disks, digital jukeboxes etc) – A FireWire Card on its own is about £30

The important point though is the quality of the audio which is awesome, both
for CD playing or computer-generated music the sound is clear and undistorted
(given the Caveat that you are using speakers suitable to handle this!)

There is however even more to come the Soundblaster Audigy Platinum. This
adds a panel to the front of your PC (fits a standard 5¼” bay) featuring
an additional FirewirePort, Input and output for digital devices (such as
MiniDisc), Midi connections for music keyboards and an additional audio input.
There is also a Remote Control Handset that will control the PCs Audio and Video
features.

As usual with Creative Products the Retail versions of these cards come
packed with software, this more or less turns your PC into a recording Studio.
You Can:

On the downside installation can be tricky (Though if you buy from us we sort
this problem).  The software is not the easiest to understand and patience
is needed to get the best from these cards

ComputerBits Special Offer Prices !!!

Please Note pricing is subject to change without notice and supply is
dependant upon availability.  Please check and agree at point of order.

Contact us on sales@cbits.co.uk or
by phone 01298-816058