Rating: 
Summary: Not Worth the Trouble
Review: I have purchased a lot of electronics in the past, often with minor quirks I had to work through, but the level of problems with this product is absurd. I read all of the Amazon reviews plus reviews from other websites, and I thought I could overcome the problems. That was then, this is now. I purchased the card not over a week ago and installed it in my machine. I am on the verge of upgrading my CPU along with my software, so I purchased this card to work both in my old 400 MHz Pent. II machine running on Win98(first edition) and to work on a new XP system I'll get in the near future. The box, description, and tech support people ALL clearly assert that the software and the card work with Win98 first edition. THEY DO NOT. DO NOT BUY THIS CARD IF YOU STILL OPERATE ON WIN98 FIRST EDITION. Here is why: When attempting to load the software, the autoload program will give you an error telling you to upgrade your system. Dumb, huh? Yup, in a leap before you look move, Creative has started shipping retail versions of this product, each clearly stating they work with WIN98 First edition, with CD's that don't contain the proper software. But that's not all. After calling tech support, I was told to "explore" the CD and install each program individually. They assured me that the proper software was on the disk, but the front end loading program was not correct. I tried this grand idea, and it DESTROYED MY OPERATING SYSTEM. I could not even reload WIN98. Luckily I had a new hard drive I could install, which I did, and reloaded WIN98. It only took me roughly 12 hours of work to recreated everything that formerly existed on my old hard drive. But that isn't the end either. No, I, like a fool, tried again. Nope, not even with nearly 30 gigs of extra hard drive space, nothing on earth running on my computer that could conflict, and an overly optimistic attitude, could I get the software to properly load. On a positive note, this time it didn't crash the entire system. Ahh, but that is still not the end. I called tech support again, and they told me to do various things to attempt to make the card to work. So, I completely updated my WIN98 from the microsoft site (I had always done this before, but remember I had to start with a new, clean HD), I upgraded my system BIOS and drivers from the manufacturer, AND I swapped around every card to try to resolve system conflicts. Nope. None of it worked - furthermore, it wasted more hours needlessly. So friends, I now await the final step in this quest to listen to my computer ding in 4.1 surround sound or higher - I will try installing new software from Creative, if the CD ever arrives. Yup, the tech people at Creative don't ship out new CDs, that's another department - and none of them really know when the other gets around to doing their job, so I don't know when I'll get the CD. Maybe this week...maybe next... If it works, I'll write a review on the sound quality. For now, I put my old Montego back in the computer and have enjoyed my 2.1 dings and blips. One final note for the working class among you. Please realize that Creative does not have a toll free number and is only open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central time Monday-Friday. If you are like me and work during these hours, you will never be able to both call and be by your computer at the same time. That leaves you to waste time at work just to get "answers" that don't work. Oh, and the email support is a joke. After explaining the above, the first person to respond (a day later) asked me if I'd tried installing the drivers. I responded by asking if they actually read the emails or just liked playing cruel jokes on foolish customers. The second person (again, another 24 hour turn around) just told me to wait for the CD. That would have been a nice thing to tell me BEFORE the guy on the phone gave me personalized instructions on how to kill my old hard drive. Moral: buy a SantaCruz card Update: 2/4/2004: New CDs are junk - still does not work. Creative labs must just not care to help. Update 04/21/2004: I got too busy to return the card, so when I bought a new XP system, I decided to give the card another try. DOESN'T WORK AGAIN! The software installed, but the card gives out no sound. I'd call them for support, but again that 9-6 M-F timing is the worst possible. I e-mailed them and will see if they can offer a real response.
Rating: 
Summary: The best sound card I've ever had.
Review: I haven't had any problems with this audio card and I can never hear any hiss coming from the speakers when the volume's turned up real loud. Sound is clear and crisp. In particular, I'm very impressed with the amplification of the signal, as the Audigy easily sends a good enough signal to sound superb on my Sennheiser HD600 headphones--there's no need for the extra amplification that I previously needed with older, more underpowered sound cards. I also think that 3D positional audio sounds better through the headphones thanks to the Audigy's improved HRTF's, but that could also be because my speakers aren't arranged in the best possible way. The built-in AC3 decoding (I'm not sure if this feature is implemented by the drivers or the hardware) is also really really helpful as it means I don't have to spend extra cash on a decoder or an audio pack for my DVD software. My computer's motherboard also uses a VIA chipset, which previous Soundblaster cards are reported to have problems with, but everything's worked great so far for the most part, although there is a little bit of popping on a few games I play, but who knows where that's coming from.
Rating:
Summary: The best sound card I've ever had.
Review: I haven't had any problems with this audio card and I can never hear any hiss coming from the speakers when the volume's turned up real loud. Sound is clear and crisp. In particular, I'm very impressed with the amplification of the signal, as the Audigy easily sends a good enough signal to sound superb on my Sennheiser HD600 headphones--there's no need for the extra amplification that I previously needed with older, more underpowered sound cards. I also think that 3D positional audio sounds better through the headphones thanks to the Audigy's improved HRTF's, but that could also be because my speakers aren't arranged in the best possible way. The built-in AC3 decoding (I'm not sure if this feature is implemented by the drivers or the hardware) is also really really helpful as it means I don't have to spend extra cash on a decoder or an audio pack for my DVD software. My computer's motherboard also uses a VIA chipset, which previous Soundblaster cards are reported to have problems with, but everything's worked great so far for the most part, although there is a little bit of popping on a few games I play, but who knows where that's coming from.
Rating:
Summary: Audigy or Live?
Review: I recently had a SB LIVE! X-Gamer card that broke down on me. So, I bougt the SB Audigy X-Gamer card and it blew my older LIVE! card out of the water. The software bundled is much better and sounds are much crisper. This Audigy card is definatly worth the extra money over its LIVE! counterpart.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice price and sound
Review: If you want 4-channel sound, this is a great option. Sure there are cheaper non-Soundblaster cards out there, but this card will last you a long while with the additional features it has, even though the Audigy 2 card is out now.
However, I didn't notice any difference in using this card with Creative Inspire speakers vs. other 4.1/5.1 speakers. So if you're getting it because of thinking that EAX will make a difference in your gaming experience, I didn't find it that noticeable (I used Klipsch Promedia 4.1 and Creative Inspire 5.1 5300 speakers, and played with Dungeon Seige and Everquest). But if you want it for an upgrade to your current soundcard, go for it...or buy the Audigy2.
Rating:
Summary: Nice price and sound
Review: If you want 4-channel sound, this is a great option. Sure there are cheaper non-Soundblaster cards out there, but this card will last you a long while with the additional features it has, even though the Audigy 2 card is out now.
However, I didn't notice any difference in using this card with Creative Inspire speakers vs. other 4.1/5.1 speakers. So if you're getting it because of thinking that EAX will make a difference in your gaming experience, I didn't find it that noticeable (I used Klipsch Promedia 4.1 and Creative Inspire 5.1 5300 speakers, and played with Dungeon Seige and Everquest). But if you want it for an upgrade to your current soundcard, go for it...or buy the Audigy2.
Rating:
Summary: If only it....worked
Review: If you're running WinXP make sure you do a search on Audigy and "squeal of death" before handing over your money. If I'm lucky, I can actually get a full minute of music from this card before the PC locks up. I've tried all the recommendations but one thing persists: an obnoxious squeal. There's plenty of finger pointing (chip set, BIOS, PCI slot, drivers) but to date, no fix. With WinME, smooth sailing and nice sounding.
Rating:
Summary: This Rocks
Review: My gaming experience has increased dramatically with the purchase of this card. Awesome card for the price.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent New Sound Card
Review: My motherboard has problems with many sound cards. I was expecting to have problems with this card too; but luckily, I was wrong. I popped it in and WindowsXP automatically found and installed drivers for it just fine. I decided to 'stress test' it by playing an MP3, RA file, MPEG, virus scan, and a few other programs at the same time. I've had some cards that would hiss and skip if there was any stress on the system. Amazingly, this card played everything beautifully. As you may know, Phillips new sound card allows for adding different effects to sound. I.e. you can have everything sound like it's coming from underwater. The Audigy allows for the same type of effects. The Audigy doesn't have as many effects as the Phillips card, but the effects are more useful. You can turn male voices to female voices, change the pitch of the sounds, make it sound like an alien is speaking, etc. The sound processor is four times faster than the Live! line. In addition, this card comes with a 1394 (firewire) connector, so you can plug in digital cameras, or network two PCs together through it. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds cool. I just have to talk my friends into buying this card ;-) I doubt there will be any games that support this card's new effects for several months. So if you already have a Vortex, Live!, or other good card, there is no reason to run and buy this. If (like me) you need a card right now, or you're still using a 16-bit card, there is no reason not to get this. Low memory systems might not be able to use all of the programs the card comes with. Many of the want to run all the time and are real memory hogs. All in all, an excellent card.
Rating: 
Summary: Order this, and some relaxent medication...you will need it
Review: Ok, first thing is first. This is a great sound card, packed wth features and cool stuff to frive some awesome sound... If only it worked like that all the time. I have had problems with this card since the day it arrived in my new P4 2.0Ghz PC. The manufacturer said it was installed, it was not. Spent a good 2 hours getting it installed and working on my computer, with 2 hours on tech support with the PC maker. Horrible drivers. One you get it the way you want it, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING RELATED TO IT, including the output ports on the back of the card. Touch anything, and it will decide to make random un-needed changes to the audio layout on your computer. Also, you cant turn the bass up in the computer, because it will send it to the regular speakers as well, and you will get some horrible distorted music. I cant even play with the settings of it, it will lock up, and send my computer into shock. Im tring to find another sound card that works just to avoid the hassle this has put me through. I would have to say, it has put me off of creative computer products for a long time to come...
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