Compatibility, quality, value.
Written: Dec 11 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good sound, compatibility and value.
Cons: I am not crazy about their software.
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| oscen's Full Review: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Value Sound Card |
Having a Creative Live Value (OEM) card left over after building a computer, I decided to test it in parallel with my Diamond MX300 (OEM). Now I am sold on the Creative product.
My conclusions after testing are as follows:
* The sound output quality of the two cards is comparable, connected either to my PC speakers or to a (borrowed) stereo (be sure the sound card output volume is set high enough). Both cards I find have good sound quality except as noted below.
* There is less noise on the sound output of the Live card. My OEM MX300 has a very low bass rumble, audible when no sound is being played, if the speakers are turned up.
* The Live has a clean microphone input. My OEM MX300 is not usable for voice recognition because of persistent noise on the microphone input. I know this having tested two different OEM MX300 cards in different slots on two different computers. I had to swap my Sonic Impact to a friend for this card because of this problem (which may exist only on OEM cards).
* The Live has much better compatibility. I am using it under WIN95 OSR2 and Redhat Linux 6.2, neither of which my MX300 works on. (Trying to load both the distribution and latest MX300 drivers on OSR2 causes it to crash, although this could be a configuration issue).
All in all, there is almost everything to recommend this card, and very little to recommend the MX300 in comparison. The SB Live Value (OEM) is a very good value, has good sound and has very good compatibility.
I am not crazy about Creative's software. However, in all fairness, my only real issue is that the distribution software makes its player the default for media types that it does not support. Perhaps this is cleared up in a latter version of the player. Since I use other players I haven't bother to check this out. Still, I find the design of their software clumsy and non-intuitive.
Now what do I do with my MX300?
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 48
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Epinions.com ID:
oscen
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Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 0 members
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