SoundBlaster 16 :P
Written: May 14 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap, widely supported.
Cons: No frills, older and somewhat slower model.
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| Phaz238's Full Review: Creative Labs Sound Blaster PCI |
The SoundBlaster16 is the perfect choice for anyone who 1)doesn't care about sound quality 2) is not a gamer and 3) is not an avid MP3 fan. It is cheap, reliable, compatible with almost everything. Compatible? Heck, it IS the standard by which all sound cards are made.
No, the SoundBlaster16 doesn't support A3D, Surround Sound, 4-speakers, on-the-fly digital effects or a ton of onboard RAM. But for the price, (Twenty bucks if you know where to shop, cheaper at computer shows) it is the perfect card for any cheap, homebuilt machine that will be used only for email and internet tasks. The only cheaper solution that I can see is onboard (motherboard) sound, which I have never seen in use, although it seems to be a good concept to me.
Quality? Yes and no. The soundcard will never crash. It won't "fuzz out". No annoying static. But that's something that is found on almost any soundcard. You won't be able to get HI-FI stereo sound, booming bass or realistic positional audio; almost any game will run using a SoundBlaster 16, but the quality of your gaming experience would be much hampered by using one.
The bottom line: This ancient ISA soundcard still serves a purpose and has a definite niche in the low-end soundcard market. I'd only recommend it to those who want to build a computer for under $800. If you are going to spend more than that, your money is better spent on a Turtle Beach or SoundBlaster Live! product.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Phaz238
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Member: Adam Thomas
Location: Holden, Missouri
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 1 member
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