Pros: Great performance and quality. I would recommend to everyone.
Cons: Installation Guide tells you lies...and only supports 2.1 speaker setup.
The Bottom Line: This is one heck of a card with many features and few limitations. Its great for people who want all the functionality of a great card at an inexpensive price.
punkrawker82's Full Review: Creative Technology Sound Blaster Ensoniq
Some people may wonder why go for the low end, entry level sound card with only support for two speakers. To that I say, "Because I'm on a slightly higher than minimum wage job, college budget". I can't afford the newest of the new, six speaker sound card. Over the years my computer has aged, but I've also learned to live with the fact that the cutting edge of technology will always be 1 step ahead. Even if I bought that new six speaker card and six speakers to go with it, I'd have no money for other stuff and they'd be outdated in 6 months. Besides, before I bought this card two years ago, I was using an Opti ISA sound card, very slowwwwwwwwwww. When I switched to the Ensoniq PCI sound card, I saw an immediate system performance boost. This is most definately because ISA is a heck of a lot slower than PCI, but the card also has a bunch of new features that help it conquer almost any task, and speed through music applications
In The Box
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In the box I found the Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI sound card, a Installation Guide, and a Registration Card...
The Ensoniq Audio PCI
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This is a wonderful sound card. As I mentioned above, there was a marked speed increase. When I played Soldier of Fortune with my ISA card, there were lags in the time something happened to when I heard the sound. The game also skipped sometimes. The choppiness was caused by a bottle neck between the CPU and ISA sound card./Bus. When I installed the new Ensoniq PCI, all lag disappeared and the game ran flawlessly with superb sound. Well, there you have it, that's the proof in performance. The sound quality is very nice, especially with my Sony speakers/headphones. I've had 0 glitches and bugs in the 2 years I've owned it. =)
Features
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The Ensoniq Audio PCI includes CT5880 Music synthesis engine, 128-voice polyphony and multi-timbral capability, 2Mb, 4Mb, and 8Mb Waveset banks, 16 MIDI Channels, 128 Instruments and 10 Drum Kits, MT-32 compatible instrument set. Basically all of this translates to superior MIDI creation and playback almost identical to a wide range of real instruments.
This amazing sound card also features Microsoft DirectSound and DirectSound3D for up to two speakers, and uses built in 3D Sound technology to enhance the listening environment. What does this mean to you?? It means realistic 3D sounds and music in your favorite games and apps.
Along with all of this comes the basic 8 to 48kHz sample rates in 8 or 16bit mono and stereo record/playback modes. And using the Hardware's full duplex support, it enables 8 simultaneous record and playback rates.
As if this weren't enough, the Ensoniq Audio PCI sound card. has a built-in MIDI/Game Port for your keyboard/gamepad/joystick, Line in, Microphone in, Line/Speaker out, TAD/Modem I/O, CD Audio Input, and TV/IDE Audio Input. The standard ports out the back are pretty much self-explanatory, but the TAD, CD Audio, and TV/IDE Audio might need some explanation. The TAD/Modem is the internal input for your Telephone answering device/modem, and provides that screeching sound to your speakers when you connect to the internet on dialup. For this reason, I don't use it. I believe it makes your speakers like the receiving end of the phone if you were to use the media talk service provided with the sound card. as well. So the software along with the sound card. can be used to make long distance calls over the net(Probably at a fee)I wouldn't do that either. The CD Audio input hooks to your CDROM providing CD music through your card to your speakers from the CDROM Drive itself. The TV/IDE connector receives music/sound from your video card/IDE Device. For what reason, I'm not sure. I've never used TV/IDE Audio. The card also has a set of jumpers that can be set either Line Out or Speaker Out. The difference is Line is for powered speakers while Speaker is for unpowered speakers(Without AC Adapter). The default is Line Out, so you may need to change this setting.
Support for MS-DOS/Windows programs...Full Sound Blaster Compatibility and Quality. =)
Installation Guide
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The installation steps themselves are pretty easy to follow, but I have a problem with the illustration of what jacks do what at the back of the card. On page 3 of the booklet they state mic, line out, and speaker out in that order going away from the midi port. However, on page 13 it shows a different order. The user would eventually connect his speakers in the right place after trial and error, but I know it could cause some people a small headache.
Registration Card
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I never bother with these things. They are a waste of paper unless you're afraid you may damage your card somehow, and registration provides a warranty. 2 years and counting...no problems whatsoever. In this case anyway, I think you get the warranty whether or not you register, so Cheers. =) If you decide to register, I think all you get is Creative product info...I don't need that, you might.
Conclusion
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This is one heck of a card with many features and few limitations. Two years and running, its still as strong and useful as ever. Its great for people who want all the functionality of a great card at an inexpensive price.
Don't believe the Installation Guide, IT LIES!!!
Update: With my new Boston speakers(2 Satellites and 1 Subwoofer), my music/games sound better than ever!!!
Wavetable synthesis Digital effects engine for reverb and chorus 32-voice polyphony and multitimbral capability 16 MIDI channels 3-D audio technologyMore at Amazon Marketplace
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