The perfect sound card for 2.1 speaker systems.
Written: Oct 08 '01 (Updated Feb 08 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great sound quality, easy to install, good price.
Cons: Sonic Foundry Siren XPress software is awkward and not fully featured.
The Bottom Line: With fantastic sound, minimal CPU usage, and first-rate quality, the Rhythmic Edge is the only sound card for a 2.1 speaker system.
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| like_gear's Full Review: Philips Rhythmic Edge Sound Card |
Several months ago I read a review for the Philips Rhythmic Edge and decided to get one. I looked all over Tokyo, but there wasn't a single Philips Edge card to be seen. I finally settled on another sound card. The very next week, Philips Edge cards sprouted all over Tokyo. For the next few months, I tried desperately not to scratch that Rhythmic Edge itch, but it wasn't easy. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when my wife asked if I'd build a PC for her. With a new home for the other sound card lined up, I was out the door like lightning for a Rhythmic Edge.
Philips has three sound cards in its Edge series: the Acoustic Edge for 5.1 speaker systems, the Seismic Edge for 4.1, and the Rhythmic Edge for 2.1. (the x in x.1 refers to the number of satellite speakers, and the 1 refers to the subwoofer.) I opted for the Rhythmic Edge because I prefer a good 2.1 speaker setup.
When I opened the Rhythmic Edge's box, I found the sound card securely packed and accompanied by a thick user's manual. The sound card is black (meaningless, but cool), and the high quality of the card is evident at first sight. Hardware installation was just a matter of plugging the card into a PCI slot and connecting the CD AUDIO IN wire and speakers. With the user's manual in hand, I had the drivers and software installed within five minutes.
With everything installed and my system restarted, I put in a Smashing Pumpkins CD. It was like I'd just had wet cotton pulled out of my ears. The card I had before this, the Leadtek Winfast 4X Sound, was a very good budget card, but the Rhythmic Edge was clearly a higher breed. Acoustic guitar notes resonated like the guitarist was in the room, percussion thumped with authority, and passionate vocals moved me. And all this from a cheap pair of basic desktop speakers with no subwoofer. I can't wait to upgrade to a serious 2.1 speaker system and hear what the Rhythmic Edge is truly capable of.
The core of the Rhythmic Edge is Philips' Thunderbird Q3D audio processor. This processor, as the user's manual says, "relieves your [CPU] of performing enormously complex audio processing - resulting in faster, richer gaming effects and more convincing three-dimensional audio sound fields. This unusually powerful chip design assumes the load of calculations that other sound cards normally force onto the host [CPU]" (page 6). I don't have software that can test exact CPU usage, but I've noticed that processor intensive mp3 files don't skip or cut out with the Rhythmic Edge. As far as I can see, the Thunderbird Q3D audio processor does its job well.
The Rhythmic Edge comes with three pieces of software: Rhythmic Edge Control Panel, Yamaha SoftSynthesizer S-YXG50 and Sonic Foundry Siren XPress. The control panel is an intuitive interface that allows you to tinker with basic performance settings. The Yamaha software is, as the name implies, a synthesizer. I'm into the appreciation end of music, so I haven't used SoftSynthesizer and don't know enough about synthesizers to comment on its features.
Siren XPress, an audio playback program, was disappointing. It has all the basic features most people need, but the interface seemed a little rough and awkward. Siren Xpress is supposed to be able to connect to Gracenote (formerly CDDB, an online CD database) and provide the playlist information for your CD's. For some reason, the software no longer supports this. I also had problems with the eject button. Sometimes the eject button would work, and other times it would be ghosted out. Generally, Siren XPress needs work. I replaced it with Winamp, the WaveSurround V3 plugin for Winamp, and a very nice Winamp skin that looks like Philips stereo components; this setup complements the Rhythmic Edge very nicely. Winamp is freeware, so replacing Siren Xpress with it wasn't an inconvenience.
Aside from Siren XPress, everything about the Rhythmic Edge is top notch. If you're on the market for a new sound card, check out the Philips Edge line. They're priced right and will transform your PC into a formidable sound system. Since installing it, I've yet to turn on my PC without cranking up the music. Not only do I use my PC more now, but I feel like I'm listening to my CD's for the first time all over again.
In short, I'm smitten with the Philips Rhythmic Edge.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40.00
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Epinions.com ID:
like_gear
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Location: Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 11
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