Comparison and Performance

The AC3 lie

What's the most disappointing thing about buying any kind of sound card product that features "full support for Dolby Digital AC-3 (5.1)?" Well, in virtually every case, all we're talking about is S/PDIF support. Doesn't that mean output to 5.1? Well, no. In any case, you'll have to run the raw S/PDIF output through to a receiver with AC-3 decoding functions. How is this a problem? Well, for one it means you'll need a piece of serious audio hardware by your computer (even budget decoders run from $250-$300). What really gets me is the fact that the need for an AC-3 decoder is always placed in fine print at the bottom of the box, while "Dolby Digital 5.1 support" gets a big bullet point on the front. It's not just Diamond with this practice, but it does make me shake my head whenever I see it.

Creative competition

The MX300 isn't the only upgradeable sound card out there, though. Creative Labs has made a Digital Optical I/O card for owners of the SBLive! and the Live Value. The Optical I/O card is a fully stacked breakout board, and for $54 it includes Toslink IN/OUT, coax IN/OUT, and digital DIN. What's more, it coexists peacefully with the already full-featured breakout that ships with the SBLive, and redundant connectors become a S/PDIF bypass, and also allows digital 4-speaker out through its multiple outputs.

SBLive! Gold I/O card

Owners of Voyetra's Montego II whitebox can also enjoy a 4-speaker, RCA S/PDIF upgrade for $39, courtesy of the Montego II Quadzilla update.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit of all, those who owned Creative's Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold may remember the inclusion of a small cabled backplate, with the exact same S/PDIF OUT coax as is included with the MX25. This came for free with the 64 Gold, but you had to pay an extra $75 or so for the card, which also included gold-plated RCA contacts, and was the first consumer sound card that shipped with stereo RCAs instead of minis.

SB Awe64 Gold S/PDIF Out

Performance?

Well, digital is always good, right? First of all, the DAC on an audiophile decoder will almost always be better than what ships on a consumer soundcard. Also, computer circuitry is a labyrinth of noise and cross signals, which don't necessarily affect computing, but are crowns of thorns to an audiophile. Thus, keeping the signal in a pure digital form until it exits the PC is a highly efficient and recommended path.

To put it bluntly, in terms of audible performance, digital is better, assuming you've already got the hardware setup to take advantage of it. The digital signal from the MX25 eliminates the crackles and pops from the standard analog 1/8" stereo mini connection, and more importantly, opens the door for Dolby Digital decoding on your PC. The instant application that comes to mind is DVD video on your PC. However, if you've already got a theatre setup connected to your PC, the move to digital can be seen in any sound-bearing game or application.