Ballistics Report

Performance:
The MX25 claims to add digital out support for the MX300. In this, it performs excellently, as any digital out connector should. Output rate is selectable through a control panel, as is S/PDIF volume. Those looking for a pure digital out connection will be disappointed with this, but for the DVD-watching "mainstream niche," it does the job quite well.

Innovation:
The MX-Link connector was included with the MX300 sound card from the very beginning, with the forward-thinking of digital output in mind. However, anyone into digital audio has probable eschewed the MX300 for the more developer-friendly Montego II Home Studio, or Creative's fully packed Sound Blaster Live!

In terms of providing only S/PDIF out, Voyetra also sells a similar product for their Vortex 2 offering, and Creative has had S/PDIF included in the box since the AWE 64 Gold. Why couldn't digital out be fitted onto the sound card proper? It seems a shame to fit only one additional function onto an upgrade product, but if you own the MX300 and need a connection to your desktop Dolby Digital setup, this is the only way to go.

Installation and Setup:
No problems, no hassles, but nothing special. The card pops into any open slot on your PC so long as its in the vicinity of the original MX300, and the updated drivers function fine. If you're net-savvy and need to get the latest beta drivers for everything, hop on over to Aureal's website and download the latest SuperQuad-supported set. It's a lot of PCB for a single digital out, but it really doesn't matter as long as it's already taking up a slot, huh?

The included Zoran SoftDVD player worked as advertised, shunting all sound to the MX25 digital out. Various other DVD products performed the same way, but we had problems getting the Xing player to recognize S/PDIF.

Value and Price:
If you already own a Diamond MonsterSound MX300, and you've got a desktop theatre or 5.1 setup you're dying to use, then $39 isn't a bad price for a simple upgrade. However, if you're looking to get a full featured sound card, the upgrade game is not something you want to play. Vortex 2 fans can get Aureal's SuperQuad reference board, which crams an optical Toslink out onto one board, and aspiring mixers and musicians should look to the Sound Blaster Live!, with fully expandable digital out and in capabilities.