Sound Card and Speakers

Sound Card – Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

A good sound card can make an exciting game even more compelling. And there are plenty of powerful cards currently on the market capable of doing just that; you don’t even have to buy the most expensive one. However, if you want the best in sound quality and connectivity options, Creative Labs’ new Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro is the most comprehensive (and not surprisingly, expensive as well).

Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

At the top of the card’s feature list is eight-channel output and an ultra-quiet 108dB SNR. It also comes equipped for DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX software decoding, used in DVD movie playback. The included external I/O hub offers analog stereo connectors for six-channel input, optical and coaxial inputs and outputs, a pair of IEEE 1394 ports, and microphone input with gain control.

Admittedly, the Platinum Pro is overkill for most gamers (we’re talking about the best of the best here, after all). You should still consider a sound card upgrade, though, especially in favor of an integrated audio solution. Built-in sound may suffice, but many motherboard manufacturers are sloppy when it comes to fidelity and if you connect a quality playback device (I use Sennheiser’s HD600 headphones), you’ll hear a difference, without question. For those that can’t justify more than $200 for a sound card kit, the vanilla Audigy 2 ZS is just as impressive for under $100. It just doesn’t feature all of the connectivity options.

Speakers – Creative Labs GigaWorks S750

No matter how vehemently Creative Labs pushes its eight-channel sound cards, nobody will buy them unless there’s a truly compelling speaker system capable of showing the card off. The first attempt at eight-channel reproduction took the shape of Creative’s Inspire T7700, an ambitious idea capped by 8-watt satellite speakers and an 80dB SNR.

More recently, the GigaWorks S750 system emerged, bringing with it 700W RMS and a quieter 99dB SNR. The system consists of six 70W satellites, a 70W center channel, and a 210W subwoofer sporting an 8” woofer. Further, each satellite boasts a 3.5” driver and a 1” titanium tweeter that Creative claims is good for frequencies up to 40kHz (in other words, well beyond the normal range of human hearing). A wireless remote is included in the box, augmenting the system’s ease of use.

Creative Labs GigaWorks S750

The S750’s primary drawback is inherently logistical. Creative includes three lengths of wire for connecting the satellites: three 10-foot cables, two 16.5-foot cables, and a pair of 23-foot cables for the rear speakers. If you’re in a large room, those might not be enough. Or, it’s possible that the dimensions of your gaming haven just don’t provide for eight speakers, in which case you might want to pick up a set of cans (headphones, that is). At the very high-end, Sennheiser’s HD600’s are divine, driven by a quality amplifier. However, those run about $250. Grado’s SR60 is a great alternative at $70, albeit a bit less comfortable than the HD600, which doesn’t make contact with the ear.