Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ audio quality playback with incredible 108dB SNR. It delivers the highest resolution audio playback with support for DVD-Audio at 24-bit/192kHz in stereo or 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1 surround in addition to industry leading standards, like THX®-certification and Windows Media 9: 24-bit multi-channel audio format. SPECIFICATIONS Audio Performance Signal-to-Noise Ratio with AES17 filter (A-Weighted) 2V Rated Output 108dB - 1V Rated Output 102dB Front and Rear Channels - Center, Subwoofer and Rear Center all have the same specs. Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (AES17) = 0.004% (1V, 2V Rated Output) Frequency Response (+/-3dB, 24-bit/96kHz input ) = <10Hz to 46kHz (1V, 2V Rated Output) High Definition Audio Quality for Playback and Recording 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion during playback with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz in 7.1 mode and up to 192kHz in stereo mode 24-bit Analog to Digital conversion during recording in 8, 16 or 24-bit at sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz Wave-Table Synthesis and Midi Features Creative Hardware synthesizer (2x16 Channels) with 64-voice polyphony featuring E-MU®'s patented 8-point interpolation technology for accurate sample reproduction Creative Software synthesizer - multi timbral wave-table (16 Channels) 2 MIDI I/O ports (2x16 channels) (gameport adapter required for MIDI I/O 2) FireWire® (IEEE®1394) Connectivity FireWire® (IEEE®1394) / i-Link® compatible interface with up to 400Mbps transfer rate Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro On-Board Connectors Line level out (Front / Side / Rear / Center / Subwoofer) Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro External I/O Hub Front/Rear Panel Connectors Headphone Out (1/4" Stereo Jack) Line In 1 (1/4" Stereo Jack , shared with Microphone In with Gain Control Line In 2 (1/4" Stereo Jack) Line In 3 (2x RCA Jack) Optical SPDIF In/Out Coaxial SPDIF In/Out Digital Out for 5.1 support (6-channel SPDIF Output to Creative digital speakers) 2x FireWire® (IEEE®1394) ports MIDI In / Out Infra-red Receiver AD_LINK 1 and AD_LINK 2 connectors As you can see, it has a large assortment of IN's and OUT's, so it seems to fit quite a few bills as to its use. I find it is very quiet with its 108db signal to noise ratio, and it has a very crisp sound quality. I've used it to digitize a couple of LP's as well as some reel to reel tapes with excellent results. Of course, this is a very subjective critique on my part, but since I've been working successfully with audio restoration for quite a number of years, I feel I can appreciate this unit as an improvement in computerized digital sound. I was able to purchase it on the Web for $204.11 plus shipping. My only caveat was that on my first installation, I would periodically have some hiss in the system on booting, but by rebooting, it would disappear. I remedied this problem by downloading new drivers from the Creative support web site. It has worked quietly since. I hope this is of help. Rod Stephens Family Theater Productions Vernon Miller wrote: I know this has probably been covered in countless other topics but I can't seem to get to the archive database to search it, so apologies in advance. I want to buy an outboard ADC for digitizing some of my vinyl. In the past I've used my old faithful Turtle Beach Monterey PCI card, but given its age and my current computer config that's no longer an option. I'd like an external solution that's either USB 2.0 or Firewire (with a slight preference for USB). I want to balance price with quality of analog inputs and ADC. I don't need a full-blown "USB sound card solution" but would certainly consider consumer units such as the Creative Audigy 2 NX if they have a decent analog section. This is not super-deluxe archival, it's just for devoted hobby use, but I want to get the best value for my money. Thanks in advance! Vernon Miller Concord, NH |