Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card

The THX certified Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio, 108dB SNR clarity across 8 channels, and is the only available PC platform to deliver Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio playback in 24-bit/192kHz stereo and 24-bit/96kHz 5.1 surround. EAX ADVANCED HD effects produces ultra-realistic sound in supported games and multi-channel playback in 5.1, 6.1and 7.1 with over 400 existing 3-D games. EAX ADVANCED HD acoustic enhancements dramatically improve all your music with features including Bass Boost, Graphic Equalizer, Audio Clean-Up, and more!
Superior Fidelity 24-bit ADVANCED HD Audio
Superior quality 24-bit/192kHz audio, ultra-realistic EAX ADVANCED HD GAME effects, and studio quality EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC settings
THX Certified Sound Card for Cinematic Audio
The only certified sound card with exclusive Creative THX Setup Console that provides accurate audio calibration for a precise speaker listening environment
Advanced Resolution 24-bit DVD-Audio Playback
The only certified PC platform for Advanced Resolution 24-bit/96kHz 5.1 surround and 24-bit/192kHz stereo DVD-Audio playback
Ultra-realistic EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD Effects
Multi-Environment audio with up to four simultaneous environments processed in real-time and up to 7.1 surround with over 400 existing DirectSound3-D enabled games
EAX Music Console with Acoustic Enhancements
Dramatically enhance your music experience with new EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC features including Bass
Patented Creative CMSS 3-D Audio Technology
Allows all stereo recordings including MP3/WMA, CDs, VCD, and movies to be played back in captivating 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 surround
Integrated High Speed 1394 FireWire Port
Enables PC-to-PC networking and low latency gaming plus high speed data transfers with IEEE compliant devices including MP3 players, storage devices and DV Camcorders
Features and Benefits

Superior Fidelity 24-bit ADVANCED HD Audio
Superior quality 24-bit/192kHz audio, ultra-realistic EAX ADVANCED HD GAME effects, and studio quality EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC settings
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS is the ideal platform for Windows Media 9 content including full 24-bit/96kHz audio in discrete 5.1 surround sound.
THX Certified Sound Card for Cinematic Audio
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS has received the prestigious THX Multimedia Certification making it the ideal choice for delivering cinematic quality audio on the PC.
The unique Creative THX Setup Console provides accurate audio calibration for a precise speaker listening environment.
EAX Music Console with Acoustic Enhancements
Dramatically enhance your music experience with new EAX ADVANCED HD MUSIC features including Bass Boost, multi-band Graphic Equalizer on all 8 channels, Audio Clean-Up and Karaoke. Bass Boost: Punch up the bass with all PC audio
Multi-Channel Graphic Equalizer: Personalize playback across all 8 channels
Audio Clean-Up: Remove noise from MP3s of old recordings
Smart Volume Management (SVM ): Automatically match volume levels across music tracks
EAX Effects: Add acoustic effects like Concert Hall to your music
Patented Creative CMSS 3-D Audio Technology
Allows all stereo recordings including MP3/WMA, CDs, VCD and movies to be played back in captivating 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround.
Delivers virtual surround with headphones and stereo widening with stereo desktop speakers.
Complete Cinematic Surround Sound with DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX Movies
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS features built-in DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX decoding to

I was looking for a Windows Server 2008 compatible sound card that would fit into my HP DL385 server so I could get sound over Windows Terminal Services and there were a number of suggestions on the web that the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 would do the job.

Once I had installed it and downloaded the Vista drivers from the Creative website it worked like a dream and allows me to all the sounds on the server remotely.

Well worth £10!

I really don't like this on-board build in sounds cards, very often they do transfer humming noise. When Audigy 2 is great SC, delivering great quality of sound, even on headphones and you can get it quite cheap on ebay :)

having had a couple of computers,i prefer to go with a soundcard that is not built into the motherboard like some of the computers i have had,very overpriced very cheap too make cheapest of the cheap as all the sound and graphics are built into the board and not very good so i you have any problems with either your computer is useless whereas if you have seperate sound and graphics cards,if one breaks all you have to do is purchase another card also i find with a built in soundcard the drivers are hard to find as its on the same disk as the motherboard graphics and all the other utilities so you would have to trawl through all that not to mention the stuff you do not need,also i think seperates as i call them cause less interferance than built in,the computer manafacturers can make thousands of computers with built in cards and knock them out all day long but if you have a fault you can;t just take it back to any shop you like after the guarantee runs out as they are made so only the manafacturer can touch them hp being one and pb as they are the same company,my friend had one and he could not run any other printer on it other than hp so he chucked it away

rather large compared to modern sound cards but sound quality is excelent works a treat with sound blaster 5.1 speakers it is also compatable with break out box.gold plated terminals for hassle free conection great all round card