Just got word that Gamers Depot have posted their review of Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer Edition! Here's a snip.
From the outset, it may seem as if there?s really nothing different with the ZS ? after all, it supports DVD-Audio, has a great signal-to-noise ratio and streams 5.1 audio via a digital audio output and has separate discrete analog outputs. However, under the hood, there?s quite a bit more at stake.
For starters, the Gamer Edition includes full versions of Halo, Jedi Academy, Tomb Raid: Angel of Darkness, Rainbow Six 3 and Splinter Cell ? not to mention all the required cables and software you?ll need to get up and running in full swing. Creative claims that this card supports 7.1 channels. When we see a product claiming 5.1 we assume that means 6 discreet channels (5 for the satellites and one channel for the subwoofer)
What this means is that if you?re watching a DTS-ES or Dolby Digital EX-encoded movie, you?ll be able to hear it in 7.1 if the movie supports it. To date, movies with this support are ultra-slim ? in fact, even movies with additional support typically are 6.1 (uses a rear center channel), and not 7.1. If you don?t have a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, don?t worry, the Audigy 2 ZS has on-the-fly decoding of either format ? something new to the Audigy family.
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer Edition
From the outset, it may seem as if there?s really nothing different with the ZS ? after all, it supports DVD-Audio, has a great signal-to-noise ratio and streams 5.1 audio via a digital audio output and has separate discrete analog outputs. However, under the hood, there?s quite a bit more at stake.
For starters, the Gamer Edition includes full versions of Halo, Jedi Academy, Tomb Raid: Angel of Darkness, Rainbow Six 3 and Splinter Cell ? not to mention all the required cables and software you?ll need to get up and running in full swing. Creative claims that this card supports 7.1 channels. When we see a product claiming 5.1 we assume that means 6 discreet channels (5 for the satellites and one channel for the subwoofer)
What this means is that if you?re watching a DTS-ES or Dolby Digital EX-encoded movie, you?ll be able to hear it in 7.1 if the movie supports it. To date, movies with this support are ultra-slim ? in fact, even movies with additional support typically are 6.1 (uses a rear center channel), and not 7.1. If you don?t have a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, don?t worry, the Audigy 2 ZS has on-the-fly decoding of either format ? something new to the Audigy family.
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer Edition
