SB 5.1 vs. SB

[Terry]

I noticed the new SB 5.1 has the same price as the originals...
It is gonna replace the original? or are the original gonna come out with a lower price?

[stmok]

The only two differences is:
(1) Dolby® Digital 5.1 decoding compared to the original...
And
(2)"Live!Drive IR with Wireless Remote
The innovative Live!Drive IR allows you to simultaneously connect both digital and analog devices such as MIDI instruments, MiniDisc, external digital audio devices, and headphones — all from the front of your PC instead of the back. The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 also comes with an easy to use wireless remote control for simple navigation of audio playback and entertainment. This hardware and software solution allows you to convert your PC into an entertainment system ideal for a home theater environment."

So, I assume it will probably supplement the existing products and say its the top of the line in SB range...Marketing...hmph...Then lower the price of existing...

But the SB LIVE! is still unchanged...There was no MAJOR technical advancement...I don't really see the point of getting this product.

[GTaudiophile]

Correction, the new SB Live! 5.1 series of soundcards DO NOT offer Dolby Digital decoding. If you read the press release, it says that if you connect your soundcard to a speaker system that features a Dolby Digital decoder like the DTT3500 or DTT2200, then you get Dolby Digital decoding. The new SB Live! 5.1 soundcards use the same processor and drivers as the current SB Live! series. You could always have Dolby Digital decoding through software DVD decoders with the SB Live!

This topic is being discussed at 3Dss.

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[Terry]

NO one has answered my orinal post yet.....
Read the question plz

[MrNiCeGUi]

Originally posted by Terry:
NO one has answered my orinal post yet.....
Read the question plz

Read, man, Stmok just did: It's not gonna replace the original. My advice is wait a bit for the price to come down and buy the damn original.

[Altima]

gtaudiophile: the new sb 5.1 have a dolby digital decoder on them hooking a original sblive w/ digital out to a dtt2500 = dobly digital but with the new 5.1 you only need a 5.1 set of speakers. I have a dtt2500 and xgamer and i get DD output.

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[GTaudiophile]

You should check out Mark's first impressions of the SB Live! 5.1 at 3Dss (see link below). He reports that the SB Live! 5.1 can do Dolby Digital decoding with a software decoder and is not done in hardware. Creative is selling a 5.1 system without a decoder (DTT2200) and one with a decoder (DTT3500) to go with the SB Live! 5.1 series.

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[This message has been edited by GTaudiophile (edited October 01, 2000).]

[Revilre]

Either way, its a good product. I'm not worried about the decoder as I will just pass the digital signal on to my deocder. But the LiveDrive IR is cool, because now you can adjust the volume, and control your Playcenter from across the room. I bet it will only be a matter of time before there is a winamp plugin to use this remote.

[mpitts]

Originally posted by MrNiCeGUi:
Read, man, Stmok just did: It's not gonna replace the original. My advice is wait a bit for the price to come down and buy the damn original.

If you are purchasing it right now, you may as well grab the 5.1 at the same price. I assume that the Platinum is going to come down in price, but it make take a while for that to happen.



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[dchakrab]

Actually, the answer's already apparent...sb live platinum 5.1 is now available for about 160 or so, with the new remote controlled livedrive, and sblive plat regular)'s dropped to about 110 or 120 or so, with the older version of the livedrive. If i were you, i'd probably go with the 5.1, because of the decoder.

The desktop theater speakers (i think the dtt 2200) are also available for about 107 (the lowest i've been able to find it) so i'd probably hook those up to a 5.1 plat if i were you...the new livedirve looks like it'll be pretty cool, and it's only about 50 more than the original, for which price you're also getting a decoder.

depends on what you already have though...if you've already got a dvd decoder and an ac3 speaker system, you're basically spending more for a souped up livedrive, which may not be worth it.

[Napthali1]

Originally posted by Terry:
I noticed the new SB 5.1 has the same price as the originals...
It is gonna replace the original? or are the original gonna come out with a lower price?

I'm leaning toward thinking that it is a replacement for the originals. It's got updated software packages (for all three versions), the LiveDrive IR for the Platinum, and software 5.1 decoding (which makes it confusing because i believe you hook the analog 5.1 output or the digital 5.1 output from the SAME PLUG on the card, the DIN which is now doing double duty).

Even if it wasn't a replacement for the old non 5.1 packages, the updated software packages would make it worth it, especially for the X-Gamer since it now comes with 4 newer games than the 3 previous (and if you wanted the 3 older games, the price has reduced enough now where you could just buy them seperately).

These packages, however are not meant as upgrades. That is what the LiveWare is for... although, if you really wanted the new software (especially for the X-Gamer) it may be cheaper to buy the retail package and sell the extra card on ebay!!!

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[This message has been edited by Napthali1 (edited October 12, 2000).]