Creative introduces new PC audio standard

Creative Technology Ltd, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment for PC users, has announced several key breakthroughs in PC audio with the introduction of the new Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound cards.

Millions of PC users who have a DVD-ROM drive on their PC can use the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 to experience advanced resolution DVD-audio with amazing 24-bit/192kHz sound quality.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 delivers 106dB SNR and is the only standalone sound card with THX certification, for cinematic 6.1 surround sound from Dolby Digital EX movies and unparalleled realism from the hundreds of existing DirectSound 3D game titles.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 enables 24-bit/96kHz recording, and also provides digital music enthusiasts with the next generation Creative MediaSource player for a variety of digital music enhancements, including up-mix of stereo MP3 music into full 6.1 surround sound. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum shipped to SA in December 2002.

DVD-Audio

"With Creative`s introduction of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2, DVD-Audio has achieved another important milestone," said Paul Vidich, executive vice-president, strategic planning and business development for Warner Music Group.

"Consumers are experiencing the full sonic power of DVD-A on home stereos, in cars and now, on the PC. The music industry`s leading artists have released hundreds of DVD-A titles that are playable in more than 60 million DVD Video, DVD-ROM and PlayStation players in the US market and that are sold in more than 2 000 retail locations. Creative is the latest industry leader to choose DVD-Audio as the format for advanced resolution, multi-channel audio."

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is the only PC audio solution to enable Advanced Resolution DVD-Audio at 24-bit/192kHz in stereo and 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1. DVD-Audio is the highest resolution recorded music available for the PC. With up to five times the audio detail of CD-Audio, higher sampling frequencies and loss-less compression, DVD-Audio reveals amazingly precise musical elements that are not audible from media such as CD or tape.

"The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 not only propels PC audio forward; it drives a new standard of quality for all audio," said Creative CEO Sim Wong Hoo. "As we have done many times in the past, Creative has established yet another new platform for the PC with Sound Blaster 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio. Yet with the introduction of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2, we are setting an audio standard for the PC that is currently emerging in consumer electronics."

Sound Blaster 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio performance at 106dB SNR in the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 delivers up to eight times better clarity than host audio. The new Audigy 2 chip, premium quality 24-bit/192kHz Digital to Analog Converters (DACs), and a true 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio path ensure "hiss-free" audio fidelity and exceptional clarity of 106dB SNR. The power of Audigy 2 processing enables full 24-bit/96kHz audio resolution in discrete 5.1 surround sound with playback of Windows Media Audio (WMA) 9 Professional, the Web`s first digital 5.1 surround sound audio codec from the new Windows Media 9 Series.

"The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is an ideal way to experience the breakthrough surround sound of Windows Media Audio 9 Professional," said Jonathan Usher, director of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft Corp. "By supporting Windows Media 9 and Windows XP, Creative is opening the doors to the next wave of home-theatre-like digital media experiences on the PC."

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The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 adds support for a discrete rear-centre speaker for stunning 6.1 surround sound from DirectSound 3D games, Dolby Digital EX movies, and MP3 and CD audio. For PC gamers who compete in any DirectSound 3D first-person shooter or racing title, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 provides the competitive advantage of being able to hear an opponent approaching from directly behind. This feature works automatically on any current game that supports DirectSound 3D. For DVD movie playback, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 brings a cinematic audio experience to the PC with Dolby Digital EX support, which is featured on major DVD movie titles including Harry Potter 2 and Gladiator.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 includes the new MediaSource Player, a full MP3 and WMA ripping application with a fresh, clean interface and exciting new MP3 and WMA enhancing features:

• The first PC media player to enable DVD-Audio playback in 24-bit/192kHz stereo or 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1;

• SVM (Smart Volume Management) matches volume variations across MP3 tracks so no adjustment is needed during playback;

• Second generation Audio Clean-up removes pops and clicks from MP3 and WAV files or recorded material from vinyl records or cassettes;

• CMSS 3D (Creative Multi-Surround System) plays back all stereo content, including MP3s and Internet audio, in rich 6.1 surround sound and creates a virtual surround sound experience with stereo speakers or headphones;

• New library "Find" tool allows users to find music quickly by entering the first few letters of an artist or song, for easy searching of multi-gigabyte music libraries; and

• Integrated audio modules enable Internet radio and full bit-rate encoding on MP3s and WMAs and recording with ASR (Audio Stream Recorder) 2.0.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 enables multi-channel recording at 24-bit/96kHz, the best digital recording bit/rate available commercially today, allowing a pure recording path and high-performance analogue-to-digital converters to accurately capture the full quality and subtle details of any music. It also delivers 16-bit/48kHz multi-channel low-latency ASIO support.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 adds one SB1394, or FireWire port to the PC. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum includes a second SB1394 port on its front-facing Audigy 2 drive that is positioned in the 5 1/4-inch PC drive bay. In compliance with the IEEE 1394 standard, SB1394 enables a transfer rate of audio or video content of up to 400Mbps, as much as 30 times faster than USB 1.1. SB1394 allows peer-to-peer low-latency networking with as many as 63 different PCs at up to 20 times the speed of traditional 10base T networks. By connecting the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 to the SB1394-equipped Creative NOMAD Jukebox 3 digital audio player, users can enjoy blazing fast transfer of music from the PC at less than one second per song.

Both the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum allow simultaneous digital and analogue connectivity to devices such as MIDI instruments, external digital audio devices and headphones. A remote control is included with the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum for additional ease of use.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 supports 64 3D-hardware voices to add incredible detail to games. To achieve exceptional audio and realism in PC gaming, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 utilizes the powerful Audigy 2 chip to generate high-definition EAX ADVANCED HD effects such as Environment Morphing, Environment Panning, Environment Reflections and Environment Filtering technologies. New game titles included with each Sound Blaster Audigy 2 that feature built-in EAX ADVANCED HD support are "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin" by Eidos Interactive and I/O Interactive; and "Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix" by Activision and Raven Software.

For more information about the Sound Blaster Audigy 2, visit www.soundblaster.com.

Recommended end-user price is indicative only. It is inclusive of VAT and may vary depending on local levies.

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 has a recommended end-user price of R1 799* and the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum 2 has a recommended end-user price of R2 799*. Both products shipped to SA in December 2002.

For pricing and availability information, kindly contact our authorised distributor, Sahara Computers Pty (Ltd).