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I recently installed the Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro PCI sound card with its accompanying "breakout box" or "I/O Hub" as they call it with a wireless remote (more for gamers). These are quotes from a web site as to specs: > Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD^(TM) 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) > Stereo Output > 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 > SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) input at up to 24-bit/ 96kHz > quality > SPDIF output up to 24-bit at 48 or 96kHz > ASIO 2.0 drivers for low latency (as low as 2ms) multi-track playback > and recording at 16-bit/48kHz or 24-bit/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) > Digital CD Audio in > Aux Audio in > AD_LINK 1 and AD_LINK 2 Connectors > Power Connector > 15-pin MIDI/ Joystick port extension header > 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 > > >