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Have any of you used the Creative Labs Extigy for your home theater preamp processor and if so what did you think? I realize this unit is designed to be used for computer applications and is only good for dolby digital decoding but for approx. $150 sounds like a cheap way to get started in HT. I already have the power amps and speakers necessary for a HT set up and only lack the preamp/processor unit. I had been looking at the Outlaw Audio 950, which for $900 was the cheapest unit I could find, up to now. I realize the 950 has many more features than the Extigy. Your opinions would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Dave
Follow Ups:
Ok dude, everyone is going to thrash the Soundblaster. And they're right, it's weak. You should look at the MAudio cards if you're REALLY interested in a home theater PC. But, you know what, if you've already got the 5 channels of amp & speakers, and if your PC has a DVD player, then using the Audigy isn't horrible. I have that same setup (extra amp, extra speakers & sub) in a bedroom, and it's doesn't suck as bad as I thought (actually, 10 years ago, I'd have killed for the system). Plus, with the Audigy, you've got universal support for PC games, and playing them in 5.1 surround is pretty cool.I'd suggest going for the Audigy 2 (if you don't go the MAudio route), as it has 6.1 surround.
A lot of people brag about having the Extigy and Audigy: personally, I think neither card has much going for it apart from the front panel. They really don't sound all that much better than the original Sound Blaster 16, they are generally used to feed the lowest of the low speakers, and they (as mentioned elsewhere) don't have very good specs. The only reason they exist is because a lot of people think they look cool and want the bragging rights... If you want a real pro card with a breakout box, the cards by Aardvark, Digidesign, and M-Audio are all far better choices both in quality and genuine bang for the buck.Very simply, go ahead and buy a dedicated amp for AV use. If you want to wire a PC into it (they do make good PVR, DivX, VCD, and DVD Players) get a SoundCard with a digital out (I'd say optical, but a coax would probably be OK as well) and wire that into your receiver. Having a PC attached to home theater these days isn't a bad thing at all... it really jumps up the flexibility even though they're lacking a bit in fidelity. Not only are they good for various video stuff, they make really good MP3 jukeboxes as well.
I can't speak to it's Dolby Digital playback, but it's 24 bit playback was VERY weak. Probably comparable to a cheap CDP, and that's when fed 24 bit material.For home theatre on a budget, go to somewhere like ecost.com and buy a Denon A/V receiver and a cheap DVD player. You'll be FAR more satisfied.
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