Drive Specifications

Introduction

This AZTECH top-of-the-line PCI 339-A3D sound card carries the usual quality of the AZTECH tradition. Nice packaging plus the needed support you need when necessary.The card I received from AZTECH is the '6L package' which includes a Jedi-Knight A3D enhanced game bundled with the card.Those(1L) selling in Sim Lim Square will not be bundled with this game.So let us take a closer look at this card.....

Installation

Installation is rather simplified nowadays with the Win95/98 PnP detection.

There's a hitch here.Installing this card might be quite bothersome in some case. Required you to have your Windows CD with you while it install.The Windows disc is required 2 times and a rebooting to complete the installation

After this.It's was all so quite.Pretty cool card with lots of features.

The Good

AZTECH bundled with plentiful of softwares.Some interesting ones are the 'SAY IT' Voice Annotation program which is quite similar to CREATIVE's offering. Type a "Computer" and got some pre-recorded voice saying that out to you. There's also a VOYETRA Jukebox playlist editor software which are seen on the S3 Sonic Vibes and all Tertle Beach cards. In all, these bundles are definately making this package seems more tempting.

The sound quality are really consider high end with the crystal clear sound effect running the A3D card.What also makes this card more attractive than the S$10 less expensive TERASOUND card is that the top quality Driver that runs this card. In a very funny way, this card seems much clearer in music playback.Sound quality are really vibrant.The box are also very beautifully designed.Red with white makes this box seems pretty catching even from far.With such a powerful software over the others A3D onboard cards. It definately shows that AZTECH is already quite a legend in Sound card making industry.

The easy installation guide is quite useful is you are already an existing card users or have been familiar with the card installtion procedure. Getting the card hook up to some exciting sound systems like the Altec Lansing ACS-48 or the familiar AIWA SC-40 will definately makes this card a better buy.These sound speakers,with their powerful bass add the need power to the A3D surround an also enable the larger woofer to spread the sound across the room.

Performance

To test it's sound quality. I used 3 different sound systems with Subwoofer & surround sound was used to provide hundreds of Watts of uninterrupted sound effect.

Running the bundled JEDI-KNIGHT game is quite a nice game that brings out the true effect of what A3D sound should be of.At such a low pricing and solid sound impact.Shots from behind you can be experience better the those not using A3D at all.

The Bad

In a new way, I got to know that although the AZTECH card is having a 6 watts power speakers output. It's really weak when running on some lower end speakers.And it get worse when you plug into the line-out and if you have a weak powered speakers.You might be in some trouble. The PCB can really tell you of it's cost saving motive. Sigh. But don't worry that this will decrease the performance, no way! The installation process of needed the Windows CD is also a bother. Just wondering why they need the disc so many times when some others A3D card only need once for the installation. Personally, this is not all big problem. It's only some minor hitch.Otherwise,it's perfectly ok.Some of the bundled software are quite normal, you will most probably not be using them.

Conclusion

In all.This card remains a very good buy.Especially if you do not wish to spend a huge amount for a DIAMOND based cards and wanted quality and affordability.

It's up to your choice and I must say the cheaper A3D cards are really in no way able to beat this high-end product with the attractive and experience bundled.

Overall Card Rating (Out of Maximum 5 Star)