M-Audio do excellent Audio cards for the price. As for GM/XG Synth Soundcards, I've never been too keen on the sound quality - gimme a card that can handle VST instruments any day

I dont like the GM cards!! The Yamaha DS-XG's Are Way better!! More Midi Channels! U can use a XG Edit to get over 1000 sounds!

I use a sound blaster Live! card.
From Creative. (www.creative.com)
It seems to work fine for me!

Currently usin' Audigy Platinum Ex << -- awesome..!!

I'M GONNA VOTE VOR THE AUDIGY IT;S A GOOD ONE FOR IT PRICE

It's great that you guys have strong opinions and feelings about which soundcard is best, but I want to know why you consider it best. If it's game playing or the cards sounds or what???

I would like to know as I'm about to buy a new one and this thread is useful. Don't be too technical though - lol

Get an Audigy Platinum Ex

its cool

Spend some extra bucks and get the MOTU 896

Don't waste your time with toys like the Audigy 2 hehe

WAIT A MINUITE..HOLD YA HORSES....

Soundblaster Audigy Platinum and Audigy 2 DOES work on XP because I use it.

I`ve got an Audigy 1394 card which has XP drivers..and I use the front panel of a LIVE (Therefore giving me an Audigy Platinum)

I know this as I`m an PC engineer and build the things.All the Audigy2 has thats different is 6.1 sound but HEY! isn`t 5.1 just as good.? And who makes DVD Audio anyway..Good idea though.

This is the best card on the market..without doubt.

If you're not using windows XP, then I would go for the soundblaster audigy 2. It's the best in my opinion, but PC soundcards will always lack in quality in comparison with real professional music hardware. Although that's my opinion.

what ever card i buy i seem to be short of something or other...please come see my post on newbie help re: ASIO drivers...purty please

I have a MaxiSound FORTISSIMO! and I like it. Got it for $40, supports A3D 1.0, EAX 1.0 and 2.0 and DirectSound 3d. It's made by guillemot.

The Extigy is nothing more then an external Audigy.

But with the new Audigy 2, the Extigy 2 is going to be able to record at a higher quality then the internal Audigy.

The new Audigy2/Extigy2 series is going to be one bad mother!

Read the review on www.tomshardware.com

What's about the "Extigy" (or however its *****ed)?

sound blaster aulogy 2
(or however its *****ed)