The sound that came out of my headphones with Dolby Headphone enabled was awe inspiring. I have never heard anything like it. From ratty old mp3s to
high definition audio, this card delivers amazing quality of sound. My wife even agrees. I made her listen to some mp3s normally, then with Dolby
Headphone turned on. Then, I turned on the Virtual 7.1 speakers, and she became giddy...a very rare occurance. For those of us who cannot crank up the audio without disturbing
our significant others, the Dolby Headphone feature is the perfect solution.
Chipset
The only features that seem to be missing from this sound card are EAX 3-5, and OpenAL. Is this enough to warrant giving this card a pass? I don't think
so. I think features like Dolby Headphone more than make up for the absence of these features. According to the FAQ on Auzentech's site, the X-Meridian
marks the dividing line between their past sound cards and their future sound cards. Perhaps the next sound card from Auzentech will take care of these
missing features, just like this version takes care of missing features (front panel audio, Dolby Headphone) from the X-Plosion.
CONCLUSION
This sound card does everything you need, except OpenAL. Unless you really need OpenAL, and odds are that you don't, then this is the card to buy. If you're into
upgrading your sound cards, you can change the op amps. Despite a price tag of $199.99, the bottom line is this: This card kicks butt, and you should not pass it up. This card has so many features you
won't know what to do with them all. I give this card a Grand Slam. Thanks to Stephane Bae and Auzentech for providing the review sample.
