When it comes to buying a soundcard, you'd be forgiven for thinking they're all pretty much the same.

Aside from the number of speakers supported, it's hard to tell one from another - they all seem to have a similar specification, allow CD and MP3 playback, and provide music and sound effects in games.

In truth there can actually be a world of difference between them, and once you've clapped ears on the Aureon 7.1 Space it's easier to understand.

The Aureon boasts a 24-bit digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) for what Terratec calls '4G' or fourth-generation sound. Jargon aside, that equates to exceptionally clear audio. What's more, it works.

The Aureon Space 7.1 card supports up to eight speakers for surround sound output, though you don't have to have this kind of set-up to use it.

Indeed, none of the popular PC speaker kits currently offer a 7.1 package and you'll only really get the full effect when watching DVD movies.

As well as connectors for speakers, the Aureon boasts optical input and output and a Mic socket, plus several internal CD connectors.Up to 1,024 sounds can be played simultaneously, but these are all generated in software rather than by a hardware synthesiser.

That said, we didn't notice any drop in performance and in our tests sound quality was outstanding; it's gutsy, crisp and involving.

In addition, the card is compatible with popular gaming sound standards such as A3D, EAX 2 and DirectSound, and high-quality recording and playback for professional music applications.

Terratec has bundled the excellent Steinberg Wave Lab for editing samples, MusicMatch Jukebox for MP3 playback and recording and eMagic's Logic Fun midi-sequencer.

PowerDVD XP is provided for movie playback, with support for Dolby Digital EX but sadly not DTS audio. Given the price, this seems a little mean.

Contact: Terratec 0118 982 1612
www.terratec.co.uk

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Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2
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