44 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2006
Creative Labs
X-Fi
XtremeMusic
If our PC were a life raft and we
were forced to toss two cards off
for our survival, we’d cling to our
Creative Labs X-Fi like nobody’s
business. Aegia PhysX card? Into
the drink you go. Killer NIC? Here’s
the key to Davy Jones’ locker. Sure,
hardware audio acceleration might
be unnecessary with quad-core
computing, but we still think a PC’s
sound system should sound good.
(Reviewed September 2005)
$120, http://www.soundblaster.comBEST SOUNDCARDBEST SPEAKERSArchos 604
Apple’s video iPods are fi ne digital media players, and Microsoft’s Zune
seems interesting, but the features and performance of the Archos 604
instills pure lust in our techie hearts. The 604’s luscious, 4.3-inch, 16:9
aspect-ratio screen steals the show, but this player sounds every bit as
good as it looks.
(Reviewed Holiday 2006)
$350, http://www.archos.comBEST HEADPHONES AND EARBUDSM-Audio LX4 2.1 and 5.1 Expander System
There’s no shortage of high-pow-
ered speakers on the market, but
we’ve long insisted that speak-
ers deliver an accurate—not just
loud—performance. And while M-
Audio’s LX4 2.1, coupled with its 5.1
Expander System, are classifi ed as
studio monitors, these speakers
sound as delicious with games as
they do in a mix-down environment.
(Reviewed December 2005)
$350 + $200, http://www.m-audio.comSonos ZP-80
We’ve seen a number of great stream-
ing-audio systems this year, but the
Sonos ZP-80 bundle remains the most
brilliant. Sonos’ handheld controller is
already near perfection, but the com-
pany isn’t resting on its laurels: Version
2.0 of its software puts Rhapsody’s
staggering library at your fi ngertips
without the need to boot your PC.
(Reviewed July 2006)
$1,000, http://www.sonos.comBEST STREAMING BOXSonos ZP-80Sonos ZP-80
BEST DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER(Reviewed September 2005)
$120, http://www.soundblaster.comBEST SPEAKERSBEST SPEAKERS$120, http://www.soundblaster.comUltrasone Proline 750;
Shure E4gYour ears are precious; don’t make them
suffer crappy headphones or earbuds.
We’ve listened to a lot of cans, but haven’t
found any that are more accurate than
Ultrasone’s Proline 750. Their unique
transducer array refl ects audio waves off
the folds of your ears to deliver the most
natural sound we’ve heard. When it comes
to wringing the best possible audio per-
formance out of your media player, Shure’s
E4g earbuds are worth every penny. They’re
supremely comfortable, and they block audible
distractions far better than any noise-canceling
headphones we’ve tested.
(Proline 750 reviewed May 2005; E4g reviewed February
2006) $400, http://www.ultrasoneusa.com; $300, http://www.shure.com