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Originally published at Internet.com Once considered a necessity of performance computing, discrete audio solutions have more recently given way to improved onboard audio in nearly all but the highest-priced systems. Seeking to challenge the market with lower-cost performance audio cards, Diamond Multimedia first impressed us two years ago with the value of its Dolby Digital Live supporting XtremeSound 7.1 DDL. But not everyone needs DDL technology, and today we bring you two lower-cost Diamond sound cards based on similar audio processors, the XtremeSound 7.1 and XtremeSound 5.1. 
We'll compare Diamond's lowest-cost XtremeSound solutions to the least expensive X-Fi model from long-time competitor Creative Labs. Is top audio value in the cards for Diamond Multimedia?
Table of Contents • Introduction • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 
As the box states, Diamond's lower-cost 7.1-channel, PCI-based audio solution maintains every feature from its upper-midrange XtremeSound 7.1 DDL except for the "DDL" part. Like most audio cards (including all Creative models), the XtremeSound 7.1 requires analog speaker connections for multi-channel real-time sounds such as gaming, but still allows pre-encoded multi-channel sound streams to pass through its S/P-DIF connector. 
Also different from the DDL version of this card are the digital audio connectors, as the XtremeSound 7.1 uses coaxial rather than optical cables. The analog connections remain the same, and include eight analog channels (7.1 surround) plus line level and microphone inputs.
Internal connections along the top of the card include CD and Auxiliary inputs, using the large 4-pin connector common to many CD drives. Although these are rarely used today, the inputs can be important for connecting other devices such as older TV tuner cards. Both connectors are laid flat, parallel to the card, to prevent cable kinks when used with another card in an adjacent slot. 
The C-Media CMI8768/PCI-8ch controller doesn't have DDL support, but is otherwise identical to the CMI8768/PCI-8ch+ controller of the DDL version. The CMI8768/PCI-8ch supports 24-bit/96KHz playback for added audio accuracy.
The XtremeSound 7.1 doesn't include any cables or adapters, but it does come with a certificate for fifty free downloads from emusic.com. The offer is a promotion for the music service, and probably cost Diamond little to nothing.
Table of Contents • Introduction • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 
Like the XtremeSound 7.1, the XtremeSound 5.1 is a low-cost PCI soundcard, but output is limited to 5.1 analog surround and 16 bit/48kHZ maximum bitrate conversion. In terms of extras, Diamond also includes an offer for fifty free downloads from emusic.com. 
Rear panel connections include three outputs for the six signals required of 5.1 channel sound, plus microphone and line-level inputs, and an old-fashioned analog joystick port. The XtremeSound 5.1 is a true budget part, lacking any digital output whatsoever.
CD and Auxiliary internal inputs are found along the top edge of the card, with full-sized four-pin connectors on both inputs and a redundant mini four-pin connector on the CD input. Notice that neither the XtremeSound 5.1 nor XtremeSound 7.1 cards have any provision for a case's front-panel audio connectors, which have been standardized for many years. 
C-Media's CMI8738/PCI-6ch-LX controller lacks many of the features found on 7.1 cards, but retains the "performance advantage" of a separate hardware-based audio controller. This advantage used to be important when processors were slow, but a combination of on-chipset audio control and more powerful CPU's has diminished the value of discrete audio control for basic functions. Today's cards sell themselves on added features and audio quality.
Table of Contents • Introduction • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
XtremeSound Control Interface
The same mixer panel is used for both the XtremeSound 7.1 and 5.1 cards, with the appropriate connectors represented based on the card installed. 
The main control page includes connector configuration and a Digital Signal Processor setting to enable or disable Xear3D virtual speaker mode. The XtremeSound 7.1 includes configurations for up to eight speakers (7.1 sound), while the 5.1 channel version removes the 8-speaker and S/PDIF settings.
Xear3D manipulates stereo audio output to approximate the way sounds interact with the human ear when coming from different directions, fooling the brain into perceiving audio from "ghost" speakers. Its effectiveness depends on how closely the virtual ear matches the shape and proportions of the listener's ear, and it sounds very realistic to a large proportion of listeners. 
Mixer controls include all the settings you'd expect to find under the Windows volume control panel with all its options enabled. 
The Effect menu allows adjustments to reverberation and tone, including a "more option" button that expands the sound stage. We found the equalizer especially useful, with the "Classic" preset most closely approximating the custom setting we'd use for music listening on our own speakers. 
The Karaoke/Magic Voice page has some playful features without much practicality. For example, Magic Voice allows microphone inputs to do a mediocre impersonation of a monster, cartoon, male voice, or female voice. Karaoke controls are able to cancel out vocals somewhat effectively, while also canceling out part of the instrumentation that falls within vocal range. 
The Information page reveals driver version 5.12.01.0046.5.1 capable of supporting Xear3D, Sensaura CRL3D, Microsoft Direct Sound 3D, Creative EAX 2.0, and Aureal A3D 1.0. This is the same driver included with the XtremeSound 7.1 DDL two years ago.
Seeing all the supported 3D audio engines reminds us of how the audio industry ended up where it is today, with Creative Technologies having control over nearly everything except DirectSound 3D. Shortly after Diamond Multimedia cut its ties with Aureal Semiconductor, the audio processor company went bankrupt, killing A3D 2.0 in the process and setting back audio processor development by around six years.
EAX 2.0 and A3D 1.0 are similar-generation technologies that were released cooperatively around the turn of the century to ease game development, and it wasn't until the introduction of the X-Fi audio processor that Creative had fully countered the ghost of Aureal on all fronts. Creative has hoarded newer standards by buying up 3D engine developers, and limiting standardization of newer technologies to DirectSound 3D. Microsoft has become the unlikely "white knight" in this drama, while Diamond lives on as a brand applied to well-selected ODM parts.
Table of Contents • Introduction > • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
Performance
One thing that our earlier XtremeSound 7.1 DDL review proved was that system performance is no longer a major issue with onboard devices, as the difference in CPU utilization was less than 4%. Instead, today's audio market focuses on added features and sound quality, which we'll test today. Testing System Configuration Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4 Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 3.13GHz Video Card MSI NX8800GTS OC 512MB RAM Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400 2x1GB CAS4 Audio Devices Diamond XtremeSound 7.1
Diamond XtremeSound 5.1
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio Optical NEC ND-3500A DVD+/- R/RW PSU Ultra X3 1000W OS Windows XP Service Pack 2 Drivers Motherboard driver pack
NVIDIA Forceware 169.21 Graphics
Since Diamond's XtremeSound 7.1 and XtremeSound 5.1 are budget cards, we picked the lowest-cost Creative X-Fi audio solution as a point of comparison. In spite of its market position, the X-Fi Xtreme Audio has a price tag approximately double that of the XtremeSound 7.1, but is it really better? 
All of the cards suffer a major drop-off curve at around 18kHz, with the X-Fi Xtreme Audio card having only a slightly flatter curve up to that point. The XtremeSound 7.1 is the first to see a 1db drop at 17.5kHz, and the XtremeSound 5.1 is the only card to reach 19kHz before losing more than 1db output. 
The XtremeSound 5.1 has the worst signal-to-noise ratio, but it's still over 100db throughout most of the range. The XtremeSound 7.1 and X-Fi Xtreme Audio arre about even throughout the frequency range, with noise levels typically below -110db. 
Total Harmonic Distortion levels are great for all three cards, but the XtremeSound 5.1 still drops slightly back of the XtremeSound 7.1 and X-Fi Xtreme Audio. 
The Stereo Crosstalk test appears to favor the X-Fi Xtreme Audio, but the average difference is rather small.
It appears that the Xtreme Audio 7.1 is roughly equal to the X-Fi Xtreme Audio in quality, so let's jump to the conclusion and consider its value pricing.
Table of Contents • Introduction • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
Conclusion
Diamond's lower-cost XtremeSound cards provide good audio quality, but are these equally good values?
A web price of under $30 sets the Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 at around half the price of the X-Fi Xtreme Audio by Creative Labs, with similar performance and output capabilities. At under $20, the less elaborate XtremeSound 5.1 is priced even lower, making it a suitable replacement card for anyone whose onboard solution isn't functioning properly. Unlike the 7.1-capable versions, the XtremeSound 5.1 also has the antiquated joystick port, which this author appreciates for use with legacy joysticks.
XtremeSound 7.1 Pros: * Good Sound Quality * Excellent Noise Reduction * Low Web Pricing
XtremeSound 7.1 Cons: * No Dolby Digital Live
XtremeSound 5.1 Pros: * Good Sound Quality * Good Noise Reduction * Legacy Joystick Port * Very Low Web Price
XtremeSound 5.1 Cons: * "Only" 5.1 Compatible and Below * No Digital Outputs
The Verdict: Low prices, good sound quality, and appropriate features make the XtremeSound 7.1 a high-value upgrade, while the XtremeSound 5.1 is an adequate replacement for problematic onboard solutions. SysOpt Product Info
Product:
XtremeSound 7.1
Category:
Sound Cards
Est. Price:
$26
Manufacturer:
Diamond Multimedia, Inc. USA
9650 De Soto Avenue
Chatsworth, CA, 91311
818-534-1414
Availability:
Now
Ratings: (Best of four stars)
Features: 
Performance:
Value: 
Best for:
Low-Cost Audio Upgrades
SysOpt Product Info
Product:
XtremeSound 5.1
Category:
Sound Cards
Est. Price:
$18
Manufacturer:
Diamond Multimedia, Inc. USA
9650 De Soto Avenue
Chatsworth, CA, 91311
818-534-1414
Availability:
Now
Ratings: (Best of four stars)
Features: 
Performance:
Value:
Best for:
Replacement Audio Solution
Table of Contents • Introduction • The Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 • The Diamond XtremeSound 5.1 • XtremeSound Control Interface • Performance • Conclusion
Author: Thomas Soderstrom
Read article at Internet.com site