The final test was the DVD playback.  For this test, I used both Cyberlink's PowerDVD 2.5 and InterVideo's WinDVD 2000 and Pioneer 6X IDE DVD-ROM drive.  After starting up both programs, I immediately went to the audio properties to see if the option for 6 speakers (5.1 output) was available.  To my relief, the radio buttons were not grayed out and I clicked on 6 speaker surround mode.   S/PDIF output was also available if you wanted to output the audio to a receiver.  After choosing 6 speaker mode, I started to play the Matrix.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing, the surround sound was amazing!  I specifically played the scene where they are on top of the roof and the Agent starts shooting at Neo and you can hear the bullets traveling from front to back and left and right.  I'm not used to this, so it was absolutely astounding.  My home theatre system didn't even sound this good! and neither did my Diamond Monster Sound MX300 paired with a quad set of Boston Acoustics speakers running in 4 speaker down-mixed mode!  It's unbelievable how much difference a center channel can make.  Another example during the Matrix is right at the beginning when you the see the blinking cursor on screen.  You here the cursor predominantly on the left front and a bit on the left back.  You also hear a bunch of modem-like noise coming out of the center channel and then all of a sudden you hear the voices coming from the center channel as well.  Every sound was unbelievably crisp and clear.

The Best Data Theatrix has very good audio quality, good support for 3D audio API's including A3D, DirectSound3D and EAX and absolutely awesome 5.1 channel Dolby Digital DVD playback.  As you can see, it provides a great value for its price.  However, if you're primary needs are multiple audio streams in hardware and better MIDI playback/recording, then you should perhaps look at a higher end card such as the Sound Blaster Live!  If you just need a general purpose Windows sound card that does the job and are very interested in watching DVD's on your PC, then we highly suggest this card.

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