As you would expect with top-of-the-range cards, more software is bundled in with the players compared to what value-category products usually offer.

With Platinum - apart from "in-house" software such as Mediasource - you will find Cubasis VST4.0 and Wavelab Lite 2.0 (audio/MIDI sequencer and audio editor), Videostudio 5.0SE video editor, Traktor DJ (dubbing, MP3 and DJ functions), and several games, such as Soldier of Fortune II, Double Helix, and Hitman 2 Silent Assassin. With the Platinum EX, you also get Ableton Live 1.5 (sampler), and Fruity Loops Pro 3.5 (loop management).

The software that comes bundled with the cards is generally stripped-down compared to what is offered when the software is purchased separately. However, the software is still a major plus and can, in some cases, be upgraded.

With Terratec, the bundle is identical for both cards: Power DVD for playing DVD videos, Wavelab Lite 2.0 for audio-editing, Emagic Logic Fun for audio/MIDI sequencing, and Musicmatch Jukebox for MP3s. The software is limited, although the main bases are covered.

Conclusion

At the outcome of our test, it became apparent that we were dealing with top-of-the-range cards, capable of meeting the needs of most users, while the range of options and features also varied widely.

However, the Platinum EX gets the prize as the best of the best in the high-end sound card market, although its price tag is significantly higher than Terratec's offerings. The Platinum EX offers many more possibilities for users wishing to interface the PC with elaborate peripherals, ranging from sound recording devices to synthesizers, which is an important feature for users wishing to easily link external devices to their sound card. The Terratec cards, however, take up less space since they come in a small, PCI card form factor. Terratec's cards also offer excellent performance, and come with a range of software that will satisfy the average user.