USB 2.0 Sound: Creative Labs Audigy 2 NX

Nothing New On The Software Front

The Mediasource suite of software that was always bundled with Creative cards still controls the Audigy 2 NX. This version incorporates such recent innovations as an equalizer. The launch bar is quite exciting, because it features DVD Audio - we'll talk about that later.

By clicking on the "Go" button, you can access settings programs and modules. You'll find familiar elements from other cards in the Audigy 2. From this point of view, there doesn't seem to be much to distinguish the NX from an internal sound card. On this tab, the mixing table seems to be unchanged - apart from an adaptation to the inputs available on the card - and the choice of loudspeaker configuration seems to be the same as for the Audigy 2 ZS. Of course you will be able to get 7.1 sound, the outstanding feature of this card.

The "Bass Management" allows for the redirection of the bass, meaning, in more technical language, that it has a high-pass filter for the satellite speaker enclosures. This method makes it possible to avoid overload through the use of frequencies the satellite speakers can't reproduce. It is thus advisable to activate this feature in most sound systems.