Pros: Now that the price after rebate dropped below $200, this card was no longer out of my price range. It is an amazing technical achievement; and, besides that, everything I play through it sounds completely alive, as good as or better than it sounds through far more expensive analog gear.

Cons: None for me, but I am running XP Pro on a P4 2.8 and have analog Klipsch 5.1 Ultra (whatever they are called) speakers. Apparantely those runnning Vista have had problems with compatibility and the required upgrades, etc., so beware of that. For me it's been a breeze; my system is about three years old.

Overall Review: This sound card has the potential to change your life. Really. If you have only heard recorded music played back through not-so special equipment from digitally compressed sources (CD's, mp3's, etc.) here is an opportunity to experience real and true audio fidelity in your own home for an unprecedentedly low price. You may not understand the technology (I know that I don't understand it!) but our ears reap all the benefits nonetheless. If you love music and use your computer as your "media center" so-to-speak, treat yourself and buy this sound card and a set of 5.1 speakers if you don't have them already -- your money can hardly be spent more wisely.