[SPUDLEY1977]

I flew IL-2 for 2 yrs with one of the top tier (as analyzed by third party audiofiles) Realtek ALC 889. I had read all the onboard vs add in comparisons and opinions. Then I replaced it with X-FI Extreme Gamer with the highest available EAX 5.0 an excellent onboard sound processor chipset. (Option of onboard soundcard Ram does nothing with semi modern system configurations).

I do a lot of audio listening, and the new card running Il-2 I noticed NO improvements to sound effects quality nor any improvement in immersion or surround.

LOCKON was the same - NO improvements.

However Battlefield 2 did show SIGNIFICANT sound quality and surround/directional improvements.

General audio listening - SIGNIFICANT improvements.
The improvements were hard to imagine untill I made the purchase. There are some very useful technical/functionality improvements with this card over the Realtek 889. I only wish I had done this noticeable upgrade earlier!

CAVEAT: I have a good 5.1 sound system, Logitech G51. A good sound system and a good card are the basic tenets of audio quality. How the sounds are programmed in the specific application is the other indisputable key to your sound immersion. Different applications may not have received the audio programming they really deserve. Lockon and IL-2 are two of them. BF2 audio programmers really show the significant improvements to immersion that are possible.

BEWARE: the x-fi Audigy series do NOT have the fundamental X_FI processor technology of the other X-fi series cards. ( I would not buy the AUdigy line).