I performed the installation/setup by following the included manual from Philips. The manualprovided easy-to-follow steps with ample screenshots for each operating system that may be used (Windows 9x/Me/NT4.0/2000). I also found demonstration videos on the installation CD that walks through both the hardware and software setup. The sound card being replaced by the AE was a Creative Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ 5.1. I used the standard Windows Add/Remove Software feature to uninstall the SB Live! software and drivers prior to removing the card. The AE was inserted into the empty PCI slot and the system restarted. Windows recognized the new hardware and installed the WDM Beta drivers (Philips PSC706 Audio WDM v1.55) from the installation CD without error. The Beta drivers provided on the installation CD for Windows 2000 were yet to be released to the public at the time of review. Finally, I installed the bundled music player, SIREN Jukebox XPress 2.0™ and Cyberlink's PowerDVD 3.0.
The Klipsch 5.1 speakers were connected via their 3 analog mini-plugs (L/R front, L/R rear,center/sub) to the included Line Out cable. The cable consists of a 9-pin DIN connector which inserts into the sound card and splits into 3 female analog mini-plugs (each connector is also color-coded and labeled). I found this very convenient compared to the usual acrobatics required to locate the correct mini-plug holes in the back of the computer (the cable acts as extension cord for the analog outputs, making it very easy to access).
Let the testing begin!
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