If you think the sound-board industry begins and ends with Creative Labs, you haven't heard the Philips Sonic Edge 5.1 ($39.95 list). This surprisingly affordable board doesn't support esoteric technologies like 24-bit/96-kHz recording or DVD-Audio, but in ease of use it's outstanding, and it boasts sophisticated multichannel capabilities. For those whose audio interests revolve around playing DVDs, audio CDs, MP3 files, and games, the Sonic Edge will do the job for a fraction of the price of a Sound Blaster Audigy 2.