Summary:
The Aureal Vortex SQ1500 is an excelent sound solution for the gamer on a budget.Look at these base features:
Hi-fi digital audio using Aureal's A3D standard.
Supports hundreds of A3D-enabled games, applications and Web sites.
Awesome 3D audio via headphones,and/or two or four speakers.
Digital output for audio connection to home theater, MiniDisc, and DAT systems.
Supports Direct3D & soundblaster pro compatible.

Included software is as follows:
Vortex Player (supports CD,WAV,MP3,MIDI,and Internet audio formats)
Future Beat 3D
MIDI Orchestrator 32
AudioView 32
A3D positional 3D sound demos
Full version of DRAKAN

The tool panel and interface are very slick. You can use the icon in the task bar to switch from speakers to headphones on the fly.There are some other nice extras like a Fader slider control for Quad speakers and a real EQ with pre-sets and a user defined pre-set(i really like that)
Instalation is strait forward and great documentation with a real manual and solid drivers on the install CD. Just remember to READ the manual first and it very important to comepletely un-install your old sound card drivers to get a good clean install on the new sound card.I had this card up and running in about 30 minutes including seting up a new Quad speaker system that I bought at the same time.
If your in the market for a quality gamers card or you just want to hear music on your PC that doesn't sound blah and tinny and don't want(or need) to spend $200.00 on a sound card, the SQ1500 is a very good cost effective sound solution.
I picked the card up at my local computer store for a mere $69.00 and got to mail in for a tastey rebate to top it off.