The CT2760 is generally considered the way to go, maybe CT3900 too. The main thing is that people here really don't like the PnP revisions, CT1747 with real OPL3 or not, especially as they apparently don't let you disable the CD-ROM controller on the card, taking up extra valuable resources.
Also, the earlier cards are far more likely to have the CT1748 ASP/CSP installed, if you care about that. Only TFX uses it, to my knowledge.
In terms of noise, it's said that the S/PDIF header on the AWE32s only handles FM synth and EMU8000 output, unfortunately; digital PCM audio still needs to go through the card's noisy DAC. (Complete S/PDIF output seems to have started with the AWE64 Gold, but then you lose genuine OPL3.) At least the CT2760 (original revision) doesn't sound too bad over headphones if you use the line-out and NOT the speaker-out.
The wavetable header bug is said to be caused by a flaw in the DSP. IIRC, it's versions 4.05 and 4.16 that are the only unaffected ones. Nobody has been ballsy enough to try and swap out DSP chips from other cards to see if that fixes the issue, though.
Oh, and while we're at it, make sure you have a case that can fit these 14"-long behemoths. Chances are you'll need one with removable hard drive cages. (Any recommendations? I need one before I can swap out my AWE64 Gold with my AWE32 CT2760.)