Audigy 2 Driver and/or Other Software

[us3rnotfound]

I have an Audigy 2 and I will be getting the Logitech Z680's soon, and I was just asking if I am missing out on any benifial features if I just install the drivers for the Audigy, and nothing else?

Will it still sound as good?

Also, I am asking this because I've heard that Creatives software bundles are just bloatware that have, for the most part, pretty worthless features.

Thanks.

 

[us3rnotfound]

One more thing, do the z680's connect through the digital output of the audigy 2?

 

[lazybum131]

You will probably want to install 'AudioHQ', 'EAX Console','Surround Mixer' (volume control basically)and 'Speaker Settings' in addition to the drivers. If you plan to get any DVD-Audio discs, install the DVD-Audio player too. Install the newest drivers from the website, then pop in the disc with the Audigy 2 and install the above. Then go to the website and update them.

The Z680's will connect to the digital output, but u need the right adaptor, and the only way to get surround while using digital is to pass-through Dolby Digital and/or DTS to the speakers to decode. Basically it's worthless, if you buy an Audigy 2 and use digital, u were better off with whatever soundcard u had before. Analog should sound better anyway, since the DAC's on the Audigy 2 are better then the Z680's.

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: lazybum131
You will probably want to install 'AudioHQ', 'EAX Console','Surround Mixer' (volume control basically)and 'Speaker Settings' in addition to the drivers.

vote +1

though IIRC when running the driver CD, all of those get installed if you just tick AudioHQ (if there's tick boxes to install each of those, tick them, but dont worry if you can only see AudioHQ). Dunno about DVD audio, since I've never used a DVD-audio disk, but sounds sensible to me 🙂

Personally I dont install the other stuff, it seems so bloated and slow. I prefer sticking to WMP9 and Winamp5.02.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Alright, thanks, did all that.

Now, I am kind of torn between two very good sets of speakers, the Logitech z-680, and the Klipsch 5.1 Promedia Ultra. I play a lot of games, while still enjoying a large range of music. I've heard the Logitech's are good at bass and gaming, but are maybe too powerful (and less accurate?) in noise compared to the Klipsch. Which would you prefer I get?

 

[Gurck]

Reading through the reviews of the 680s on Newegg turned me off to them. They seem like good speakers, but too many people spoke of a hiss audible at all volumes for my tastes. Between the Logitech and Klipsch I personally would go with the latter. Personally, I ended up buying the Creative gigaworks 7.1 system (which are very nice btw) because I wanted the extra speakers after reading that they improve imaging noticeably in EAX games.