Audigy 2 ZS

frank84

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Mar 13, 2003
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Under the Audigy 2 ZS,

there are...

audigy 2 ZS
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Audigy 2 ZS Gamer

now, the question is..

do they all have same cards with bunch of different accesories?

or, is there differences in performance, meaning is there any differences in card?
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
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I'm pretty sure they're all the same card or if not the differences are very small.
The Gamer is certainly the ZS with some games.
There might be slight differences in the Platinum line, but nothing major.

If you're planning on spending close to $100 though you might as well go for an X-Fi.

Fixed your rig link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30202

Do you mean you have Logitech z-2200 speakers? (not x-2200)

The performance in FPS over all these cards is going to be the same. Even the X-Fi is pretty much the same performance.

 

The J

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Aug 30, 2004
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The Platinum comes with a 5.25" bay drive with multiple inputs, including digital I/O. The Platinum Pro comes with a breakout box that plugs into the back of the card. In terms of DSP and sound quality, I believe they are the same.
 

frank84

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Mar 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'm pretty sure they're all the same card or if not the differences are very small.
The Gamer is certainly the ZS with some games.
There might be slight differences in the Platinum line, but nothing major.

If you're planning on spending close to $100 though you might as well go for an X-Fi.

Fixed your rig link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30202

Do you mean you have Logitech z-2200 speakers? (not x-2200)

The performance in FPS over all these cards is going to be the same. Even the X-Fi is pretty much the same performance.

Yes I meant to say z-2200

hmm

Audigy 2 ZS goes cheaper it seems...
and X-Fi seems like its new line of cards...

what will be the differences? or will i find the answer from different thread?
 

Eureka

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
3,822
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X-Fi is the newer generation of cards. Audigy 2 ZS was the older one. That's all I know... other than that the X-Fi has better sound quality.

Norm
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
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Originally posted by: wonho84
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'm pretty sure they're all the same card or if not the differences are very small.
The Gamer is certainly the ZS with some games.
There might be slight differences in the Platinum line, but nothing major.

If you're planning on spending close to $100 though you might as well go for an X-Fi.

Fixed your rig link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30202

Do you mean you have Logitech z-2200 speakers? (not x-2200)

The performance in FPS over all these cards is going to be the same. Even the X-Fi is pretty much the same performance.

Yes I meant to say z-2200

hmm

Audigy 2 ZS goes cheaper it seems...
and X-Fi seems like its new line of cards...

what will be the differences? or will i find the answer from different thread?

You can search for X-Fi and you'll find a lot of threads.

Basically a standard A2 ZS would be a good idea for you I think.

If you're going for a performance increase, you'll get it from that and sound quality will be good.

Save the money for an upgrade later that will make a bigger difference (new videocard down the line or something).

If you want to spend more and don't need the features the drive bays provide, then an X-Fi makes more sense around the $100 mark.

Output is a big cleaner and it has a few "features" you might like.
 

orangat

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: wonho84
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'm pretty sure they're all the same card or if not the differences are very small.
The Gamer is certainly the ZS with some games.
There might be slight differences in the Platinum line, but nothing major.

If you're planning on spending close to $100 though you might as well go for an X-Fi.

Fixed your rig link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30202

Do you mean you have Logitech z-2200 speakers? (not x-2200)

The performance in FPS over all these cards is going to be the same. Even the X-Fi is pretty much the same performance.

Yes I meant to say z-2200

hmm

Audigy 2 ZS goes cheaper it seems...
and X-Fi seems like its new line of cards...

what will be the differences? or will i find the answer from different thread?

You can search for X-Fi and you'll find a lot of threads.

Basically a standard A2 ZS would be a good idea for you I think.

If you're going for a performance increase, you'll get it from that and sound quality will be good.

Save the money for an upgrade later that will make a bigger difference (new videocard down the line or something).

If you want to spend more and don't need the features the drive bays provide, then an X-Fi makes more sense around the $100 mark.

Output is a big cleaner and it has a few "features" you might like.


Anands review showed that the Xfi had no performance increase over the the older A4 which is virtually identical to the A2ZS in games.

And I doubt anyone could tell the difference between an A2ZS/Xfi in a proper a/b comparison save for those with real HT setups or some real good quality headphones.

Some say the Xfi 'sounds' better but its the crystalizer coloring the output. I guess high fidelity is overrated for those folks.
 

frank84

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Mar 13, 2003
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hmm, so the conclusion is that..

save money, get Audigy 2 ZS,
if you want accesories, get platinum, or anyother model
or just buy plain audigy 2 ZS,

and it will still be much better than my on-board sound card.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
Originally posted by: orangat
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: wonho84
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I'm pretty sure they're all the same card or if not the differences are very small.
The Gamer is certainly the ZS with some games.
There might be slight differences in the Platinum line, but nothing major.

If you're planning on spending close to $100 though you might as well go for an X-Fi.

Fixed your rig link:
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30202

Do you mean you have Logitech z-2200 speakers? (not x-2200)

The performance in FPS over all these cards is going to be the same. Even the X-Fi is pretty much the same performance.

Yes I meant to say z-2200

hmm

Audigy 2 ZS goes cheaper it seems...
and X-Fi seems like its new line of cards...

what will be the differences? or will i find the answer from different thread?

You can search for X-Fi and you'll find a lot of threads.

Basically a standard A2 ZS would be a good idea for you I think.

If you're going for a performance increase, you'll get it from that and sound quality will be good.

Save the money for an upgrade later that will make a bigger difference (new videocard down the line or something).

If you want to spend more and don't need the features the drive bays provide, then an X-Fi makes more sense around the $100 mark.

Output is a big cleaner and it has a few "features" you might like.


Anands review showed that the Xfi had no performance increase over the the older A4 which is virtually identical to the A2ZS in games.

And I doubt anyone could tell the difference between an A2ZS/Xfi in a proper a/b comparison save for those with real HT setups or some real good quality headphones.

Some say the Xfi 'sounds' better but its the crystalizer coloring the output. I guess high fidelity is overrated for those folks.

Are you agreeing with me?

Get an A2 zs but if you spend more get an X-Fi instead of the higher end A2 cards?