Audio question (sound blaster 2)

[imported_Brackus3]

Hey Everyone,

I did alot of research for xmas and decided I wanted to ask for a Sound Blaster, Audigy 2 ZS sound card, it seemed it had the best combination of high quality sound, and I was considering getting the pro or gamer edition to get the front panel insert.

My mom ended up buying the audigy 2 "value".

It isnt that much different but, it doesnt have the pc to pc gaming with firewire, it also doesnt have thx certification or thx setup console, or the DTS-ES 6.1 playback...

I dont realy know that much about sound, I just have lots of music, and I just got a Panasonic Stereo receiver (which i would also LOVE to hear feedback on what you think of that) SA-HE75.

I plan to just hook up some speakers, and maybe a sub and just rock out some music from either a stereo, or my computer, or an ipod or whatnot...

Basically, should I just stick with teh value or go for the ZS model??? and what about that receiver, is it good enough for what I want to do with it or no???


***you can find the comparison charts for the soundblaster cards here: http://www.soundblaster.com/products/pr...=1&subcategory=204&product=10653&nav=3

Thanks,

Dustin

 

[pukemon]

I have the ZS and I don't think it really has much over the Value. Then again, there was no "value" edition when I bought mine (when it first came out)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

THX isn't a big deal.

I'm not really familiar with that Panasonic receiver, but I looked up the manual and it does have 5.1 analog input, so that's the connection you'd be best off using from your A2 if you're going to do gaming.

If you're going to be doing mostly music and movies though, a Chaintech AV-710 would probably be a better card for you than the A2 and you could easily hook up digitally.

The speakers you choose are probably going to make the biggest difference in your system compared to your receiver or soundcard choice. Make sure you do some real demo tests of different options before you decide on something.

If you're doing mainly music, a 2.0 or 2.1 setup would be your best bet. The bulk of your audio budget should go into your front two speakers. With a $200-ish receiver and a $50-ish soundcard, spending at least that much on the front two speakers would give a good balance in spending.

A good budget sub would be the Dayton models from partsexpress. I'm not sure if they're still on sale, but the 10" was going for $99/shipped and the 12" for $120/shipped. Add a decent pair of bookshelf speakers and you could have a nice 2.1 system going.

There are a lot of options in the $200-$300 pair bookshelf speakers.

 

[imported_Brackus3]

I used to have some old broken down (and slightly off key) reciever I found in the basement of my house when i bought it a year ago...

I used that with my two 5foot tall speakers (a little old but they pound 🙂 and my two "bookcase" speakers that came with my 5 year old panasonic 5cd changer system... it pounded then, but I blew my reciever at a keg party...

Either way, im pretty sure although my speakers wont be the clearest, they will be about the biggest ill own for years, and for a sub ill probably just hook up a 2x10 inch sub box (intended for cars) I bought for my bro for about $40 last xmas.... (good idea?? bad???)

I am getting different vibes around about the ZS vs the value... I dont truly understand thx i guess... i googled it but can anyone put it in laymans terms for me???

Also, this reciever I plan on using for years to come, putting my xbox 360 (when i get one NEXT year 😉 thru it... and basically everything...

Either way,

Any input any of you audio buffs can advise me of would be great...

Dustin

P.S. I am not new to the forums... Ive had many names (Brackus, Brackus2 etc...) but I always lose the password, and the email its associated with, and Anand is not the best by any means of getting access to it back...