Aureal SQ2500 or Nforce audio?

[elkinm]

I have a MSI K7N2-L and I have been using the on board audio to get it running with maximum compatability. I recently plugged my old SQ2500 back in for a little comparison.

I've been holding on to the SQ2500 for so long as it is the best sound I have heard so far. It sounds much better then a Live or most sound cards, but I have not heard an Audigy/2 or any realy new or expensive cards out there either.

The SQ2500 has slightly quiter output so it is harder to compare to the nForce but I think it does sound a little crisper, but I am not certain dew to the volume so I was wondering how these two should compare quality whise.

I also tried ZD Audio Winbench 99 and strangely in every test the CPU utilization on the nforce was about twice that of the SQ2500. Is this normal? As I though the SQ2500 was supposed to have SB Live class performance while the nForce was souposed to have Audigy class performance which is better then a Live?

Do these results sound right or could there be something wrong with either the nForce of my SQ2500? And are there any limitations to either sound chip that might effect my decission on which one to use.

Thanks
elkinm

 

[BenSkywalker]

The SQ2500 has slightly quiter output so it is harder to compare to the nForce but I think it does sound a little crisper, but I am not certain dew to the volume so I was wondering how these two should compare quality whise.

I also tried ZD Audio Winbench 99 and strangely in every test the CPU utilization on the nforce was about twice that of the SQ2500. Is this normal? As I though the SQ2500 was supposed to have SB Live class performance while the nForce was souposed to have Audigy class performance which is better then a Live?

The K7N2-L doesn't have the full nVidia SoundStorm setup, it only utilizes a cheap 2 channel audio solution that has some of the nForce audio codecs. I have the same mobo and was lead to believe that it was a full SS sound solution by reviews also, after discovering the truth of the matter I went out and bought another sound card. The SQ2500 is a Vortex2 sound board isn't it? If it runs properly on your OS(I could never get mine working properly under Win2K) I would stick with it without a doubt. Against the full SoundStorm solution it would be a different story, but the K7N2-L's audio solution leaves more then a little to be desired.

 

[sandorski]

Yup, I have a k7n2-l too. For kicks I removed my Audigy and tried the Onboard sound, it sucks. It's supposed to have 5.1 sound, but I tried numerous times to get it to work.

I used to have a SQ2500 as well, great card. If you can, like Ben said, get it to work in your OS, use it. Most newer cards do have better sound(Audigy,/2, Philips AE, Hercules, etc) but whether you would notice a difference would be determined by your speakers.

 

[chilled]

The 5.1 channel sound on my K7N2-L reproduces just fine on all the speakers. Actually, I think it is a little better than my SB Live! 1024.

 

[Schadenfroh]

that aureal card is a great card, i used to have one. but i reccommend the nforce audio becuase it has drivers. the aureal ones have not been updated becuase a3d got beaten, stoned, and sold to creative

 

[BenSkywalker]

The 5.1 channel sound on my K7N2-L reproduces just fine on all the speakers.

You can get sound to all your speakers, you just won't be getting the sound that you will out of SoundStorm capable board with the K7N2-L. It is missing the DD encoding, A3D support, EAX support and pretty much every other feature that makes the nForce audio worth having.

 

[elkinm]

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like I will be still using the SQ2500.

The only thing is how does the CPU utilization sound. Is it normal for an nForce to have higher ussage then a SQ2500 or is this someting also assoiciated with lack of full SoundStorm support.

Thanks again
elkinm

 

[bmg]

Anyone know if WinXP drivers are available anywhere for the SQ2500? I've still got a couple of them which I loved, but haven't used them for a couple of years.

 

[elkinm]

XP drivers are included with XP. Updated A3D drivers are available wherever vortex 2 drivers can be found. But use the default drivers as the new drivers on window update are no good.

 

[chilled]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker

The 5.1 channel sound on my K7N2-L reproduces just fine on all the speakers.

You can get sound to all your speakers, you just won't be getting the sound that you will out of SoundStorm capable board with the K7N2-L. It is missing the DD encoding, A3D support, EAX support and pretty much every other feature that makes the nForce audio worth having.

Yes I agree. I was just saying that the board does indeed offer 5.1 channel sound and not regular 2 channel sound. But somehow, Grand Prix 4 detects EAX support from the ALC650 output audio chip, haven't tried any other games.....It does not have DD encoding for sure tho.