Creative Titanium HD $83 BestBuy Instore Only....

[gevorg]

You're still missing the point. Nobody cares what you think, especially since you haven't even used the product, and how hot this deal is has no scale based on what you think. The OP posted this for people who are interested in this product, which obviously does not include you, so you have no place here. All you're doing is thread crapping. For interested people, depending on the price in your location, this is an extremely hot deal. There is no sound card in the $50 range anywhere close to this one for people who aren't deaf, and have the supporting audio hardware to enjoy it.

Who are you to tell what I can post here? Go fly a kite! You can defend your ripped-off purchase all you want, but you literally have no idea what a good sound card sounds like. Not only at $83, but even at $50 there are better sound cards you can get than that Creative crap. Do your own research.

 

[blackened23]

! You can defend your ripped-off purchase all you want, but you literally have no idea what a good sound card sounds like.

I think you're the one who has no idea what a good sound card sounds like. You're satisfied with integrated sound. We get it. However, your opinion on the best pci-e soundcards not being better than the realtek chip used on every motherboard is wrong. I'm almost tempted to record the difference on my home PC theater setup to prove it, probably not worth the effort - the difference is huge if you have the means - and by that I mean good surround speakers.

Is the average user ok with onboard sound? Sure. If you're using 30$ headphones will you notice a difference? Maybe not. The average user is also probably fine with the garbage IGP on the sandy bridge too. Whatever.

Anyway, this thread was devoted to a deal on a card that is on sale for a 140$ discount over the best prices you can find online. I have no idea why you have to preach to everyone about how you hate soundcards.....its a good deal and leave it at that.

 

[Soundmanred]

Uncompressed audio via HDMI to a good reciever/amp FTW.
I guess its a good deal if you have an older PC or computer speakers/reciever without HDMI audio capability.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Who are you to tell what I can post here? Go fly a kite! You can defend your ripped-off purchase all you want, but you literally have no idea what a good sound card sounds like. Not only at $83, but even at $50 there are better sound cards you can get than that Creative crap. Do your own research.

we get it, you are terrible at video games and feel the need to vent your frustration here, move along pls

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Uncompressed audio via HDMI to a good reciever/amp FTW.
I guess its a good deal if you have an older PC or computer speakers/reciever without HDMI audio capability.

Yeah I do the same with my HTPC, however my gaming rig and my second system both are using PC speakers or headphones. If I want high quality I play through HTPC. If I want to play games I do it on my gaming rig.

 

[gevorg]

I think you're the one who has no idea what a good sound card sounds like. You're satisfied with integrated sound. We get it. However, your opinion on the best pci-e soundcards not being better than the realtek chip used on every motherboard is wrong. I'm almost tempted to record the difference on my home PC theater setup to prove it, probably not worth the effort - the difference is huge if you have the means - and by that I mean good surround speakers.

Is the average user ok with onboard sound? Sure. If you're using 30$ headphones will you notice a difference? Maybe not. The average user is also probably fine with the garbage IGP on the sandy bridge too. Whatever.

If you would have decent reading comprehension you would see that I never said that integrated sound is better than sound cards. Its just once again, Creative sound cards is not where you go for high sound quality, even when its Creative Titanium HD for $83. For example, TASCAM US122MKII is a much superior option ($109 shipped on Amazon).

Uncompressed audio via HDMI to a good reciever/amp FTW.

Exactly! This is what I personally use, digital out to my home theater for HT/gaming, and dedicated DAC/headamp for music.

we get it, you are terrible at video games and feel the need to vent your frustration here, move along pls

Nope, you don't get it.

 

[qliveur]

I have a soundcard for the sole reason that I run my PC through a receiver and want DDL and DTS Connect.

This is the only reason I bought my X-Fi Titanium, which I got for $47AR a couple of years ago. It can take a game's PCM audio, encode it to either DTS or Dolby Digital and stream it to a receiver via optical cable, so you can game in 5.1 through a digital receiver. Regular onboard can't do that.

Everyone should also take note that the Titanium HD only has 2-channel analog output instead of 7.1 like the regular Titanium.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Nope, you don't get it.

Nope, you don't get it.

 

[toyota]

This is the only reason I bought my X-Fi Titanium, which I got for $47AR a couple of years ago. It can take a game's PCM audio, encode it to either DTS or Dolby Digital and stream it to a receiver via optical cable, so you can game in 5.1 through a digital receiver. Regular onboard can't do that.

Everyone should also take note that the Titanium HD only has 2-channel analog output instead of 7.1 like the regular Titanium.

I bought the X-Fi Titanium and am enjoying the hell out my games now with just the headphones like I normally use.

the BB I got this card at did not have the HD but the one 20 miles from here did so I went ahead got one of those too. the regular Titanium meets my needs but I think I will throw the HD in there tomorrow just too see if its the same or better gaming wise. as long as it matches the regular Titanium then I guess it makes more sense to use the HD since its a better card for less money.

it seems odd that you can just plug some regular house stereo speakers right into the card. of course I will likely stick to headphones.

btw does that EMI shield on the HD do anything since it looks to be plastic?

 

[bunnyfubbles]

The Ti HD should be a heckuva lot better for headphones, particularly if you have a higher fidelity set of cans and not the cheapest "gamer" headset

I've also read that the EMI shield does work.

In the next few days I'll swap out my Auzentech X-Fi Forte which does suffer from some EMI if you listen for it at loud volume levels during quiet on higher end pair of headphones. I've heard from one user who reported improvement in that regard when moving from the Forte to the Ti HD

 

[toyota]

ok good to know. if the HD was not cheaper then I would just keep the regular Titanium. its crazy not to keep the cheaper and better card though. the only place I could install it was right above my gpu so having the EMI shield will help ease my worries too.

 

[Craig234]

I wonder why the HD version is a downgrade on 2 channel vs. 7.1. Does that make the regular version better for gamers?

The regular version is MSRP $99.99, priced at $69.99; HD MSRP $179.99 priced at $47.99, at my best buy currently. I grabbed 2, if for no other reason that missing out on the touchpads

 

[shingletingle]

I wonder why the HD version is a downgrade on 2 channel vs. 7.1. Does that make the regular version better for gamers?

The regular version is MSRP $99.99, priced at $69.99; HD MSRP $179.99 priced at $47.99, at my best buy currently. I grabbed 2, if for no other reason that missing out on the touchpads

Because it is aimed at people who use headsets for gaming.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I wonder why the HD version is a downgrade on 2 channel vs. 7.1. Does that make the regular version better for gamers?

The regular version is MSRP $99.99, priced at $69.99; HD MSRP $179.99 priced at $47.99, at my best buy currently. I grabbed 2, if for no other reason that missing out on the touchpads

regular version is only better if you're using a 5.1 or 7.1 set of analog computer speakers, otherwise the Ti HD is better in every way

 

[qliveur]

Yeah, this. I currently have my plain-Jane Titanium hooked to two 2-channel analog amps from the 80s, giving me improvised 4.0 surround that sounds great.

I bought the X-Fi Titanium and am enjoying the hell out my games now with just the headphones like I normally use.

As a headphone user, you'll benefit from the HD, especially with a good set of headphones. I concur that the surround effect that even my base Titanium gives to regular headphones in games is as great as you describe.

The Ti HD should be a heckuva lot better for headphones, particularly if you have a higher fidelity set of cans and not the cheapest "gamer" headset

Agreed. The other setup that would benefit from the HD is a high-quality 2-channel analog amp.

Of course, the HD can also encode PCM audio to either DTS or Dolby Digital and stream it to a digital receiver like any other X-Fi can.

 

[hansmuff]

TASCAM US122MKII is a much superior option ($109 shipped on Amazon).

Are you really that stupid?

 

[finbarqs]

still on my TiHD... swapped around a bit, but mostly stuck with creative stuff. Audigy ZS vs. X-Fi Ti has a difference. But once you get use to the difference, you don't notice it anymore.

 

[toyota]

I am so glad there was this sale. I was just not happy with how games were sounding with onboard yet the sound cards I wanted were just to pricey. really I cant believe I put up with onboard for 3 months in this new pc.

I have fired up a few games with the new card and was just smiling the whole time when shooting and blowing up stuff. holy crap the tommy gun in Mafia 2 sounds fantastic again just like on my old comp with xtremegamer card. lol, its the equivalent of going from Llano graphics to a discreet high end video card.

 

[Craig234]

I haven't bothered to set up speakers again on the current PC yet. I have a few choices:

Klipsch 5.1 broke like they do for so many, that 'fried power supply' thing I think, would need to find out how to get that fixed; Audiophile 2.1 wood speakers; or some nice new ones.

I also should have the Audioengine 5 speakers available if my insurance replaces them from a burglary.

In the meantime, my headphones aren't 'audiophile', but I use the nice 'Plantronics GamePro 1' set; I also could use the World of Warcraft headphones or Creative 'Gaming Headset MK II'.

Of course none of this would be as nice as getting an HTPC going.

 

[finbarqs]

Elliotronics fixed mine... just ship that one board to him, and he'll fix it/upgrade it at the same time!

http://elliot-tronics.com/

 

[mnewsham]

ITT: Placebo effect.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I may have to see if the local BB have them for the $47 price.
Nevermind, all local stores show no stock.

 

[modestninja]

I checked a local store that had one in stock and it was $117. I still can't decide if it would be a worthwhile upgrade for $54 or if I'd be better off getting another headphone amp for my gaming PC (probably this one since Creative has never been that good for sound quality).

 

[Pariah]

I may have to see if the local BB have them for the $47 price.
Nevermind, all local stores show no stock.

I wouldn't take that as fact. The store I got mine from had two in stock but said none on their website.

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Had a cheaper sound card but went ahead and got this one yesterday my Best Buy (SLO) had 3 for $47 so I went ahead and picked up one.

The only issue I'm having is during the speaker test my rear surround comes out of the front speakers but when actually using the card it all sounds fine. The only minor annoyance is having to enable/disable DDL/DTS connect every time I want to play a game but it's not a huge issue.

I have been replaying Doom 3 lately and I'm not sure if it's just having EAX enabled but it sounds noticeably better than the card I came from.