Logitech Z-2300 Speakers and Sound Blaster Live - How much quality is my card costing me?

[Leros]

Up until recently, I have always had fairly cheap speakers. The only reason I bought the Sound Blaster Live was so I could have 7 audio channels as my old mobo only had 2 channels.

So, now I have these pretty nice speakers (at least for me). I'm already much happier with the quality. Would I notice a big difference if I bought a nice sound card?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

That depends on a few things... for one is the quality of the source you have. If you're listening to CDs for example, then a better soundcard could help you get the most out of them. If you're listening to low quality mp3s etc. then it might just help you hear more of the flaws.

I had an SB live a few years ago and I really didn't like it. I don't know how much things have improved with them.

I don't know if it would be a huge difference changing to a different card. If you're listening to good source material, your speakers are still going to be another weak point in the chain.

If you want to try out another card, the Chaintech AV710 is a nice one for 2.0/2.1 sets. Do you need 7.1 output still?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
That depends on a few things... for one is the quality of the source you have. If you're listening to CDs for example, then a better soundcard could help you get the most out of them. If you're listening to low quality mp3s etc. then it might just help you hear more of the flaws.

I had an SB live a few years ago and I really didn't like it. I don't know how much things have improved with them.

I don't know if it would be a huge difference changing to a different card. If you're listening to good source material, your speakers are still going to be another weak point in the chain.

If you want to try out another card, the Chaintech AV710 is a nice one for 2.0/2.1 sets. Do you need 7.1 output still?

Im gonna be listening to mostly mp3s. Most are encoded at 192kbps. Not so great probably.

I dont need 7.1 output anymore. And if I do my mobo and any new mobo I get will have intergrated sound.

 

[Ricemarine]

If you play with everything flat (EQ's, etc.), you will not notice a difference.

if you do use EQ's, you will notice.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
If you play with everything flat (EQ's, etc.), you will not notice a difference.

if you do use EQ's, you will notice.

In Winamp, I use the preset Full Bass and Full Treble setting (which is nearly identical to the Rock setting). It does make a big difference.

 

[Leros]

Well, i got an Audigy 2 ZS. Pretty good deal at $44 after rebate. I hope it sounds good.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: JToxic
Well, i got an Audigy 2 ZS. Pretty good deal at $44 after rebate. I hope it sounds good.

If you enable CMSS, you can crank your volume of WAV higher.
Plus more pretty options to enjoy...

I like using

EQ chamber for graphic EQ
EQ pop for Advanced settings under EAX
CMSS 1
and cranking the treble to 65%.

Might sound good to you.

 

[state 08]

How do I enable CMSS?

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: state 08
How do I enable CMSS?

its under EAX, and then go to CMSS.

 

[Leros]

Rice,

are you still running your Z-640s? I saw them in your rig profile.

How is the quality of those? I noticed a big jump in quality from my Z-640s to my Z-2300s.

 

[albumleaf]

z-2300's are mediocre speakers, as are most small satellite+subwoofer combos. Until you upgrade till something significantly better, I wouldn't recommend dropping money on a decent soundcard. I'd suggest something cheap by EMU or M-Audio

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: albumleaf
z-2300's are mediocre speakers, as are most small satellite+subwoofer combos. Until you upgrade till something significantly better, I wouldn't recommend dropping money on a decent soundcard. I'd suggest something cheap by EMU or M-Audio

We'll see. I already ordered the Audigy 2 ZS. I know I get much better sound/quality than with any other I have ever owned.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: albumleaf
z-2300's are mediocre speakers, as are most small satellite+subwoofer combos. Until you upgrade till something significantly better, I wouldn't recommend dropping money on a decent soundcard. I'd suggest something cheap by EMU or M-Audio

We'll see. I already ordered the Audigy 2 ZS. I know I get much better sound/quality than with any other I have ever owned.

I think your $44 A2 zs was a good idea.

 

[RedRhino]

where can I adjust my treble? I have the same card.

 

[RedRhino]

bump

 

[ElTorrente]

Well, if you think you HAVE to adjust the bass and treble in order for the music to sound good - then your components aren't very good to start with.

The EQ and bass and treble and all that stuff only serve to color the music and change it. You aren't hearing it as it was intended or recorded in the studio - instead you are compensating for a poor setup in order to make it sound good. The better quality of speakers, soundcard, amplifier, setup, you have means that you don't have to mess around with treble and bass controls. In the perfect audio world, you wouldn't adjust anything - you just play a song and it sounds exactly as it was recorded/mixed in the studio. Cranking bass and treble all the way up will make a good setup sound like crap, but can make a crappy setup sound a little "fuller" - but definetly not "accurate".

 

[calyco]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: albumleaf
z-2300's are mediocre speakers, as are most small satellite+subwoofer combos. Until you upgrade till something significantly better, I wouldn't recommend dropping money on a decent soundcard. I'd suggest something cheap by EMU or M-Audio

We'll see. I already ordered the Audigy 2 ZS. I know I get much better sound/quality than with any other I have ever owned.

I think your $44 A2 zs was a good idea.

Agreed, looks good for price/performance. Anything better than you would need to upgrade your speakers, so on.. and thats how the HT upgrade cycle begins

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: pack

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JToxic

Originally posted by: albumleaf
z-2300's are mediocre speakers, as are most small satellite+subwoofer combos. Until you upgrade till something significantly better, I wouldn't recommend dropping money on a decent soundcard. I'd suggest something cheap by EMU or M-Audio

We'll see. I already ordered the Audigy 2 ZS. I know I get much better sound/quality than with any other I have ever owned.

I think your $44 A2 zs was a good idea.

Agreed, looks good for price/performance. Anything better than you would need to upgrade your speakers, so on.. and thats how the HT upgrade cycle begins

Indeed. I'm on my receiver/amp being the weak point now

RedRhino, there should be an equalizer somewhere in your Audigy Control panel.

 

[RedRhino]

there is one, but where's the treble?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: RedRhino
there is one, but where's the treble?

The treble is the higher numbered ones for Hz rating.

Mess around with the different sliders. You should be able to figure it out.

There may also be presets for "Full bass and treble", "Rock", "Jazz", etc.

I've never owned an A2 though so things might not be like I'm describing.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Nice deal on the Audigy 2 ZS

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: JToxic
Rice,

are you still running your Z-640s? I saw them in your rig profile.

How is the quality of those? I noticed a big jump in quality from my Z-640s to my Z-2300s.

Z-640's quality is crap. Period. Its like hearing $20 headphones IMO.


If you have updated to EAX 4.0 on creative labs website along with the drivers, you should have a slider to change the bass and treble under volume control.

 

[RedRhino]

I have the SB Live 24 bit version and installed the software from the cd, then updated them from the web... it says EAX Advanced HD, and I don't see/find treble bass.

 

[Leros]

Got the ZS, everything sounds much better. MUCH BETTER.