Next Creative Labs Sound Card?

[imported_boe]

Hello,

I'm about to build a new system and I've typcially put in Creative Labs sound cards and I've been happy. I have the X-FI now with no issues but I figured I'd go PCI Express on my next system however as far as I know there current PCIE card isn't really a top of the line card. Anyone know if they have a new flagship coming out soon?

Thanks

 

[potato28]

We haven't had any official statements from them saying that a new card is coming out in the next few months, so I think it's safe to say that they are doing R&D on a new one.

 

[imported_boe]

Thanks

 

[Modelworks]

I don't know that there is a whole lot of room for growth in sound cards.
SNR is already more than high enough for 95% of the people.
Processing power for game sounds is changing to be host cpu mixed.
You already have optical and digital outs, hdmi is also available.

Not sure of much more than can be added.

 

[TC91]

well, theres news of an "X-FI 2" coming out, there was stuff on the windows hardware compatibility list or something regarding the X-FI 2.

 

[Sheninat0r]

X-Fi 2? They should call it the Sound BlastAudigy Z-Fi 9000 Ultra.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: TC91
well, theres news of an "X-FI 2" coming out, there was stuff on the windows hardware compatibility list or something regarding the X-FI 2.

It's just going to be the X-Fi with drivers that work in Vista.

 

[TC91]

Originally posted by: potato28

Originally posted by: TC91
well, theres news of an "X-FI 2" coming out, there was stuff on the windows hardware compatibility list or something regarding the X-FI 2.

It's just going to be the X-Fi with drivers that work in Vista.

i would think they might include maybe slightly better dac's (slightly higher snr), they ve done that with every lineup update (or rebadge) i believe.

 

[error8]

I would just buy another sound card like something from the Asus Xonar line. I never liked Creative with their cra* drivers. Good sound cards, but crippled with bad drivers.

 

[corkyg]

Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

I have to agree,my onboard sound on my laptop sounds pretty good,as to Creative well their customer support is terrible and they have lost a lot of customers with their don't give damn attitude,I for one will no longer be buying any of their new/future soundcards.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

I guess it really depends with what you use the on-board sound. If you use a cheap pair of speakers, I don't think there will be any difference in sound quality between a high end sound card and the motherboard sound. But if you have an expensive 5.1 or 7.1 system, the difference should be quite big.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: corkyg
Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

I guess it really depends with what you use the on-board sound. If you use a cheap pair of speakers, I don't think there will be any difference in sound quality between a high end sound card and the motherboard sound. But if you have an expensive 5.1 or 7.1 system, the difference should be quite big.

If your using an expensive 5.1 + system you should be connecting it with optical or coax, so its not going to matter what the dac's are on the sound card. Cheap will sound just as good .

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: corkyg
Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

I guess it really depends with what you use the on-board sound. If you use a cheap pair of speakers, I don't think there will be any difference in sound quality between a high end sound card and the motherboard sound. But if you have an expensive 5.1 or 7.1 system, the difference should be quite big.

If your using an expensive 5.1 + system you should be connecting it with optical or coax, so its not going to matter what the dac's are on the sound card. Cheap will sound just as good .

Only if your card supports DD/DTS real-time encoding. Otherwise you're just getting PCM stereo over s/pdif for non-multichannel encoded sources. For Creative cards you still need to use the analog outputs for the best sound quality in which case the DACs and Opamps (both of which are integrated/software and extremely poor with onboard) are extremely important for both expensive and cheaper sound systems.

Anyways, to answer the OP, features I'd like to see on the next Creative sound card:

1) PCI-e - I've read of latency issues with the X-Fi chip and PCI-e being a problem, but this would resolve much of the residual IRQ conflicts that still plague modern PCs. Hopefully they can work out any remaining problems and offer a high-end PCI-e variant.
2) DD/DTS real-time encoding - They could just produce OEM versions of Auzen's X-Fi here. Creative still writes Auzen's driver so it wouldn't be much transition other than engineering. I'd also like to see dedicated optical and/or coax output instead of flexijack or need for a bay drive.
3) HDMI - whether its some cross-over cable to the video card or an input to accept video from the video card....I'd like to see some fully-integrated HDMI solution and not just the s/pdif cable inputs to the video card. One day I'd like to be able to have the full uncompressed bitstream over HDMI or even 8 channel LPCM over HDMI.
4) Front panel HDA jumpers - the half-height XtremeGamer is the only one in the current X-Fi line-up that offers this. At the very least it would offer an output for Mic/Headset which would free-up the flexijack and also make headset connections more accessible.

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: boe
Hello,

I'm about to build a new system and I've typcially put in Creative Labs sound cards and I've been happy. I have the X-FI now with no issues but I figured I'd go PCI Express on my next system however as far as I know there current PCIE card isn't really a top of the line card. Anyone know if they have a new flagship coming out soon?

Thanks

Dude, I don't mean to piss in ur pool but.....

I have an X-FI card, but have you heard about what's been going on with
Creative lately? I wouldn't give them another dime, they don't need it it's like
just giving away money to them.

But if you are aware of all of that and still want one, no problem.

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: corkyg
Keep in mind also that the newer on-board audio capabilities are getting pretty good on many quality mobos. A separate sound card may no longer be needed.

I guess it really depends with what you use the on-board sound. If you use a cheap pair of speakers, I don't think there will be any difference in sound quality between a high end sound card and the motherboard sound. But if you have an expensive 5.1 or 7.1 system, the difference should be quite big.

If your using an expensive 5.1 + system you should be connecting it with optical or coax, so its not going to matter what the dac's are on the sound card. Cheap will sound just as good .

no need to use digital connection for analog speakers...