NForce Audio vs. Audigy 2

[Viper87227]

I have been running my computer on a GA-7S748-L, the onboard audio is a Realtek 5-Channel audio, adn I cant stand it. I have a 600W speaker system, and im a bit of a stickler for sound quality, so I got an Audigy 2, and is a nice card, exelletn quality. I am upgrading to a GA-7NNXP, which has an NForce 2 chipset. I have heard nothing but good about NForce 2 audio, but on newegg, it says the onboard is Realtek 6-channel audio...does this mean that this board doesnt use the standard Sandstorm audio that everyone raves about? How would this audio stand up agains the audigy 2 I have now (its its really good, ill sell the audigy 2, i coudl use the money)

 

[BD2003]

The nvidia chip handles the processing, the realtek chip is there just to output the actual audio. So its definintely soundstorm.

The audigy 2 is going to sound better for games, music and just about everything else compared to the soundstorm. The soundstorm is the best onboard audio you can get, better than most standalone cards, and while I hate creative with a passion, they are the status quo, and youre not going to be able to beat them for gaming. Soundstorm will be just mediocre for games, and itll be missing the special effects that you buy sounds cards for to begin with.

If youre not a gamer, youve got plenty of choices though.

 

[SickBeast]

Soundstorm isn't mediocre for gaming; it supports EAX 2.0 which is the same thing as the Audigy IIRC. The Audigy 2 supports EAX 3.0 which is it's only technical advantage over SoundStorm as far as games go. It will also have a better SNR, but this is irrelevant if you use the optical out on the SoundStorm. One could even consider the SoundStorm *more* capable than an Audigy 2; it can encode Dolby Digital 5.1 in realtime.

In all honesty, I sold my SB Live! 5.1 when I got my nForce2 motherboard and I don't miss the old card one bit. I find the nForce drivers and software much better than the Creative ones, and I don't feel as though I'm missing any features.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Yay! It's me again, hijacking a thread!

Which is better, a Sound Blaster Live!, or Analog Devices (ADI) 1980? Is the ADI 1980 even a hardware based sound system?

 

[bpt8056]

Not only EAX 3.0, but the new EAX 4.0 version as well. The 108db SNR cannot be beat especially when the majority don't have top-of-the-line sound system for their computer. I used to be a Soundstorm fan but the Audigy 2 proved to be the most deserving to have a place in my system. I still think the soundstorm is good in many ways, but the Audigy 2 is definitely better. The Audigy 2 is not considered a top choice in the price/performance ratio so if you already have the soundstorm then you don't really need to upgrade unless you want the best sound performance in your game or through your analog speakers.

 

[imported_jediknight]

Sound Blaster Live! vs. nForce 3 onboard sound?

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Sound Blaster Live! probably. The nForce 3 dosen't have Soundstorm, so it would probably be using a Realtek chip, which is really software based.

Does anyone know about the Live! versus Analog Devices 1980? I'm guessing the Live! is better, and the ADI 1980 is software based, but I don't know.

I wish Tom's or Anandtech would do regular features on sound cards and onboard sound. Game benchmarks (to figure out which cards use more CPU time), sound quality, and features would be great. This is really confusing, as there's virtually no info out there.

 

[BFG10K]

The Audigy will have better drivers for games.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

I'd rather not shell out the cash to buy a seperate card. Think about how much it saves you to go with onboard Soundstorm, which is nothing to scoff at anyhow. I probably wouldn't notice the difference between my Soundstorm and an expensive sound card.

You free up a PCI slot too.

EDIT: Bottom line IMO is that if you're spending big $$$ for a real top of the line rig get the Audigy, if you were on a budget like me stick with the onboard Sounstorm.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Soundstorm isn't mediocre for gaming; it supports EAX 2.0 which is the same thing as the Audigy IIRC. The Audigy 2 supports EAX 3.0 which is it's only technical advantage over SoundStorm as far as games go. It will also have a better SNR, but this is irrelevant if you use the optical out on the SoundStorm. One could even consider the SoundStorm *more* capable than an Audigy 2; it can encode Dolby Digital 5.1 in realtime.

In all honesty, I sold my SB Live! 5.1 when I got my nForce2 motherboard and I don't miss the old card one bit. I find the nForce drivers and software much better than the Creative ones, and I don't feel as though I'm missing any features.

Having both in my system, and having tested them side by side, I can tell you with absolutely certainty that the audigy's 3d audio quality is far superior to nvidias. snr is also a lot better.

And every card is going to handle eax differently unfortunately...but games are written with the audigy in mind.

I'd take a soundstorm over a live any day, and I'd LOVE to take it over the audigy, but it simply isnt as good for gaming. DD encoding is only going to be a factor if youre outputting to a receiver, which im sure 99% of us are not.

 

[Kenazo]

I had an original Audigy, and the soundstorm is no worse as far as I can tell. But, I'm sure the line has greatly improved w/ the A2ZS, etc.

 

[PliotronX]

One could even consider the SoundStorm *more* capable than an Audigy 2; it can encode Dolby Digital 5.1 in realtime.

Granted, it is capable of encoding via DICE, but I wouldn't use it for quality purposes. In order to keep the latency down (which is still noticeable to me BTW), a lowpass had to be used, so it's like encoding everything into glorious 6 channel 128Kbps MP3's Being stuck with analog, the Audigy 2 is far better especially when compared with a board that has poor shielding. The main attraction of the NF2 APU for me is its hardware support for D3D and OpenAL. Every other audio solution besides the Audigy utilizes Sensaura (software) support which Creative bought out BTW and could cripple the Via Envy cards in the consumer market at any time. Creative couldn't bully nVidia like they've done to others all these years, so I am anticipating it in the standalone market more than any video card Regarding EAX, the NF2 APU does support EAX2, but have you listened to it? It sucks just as much as any other EAX implementation pre-HD. Sometimes you hear sounds farther away clearly whereas objects right on top are barely heard, among other issues which I don't consider very 3D. Over at NFer's HQ, someone said nVidia was working hard on EAX support way back when it was bug-ridden, and that Creative had made their SDK confusing, and also that Creative doesn't even follow the spec they've set forth for other devs under EAX support so I'm thinking Creative threw the competition a curve ball. So far, they've gotten away with every monopolistic practice. EAX aside, the NF2 APU's 3D sound support is one of the best, very comparable with the Audigy series.

I do enjoy my A2ZS, and I would've recommended one all the way, but since that id Software blackmailing debacle, I don't care which way anyone goes. It sounds lame to get worked up over 2 or 5 percent of CPU utilization, but someone needs to teach Creative a lesson. The above is just my view.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Sorry to keep asking, but I really want to know...

ADI (Analog Devices) 1980 or a Sound Blaster Live! Is the ADI chip software based or hardware? Which has lower CPU utilization and better sound quality?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: PliotronX
EAX aside, the NF2 APU's 3D sound support is one of the best, very comparable with the Audigy series.

Are you saying that I should be using D3D as opposed to EAX w/ my SoundStorm? Does that even work in UT2004?

 

[clicknext]

Soundstorm is great. Try it before you consider an Audigy 2.

 

[Brian48]

I've had both. The Audigy2 is superior in almost every way. If it was the original Audigy or SBLive however, I would probably stick with Soundstorm though. It's good to free up a slot even if you're not using it at the moment.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: PliotronX
EAX aside, the NF2 APU's 3D sound support is one of the best, very comparable with the Audigy series.

Are you saying that I should be using D3D as opposed to EAX w/ my SoundStorm? Does that even work in UT2004?

Unfortunately, many new games that support EAX 3 dont support EAX 2 and below, a prime example being UT2004. So if youre using anything but an audigy in that game, setting on eax will do absolutely nothing. 3d audio with zero reverb or occlusions is all youre going to get.

 

[sel]

What about a choice between the Audigy LS SE or Sandstorm?

Audigy LS SE comparison chart (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigyLS/compare.asp)

I am building a new system and I am contemplating on the sound issue. Nforce2 board using Sandstorm or VIA Chipset Board with an Audigy LS SE.

I'd really like the Audigy 2 but I cannot afford it. I already bought the speakers. It will be a Creative T5400 5.1 (http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?prodid=5077)

My "to-be purchased" configuration is the ff:, please comment as you please.
My budget is around 1K USD more or less...

Athlon 2500++ - $84
Epox 8K9A7i - $46
Thermaltake Volcano 10 (Pure copper) - $14
512MB DDR PC333 - $78
Western Digital 80G HDD (8MB cache) - $75
GECUBE ATI Radeon 9600 PRO Encore -$110
Creative Audigy LS SE - $55
Samsung DVD ROM - $31
Creative T5400 Speakers - $100
AOC 15? LCD Monitor - $310
Giant 650VA UPS - $34
Logitech Optical Mouse - $15
Casing/Keyb/PSupply - $18

Total = $970

Thanks all in advance

 

[Oyeve]

Get an Audigy 2 ZS, it does dolby ES, DTS, its 7.1, eax 4, DVD-Audio the way DVD-Audio is meant to be played. Most stand alone DVD players dont do DVD-Audio discs right. Its a fantastic card.

 

[konakona]

i dont really do 3d gaming much so i cant comment on that. for music any audigy is probably one of the worst choices you could possibly make : it sounds below average due to low quality circuitry/dac and horrendous resampling algorithm, and costs too much. you could either do MUCH better for next to nothing or get something that totally outclasses it. and yes, music on computers can sound VERY good with proper gear (like emu-0404/1212M) and good source (FLAC/APE). now, does anyone really care about SNR when it comes to gaming? comparing specs are usually meaningless even for music, even worse than bragging about 3d mark scores.

but now that you say 108db SNR cant be beat... specs for stock 1212M just so i can prove you wrong mines prolly much better as its fully modded.

Type: balanced, low-noise, 2-pole low-pass differential filter
Level (software selectable):
- Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu maximum (balanced)
- Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV maximum (unbalanced)

Frequency Response: 0.0/-.35dB, 20Hz - 20kHz
THD+N (1kHz signal at -1dBFS): -105dB
SNR (1kHz signal at -1dBFS): 120dB, A-weighted
Dynamic Range: 120dB, A-weighted
Channel Crosstalk: < -120dB, 1kHz signal at -1dBFS

 

[golgotha]

Hi, i don't know much about sound cards. Perhaps, someone can clarify this for me.

I see "Audigy 2" mentioned down this entire thread, so I went to NewEgg to look for that card.
The problem is there are 5 cards called "Audigy 2" ranging in price from $72.49 to $206.00. I'm guessing, they are all the same basic card with options added at each price level.
My question is, Which card is recommended, bang for the buck? Let's say the system is a basic 5.1 e.g. Logitech Z-640 which is on sale cheap these days.
Audigy2 PCI sound card 72.49
Audigy2 ZS PCI sound card 87.99
Audigy2 ZS Gamer Limited Edition PCI sound card 111.00
Audigy2 ZS Platinum PCI sound card 166.00
Audigy2 ZS Platinum PRO PCI sound card 206.00

 

[Oyeve]

cant go wrong with these:


Audigy2 PCI sound card 72.49
Audigy2 ZS PCI sound card 87.99

They will do all you need them to do. The more expensive versions just have either mediocre games or breakout boxes that you can connect stuff to.

 

[neutralizer]

audigy wins. hands down. although the drivers are annoying. right now eax hates winamp and refuses to work with it.

 

[compfreak999]

audigy 2, im speaking from personal experience, i used to use the soundstrom on my a7n8x-E deluxe but now i upgraded to the audigy 2. the bass is a world of differences, the rest is somewhat the same, more options for your liking though. also the audigy 2 dosent use your cpu cuase it has its own apu. im using the creative megaworks 550D speakers. 500watts

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: compfreak999
audigy 2, im speaking from personal experience, i used to use the soundstrom on my a7n8x-E deluxe but now i upgraded to the audigy 2. the bass is a world of differences, the rest is somewhat the same, more options for your liking though. also the audigy 2 dosent use your cpu cuase it has its own apu. im using the creative megaworks 550D speakers. 500watts

You were using analog on your motherboard. There's a big difference when you use Soundstorm digital SPDIF out on your motherboard. Your Megaworks speakers don't support SPDIF. It only has analog connecter. So of course it's not going to sound that good if you use analog realtek.

Try hooking up Soundstorm via digital SPDIF cable to 5.1 receiver or speakers. Sounds really good and cpu usage is just as low or lower than Audigy2.

I've my HTPC hooked up using Soundstorm digital out to my cheap Kenwood receiver and cheap JBL speakers and it sounds really good in games, movies, and music.

Audigy2 is like $80. You can buy Abit NF7-S motherboard for about the same price and get digital Soundstorm for free.