Replacement for Audigy 2 ZS?

[jgbishop]

I have an aging Audigy 2 ZS sound card. For a few months now, I get the occasional audio distortion in Windows 7 x64 (Home Edition). I've seen this distortion occur in both games and music players (and perhaps once even on the Windows desktop). As such, I'd like to replace it if possible.

What is recommended as a replacement these days? I'm open to any brand; I'd mostly like something that's stable. I don't need any fancy bells or whistles.

 

[postmortemIA]

first you can try with onboard card, assuming that you have so called "onboard hd audio". also this could be win 7 driver issue.

if you want cheap and decent dedicated cards, look at cheap asus xonar cards. i personally have audigy 2 on win 7 without problem, and x-fi on win 7 without problem either.

 

[Bryf50]

Use this guys drivers instead and see if it helps.
http://forums.creative.com/t5/Sound-Blaster/SB-Audigy-Series-Support-Pack-3-8-04-19-2010/m-p/554398

 

[Whisper2]

I replaced a defective Creative X-fi Gamer (hardware, not driver) a couple of weeks ago with an Xonar DG and am completely satisfied with it. It is really a good value now because Asus is offering a $10 rebate through the end of February. The normal price is only $30, so the net will be $20 -$25 depending upon shipping charges. It is available at most of the normal sources.

"The Tech Report" reviewed the card in November and liked it well enough to award it "Editor's choice". http://techreport.com/articles.x/19997/1

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I just bought an Asus Xonar Essence STX off of amazon with all my stacked up gift cards. Just put it in about 5 minutes ago, replacing my old XtremeMusic X-Fi and all I have to say is wow.

My Sennheiser PC350s sound amazing with the built in headphone amp. Its pretty rare when I can hear a night and day difference when it comes to sound. Drivers aren't bloated like Creatives and they actually update them!