Santa Cruz sound card still #1 ?...

[VBboy]

I'm building a new PC (no specs yet

Is Santa Cruz still considered the #1 sound card in terms of sound quality and compatibility (Windows 98/XP)? I don't need a break-out box, just high sound quality and 5.1 support.

Any comments or end-user experiences? Thanks in advance.

 

[ojai00]

I hope so! I bought the Santa Cruz a few months back because it was viewed as one of the top sound cards available. I have it installed under Windows XP. Just download the new drivers from Voyetra's web site. I'm using it with just 2 speakers and a subwoofer, and the sound is still good. Hope this is what you're looking for.

 

[Doomguy]

From what i've read the Santa Cruz has better sound quality. Why go with the Audigy when you can get a better card for less?

 

[mschell]

The Audigy can output sound at a much higher bitrate than other consumer soundcards but you will most likly not be able to hear the difference except on a high end sound system. But like the 'Live' before it, the software/drivers are an incredably bloted mess, the Santa Cruz drivers are much better in that respect. The versa jack is also a very cool feature.

 

[erikiksaz]

higher bitrate? you mean their trick ass 24bit encoding crud, or whatever it's called? so far most people can't get it to work, cus it's not true 24 bit. if you want a sound card that "can output sound at a much higher bitrate than other consumer soundcards," spend your case on the Audiophile 24/96, not the audigy. the audigy is just another average consumer soundcard.

 

[AA0]

thats true, the Audigy stats make it look impressive, but its not much better than the Live!. Very dissappointing with all the money and resources creative has.

Acoustic Edge, Santa Cruz, and the Game Theater are all better from reviews I've seen.

 

[MWink]

Yes it is still #1 IMO.

 

[VBboy]

Thanks, guys!

I guess I will grab one.

P.S. I was hoping they would go down in price, but no - still the same $65 on NewEgg.com as 4 months ago..

 

[dszd0g]

The 3D soundSurger initial review of the Audigy seems say that they believe it is better than the Santa Cruz for almost everything. The only thing that they seem to believe the Santa Cruz is better at is A3D.

FiringSquad also compares it to the GTXP and a Live. "Again, the Audigy exhibited less noise than the other two, with the GTXP following close behind." They agree that the area that the Audigy can be beat is A3D: " When using Aureal A3D-based cards , 3D positioning appeared to be more accurately placed in space, and sound more convincing than on the Audigy." The Audigy definitely wins in the benchmarks.
"For all that it's worth, Creative's Audigy is the best audio solution we've seen to date."

Extremetech said the following "Audigy enters the arena against Hercules' Fortissimo 2 and GameTheater XP, Philip's Acoustic Edge, and Turtle Beach's Santa Cruz. Of cards currently on the market, Audigy now becomes the one to beat, although at the low-end of the market, Hercules' Fortissimo 2 is a great deal at 60 bucks (see our review here ). Creative has set most of the audio standards over the years for consumer PC audio, and Audigy is the latest chapter in this story."

The GTXP is definitely a lot cheaper than the Audigy Platinum with relatively little advantage in performance or features. I guess it depends on whether the features are worth it to you. The only reason I could see to go with the SC over the Audigy is if A3D is everything to you.

I've read a dozen reviews or so now, and I've only read one that said to go with the GTXP over the Audigy because the price difference was not worth it, but that the Audigy was better.

If you haven't bought it yet, I would read some reviews before you buy it. Does anyone have a conflicting review?

 

[Shuelessjo]

It is all really personal preference, whatever makes you happy. What makes me happy is hearing my Audigy sound card output to my DTT2500 5.1 Digital speakers. Great sound for DVDs and excellent/crisp 4-point 3D surround sound for games. In MY opinion the SB Audigy is the best audio solution out there, to others here on the board, they go with the TB Santa Cruz.


Joseph

 

[SonicFlux]

Santa Cruz has excellent winXP drivers. Too bad creative labs doesn't...

oh, and the Versajack is a great feature!

 

[MasterHoss]

I never condsidered the Santa Cruz #1. In my opinion, I think we went from the Live! to AcousticEdge to Audigy. The Santa Cruz by no means sucks--just never leaped out over the other cards...the only real cards that did any kind of "leap" would be the Acoustic Edge (with it's QMSS) and the Audigy (with its 24bit 96db decoder).

 

[grifterspawn]

Oh man dszd0g, do you do something with english or journalism...cause that post if pretty reminicent of doing crappy sum ups of books...essays, with comparison and contrast.

 

[nortexoid]

for all intents and purposes, the card is number one, for price/performance ratio...

if u want the absolute best, creative doesn't have that either...but if u want something, and for the most party unnoticeably, better than the SC, the audigy would work...so would a slew of other cards costing around the same - i.e. the maya 7.1 channel w/ optical & coax digital out...toms has a review...check it out.

i personally would stay away from the audigy because i dont' believe it offers anything over competing products, unless integrated firewire is a must...which i doubt...the only compelling feature, assuming u wanted something allegedly better than the GTXP, is the breakout box...other cards in the same or higher quality range that come w/ breakout boxes cost a relative fortune for ave. consumer use.

and honestly, the versack is pretty cool...leave my headphones always plugged in without sound being blasted through them cuz u select which outputs sound is output to (unlike some cards which simply output sound to every channel in 4/5.1 configurations)...