SB Live! vs Audigy SE-which produces the better sound?

[sindows]

My roommate has an Audigy SE and I think it offers much better audio playback than my onboard solution(hooked up my own speakers) but its a little more than what I want to spend. I can buy the Live! for $20 locally and was wondering how it compared. Thanks for the responses :beer:

 

[corkyg]

The main transducers for sound quality are the speakers. An onboard sound output into top quality speakers will sound better (to most discerning ears) than the finest sound card through avg computer speakers.

In the final analysis, apart from laboratory tests, the judgment of sound quality is very subjective, and depends largely on the listeners own taste.

So, try theSB Live and see. If it is not better with your same speakers - return it.

BTW - consider hooking your roommate's speakers up to your on board system, and then compare what you hear.

 

[sindows]

I have a set of Logitech Z2300s so I don't think thats my bottleneck...
My roommate has some offbrand speakers so I wouldn't want to listen to his but the sound is noticeably better when I hook my speakers to his card. I was just wondering which sound card I listed above is the "better" one from a technical point of view....

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Not to burst your bubble but the Logitech Z-2300's are NOT anywhere near "good" or even "decent" quailty. If you are running those speakers the SB live card would be fine. Or even your onboard soundcard would suffice.

From a technical standpoint the Audigy SE's are better.