SB X-Gamer Live vs. Hercules Game Theater XP

[VBboy]

I know some people think that the Sound Blaster Live 5.1 X-Gamer is better than the Hercules Game Theater XP, and that some people think otherwise. I am looking for reviews that compare these two Sound Cards and explain which one is better and why.

Please post any links you have. Thanks!

I will be using the card for massive gaming as well as MP3 and DVD listening.

 

[GremlinHater]

SB was out before GTXP, all you have to do is search for GTXP Review and they will almost always mention how it is a contender to SB and then compare as it's obvious Hercules was out for SB blood,

 

[VBboy]

GremlinHater,

I know, but all that such a review would usually say is "it compares favorably to SB X-Gamer 5.1" or "it compares well to SB 5.1 Platinum".

Wtf is "well"?!

 

[GremlinHater]

In other words, it's competitive in performance, features, etc... It could swing either way. I think with two so closely matched products it's up to the consumer to figure out what s/he wants. Personally, i got a Hercules GTXP because I've heard of problems with SB in some chipsets and I think everyone I've run into has said that the GTXP is good, no1 yet has tromped on them, however on the other hand, SB has gotten mixed reviews.

 

[VBboy]

.. How can there be problems with Sound Blaster? Those folks practically made the computer sound industry what it is today

 

[GremlinHater]

Something about the VIA chipsets that showed gremlins.

 

[Sugadaddy]

The Live cards is 4-year old technology, while the GTXP (and Santa Cruz) are only a few month old. Also, the Live drivers are never updated. I upgraded to a GTXP because of the crackling/popping sounds with MP3s in Win2K. It worked fine in win98se, but I really didn't feel like going back to that crap OS...

 

[VBboy]

If someone is a former owner of the SB 5.1 Platinum (or similar), would you say that the Hercules Gamer XP sounds better?

I don't mean "because of its boosted equalizer sound", I mean in terms of "raw", unadjusted sound - in GAMES and MP3.

 

[Venomous]

Herc GTXP smacks the SB Live 5.1 around like Ike Turner did to Tina.

 

[swanky]

Hercules is a better version of the SB that actually works.

 

[randomlinh]

unfortunately, i don't think he's getting the answer he wants. But as for full fled reviews, I don't think I have come across any that specifically have the two cards duke it out. I know the Firingsquad review gives some numbers on performance.. but other than that, gotta go on user opinion.

Unfortunately, with sound, that's exactly teh problem, everyone has a different opinion on what might sound good. My suggestion is buy it from best buy and try it out. Their return policy is pretty good IMO, its just a matter of picking the right time to go return it so you don't have to wait in line.

 

[arod]

I have a Hercules Game Theatre XP, i love it. I upgraded from a SB Live! value

 

[MrBond]

Check the manufacture's web sites for reviews. They usually link them. I know the TB Santa Cruz was given an Editors Choice Award by PC Gamer, and lauded as one of the best cards you could get. Finding a review which compares the two might be hard, as the Live is old tech (as someone stated).

Now if AnandTech would only post a sound card round up....

 

[Remedy]

The SC and the GTXP both use the same Cirrus logic S fushion chipset. So i don't understand one of the statments about the GTXP sounding better than the SC itself. The SC, GTXP and i also beleive now the ForTissmo 2 from Hercules are now using the same features.

The GTXP has the USB and RCA connectivity on the back forcing the cost up while the Fortissmo and SC cost around the same you might as well choose between them. As for the sound quality verse the X gamer, the X gamer is the same sound card as the Live Value and the rest of the SB family. So its not like the SB X gamer is better than the other members in its family sound wise. The Sb is pretty poor compared to the GTXP and SC in terms of soundquality.

The Santa Cruz (Cirrus logic chipset) to ME colours the surrounding enviornment(4.1 format) in gaming alot better than the SB live did. Mp3's are a bit more brillant(do to the 20Bit DAC?) when paired with a good speaker set.( remember if the speakers suck, then you have been robbed of a honest verdict)Also I haven't done DVD's on my system and won't even comment on it.

Wingnutz and Taz also have this so i would wait on their opinions also.

 

[Chad]

I've had both the SB Live 5.1 X-Gamer and (now) the Hercules Game Theater XP and I can tell you firsthand, the later is much better.

 

[Shudder]

Welll...

If you could buy a 1995 ford or a 1999 honda..

And the ford actually costs MORE than the honda. And you know damn well the honda is a better car..why the HELL would you buy the ford?

Replace ford with SB and honda with Herc, 200 to 150 for the price, and not even factoring in chipset problems across the board with the SB cards, use your common sense if you've got it and realize that the SB card would be a big mistake.

 

[bigbootydaddy]

I have both sblive xgamer W/ hoontech addons and a herc gtxp, and not even the hoontech addons could make it sound as good as the GTXP

damn, something i ate made my stomach FUBAR
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BBD

 

[VBboy]

Ok, I gather Game Theater is better

But isn't there more signal loss than in the SB X-Gamer 5.1 because GTXP has that fat analog cable while SB gives out a direct digital signal? So technically with high-quality speakers such as the Klipsch, would there be more distortion because of this analog cable?

 

[spanner]

The Live 5.1 has an advantage in 5.1 3D gaming. No other card apart from the live supports true 5.1 in current Eax games, most of the other cards just mix the left and right. The live sucks for 2 speaker virtual 3D. And rather then saying chipsets have problems with the live I would say the live has problems with some chipsets, the live came before the chipsets so I say the chipsets are the problem, but its still a problem that will soon be eliminated, the 4 in 1s did a good job and only Motherboards with both the via northbridge and southbridge have this problem. The GTXP has less cpu utilization but you will never notice. The GTXP has better sound quality but you need some Kickass speakers to notice, I can't with my midiland 7100's, The GTXP also has sweet connectivity and possible support for 8.1(rediculous for a PC) which they use for headphone outputs. In other words, If you need the connectivity the go with the GTXP otherwise if the Live 5.1 works and you are pairing it up with 4-5.1 speakers then you will not be dissapointed. I am an MP3,dvd and Gaming fan and I see no incentive to upgrade my Live MP3 5.1, but should I upgrade I am not going with the upcoming Audigy (its more like a downgrade). I am hoping for a GTXP2 in the near future

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

<< because GTXP has that fat analog cable while SB gives out a direct digital signal >>



The fat cable gives a digital signal to the break out box (where the majority of the GTXP's hardware is).

 

[GremlinHater]

Besides VBboy, have you SEEN the cable in real life? I'm looking at it and let me tell you, it's something you don't want to be whipped with and only belongs in your deepest nightmares (or fantasies, hehe ). Point, it's big, enough room to allow the hardware to work with, and think how much hardware they can stick into the breakout box, it's pretty big too!

 

[VBboy]

NaughtyusMaximus,

According to a FiringSquad.com review, that cable carries an Analog signal. They said it may cause minor loss of sound quality. I didn't make that up.

 

[Sugadaddy]

The cable is analog, that's why it's so big. (except for the wires for the digital connections on the rack...) It kinda bothered me at first, but you can still bend it easily, and since the rack is heavy enough, it's really not a problem.

 

[randomlinh]

the cable is analog? How does that work when it's spose to be sending out a digital signal? Or am i just not understanding this at all?

 

[Dually]

sblive is best for now. Hercules is new to sound and doesn't have as many voices.