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Sound Blaster LIVE! **VERSUS** Sound Blaster Audigy

G

GrimReefer

Banned
I listen to lotsa music on my system, lotsa Bob Marley, Otis Redding, Blues, Classical, Rock and yes I'm sorry, some intelligent Rap as well, and play a sh*tload of audio intensive games (UT2003, Medal of Honor, BF 1942, JK2). I have been using a bargain basement Sound Blaster LIVE! for the last 2 or 3 years along with my ProMedias 4.1's. Am I cheating myself and my speakers out of a more joyous aureal experience using this LIVE card? Would the Audigy be that much more of an improvement?

Thanks guys
 
Yeah man, its already been an hour, I've never had to wait this long at AT 😉

Another thing, will it even make a difference between the two cards with my current speaker setup? The promedias are pretty much the best thing goin' right now in surround sound computer audio for the moment correct?
 
The only difference i noticed was a little more clarity... and less hissing... but that's pretty much it. I wouldn't pay over $40 for it.
 
Based on specifications, yes the Audigy offers better quality audio than the SB Live. But the question is can you hear the difference. Audio quality depends on the source, electronics, speakers, listening room, and the listener. Most audio systems I have listened to have some type of poor quality weak link. Usually it is nonlinear amplfication and or speakers that are driven to unacceptable distortion levels or the room is too small, too hard or over soft.

Edit: the size of the room becomes important for hearing the lower frequencies. If I remember correctly you need to be 16 ft away from the source to hear a 32 Hz note.
 
yes their marketing is very persuavive, guess they did their subliminal messages correctly. Will I be able to hear the difference or not guys, give me a straight answer you damn audiophiles 😉
 
With your Promedias... i would think you notice a difference... it would be most obvious when you hear them back to back... but a week later you won't notice it at all... the sound quality difference between the two cards is rather small in my opinion anyway... but hey that's just me... and i'm far from being an audiophile. 😉
 
Originally posted by: GrimReefer
yes their marketing is very persuavive, guess they did their subliminal messages correctly. Will I be able to hear the difference or not guys, give me a straight answer you damn audiophiles 😉
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Yes if you upgrade the rest of your audio system at the same time. Low quality speakers will always sound like low quality speakers.

 
So Doc, are my speakers low quality? Please tell me that $250 isnt low quality for comp speakers, I might need to go break something.
 
Originally posted by: GrimReefer
So Doc, are my speakers low quality? Please tell me that $250 isnt low quality for comp speakers, I might need to go break something.
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No $250 is not low quality for comp speakers!

Personally, I would upgrade to an Audigy card.
 
Hell... i noticed a difference with my aging Altec Lansings... you better notice a difference with your Klipsch... i just ordered the 5.1s and i plunking that much money on multimedia speakers was beyond me... but then im getting rid of my Auidgy for an Acoustic Edge... go figure. 😕
 
Originally posted by: GrimReefer
What was that? Acoustic Edge you say?! Please my friend.... enlighten me...

what is this card you speak of?
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Well ummm... here... only reason i want the Acoustic Edge is because of it superior 3D positioning in games... but since you also listen to a lot of music... i suggest you stick with an Audigy or your Live. But I play MOHAA too... and i seriously can't wait to get it all together... 🙂
 
The suggestion to stick with the Audigy for music seems a bit backwards to me🙂
I would recommend a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Philips Acoustic Edge for music reproduction.
 
Originally posted by: DeRusto
The suggestion to stick with the Audigy for music seems a bit backwards to me🙂
I would recommend a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Philips Acoustic Edge for music reproduction.
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I personally haven't heard an AE do music yet... and i am under the assumption that the Audigy was better for this because several people have said so... but hey is an AE is better at music as well... no complaints from here. 🙂
 

I will probably be getting the Audigy in October when the price comes down. I hear that's when the Audigy2 is out. I chose the Audigy because it has S/PDIF 6 - ch output. This will come in handy as I plan to connect my system to my home theatre system's 6ch input. In the mean time, I guess I'll have to settle for my integrated audio (P4S8x).
 
About 2 months ago I replaced my aging SB Live! value. I decided to go with the Philips Acoustic Edge because of the awesome positional audio in addition to the high-fidelity music playback. I noticed quite a big difference between the two cards. The difference is definitely more noticeable in games that make use of EAX2 and A3D. However, the quality of musical playback is significantly better as well. Also, you have nicer speakers than I and will probably notice even more of a difference. I have the FPS1800s from Cambridge Sounworks (Creative). It is a 4.1 setup as well, so your results should be similar but more improved. The Audigy is an excellent card as well, and I have heard a few setups in which that sound card is used. I prefer the AE, but I would not have been dissapointed with an upgrade to the Audigy.
 
I noticed the difference with an Audigy over Live!. I have very good hearing and good set of headphones 🙂

I have read that some of Philips or Cirrus based cards are a bit better for music while the Audigy is better for games. Maybe the Audigy 2 will change that.
 
Through a pair of 200W floorstanders (That's RMS, oh ye of little faith...) the Live sounds basically less involving. There's Slightly more hiss than the Audigy, although not a lot. The Audigy really majors on the quality of its bass. It just sounds tighter and more rhythmic, especially in big orchestral pieces (timpani, anyone?)

The difference using a decent pair of headphones is less noticeable but still there. You're speakers are probably good enough to show a difference. I went from a 1996 vintage SBLive! straight to an Audigy Platinum so there's Six years of difference in there. I can't comment on the AE as I've never listened to one in any detail. That said, it's had very good reviews.
 
The AE is better for games, and thats what I mainly use my system for, music is second. My car is my music haven, and thats already decked out.
 
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