Sound Card advice needed

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: wicka
Does anyone know if there is a real sound quality difference between the (non-Fati1islasresdity) Xtreme Gamer and Xtreme Audio? The Xtreme Audio is only like $65...

Why does this thread die once I have an actual question? Let me rephrase: are the cheaper X-Fi's (Xtreme Audio/Gamer) anywhere near as good as the $200 ones?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I really have no idea what the real differences are. Creative is so intent on giving us hyped up words and questionable features, I don't expect to get anything meaningful from their own information and I haven't been motivated to do the research myself on what the actual differences are.

Here's a couple threads if you want to see where that might take you.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1942534
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1947175&enterthread=y

Not a lot of info there though. Maybe you could find some info and report back?

Looks like potentially these could be inferior cards with some X-Fi software on them giving them some of the "features" without the base quality the original cards had.

I don't know what to tell you on these new ones because I just found out about them a few days ago.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Are you committed to using soundblasters? Will you be using Vista?

 

[CurseTheSky]

If the new "budget" versions of the X-Fi cards are anything like the Audigy 2 Value I bought... stay away.

When I originally built this computer, I saved myself about $40 or so by buying the Value verion of the card, mainly because the Newegg reviews had a lot of people claiming that the sound quality was exactly the same as the ZS... man were they wrong. Later when I upgraded to a ZS, the sound quality difference was very apparent. The ZS is far superior to the Audigy 2 Value.

These new X-Fi cards are also much smaller in physical size than their more expensive X-Fi counterparts. The Audigy 2 Value was also much smaller than the Audigy 2 ZS...

If you're on a tight budget, feel free. Otherwise I'd just cough up the extra $40-50.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
Are you committed to using soundblasters? Will you be using Vista?

I've looked at a few different cards, only one other even moderately impressed me (I believe it was Bluegears, or something similar).

Actually, I've had more problems with Sound Blaster cards than any other hardware I've owned. Once they work, they work well... but getting them working or keeping them working seems to be the problem. If I could find a high quality, well known, well manufactured card, I might make a switch. Until then I'll just fork some money over to Creative and hope for the best.

I will eventually be using Vista, probably a few months after release, just to make sure there aren't any glaring bugs or vulnerabilities.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I ask because Vista will bring all sound processing back to the CPU, eliminating all the fancy SB hardware, EAX et cetera. Any sound hardware will only good for it's in/outs.

xmystique, compared to the least expensive xfi, offers superior analog quality, 2 digital outs, has no creative crapware and is $6 less.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
I ask because Vista will bring all sound processing back to the CPU, eliminating all the fancy SB hardware, EAX et cetera. Any sound hardware will only good for it's in/outs.

xmystique, compared to the least expensive xfi, offers superior analog quality, 2 digital outs, has no creative crapware and is $6 less.

Actually the X-Mystique has nowhere near the analog quality of the X-fi. Only the X-meridian(if they ever release it) will rival or beat it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I fixed it

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I fixed it

:laugh:

What do they mean by X-Fi enabled? Playback in a system with an X-Fi card or use of the crystalizer?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I fixed it

:laugh:

What do they mean by X-Fi enabled? Playback in a system with an X-Fi card or use of the crystalizer?

I didn't even notice that. I assumed they meant the distortionizer... I mean crystalizer.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

Don't forget the acoustimess seventh order woofer exciter. :laugh:

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

You forgot to mention waveguide® technology

"Traditional approaches determined it couldn't be done, but tradition didn't account for revolutionary acoustic waveguide speaker technology."

They broke the laws of physics!

 

[lastig21]

I recently bought an X-Fi Platinum for $150 from Best Buy. For the ~$20 difference that I was finding between the other versions, I thought it was worth the price. After dealing with some IRQ conflicts, I find the sound card to be much better than my onboard 7.1 channel. From the reviews I read, the Platinum only offers the 5.25" panel as an upgrade to the XtremeMusic. Both cards should sound identical.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
I ask because Vista will bring all sound processing back to the CPU, eliminating all the fancy SB hardware, EAX et cetera. Any sound hardware will only good for it's in/outs.

Not true. Vista is eliminating hardware accelerated DirectSound support, and all old DirectSound functionality will have to be emulated with the CPU.

Hardware accelerated sound and EAX are still supported, but it has to be done through OpenAL. Here is an article about OpenAL support in Vista.

 

[0roo0roo]

your sound card shouldnt cost as much or more than your speakers. if you were to jsutify the cost of those soundcards you should spend atleast 300 dollars or you would be truely kidding yourself that you could hear a difference.

 

[goobernoodles]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
your sound card shouldnt cost as much or more than your speakers. if you were to jsutify the cost of those soundcards you should spend atleast 300 dollars or you would be truely kidding yourself that you could hear a difference.

QFT

This thread makes me laugh.. especially that graph that claims the X-Fi makes mp3's sound better than studio quality sound. LOL

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

maybe you should send that to the bose marketing department, i'm sure they'd be interested.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

maybe you should send that to the bose marketing department, i'm sure they'd be interested.

They probably have a whole team of people working on it already

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
There's no way I'm getting the Elite. Even though the price has dropped considerably (below $300, compared to almost $400 a while back), it would be like supercharging a Geo Tracker... :disgust:

Now I just have to decide whether or not to gamble with the X-RAM (newer games MAY find uses for it, you never know), or whether or not the front panel / POS remote is worth the $10 more to me...

Hmm... decisions, decisions.

I got the fatal1ty awhile ago for $120 after rebate. I don't use the remote, but I do like the front panel connector. It's worth $10 to me to not have to reach around the back of my computer to connect mics, or headphones.

 

[SonicIce]

The? Bose® SuperAcoustiBlowout© Sub©Woofer? will® blow? you© away©?®

 

[imported_wicka]

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

maybe you should send that to the bose marketing department, i'm sure they'd be interested.

I honestly thought that was a real description that he just copied from Bose...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: wicka

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I heard BOSE was going into the PC sound card buisness.

There first offering will be an enviromental friendly cardboard sound card!!

With Direct/Reflecting® DualDigitalstyle® optical outputs, the BoseX01® sends one signal to be reflected 7 times internally to create an enhanced concert level experience while the second signal sends a direct signal for unmatched accuracy. Combine your DualDigitalstyle® outputs to your existing Bose® soundsystem and experience an unsurpassed level of realism in movies, games, and music.

maybe you should send that to the bose marketing department, i'm sure they'd be interested.

I honestly thought that was a real description that he just copied from Bose...

:laugh:

 

[imported_wicka]

BTW, does anyone have any comments on the Chaintech AV-710 (or any of the Envy24 boards for that matter)? It's like $23 and I've seen a lot of good things about it.