Sound card

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Hi, I have an Elite Pro X-Fi card in m Q9300 machine and ...a Creative SB Live! 5.1 series in my 8400 machine. TBH, the SB Live! 5.1 sounds better. Maybe I just don't have the X-Fi configured right, who knows but I am on the search for a comparable Live! 5.1 Platinum card. A live drive is not necessary, but knowing what card is comparable today is. I've found the same exact card up for auction on eBay, but incase i don't end up winning it, or a better option comes up, i'm all for it. So, what card is comparable to the Platinum 5.1? Experienced suggestions a +

EDIT: not interested in any Fatality cards, sorry.

 

[RapidSnail]

There's seems to be several reasons your SB Live! 5.1 "sounds better":


1) Your Elite Pro is malfunctioned in some way. Unlikely, since it would probably be noticeable very easily.

2) Your Live! machine has superior monitors compared to the other. Again unlikely, considering the rig with the Q9300 would probably have the better hardware.

3) Your definition of "sounds better" is really what "sounds familiar." You could be used to the Live! setup (SPU + Monitors) and therefore acquainting it with higher quality sound. What's foreign sometimes appears strange or inferior.

4) Your drivers could be outdated. Not likely, but many hardware problems have been solved by driver updates.

5) The Elite Pro really does sound worse. Doesn't seem possible, since from a hardware point of view it is "superior."

6) Your digital source is not consistant. Your listening experience can only be as good as the source.

7) Vista vs. XP? (No idea, just throwing it out there.)


I'm just trying to troubleshoot here, since your situation seems a little strange. I don't have any soundcard suggestion for you, but it would help if you described how your Live! card sounds better so those reading can help you find something to match.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

i figured i had something wrong

i was using the gaming mode, well, for gaming until i tried changing it to Entertainment mode where there are manual controls for bass and treble, and it is a phenomenally better experience!

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
i figured i had something wrong

i was using the gaming mode, well, for gaming until i tried changing it to Entertainment mode where there are manual controls for bass and treble, and it is a phenomenally better experience!

Number 6 it was! :thumbsup:

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

actually it wasn't the bit rate or wave. or mp3, it was the extra options entertainment mode offered that enhanced the sound quality in gaming.

i only use that computer for gaming, this one, is for both games as well as 24/7 use