Upgrading from Audigy 2 Value to X-Fi XtremeMusic?

[Reckoner]

Is it worth $60 to upgrade from my Audigy 2 Value to X-Fi XtremeMusic, utilizing Klipsch 2.1 ProMedia Speakers?

 

[w00t]

I'd say yes

but still the audigy 2 value would be good enough but for $60 dollars I'd say it's worth it.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i don't think you'll hear any sound difference in games, dvd's or music with that upgrade.. i'd say wait for better speakers (gl LOL) or a better sound card

 

[erikistired]

i did that same upgrade and honestly i can't tell the difference. i have klipsch 2.1s as well. just my opinion.

 

[Running]

if you play pc games, i think it will be worth it even if you couldn't hear the diff. and then when better speakers come out you won't need to upgrade your soundcard =D

 

[Auric]

X-Fi costs about $60 (or has recently post rebate) so the upgrade cost is more like $30 since that implies (at least to me) selling or otherwise passing on the value inherent in the Audigy rather than tossing it in the garbage 😉

I'm guessing any difference in fidelity may not be readily noticeable but the X-Fi is certainly capable of better content (more voices and effects) and without a loss in performance.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: Running
if you play pc games, i think it will be worth it even if you couldn't hear the diff. and then when better speakers come out you won't need to upgrade your soundcard =D

why not just upgrade to a newer sound card when u upgrade speakers and save your money now? getting xfi from audigy2 doesn't seem to make any sense, theres barely (1%) system performance inscrease in games and more like 0% noticible difference in sound quality to the human ears at any sound level.

 

[Ghouler]

It is worth it.

Surround sound over normal headphones (CMSS-3D headphones) is very good if you are gaming with headphones and even your mum would hear the difference😀

Many people do not use modes and then they cannot access all features.
When gaming the card has to be in game mode and then you hear the difference.

And for music the crystallizer improves sound of mp3s, I like it, but agree it is not always good for music, same like punchy bass is not always good.

X-Fi supports EAX 5.0 and 128 voices and some games make use of this already.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Is it worth $60 to upgrade from my Audigy 2 Value to X-Fi XtremeMusic, utilizing Klipsch 2.1 ProMedia Speakers?

What other options do you have for spending your cash? :roll:

 

[Gomce]

simple answer? no...
invest in a nice dinner

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

I just upgrades from my Audigy (original) to the X-Fi XtremeMusic. I output from the X-Fi to my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 and Seinheisser (sp?) PC150 headphones.

In my opinion I perceive a difference between the Audigy and X-Fi.

 

[zephyrprime]

Upgrading to a xi-fi isn't really for the benefit of better audio in my opinion. A lot of people with a xi-fi use a digital link to their speakers anyway so soundcard dacs wouldn't matter.

The primary benefit is getting more processing power in my opinion. I used to have a SB Live! until recently. When in pitched battles with a lot of actors on screen, the sound effects would get clipped. I discovered that while the SBLive has more than adequate wav polyphony but it's EAX polyphony is very limited! It just doesn't have enough processing power to put out all those EAX processed sounds. So I picked up a audigy 4 but I would have picked up a xi-fi if it had been on sale.

 

[NanoStuff]

It's probably worthwhile. For nothing in particular, but CMSS for 2 channel game audio, a mild performance increase, a few potentially interesting core features and higher output quality. If you add it all up I'd say it's $60 right there 🙂

 

[Slammy1]

I did the same upgrade, but to the XFi platinum. I couldn't say if it'd make a difference on those speakers, but output to a receiver sees sizable improvement. For one, in Audio Creation mode you're able to change the S/PDIF frequency to 44.1kHz, so even aside from entertainment mode optimizations you'll get better sound though I'd think with a cheaper speaker arrangement you'd want some of the optimizations. The question really isn't one anyone of us can answer, depends on how much you like $60.