Which X-fi to get?

[ingeborgdot]

I don't do any gaming but listen to a lot of music and like great quality sound. What would be my best bet?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

You really cant go wrong with any of them unless you have VERY high end speakers and have a VERY high quality track to listen to.

 

[mrblotto]

I would stick with Auzentech myself............

 

[ingeborgdot]

What about these.

HT Omega CLARO Sound Cards
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HT OMEGA CLARO 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

* Audio Chipset: C-Media CMI8788
* Digital Audio: 24-bit
* Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital, DTS
* Line In: Yes
* Model #: CLARO
* Item #: N82E16829271002





HT Omega CLARO Plus+ Sound Cards
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HT OMEGA CLARO Plus+ 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

* Audio Chipset: C-Media CMI8788
* Digital Audio: 24-bit
* Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital, DTS
* Line In: Yes
* Model #: CLARO Plus+
* Item #: N82E16829271003





ASUS 90-YAA021-1UAN00+ Sound Cards
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ASUS Xonar D2 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Ultra Fidelity Sound Card with Complete Dolby/DTS Sound Technologies - Retail

* Audio Chipset: ASUS AV200
* Digital Audio: 24-bit
* Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital, DTS
* Line In: Yes
* Model #: 90-YAA021-1UAN00+
* Item #: N82E16829132001


Auzentech XPlosion 7.1 Sound Cards
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AuzenTech XPlosion 7.1 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

* Audio Chipset: C-Media CMI8770
* CD/Aux In: No
* Digital Audio: 24-bit
* Features: World First Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect certified PCI board sound card! Converts any of your movies, games, music audio into a Dolby Digital or DTS Surround Sound! Stereo is boring, surround sound is fun! DTS Connect makes it easy to turn your computer into the ultimate PC sound entertainment
* Model #: XPlosion 7.1
* Item #: N82E16829156001



Auzentech AZT-XM71 Sound Cards
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AuzenTech AZT-XM71 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Auzen X-Meridian 7.1 Sound Card - Retail

* Audio Chipset: C-Media CMI8788
* Digital Audio: 24-bit
* Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital, DTS
* Line In: Yes
* Model #: AZT-XM71
* Item #: N82E16829156002




* O

 

[ingeborgdot]

How is the integrated sound from the new mobods? Someone said it was much better. Is that true?

 

[mrblotto]

guess there's only 1 way to find out. Try your onboard sound before you purchase a separate audio card.......

 

[daveybrat]

If your computer specs are correct in your sig, then i'd say why even upgrade? You've already got an Audigy 2 ZS, which is a great card still and much better than any onboard realtek based audio card can do. An X-fi is not going to be a huge upgrade over what you have now.

 

[MTDEW]

If your computer specs are correct in your sig, then i'd say why even upgrade? You've already got an Audigy 2 ZS, which is a great card still and much better than any onboard realtek based audio card can do. An X-fi is not going to be a huge upgrade over what you have now.

He's right.
I own and Audigy 2 zs in one pc and an X-fi xtreme music in the other.

Im, running Klipsch Promedia's on the one pc and Logitech z-5500's on the other pc and i dont feel theres much of a difference in the sound quality between the two.

And ive even swapped speaker sets back and forth to be sure and they still sound pretty much the same.

But be aware, im no audiophile, im just a pc gamer who also listens to music on his pc sometimes.

Ive seen posts from people who claim theres a huge difference and they can hear it easily....well they must have better ears than me then...LOL

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
If your computer specs are correct in your sig, then i'd say why even upgrade? You've already got an Audigy 2 ZS, which is a great card still and much better than any onboard realtek based audio card can do. An X-fi is not going to be a huge upgrade over what you have now.

This is good information ... the only major advantage I've noticed for an X-fi over Audigy 2 is surround sound in movies & even more in gaming.

If you only listen to music the gains will be very small & not worth the money.

 

[ingeborgdot]

Will the audigy card work with vista or vista 64? I am making a media computer or htpc with the parts from the one I have right now and this will work with my computer already.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Yes the audigy will work fine in vista with the latest drivers from creative.com.

As far as the onboard goes, it has made leaps and bounds improvements from years past, so unless you are an audiophile with a good speaker setup you wont notice much

 

[ingeborgdot]

I have 5.1 THX speakers. Really pretty nice.

 

[darketernal]

how about the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude?
its basically the best soundcard out there at the price range, and it has all of the goodies that come with an X-Fi DSP.