Ok im getting x-fi extreme music edition and was wondering if the z5500s are worth the upgrade? I am planning on gaming and watching movies. I will be getting a 2407fpw too. Is sound quality noticably better since the x-fi doesnt support decoding and my speakers dont but the z5500's have decoder built in?
worth upgrading speakers from z5300 to z5500?
- Thread starter song414
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shortylickens
No Lifer
- Jul 15, 2003
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All Creative cards support Dolby Digital DEcoding. Thats not the issue.
The issue is they dont support ENcoding. Which means you cant use the digital connections (fiber and coax) to play video games in true digital surround sound.
The cards cant make the analog 5.1 sound (generated by the CPU running the game) into a signal to be passed by coax or fiber optic.
You CAN get true 5.1 surround sound in games by using the 3 stereo lines from your sound card to your speaker set.
I have the logitech 5300's and thats what I do. It works great. And over that short a distance you wont notice any quality difference between analog and digital.
The only reason to upgrade to the 5500's is if you need more power, which I cant imagine.
OR if you dont care about surround in games and want to simplify your cable setup.
For reference, the cards are able to pass the 5.1 signal used in DVD's straight through to the digital connection and on to your speakers decoder. (If you were to get such speakers.) Most software DVD programs for Windows are capable of this. But again, there is no gain in quality.
YoYo should probably be here to back me up on this.
The issue is they dont support ENcoding. Which means you cant use the digital connections (fiber and coax) to play video games in true digital surround sound.
The cards cant make the analog 5.1 sound (generated by the CPU running the game) into a signal to be passed by coax or fiber optic.
You CAN get true 5.1 surround sound in games by using the 3 stereo lines from your sound card to your speaker set.
I have the logitech 5300's and thats what I do. It works great. And over that short a distance you wont notice any quality difference between analog and digital.
The only reason to upgrade to the 5500's is if you need more power, which I cant imagine.
OR if you dont care about surround in games and want to simplify your cable setup.
For reference, the cards are able to pass the 5.1 signal used in DVD's straight through to the digital connection and on to your speakers decoder. (If you were to get such speakers.) Most software DVD programs for Windows are capable of this. But again, there is no gain in quality.
YoYo should probably be here to back me up on this.
YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
- Aug 6, 2001
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The X-Fi should support decoding, but not encoding like shortylickens mentioned.
What soundcard do you have now?
Looks like you have about $300 to $350 for a sound upgrade. X-Fi + z-5500s is certainly an option, but you could also do Promedia Ultra and a cheaper A2 for that much as well.
What soundcard do you have now?
Looks like you have about $300 to $350 for a sound upgrade. X-Fi + z-5500s is certainly an option, but you could also do Promedia Ultra and a cheaper A2 for that much as well.
If ur not getting creative speakers, and you dont want to use the analogue outputs on the x-fi\audigy, get the bluegears xmystique which does real time dolby digital live encoding. You can then hook up the z5500 via optical output. That would be a worthwhile uprade.
Other than that, if you are set on the x-fi, just keep your z5300's and hook them up to the x-fi's analogue outputs. You will still get 5.1, but the x-fi will be doing the decoding (not all sources are encoded anyway, only some movies and some audio DVD's). Remember, the only benefit of the z5500 is its decoding capabilites, and to use them, you need to feed it with an "encoded souce", which the x-fi cannot provide.
So basically, if you get the x-fi, stick with the speakers you have, if you want the z5500's, get a soundcard which can do dolby digital live encoding.
Heres an info page on the hda x-mystique: http://www.bluegears.com/xmystique.html
Other than that, if you are set on the x-fi, just keep your z5300's and hook them up to the x-fi's analogue outputs. You will still get 5.1, but the x-fi will be doing the decoding (not all sources are encoded anyway, only some movies and some audio DVD's). Remember, the only benefit of the z5500 is its decoding capabilites, and to use them, you need to feed it with an "encoded souce", which the x-fi cannot provide.
So basically, if you get the x-fi, stick with the speakers you have, if you want the z5500's, get a soundcard which can do dolby digital live encoding.
Heres an info page on the hda x-mystique: http://www.bluegears.com/xmystique.html
I read this topic and now had a question of my own after reading all your guys' inputs.
I have a SB Audigy 2 Plat hooked to Onkyo 7.1 receiver.
My question, since I have not hooked up the 4 satellite speakers, is , "Will I be getting real surround sound?"
I have a SB Audigy 2 Plat hooked to Onkyo 7.1 receiver.
My question, since I have not hooked up the 4 satellite speakers, is , "Will I be getting real surround sound?"
0roo0roo
No Lifer
- Sep 21, 2002
- 64,795
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its just not more power. bigger speakers+more power = more accurate sound. a subwoofer that makes lower notes instead of muddled thud.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=9486
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ...S/EN,CRID=2177,contentid=9586,detail=2
personally i prefer klipsch with their tweeters.
buying xfi for 5300's is whats not worth it
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=9486
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ...S/EN,CRID=2177,contentid=9586,detail=2
personally i prefer klipsch with their tweeters.
buying xfi for 5300's is whats not worth it
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
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I would suggest listening to a set of Klipsch promedia 5.1 ultras before you buy those logitechs. I've heard a lot of pc speakers and IMO none of them come close to klipsch in sound. The twin subs are very clean and produce nice low end bass.
well im spending 2 grand as it is. The problem i have in games my surround sound... isnt surround. I cant hear the surround sound at all. If a enemy is behind me i dont notice it. My rear speakers are exactly left and right to where i am and and about 1 1/2 feet away from where i sit. Should i move them behind me and farther away from me? Should they be a little bit below my head or above it on a wall or something? I dont think i have them placed right.
edit: right now im using onboard soundstorm for sound will i get a much noticable sound increase upgrading to x-fi?
edit: right now im using onboard soundstorm for sound will i get a much noticable sound increase upgrading to x-fi?
0roo0roo
No Lifer
- Sep 21, 2002
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its better to use high end headphones for 3d sound in games. takes a lot of the mess of 5.1 setups out of the equation. its hard to get perfectly spaced setups...accounting for room accoustics and everything...subtle noises being lost in ambient room noise etc.
I don't think there is really much benefit to having your speakers decode the digital signal, rather than having your soundcard decode it. I'd bet an audigy probably has better DACs than those Logitech speakers anyways. If you're going to upgrade your speakers, I'd get something with tweeters. If you're not opposed to getting headphones, they might be the best choice for gaming.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
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I also play a lot of eax surround enabled games and having accurate surround can make the difference if someone is sneaking up on you. The soundstorm has a problem with sending the right signal to the right speaker so you have to use the latest nvidia driver and the speaker test to get it right. You will have to take your time in setting it up to get it right. I got tired of fiddling with it (on my nf7-s v2) and bought an audigy2 which worked right out of the box. I'm still using the audigy because it still sounds great.
ok thats good to hear. I dont want headphones simply because it doesnt feel real. I love the rumbling of my room when an explosion goes off. You just dont get those effects with headphones.
ive decided to stick with my speakers and see how they do with the x-fi card and my new setup. Any links to how to position 5.1 speakers properly?
YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
- Aug 6, 2001
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For movies, to the left and right of the seating position is best. For gaming, have them more behind you.
There's also more to the z-5500s than the decoding capabilities. If that was the only thing they had vs the 5300s I would never recommend them. The parts that make them up are totally different. The only thing they have in common is that they're made by the same company.
If you like rumbling though, z-5500s will have a lot more "rumble capability" than the 5300s.
ya well i dont live alone and people i live with get pretty pissed off when i play movies. So i dont need anymore rumbling. I just wanted sound quality increase and able to notice surround sound better than i currently do. I think it will be better when i get my x-fi.
Related to your current system, if you're getting the same sound out of front an back in games, you need to check the settings in your creative programs. Make sure that the speaker setttings matches the system you have and the channel test works. Then head over to the eax console and go to cmss 3d, which is enabled by default. These are stereo upmixing algorithms to make stereo content sound surround, you should try turning them off and see if anything at all comes out from the surround speakers. If something does you're all set, if it doesn't, the game itself is only outputting in stereo.
No creative card does Dolby Digital Live which means that sound from non-Dolby sources (everything that isn't a DVD or an AVI rip with the AC3 intact) will not be encoded to the digital output. Thanks Creative for making $400 sound cards without the abilities of 4 year old motherboards that never cost more than $100.
No creative card does Dolby Digital Live which means that sound from non-Dolby sources (everything that isn't a DVD or an AVI rip with the AC3 intact) will not be encoded to the digital output. Thanks Creative for making $400 sound cards without the abilities of 4 year old motherboards that never cost more than $100.
lol at the time of this post i was using my onboard soundstorm soundcard from my asus a7n8x deluxe. Still am but decided i am going for the x-fi.
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