X-FI vs. Audigy 2 ZS ???

[SirRob]

If I only care about:

1. Great sound being ported DIGITALLY to my digital receiver (for music/movies)
2. Great recording (stereo analog)
3. I do NOT play games

Is the X-FI any better than the Audigy 2 ZS?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: SirRob


Is the X-FI any better than the Audigy 2 ZS?

Yes.

 

[SirRob]

It is better with?
1. The digital audio out sound quality
2. The stereo analog recording
3. Both

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: SirRob
Is the X-FI any better than the Audigy 2 ZS?

Not at all. As a matter of fact, the Audigy 2 ZS has a much higher S/N ratio.

 

[Rubycon]

Sampling is more accurate. Noise floors are lower. GM engine is more powerful and supports 24bit sound fonts (if you use GM), analog output is better.

Drivers still have some issues but are getting there. Gee it only has been out over a year now but that's typically Creative.

Originally posted by: myocardia

Not at all. As a matter of fact, the Audigy 2 ZS has a much higher S/N ratio.

As owning both products my experience is 180 degrees out of phase with this statement.

 

[lobbyone]

From my experience, music sounds good with the Audigy and games sound good with the X-Fi...weird huh?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: myocardia

Not at all. As a matter of fact, the Audigy 2 ZS has a much higher S/N ratio.

As owning both products my experience is 180 degrees out of phase with this statement.

Hmm, you have a special X-Fi, with a higher than 120DB S/N ratio?

 

[Rubycon]

No consumer pc audio card has an honest SNR that high. BS weightings need not apply.

That said, I've listened to and used both and the X-Fry is better. I'm using the Elite Pro Model and have compared that to the Platinum and can hear a difference between those two also. 24/192 sources with Wadia DAC's modified by Jung & Falcon.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: myocardia

Not at all. As a matter of fact, the Audigy 2 ZS has a much higher S/N ratio.

As owning both products my experience is 180 degrees out of phase with this statement.

Hmm, you have a special X-Fi, with a higher than 120DB S/N ratio?

Where are you getting your specs?

Creative states the A2zs S/N as 108dB and the X-Fi as 109dB (for the lesser versions and 116dB for MSDawn's)

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: MS Dawn

Originally posted by: myocardia

Not at all. As a matter of fact, the Audigy 2 ZS has a much higher S/N ratio.

As owning both products my experience is 180 degrees out of phase with this statement.

Hmm, you have a special X-Fi, with a higher than 120DB S/N ratio?

Where are you getting your specs?

Creative states the A2zs S/N as 108dB and the X-Fi as 109dB (for the lesser versions and 116dB for MSDawn's)

Yes, that was what I was thinking. S/N for X-Fi and A2ZS are about the same. It was significantly better with the A4, which was on par with M-Audio cards. I am already battling Sony audio circuits in my camera and hate having to add more noise in my final video output. But that said, still sticking with the A2ZS as it works extremely well without issues with about every app I run for video authoring and audio tuning for video (Sound Forge 7 tweaking/cleanup of audio back into video)

Edit - and if you are getting serious about it, Avid M-Audio is a better solution in many cases. Ms Dawn and YOyoYOhowsDAjello can recommend better, I am sure, including monitors. If I had to do it, I would go ask and read Douglas Spotted Eagle's posts in my DV forum and regurge.

 

[SirRob]

Some have recommended the M-Audio Revolution 7.1. gsellis, Is that what you are referring to?

 

[Oyeve]

I have both (well, I have all versions of CS cards) and as far as what you actually want to do, either card will do it and do it well. I personally loved my Z2s and even though I have an X-Fi I found the Z2s to be the most bug-free, most troubless card I have ever owned. To me, the SW that came with the Z2s is superior to the X-fi (excluding, of course, the X-Fi specific stuff). The Audio HQ on the Z2s was easier and better then the Audio Creation crap on the X-Fi. My 2 pennies.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
No consumer pc audio card has an honest SNR that high. BS weightings need not apply.

That said, I've listened to and used both and the X-Fry is better. I'm using the Elite Pro Model and have compared that to the Platinum and can hear a difference between those two also. 24/192 sources with Wadia DAC's modified by Jung & Falcon.

Actually, I was going by what Creative's website used to say the Audigy 2 ZS's S/N is/was (115 DB), and what their website says now for the X-Fi (108 DB). I didn't realize, though, that the $400 version had a slightly higher S/N. Creative no longer even has the specs for the PCI Audigy 2 ZS on their site.

But, what sounds better to me might not sound better to you. I noticed this a long time ago. For instance, I think that a pair of Legacy Audio Focus sound much better than a pair of the lauded B&W 801's. And I think that nothing on earth sounds better than a pair of Legacy's Helix speakers, including the Wilson Audio Grand Slamms. Make sure to click on the Specifications link at the bottom of both pairs of Legacy speakers, to see why I prefer their sound.

To the OP, now that I think about it, for overall sound quality, and no gaming, a Creative card isn't even what you want. For music and movies, there are better options, for roughly the same money, like the M-Audio Revolution 7.1.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: SirRob
Some have recommended the M-Audio Revolution 7.1. gsellis, Is that what you are referring to?

Working from old info, that and the 1010 components. Some of the studio guys use the 1010 for stuff.

 

[SirRob]

I think that the Revolution fits my budget a lot better and it seems to be well liked.

 

[SirRob]

From creative's cards to M-audio's cards, will the improvement in music be that noticeable? Keep in mind that I will passing it to my receiver via digital PCM, AC-3, and DTS connections -- not analog connections.

I understand that the recording will be better.

 

[myocardia]

If you have an expensive enough system, then yes. For most people, I wouldn't think so. It's pretty much going to boil down mostly to how expensive (and transparent) your speakers are, and how discerning your ears are.

 

[MichaelD]

Digital is digital is digital. If you were THAT concerned about audio reproduction, you wouldn't have a PC as a source anyway.

You've already chosen the best way to enjoy good sound via digital input; don't worry any more about it.

I have ripped my entire 400+ CD collection to 320KB/s CBR MP3's; I hear zero diff b/t them and the original CD. (low bit rate mp3's suck and I can hear them from a mile away!)

I can't afford a $30K turntable, $30K preamp, $50K amp and $50K speakers PLUS vinyl copies of all my fav albums to be " A Real Analog Guy."

High quality digital FTW! :wine:

 

[SirRob]

The reason I have been asking is because I am currently using onboard sound from my K8N Neo4 Platinum (7.1 channel audio codec RealTek ALC850) and I am ready to upgrade.

I have owned almost every platinum version of card that Creative has come out with, but stopped at the Audigy2 platinum because it, like its predecessors, had driver problems that rendered the audio unusable in some cases. I am glad that you feel that digital is the best way to go. Others seem to feel that the actual card actually makes a difference in the digital PCM out. Am I mistaken here?

 

[SirRob]

My onboard sound is currently sending a digital PCM signal to my receiver, but it does not sound as good to me as my Soundstorm or Audigy2 did when I had them. My home theater is of average quality components, definitely not high-end, but not the cheapest either.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: SirRob
My onboard sound is currently sending a digital PCM signal to my receiver, but it does not sound as good to me as my Soundstorm or Audigy2 did when I had them. My home theater is of average quality components, definitely not high-end, but not the cheapest either.

Ever take a look at the Auzentech X-Plosion or X-Meridian?

Also the Chaintech AV-710 would be a cheap digital upgrade

 

[SirRob]

My only concern with either of those is the quality of their line in for recording purposes. I do not need absolute professional level, but I would like something a fair bit better than onboard quality. I would look at Audigy 2 quality recording as a minimum.

Do you know how their recording quality compares?

And YES, I would LOVE to have soundstorm type Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect output!

 

[SirRob]

The Chaintech AV-710 looks like it has limited recording capacity. Does anyone know about the quality of the recording for the Auzentech cards?

 

[Omizzle]

Xfi is WAY better in all aspects

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: SirRob
The Chaintech AV-710 looks like it has limited recording capacity. Does anyone know about the quality of the recording for the Auzentech cards?

The X-Meridian has good recording capabilities but it is rather pricey