X-FI vs. Nvidia 2 onboard sound? How much of a difference?

[gplracer]

I have a Nvidia nforce2 board with the onboard sound. I am using klipsch promedia speakers and a HSU subwoofer. How much better is the X-FI? I know what I have is better than an audigy but not quite as good as an audigy2. Thanks!!!

 

[Pabster]

Almost any sound card > onboard sound

X-Fi >>>>>>>>>>>>> onboard sound

 

[NatePo717]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Almost any sound card > onboard sound

X-Fi >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&gt
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> onboard sound

Fixed

 

[alcoholbob]

Well one advantage of your onboard compared to Creative's offerings is that you don't get the distortion that comes from resampling 44.1KHz music to 48KHz.

However, analog noise level is still not comparable to a real PCI offering.

The real strength of your nForce2 is using the digital out, and having the option of hardware Dolby Digital Live, which assuming you have a decoder, will be cleaner than any analog source since the resampling rate will be thousands of times higher and not prone to any errors(at least theoretically), as well as a very low noise floor. Assuming you have a decoder of course

 

[gplracer]

Unfortunately I do not have it running through a decoder. It has been a thought. My klipsch speakers are only 4.1. The subwoofer has gone out and I am using a HSU subwoofer anyway. If I bought a 5.1 reciever with digital in then I could take the klipsch sub out of the mix and and use the reciever to power the speakers. For a small amount of money I could also buy a center channel speaker.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you already have a HT sub and 4 speakers that could be powered by a receiver, then getting a receiver and a center channel might be a better idea than getting an X-Fi if you already have soundstorm for audio.

Not all NF2 boards have soundstorm though, does yours?

So right now the klipsch sub is still powering the speakers but it doesn't output any sound through its own driver?

 

[Aznguy1872]

You'll see a huge difference IF and only if you have speakers that are extremely good. Otherwise if you have just low quality speakers, you wont be using them to their fullest.