Soundcard opinion needed

blackdog · Nov 8, 2006, 05:01 PM

I know the X-fi is the top card these days but I have a chance to buy a brand new Audigy 4 for $50.00. All I have now is an old Live 5.1, Is the A4 worth it or should one hold out for a X-fi. Thx

ROBSCIX · Nov 8, 2006, 05:51 PM

It depends, the Audigy 4's are still great cards. they were the top of the line before the X-fi hit the scene. So $50 is a great deal. IF your really into gaming though you may want to get the X-fi. Although you could easily sell a Audigy4 for $50 later on when you buy the X-fi...but the A4 for now and save for the X-fi...

ViP3RH3LL · Nov 8, 2006, 05:57 PM

I been thinking about getting creative x-fi also but for 130 dollars I'm waiting for the price to come down or something cheaper for something more by a different company to come out. I read that turtle beach soundcards are pretty good, you might want to read some reviews on the newer turtle beach cards and see if there right for you.

ROBSCIX · Nov 8, 2006, 05:59 PM

Hmm, I always wondered why guys spend so much money on their videos systems but never want to invest in a good audio system such as good soundcards and sood speakers. They will still expect top quality without spending the needed money. If you want great quality sound you have to invest in good gear. Just my opinion.

ViP3RH3LL · Nov 8, 2006, 06:28 PM

I agree you have to spend alot of money but for the right brand. Just cause the price is outragous makes it the best product ever? You can still get a great soundcard for a low price, it is just in the soundcard makers hands to help out the customer that doesnt have 3 jobs and making 500 grand a year.

kelticknight · Nov 8, 2006, 06:35 PM

i would say get audigy 4,x-fi is good if you dont have conflects like had,sold to friend and had different conflects
if your going x-fi,get music version as rest are over priced for few gimmicks they give you,also found creative support very poor,blamed everything else except there card
i went back to audigy 4 and has kick ass sound,will probly be my last creative as x-fi left a bad taste,will be looking at other brands when i upgrade again

blackdog · Nov 8, 2006, 08:31 PM

Thx for the imput, will be last part of my upgrade, will probably buy the A4 and get X-fi when time and cash permit.

kelticknight · Nov 8, 2006, 08:33 PM

just make sure when you get a x-fi ,that it works with your setup as alot are having probs

blackdog · Nov 8, 2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelticknight

just make sure when you get a x-fi ,that it works with your setup as alot are having probs

Will do my homework on it, I have heard of some certain issues on some configs.

ROBSCIX · Nov 8, 2006, 11:45 PM

Since your checking specs look at the Auzentech X-Meridian. If your ralle into games though and want EAX youmay be better off going for the X-Fi. Although Soundquality wise the X-Meridian is pretty much in a class by itself.. Yes better than X-fi...

Azultra · Nov 9, 2006, 07:33 AM

Better than X-Fi Elite Pro

skinnie · Nov 11, 2006, 09:08 PM

just a lil off topic..the fortissimo III are comparable to wich creative?and the 4?

ROBSCIX · Nov 12, 2006, 10:55 PM

IF that's a questions yes! it's been said the X-Meridian sound better than ANY X-fi...

kelticknight · Nov 13, 2006, 01:48 AM

waiting for new razer sound card when out

Azultra · Nov 13, 2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnie

just a lil off topic..the fortissimo III are comparable to wich creative?and the 4?

I'd say somewhere between the Audigy 1 and 2
Fortissimo III wasn't a good card imo, nothing to do with the newer Fortissimo IV which is a superb piece of hardware

skinnie · Nov 13, 2006, 01:14 PM

do you recomend the fortissimo 4?I am thinkin in buyin one for the xmas :P will it be better than my soundstorm?it's for a X-530 speaker kit..

INSTG8R · Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM

Tough call really. I mean Soundstorm is the best onboard solution for its era. I dont know that it would be that much of an upgrade, thats just my opinion tho

Azultra · Nov 13, 2006, 02:46 PM

There are some (intentionnal?) confusion around the Soundstorm nature, which is nothing but a DSP

It is very cool for digital, but on most (all afaik) nforce mb it was coupled to a scurvy ALC650 for d/a conversion

skinnie · Nov 13, 2006, 05:40 PM

yup..it's the alc650 that my board uses..I had a 2ZS awesome sound..but the drivers were too heavy for my taste..the fort 3 that I have in the other system is a lil complicated to give sound of my taste here..but in the other system with almost 10year speakers it gives a good good sound I think..but do you think the fort4 is a good upgrade from my alc650?

Azultra · Nov 14, 2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnie

yup..it's the alc650 that my board uses..I had a 2ZS awesome sound..but the drivers were too heavy for my taste..the fort 3 that I have in the other system is a lil complicated to give sound of my taste here..but in the other system with almost 10year speakers it gives a good good sound I think..but do you think the fort4 is a good upgrade from my alc650?

That would be a HUGE upgrade

. I dunno about the X-530, but if you heard a big difference along your A2ZS then the difference will be outstanding again

edit : the drivers are real gem of lightness and efficiency btw

skinnie · Nov 14, 2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azultra

That would be a HUGE upgrade

. I dunno about the X-530, but if you heard a big difference along your A2ZS then the difference will be outstanding again

edit : the drivers are real gem of lightness and efficiency btw

well the X-530 are outstanding for me..are the drivers so good?because I saw in another forum lots of problems :S we can't update them with via ones right?I'll talk with my parents to see if I can buy that card :P

ROBSCIX · Nov 14, 2006, 07:31 PM

@Skinnie, soundcards rule over a onboard. Your games will come to life. FI you don't have enough money to get a Audigy 2 Zs you can get the Audigy 2 value -same card with some minor exceptions. Even the AUdigy 4's are cheap right now...hope this helps.

Tipstaff · Nov 14, 2006, 07:39 PM

If money is a concern then you might be interested in 2 other X-FI cards that Creative put out. They are geared more towards the "lower" end of the spectrum. One is the XtremeAudio, and the othe is the XtremeGamer (Of note, both have front panel audio support built onto the board themselves by way of an Intel HD compatible header).

Both of those cards will run you about $75.00 US (the gamer is usually a little bit more).

skinnie · Nov 14, 2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

@Skinnie, soundcards rule over a onboard. Your games will come to life. FI you don't have enough money to get a Audigy 2 Zs you can get the Audigy 2 value -same card with some minor exceptions. Even the AUdigy 4's are cheap right now...hope this helps.

I had a 2 ZS and I sold it because the drivers were too heavy...and I had the feeling that it's was money subused (I don't know the word in english) but somehow I miss it

..and I wanted to try other things..4 ex I tried a matsonic lower end board with cmedia onboard and I think that thing rulled

I don't play games..only flat out sometimes..

Azultra · Nov 15, 2006, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnie

well the X-530 are outstanding for me..are the drivers so good?because I saw in another forum lots of problems :S we can't update them with via ones right?I'll talk with my parents to see if I can buy that card :P

Yes, the first geek reflex is to look after latest drivers while each Envy24HT card needs different ones ( because of DACs and some other design stuff ). And since stock VIA drivers look like very much Hercules ones, they rush at them and mess up the

Quote:

For use with the following Product/s: VIA Vinyl Envy24 controllers: MT/DT/GT/PT/HT-S

ROBSCIX and Tipstaff, I'm not sure why you're advising inferior cards.. If you don't need/want to pay the right to use the features (EAX 3+) of the game you bought

, then current Creatives should be blacklisted. QSound positionning is also more accurate than all Audigy's CMSS positionning ( I haven't heard X-Fi HRTF-based positionning for now ).
And anyway Crysis won't use EAX

( i asked personnally Crytek

)

skinnie · Nov 15, 2006, 08:06 AM

Azultra do you have a fortissimo 4?or any envy24 card?

Azultra · Nov 15, 2006, 08:12 AM

Yes I own a Fortissimo IV, by far the best value for money in that price range.

ROBSCIX · Nov 15, 2006, 03:05 PM

Why is a AUdigy 2 ZS or Value inferior? They still sound great given their price. If he doesn't care about EAX then yeah leave Creative cards alone. If your telling him that a fortismmo is better then a Audigy 2 then I have never seen or heard that. If he is not interested in gaming then there are alot better cards out there... Envy24 chipsets? c'mon those chipsets are how old ? and there are alot better card out there....
I personally just bought a X-Meridian and this is the best card I have ever heard...easily.
Even the sound quality of a X-fi cannot compare to it.....
As for Headphone Technologies I haven't heard ANYTHING better then Dolby Headphone...
Of course sound is subjective, so things I like may not be things you like.....

skinnie · Nov 15, 2006, 09:35 PM

well ppl..an X-meridian is a lot more expensive than the Fortissimo 4..For the fortissimo 4 I'll give about 50eur...in that price range what do you recomend?creative has a good sound but the drivers are heavy...
I am getting interested in the fortissimo 4 but the lack of "real" opinions except azultra has putting some fear on me...
edit: other option is an used HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 Gold/ Dolby Digital Live

Azultra · Nov 16, 2006, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Why is a AUdigy 2 ZS or Value inferior? They still sound great given their price. If he doesn't care about EAX then yeah leave Creative cards alone. If your telling him that a fortismmo is better then a Audigy 2 then I have never seen or heard that. If he is not interested in gaming then there are alot better cards out there... Envy24 chipsets? c'mon those chipsets are how old ? and there are alot better card out there....
I personally just bought a X-Meridian and this is the best card I have ever heard...easily.
Even the sound quality of a X-fi cannot compare to it.....
As for Headphone Technologies I haven't heard ANYTHING better then Dolby Headphone...
Of course sound is subjective, so things I like may not be things you like.....

Well, a lot of confusion here.
Envy24HT date from 2002, but have (almost) nothing to do with sound quality. They're bluntly the opposite of Creative CPU-like chipsets, they do few, but do few very well. Notably they have very low jitter and can work at very low latency, while Creative are bus hog and crackle for unlucky people.
Then the big(the huge) myth is to think Creative are more interesting for gamers, because they carry powerful DSP. But everything that can be done by a DSP can be done by a CPU as well, and contrary to GPU, Creative DSP are no good value for money at all. On modern CPUs, the CPU load difference between a Audigy 2/4 and a Fortissimo IV varies about 1-2%

, 1-6% between a X-Fi and a Fortissimo IV. The sound quality (depends on DACs, analog filter, opamps - and power buffering for headphones) of the Fortissimo IV is equivalent to the X-Fi XtremeMusic/Platinum/Fata4ty, what's the price difference between a X-Fi XM and the Fortissimo ? 70€ (this is an Europe exclusivity anyway), that's also the cost of 2 Semprons C'n'Q 2800+, or the price difference between a Athlon 64 3800+ and a Core2Duo E6300... Creative has no direct concurrence.. but they're still pwned by Intel/AMD and almost all other soundcard manufacturers

! For gamers the only real interest remains EAX ( but as I said it's not a "hardware limitation", it's like a blundled software.. )
ESI Juli@ uses a Envy24HT, upcoming Prodigy 7.1 HiFi embed a Envy24HT and the same DAC the Fortissimo IV have, so..

Yup there are some huge hype and belief around Creative, it's hard to find informations in the mass of myths. If you want to hear very good and detailed things about the Fortissimo IV, go there : http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/search.php
edit : and if you want to hear horrible things about the Audigy 2 ZS, type "Audigy analog filter"

Nov 8, 2006, 05:01 PM	#1
blackdog HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Frozen North of 49 Posts: 104 Rep Power: 0	Soundcard opinion needed I know the X-fi is the top card these days but I have a chance to buy a brand new Audigy 4 for $50.00. All I have now is an old Live 5.1, Is the A4 worth it or should one hold out for a X-fi. Thx

Nov 8, 2006, 06:35 PM	#6
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	i would say get audigy 4,x-fi is good if you dont have conflects like had,sold to friend and had different conflects if your going x-fi,get music version as rest are over priced for few gimmicks they give you,also found creative support very poor,blamed everything else except there card i went back to audigy 4 and has kick ass sound,will probly be my last creative as x-fi left a bad taste,will be looking at other brands when i upgrade again __________________

Nov 8, 2006, 08:33 PM	#8
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	just make sure when you get a x-fi ,that it works with your setup as alot are having probs __________________

Nov 11, 2006, 09:08 PM	#12
skinnie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	just a lil off topic..the fortissimo III are comparable to wich creative?and the 4? __________________ DFI NF2 Ultra+Athlon XP-Mobile 2600+ [SP97] 2x512 Mushkin Redline Xp4000 [OCZ XTC Cooler] Albatron 6800GT@Ultra 256mb DDR3 [VF900CU] Terratec Aureon Space 7.1@Prodigy 7.1 Audigy 2 ZS Logitech X-530 5.1 Sennheiser HD201

Nov 13, 2006, 01:48 AM	#14
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	waiting for new razer sound card when out __________________

Nov 8, 2006, 05:51 PM	#2
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	It depends, the Audigy 4's are still great cards. they were the top of the line before the X-fi hit the scene. So $50 is a great deal. IF your really into gaming though you may want to get the X-fi. Although you could easily sell a Audigy4 for $50 later on when you buy the X-fi...but the A4 for now and save for the X-fi...

Nov 8, 2006, 05:57 PM	#3
ViP3RH3LL DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: BF2142 Posts: 265 Rep Power: 0	I been thinking about getting creative x-fi also but for 130 dollars I'm waiting for the price to come down or something cheaper for something more by a different company to come out. I read that turtle beach soundcards are pretty good, you might want to read some reviews on the newer turtle beach cards and see if there right for you.

Nov 8, 2006, 05:59 PM	#4
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	Hmm, I always wondered why guys spend so much money on their videos systems but never want to invest in a good audio system such as good soundcards and sood speakers. They will still expect top quality without spending the needed money. If you want great quality sound you have to invest in good gear. Just my opinion.

Nov 8, 2006, 06:28 PM	#5
ViP3RH3LL DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: BF2142 Posts: 265 Rep Power: 0	I agree you have to spend alot of money but for the right brand. Just cause the price is outragous makes it the best product ever? You can still get a great soundcard for a low price, it is just in the soundcard makers hands to help out the customer that doesnt have 3 jobs and making 500 grand a year.

Nov 8, 2006, 08:31 PM	Thread Starter #7
blackdog HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Frozen North of 49 Posts: 104 Rep Power: 0	Thx for the imput, will be last part of my upgrade, will probably buy the A4 and get X-fi when time and cash permit.

Nov 8, 2006, 11:45 PM	#10
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	Since your checking specs look at the Auzentech X-Meridian. If your ralle into games though and want EAX youmay be better off going for the X-Fi. Although Soundquality wise the X-Meridian is pretty much in a class by itself.. Yes better than X-fi...

Nov 9, 2006, 07:33 AM	#11
Azultra DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Better than X-Fi Elite Pro

Nov 12, 2006, 10:55 PM	#13
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	IF that's a questions yes! it's been said the X-Meridian sound better than ANY X-fi...

Nov 13, 2006, 01:14 PM	#16
skinnie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	do you recomend the fortissimo 4?I am thinkin in buyin one for the xmas :P will it be better than my soundstorm?it's for a X-530 speaker kit.. __________________ DFI NF2 Ultra+Athlon XP-Mobile 2600+ [SP97] 2x512 Mushkin Redline Xp4000 [OCZ XTC Cooler] Albatron 6800GT@Ultra 256mb DDR3 [VF900CU] Terratec Aureon Space 7.1@Prodigy 7.1 Audigy 2 ZS Logitech X-530 5.1 Sennheiser HD201

Nov 13, 2006, 01:25 PM	#17
INSTG8R DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canadian lost in Norway Posts: 527 Rep Power: 0	Tough call really. I mean Soundstorm is the best onboard solution for its era. I dont know that it would be that much of an upgrade, thats just my opinion tho __________________ Sys. Specs. Intel E6600@3.2\|Abit IP35 Pro\|2x1024 Crucial Ballistix PC8500 \|Sapphire HD4870 512\|Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500G SATAII 16MB w/PRT\|SB X-Fi Fatality\|TT Tough Power 1200W\|TT Kandalf L.C.S.\|Samsung 204B 20" 5ms LCD\|Logitech G25\|Logitech G5\|Logitech G15\|Saitek X-52+Pro Rudder Pedals\|TrackIR w/Trackclip Pro 3DMark06

Nov 13, 2006, 02:46 PM	#18
Azultra DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	There are some (intentionnal?) confusion around the Soundstorm nature, which is nothing but a DSP It is very cool for digital, but on most (all afaik) nforce mb it was coupled to a scurvy ALC650 for d/a conversion Last edited by Azultra; Nov 13, 2006 at 02:53 PM.

Nov 13, 2006, 05:40 PM	#19
skinnie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	yup..it's the alc650 that my board uses..I had a 2ZS awesome sound..but the drivers were too heavy for my taste..the fort 3 that I have in the other system is a lil complicated to give sound of my taste here..but in the other system with almost 10year speakers it gives a good good sound I think..but do you think the fort4 is a good upgrade from my alc650? __________________ DFI NF2 Ultra+Athlon XP-Mobile 2600+ [SP97] 2x512 Mushkin Redline Xp4000 [OCZ XTC Cooler] Albatron 6800GT@Ultra 256mb DDR3 [VF900CU] Terratec Aureon Space 7.1@Prodigy 7.1 Audigy 2 ZS Logitech X-530 5.1 Sennheiser HD201

Nov 14, 2006, 07:31 PM	#22
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	@Skinnie, soundcards rule over a onboard. Your games will come to life. FI you don't have enough money to get a Audigy 2 Zs you can get the Audigy 2 value -same card with some minor exceptions. Even the AUdigy 4's are cheap right now...hope this helps.

Nov 14, 2006, 07:39 PM	#23
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	If money is a concern then you might be interested in 2 other X-FI cards that Creative put out. They are geared more towards the "lower" end of the spectrum. One is the XtremeAudio, and the othe is the XtremeGamer (Of note, both have front panel audio support built onto the board themselves by way of an Intel HD compatible header). Both of those cards will run you about $75.00 US (the gamer is usually a little bit more). __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Nov 15, 2006, 08:06 AM	#26
skinnie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	Azultra do you have a fortissimo 4?or any envy24 card? __________________ DFI NF2 Ultra+Athlon XP-Mobile 2600+ [SP97] 2x512 Mushkin Redline Xp4000 [OCZ XTC Cooler] Albatron 6800GT@Ultra 256mb DDR3 [VF900CU] Terratec Aureon Space 7.1@Prodigy 7.1 Audigy 2 ZS Logitech X-530 5.1 Sennheiser HD201

Nov 15, 2006, 08:12 AM	#27
Azultra DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Yes I own a Fortissimo IV, by far the best value for money in that price range.

Nov 15, 2006, 03:05 PM	#28
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	Why is a AUdigy 2 ZS or Value inferior? They still sound great given their price. If he doesn't care about EAX then yeah leave Creative cards alone. If your telling him that a fortismmo is better then a Audigy 2 then I have never seen or heard that. If he is not interested in gaming then there are alot better cards out there... Envy24 chipsets? c'mon those chipsets are how old ? and there are alot better card out there.... I personally just bought a X-Meridian and this is the best card I have ever heard...easily. Even the sound quality of a X-fi cannot compare to it..... As for Headphone Technologies I haven't heard ANYTHING better then Dolby Headphone... Of course sound is subjective, so things I like may not be things you like..... Last edited by ROBSCIX; Nov 15, 2006 at 03:14 PM.

Nov 15, 2006, 09:35 PM	#29
skinnie DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	well ppl..an X-meridian is a lot more expensive than the Fortissimo 4..For the fortissimo 4 I'll give about 50eur...in that price range what do you recomend?creative has a good sound but the drivers are heavy... I am getting interested in the fortissimo 4 but the lack of "real" opinions except azultra has putting some fear on me... edit: other option is an used HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 Gold/ Dolby Digital Live __________________ DFI NF2 Ultra+Athlon XP-Mobile 2600+ [SP97] 2x512 Mushkin Redline Xp4000 [OCZ XTC Cooler] Albatron 6800GT@Ultra 256mb DDR3 [VF900CU] Terratec Aureon Space 7.1@Prodigy 7.1 Audigy 2 ZS Logitech X-530 5.1 Sennheiser HD201 Last edited by skinnie; Nov 15, 2006 at 09:48 PM.