New soundcard, which one to choose?

Shaga · Mar 27, 2005, 06:14 PM

I bought sound blaster live! 24bit during my computer upgrade, I'm totally disappointed. Many bugs with the drivers, errors during eax, linux doesn't support easily, cannot use even kxproject-drivers.

I chose to use my motherboards realtek ac850 ac97 7.1, with modified nvidia driver, does ok.

I chose sb live! 24bit in the first place because regular live! was kind of okay.

I have logitech X-530 speakers http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9067 now.

I'm looking for replacement for live! 24bit, I have spare pcie 1x slots on mobo. I'm looking for good mp3-playing quality, dvd-sound quality and gaming quality while using 5.1. I'd also love to use eax4 advanced hd.

I hate creative drivers, and I'd love to get other card than audigy. Any recommendations? Thanks

GeneralClaymore · Mar 27, 2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaga

I bought sound blaster live! 24bit during my computer upgrade, I'm totally disappointed. Many bugs with the drivers, errors during eax, linux doesn't support easily, cannot use even kxproject-drivers.

I chose to use my motherboards realtek ac850 ac97 7.1, with modified nvidia driver, does ok.

I chose sb live! 24bit in the first place because regular live! was kind of okay.

I have logitech X-530 speakers http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9067 now.

I'm looking for replacement for live! 24bit, I have spare pcie 1x slots on mobo. I'm looking for good mp3-playing quality, dvd-sound quality and gaming quality while using 5.1. I'd also love to use eax4 advanced hd.

I hate creative drivers, and I'd love to get other card than audigy. Any recommendations? Thanks

i recommand the audigy2zs if u can take that Sblive 24bit back, i heard lots of problems with the sblive24bit. though i rather use that sblive 24bit than that onboard.

i have that same onboard sound also

. if u can either sell off that sblive24bit or return it, pick up ur self a audigy2zs.

Shaga · Mar 27, 2005, 06:39 PM

This was so cheap that it wouldn't harm to trash it

Blackboost · Mar 27, 2005, 07:52 PM

Shaga,

Did you tried using the Youp New Year Package 2005 with your card? If not, Get an Audigy 2ZS and use that Package. Its simply awesome!!

Pluvious · Mar 27, 2005, 08:45 PM

I just upgraded my Audigy card to the Audigy 2 ZS and it was a huge difference. Much more detail and spacial effect. Here's a link to where I got mine for $69 :

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0

swatX · Mar 27, 2005, 09:28 PM

i would go for audigy2zs but if thats too costly then go for a audigy2 and softmod it to audigy2zs

Shaga · Mar 27, 2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboost

Shaga,

Did you tried using the Youp New Year Package 2005 with your card? If not, Get an Audigy 2ZS and use that Package. Its simply awesome!!

New Year Package supports every other sb card except live! 24bit

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatX

i would go for audigy2zs but if thats too costly then go for a audigy2 and softmod it to audigy2zs

How often softmod works out and are there any cons of that against bought audigy2zs? That begins to interest me

swatX · Mar 27, 2005, 11:10 PM

they work on any audigy2 card except the ones from dell.. check this thread

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/audio-general-technical-discussion/66414-new-year-package-sblive-audigy-audigy2-audgiy2zs-series.html

GeneralClaymore · Mar 27, 2005, 11:18 PM

the real ZS will gives u hardware DTS and DD-ex decoder . while the softmod would let u do DTS and DD-EX in software, which dont sounds as good as doing it in hardware.

cuz with my a2 normal doing it in software didnt sound as good and there was clicks and pops. but when i switch to a ZS it sounds much much better doing the DD-ex and DTS in hardware.

if u dont watch DVds movies on ur comp then go for audigy2 normal. there are some improvements here and there. between the a2 and zs.

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 12:12 AM

GeneralClaymore - No Audigy card has hardware decoding. It's all done in the software (tat's why softmodding cards works for decoding)

the sb live! 24 bit is a poor excuse for a card, and doesn't even have the same DSP chipset as the real live! cards

go for an audigy 2 series imho

GeneralClaymore · Mar 28, 2005, 01:20 AM

Dj stick ur wrong the Audigy2 ZS has DD-ex and DTS hardware decoding but it does not have encoding.

no audigy card has encoding, but A2zs has hardware Decoder. ur mixing it up so b4 u say something u should read up on the hardware first b4 u come charging in telling other people that have the A2zs that there wrong.

The Audigy2ZS and Audigy4 pro are the only Cards in the audigy series that has a Hardware DD-EX and DD DTS decoder. i know the audigy 2zs do not have a hardware Encoding.

The Audigy 1 does not do DD and DTS in hardware since it does not have a hardware Decoder. the Audigy2zs and Audigy4 pro does.

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 02:42 AM

i know the difference between encoding and decoding
i'm not trying to confront anyone here - but are you sure the ZS has hardware decoding?
i have an audigy 2 zs (SB0350) myself. I'm not too sure that it does have hardware decoding.
if softmodding allows decoding by the drivers on other soundcards in the series, in a round-a-bout way it proves that the ZS does not have hardware decoding, as other wise the decoding aspect of the ZSdrivers on an A1 card would not work at all.
If the ZS has h/w decoding, then the original Audigy 2 series almost certainly will too, as there is very little difference between the cards, except for an extra output channel

It's all done in software afaik

swatX · Mar 28, 2005, 02:50 AM

so what is real diffrence between audigy 2 and audify 2 zs?

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 03:06 AM

7.1 vs 6.1
and different driver/apps bundle

swatX · Mar 28, 2005, 03:52 AM

thats it? besides audigy being 106db and ZS being 108db? so there wont be any diffrence if i upgrade from audigy 2 to audigy 2 zs game/music/movie wise?

thanks

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 04:05 AM

no, not really
the difference in SNR may be due to different dac components used, but hardly noticeable

GeneralClaymore · Mar 28, 2005, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

i know the difference between encoding and decoding
i'm not trying to confront anyone here - but are you sure the ZS has hardware decoding?
i have an audigy 2 zs (SB0350) myself. I'm not too sure that it does have hardware decoding.
if softmodding allows decoding by the drivers on other soundcards in the series, in a round-a-bout way it proves that the ZS does not have hardware decoding, as other wise the decoding aspect of the ZSdrivers on an A1 card would not work at all.
If the ZS has h/w decoding, then the original Audigy 2 series almost certainly will too, as there is very little difference between the cards, except for an extra output channel

It's all done in software afaik

i about to prove to u that u wrong. the Audigy2 normal does not have a built in decoder so it cant do DTS and DD.

The Audigy2 Zs does have the built in Decoder. its in the emu chip. they added it to it. the audigy2 only does it in software cuz its does not have a built in one.

if u was looking carefully u would notice in the Audigy2 ZS info it sayins hardware Decode and has DD-EX and DTS listed.

THen u look in the Auidgy 2 info it does not list a Decode. i gonna have to show u.

Audigy2Zs

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro features built-in DTS-ES and Dolby Digital® EX decoding to deliver captivating audio playback in 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 surround with DVD movies.

it says here . http://www.creative.com/products/pro...uct=4915&nav=1 its hardware , if it was software it would had said. and on newegg if u look it wouldnt say hardware Decode. plus look on ur box. cuz it says it there.

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/

The audigy2 does not have a DTS decoder nor a DD-EX decoder so it cant do DTS and DD-EX in hardware.
it

Experience superior multi-channel audio from MP3s, CDs, DirectSound® 3D games and Dolby Digital® EX movies with a rear center speaker

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 enhances immersion with improved directionality and ambience perception delivered through an additional rear center channel on 6.1 speaker systems, bringing vivid and intense realism that will thrust you right into the heart of your favourite music, games and movies

i got all of the info from the links.

so There goes ur proff that it does. i knew i was right, in the future go dig ur info up. instead of assuing that u know. when u dont, i didnt want to have to proff to u that i was right. but u left me no choice.

so if u still want to say it does it in software go ahead. but you know ur wrong.

Shaga · Mar 28, 2005, 06:08 AM

Calm down bros, seems that getting Audigy 2 ZS Bulk would be best choice for me, even tho I hate sound blasters. It's hard to get eax4 without one. I'll see if I can trade this live! 24bit to it. Keep up the talk if you are not through yet

I'm still taking tips and recommendations.

GeneralClaymore · Mar 28, 2005, 06:14 AM

i wasnt fighting i was giving him the facts and info. i knew what i was saying was right XD. i just tried to get u the right facts while showing dj stick

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 06:26 AM

GeneralClaymore: I now see where you are getting your point from.
Creative's mis-leading marketing leads many people to assume features are supported by hardware, when in fact they are software. There is no mention of "hardware decoding" in those above links. You aren't the only person to fall to CL's deception.
Before i lay this argument to rest, let me put forward one question to you. If the A2ZS does have a hardware decoder, then how, if say an Audigy 1 card was soft-modded, can that card decode these input streams? The driver code to run the hardware decoder would be far different to code that runs a software decoder.

Shaga · Mar 28, 2005, 06:33 AM

Here is short description how Creative does things

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22019

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 06:36 AM

shaga: for your situation, an OEM Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 2 Value should do you fine imo

GeneralClaymore · Mar 28, 2005, 06:37 AM

cuz the whole point of the softmod is to let you use stuff u may never beable to use without modding it. same for Audigy2 normal them drivers was ment so u could have a 95% ZS with out going out buying one. i gonna stick with my facts and my knowage.

From what i heard. i listen to both Audigy2 normal and my A2zs when i played a DTS movie. with the Audigy2 it sounded bad , it was doing it in software.

when i listen to the same movie but with the normal drivers not the softmod it sounded better and more crisp. it doesnt take a rocket sci to know what is using software and what is using hardware.

so i gonna say this. u got to remember. the softmod are just Audigy2 Zs drivers. u got to remember that they changed a system file into fooling it that you have a A2zs when u dont.and they modded it in a way to let you do the decodering in software where normally you couldnt.

if u dont use the softmod and use the normal drivers for ur Audigy1 and 2 it will not do Dts cuz i tried with a Dts movie i had. after i used the softmod with my A2 it let me use DTS. but it sounded bad.

When i used my Audigy2zs with the normal drivers that came on the cd and tried a DTS movie it did it in DTS and it sounded way more better. therefore it has to have a hardware decoder and not a software one cuz if it did. it would had sound like, what the audigy2 sounded like when it did the DTS in software.

so i still right. your not looking hard or you do not want to belive. creative didnt trick no one and they sure didnt trick me. the facts are. the Audigy2 dont have a hardware decoder, while the A2zs does no matter how you want to look at it.

i gave u the facts but you want to tell me that i got fooled when i didnt. it not misleading cuz it does have what it does. heres a idea go on google and search for once u even said ur self u wasnt sure. but i prove it to you. go on google and search. u will be suprise on what you find.

one the Audigy2 zs has something that the audigy2 and others dont have. of course it gonna run it in software if it does not have a hardware decoder after u softmod it. it simply does not have a hardware decoder on the audigy 1 nor 2.

audigy2 zs is able to do it cuz it has a hardware decoder no matter if it maybe the same chip. you know they can add stuff to the chip and the sound pcb.

it called a soft mod for a reason and not a hardmod

take omega drivers for exsample. when u mod a 9500 into a 9700pro , its done the same way with them drivers. now take the hardmoding of a X800pro vivo when it turn into a XT. if u could hardmod a A2 into a A2zs then u would have a A2zs but we know that will never happen

. now do u understand Dj Stick.

Shaga · Mar 28, 2005, 06:44 AM

No, you didn't waste my time GeneralClaymore(nor your time). I got quite amount of information about audigy2s in general, I just checked through google and there has been quite a lot talking around the web about hardware decoding in audigy2 zs.

And dj_stick, your recommendations seems good so I think I'm through with this "planning part".

Thank you all

I'll go with the audigy2 value or OEM audigy2 zs, depends on which one I'm getting easily from a local computer store(it's quite good actually).

serpentx · Mar 28, 2005, 08:38 AM

Well, I'm with DJ Stick on this one. As GeneralClaymore has pointed out, all the mod does is to fool the system into believing an Audigy 2 or Audigy into believing it is a ZS. However, modders like Youp did not add a software decoder into the drivers. If Audigy2 ZS can decode in hardware, why the hell will Creative still build a software decoder into the drivers itself?

On a slightly different point, I must admit I don't know if the decoding for ZS is indeed software or hardware. The EMU DSP is a programmable DSP. And as far as i know, there is hardly any difference in the EMU DSPs in the Audigy, Audigy 2 and ZS. The only differences between A2 and ZS are the additional channel and higher SNR DACs. Sometimes I wonder, since the DSP is programmable, which means even if the decoding is done by the DSP, it is still kinda software as the programming is not hardwired into the DSP itself. So what's the difference between decoding done by the DSP or the decoding done by the CPU, other than the fact that it saves CPU overhead. The same goes for EAX. When people says EAX is done in hardware, it simply means calculations are done by the DSP, when the implementation is still software based. If it is truely hardware, how on earth can we upgrade EAX 3 to EAX 4 by just a driver upgrade? In this sense, DTS decoding is still software, but simply that the drivers program the DSP to do the decoding instead of the CPU. If Creative cards can indeed do true hardware decoding, why will people still pay more for dedicated hardware decoders for their computers which costs so much more? Therefore, the routines for decoding IS in the drivers, which means its still software. If its hardware, the drivers need not contain a decoder and will simply just contain routines which simply turns on the decoding hardware part of the DSP. But if its the latter, than the EMU is not entirely a programmable DSP anymore.

As for why GeneralClaymore is able to hear a noticeable difference between the two cards I am unable to know, as I was unable to tell much difference between my own A2 and ZS on my 2 computers at home. Ironically, it sounded better on my personal com with A2, probably because I'm using much better speakers. If the problem lies in the sound, I cannot see how better speakers can make it sounds nicer instead of just amplifying the flaws. This leads to my conclusion that there is not much difference in sound between the 2 cards using the same modded drivers.

Shaga · Mar 28, 2005, 08:57 AM

Hmm, this might be something interesting to wait for:
http://www.ntcompatible.com/story36906.html

Sound Blaster Zenith, PCIe 1x

Any thoughts of it?

**dj_stick** · Mar 28, 2005, 09:30 AM

serpentX on the DSP and hardware/software processing
software processing is defined as any processing done by the CPU, and hardware processing is defined as any processing done by a specific piece of hardware.
afaik the 10kX chip does not have the resources available for hardware decoding.

as for the Zenith card - i would like to see what this card can actually do (hardware ac3 encode/decode perhaps…)

Shaga · Mar 28, 2005, 03:00 PM

This is just talk friend, don't take it so hard on yourself.

Cheers!

serpentx · Mar 29, 2005, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

serpentX on the DSP and hardware/software processing
software processing is defined as any processing done by the CPU, and hardware processing is defined as any processing done by a specific piece of hardware.
afaik the 10kX chip does not have the resources available for hardware decoding.

as for the Zenith card - i would like to see what this card can actually do (hardware ac3 encode/decode perhaps…)

Ah, thanks for the clarification. On a different note, I'm Singaporean and even I'm appalled by the marketing tactics of creative. People should go claim the rebate from the class action. 25% or $60+ discount is a pretty good deal.

Judas · Mar 29, 2005, 10:31 PM

IF you every happen to come across a Hercules Fortissimo/Game Theater XP or Digifire 7.1 sound card.... pick one up.... damn slick and cheap.... amazing driversets.... preform excellently and sound great...

Mar 27, 2005, 06:14 PM	#1
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	New soundcard, which one to choose? I bought sound blaster live! 24bit during my computer upgrade, I'm totally disappointed. Many bugs with the drivers, errors during eax, linux doesn't support easily, cannot use even kxproject-drivers. I chose to use my motherboards realtek ac850 ac97 7.1, with modified nvidia driver, does ok. I chose sb live! 24bit in the first place because regular live! was kind of okay. I have logitech X-530 speakers http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/pr...CONTENTID=9067 now. I'm looking for replacement for live! 24bit, I have spare pcie 1x slots on mobo. I'm looking for good mp3-playing quality, dvd-sound quality and gaming quality while using 5.1. I'd also love to use eax4 advanced hd. I hate creative drivers, and I'd love to get other card than audigy. Any recommendations? Thanks __________________ Server: Currently Offline

Mar 27, 2005, 06:39 PM	Thread Starter #3
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	This was so cheap that it wouldn't harm to trash it __________________ Server: Currently Offline

Mar 27, 2005, 08:45 PM	#5
Pluvious Elisha = hottie Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USA CA. SF Bay Area Posts: 1,318 Rep Power: 0	I just upgraded my Audigy card to the Audigy 2 ZS and it was a huge difference. Much more detail and spacial effect. Here's a link to where I got mine for $69 : http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-178&depa=0 __________________

Mar 27, 2005, 09:28 PM	#6
swatX ba\|\\|\\|ed Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 618 Rep Power: 0	i would go for audigy2zs but if thats too costly then go for a audigy2 and softmod it to audigy2zs __________________ thx stick for the sig

Mar 27, 2005, 11:10 PM	#8
swatX ba\|\\|\\|ed Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 618 Rep Power: 0	they work on any audigy2 card except the ones from dell.. check this thread http://www.hardwareheaven.com/audio-general-technical-discussion/66414-new-year-package-sblive-audigy-audigy2-audgiy2zs-series.html __________________ thx stick for the sig

Mar 27, 2005, 07:52 PM	#4
Blackboost -=[DHzer0point Author]=- Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 0 Rep Power: 0	Shaga, Did you tried using the Youp New Year Package 2005 with your card? If not, Get an Audigy 2ZS and use that Package. Its simply awesome!!

Mar 27, 2005, 11:18 PM	#9
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	the real ZS will gives u hardware DTS and DD-ex decoder . while the softmod would let u do DTS and DD-EX in software, which dont sounds as good as doing it in hardware. cuz with my a2 normal doing it in software didnt sound as good and there was clicks and pops. but when i switch to a ZS it sounds much much better doing the DD-ex and DTS in hardware. if u dont watch DVds movies on ur comp then go for audigy2 normal. there are some improvements here and there. between the a2 and zs. __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm

Mar 28, 2005, 01:20 AM	#11
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Dj stick ur wrong the Audigy2 ZS has DD-ex and DTS hardware decoding but it does not have encoding. no audigy card has encoding, but A2zs has hardware Decoder. ur mixing it up so b4 u say something u should read up on the hardware first b4 u come charging in telling other people that have the A2zs that there wrong. The Audigy2ZS and Audigy4 pro are the only Cards in the audigy series that has a Hardware DD-EX and DD DTS decoder. i know the audigy 2zs do not have a hardware Encoding. The Audigy 1 does not do DD and DTS in hardware since it does not have a hardware Decoder. the Audigy2zs and Audigy4 pro does. __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm Last edited by GeneralClaymore; Mar 28, 2005 at 01:27 AM.

Mar 28, 2005, 02:50 AM	#13
swatX ba\|\\|\\|ed Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 618 Rep Power: 0	so what is real diffrence between audigy 2 and audify 2 zs? __________________ thx stick for the sig

Mar 28, 2005, 03:52 AM	#15
swatX ba\|\\|\\|ed Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 618 Rep Power: 0	thats it? besides audigy being 106db and ZS being 108db? so there wont be any diffrence if i upgrade from audigy 2 to audigy 2 zs game/music/movie wise? thanks __________________ thx stick for the sig

Mar 28, 2005, 06:08 AM	Thread Starter #18
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	Calm down bros, seems that getting Audigy 2 ZS Bulk would be best choice for me, even tho I hate sound blasters. It's hard to get eax4 without one. I'll see if I can trade this live! 24bit to it. Keep up the talk if you are not through yet I'm still taking tips and recommendations. __________________ Server: Currently Offline

Mar 28, 2005, 06:14 AM	#19
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	i wasnt fighting i was giving him the facts and info. i knew what i was saying was right XD. i just tried to get u the right facts while showing dj stick __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm

Mar 28, 2005, 06:33 AM	Thread Starter #21
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	Here is short description how Creative does things http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22019 __________________ Server: Currently Offline

Mar 28, 2005, 06:37 AM	#23
GeneralClaymore HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MI Posts: 434 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	cuz the whole point of the softmod is to let you use stuff u may never beable to use without modding it. same for Audigy2 normal them drivers was ment so u could have a 95% ZS with out going out buying one. i gonna stick with my facts and my knowage. From what i heard. i listen to both Audigy2 normal and my A2zs when i played a DTS movie. with the Audigy2 it sounded bad , it was doing it in software. when i listen to the same movie but with the normal drivers not the softmod it sounded better and more crisp. it doesnt take a rocket sci to know what is using software and what is using hardware. so i gonna say this. u got to remember. the softmod are just Audigy2 Zs drivers. u got to remember that they changed a system file into fooling it that you have a A2zs when u dont.and they modded it in a way to let you do the decodering in software where normally you couldnt. if u dont use the softmod and use the normal drivers for ur Audigy1 and 2 it will not do Dts cuz i tried with a Dts movie i had. after i used the softmod with my A2 it let me use DTS. but it sounded bad. When i used my Audigy2zs with the normal drivers that came on the cd and tried a DTS movie it did it in DTS and it sounded way more better. therefore it has to have a hardware decoder and not a software one cuz if it did. it would had sound like, what the audigy2 sounded like when it did the DTS in software. so i still right. your not looking hard or you do not want to belive. creative didnt trick no one and they sure didnt trick me. the facts are. the Audigy2 dont have a hardware decoder, while the A2zs does no matter how you want to look at it. i gave u the facts but you want to tell me that i got fooled when i didnt. it not misleading cuz it does have what it does. heres a idea go on google and search for once u even said ur self u wasnt sure. but i prove it to you. go on google and search. u will be suprise on what you find. one the Audigy2 zs has something that the audigy2 and others dont have. of course it gonna run it in software if it does not have a hardware decoder after u softmod it. it simply does not have a hardware decoder on the audigy 1 nor 2. audigy2 zs is able to do it cuz it has a hardware decoder no matter if it maybe the same chip. you know they can add stuff to the chip and the sound pcb. it called a soft mod for a reason and not a hardmod take omega drivers for exsample. when u mod a 9500 into a 9700pro , its done the same way with them drivers. now take the hardmoding of a X800pro vivo when it turn into a XT. if u could hardmod a A2 into a A2zs then u would have a A2zs but we know that will never happen . now do u understand Dj Stick. __________________ Source: x-fi titanium hd 2x LT1124ACN+ 2x LT1115 > Matrix M-Stage V2 /w 2x LME49710NA> DT880 pro 250ohm Last edited by GeneralClaymore; Mar 28, 2005 at 06:51 AM.

Mar 28, 2005, 06:44 AM	Thread Starter #24
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	No, you didn't waste my time GeneralClaymore(nor your time). I got quite amount of information about audigy2s in general, I just checked through google and there has been quite a lot talking around the web about hardware decoding in audigy2 zs. And dj_stick, your recommendations seems good so I think I'm through with this "planning part". Thank you all I'll go with the audigy2 value or OEM audigy2 zs, depends on which one I'm getting easily from a local computer store(it's quite good actually). __________________ Server: Currently Offline

Mar 28, 2005, 08:38 AM	#25
serpentx DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	Well, I'm with DJ Stick on this one. As GeneralClaymore has pointed out, all the mod does is to fool the system into believing an Audigy 2 or Audigy into believing it is a ZS. However, modders like Youp did not add a software decoder into the drivers. If Audigy2 ZS can decode in hardware, why the hell will Creative still build a software decoder into the drivers itself? On a slightly different point, I must admit I don't know if the decoding for ZS is indeed software or hardware. The EMU DSP is a programmable DSP. And as far as i know, there is hardly any difference in the EMU DSPs in the Audigy, Audigy 2 and ZS. The only differences between A2 and ZS are the additional channel and higher SNR DACs. Sometimes I wonder, since the DSP is programmable, which means even if the decoding is done by the DSP, it is still kinda software as the programming is not hardwired into the DSP itself. So what's the difference between decoding done by the DSP or the decoding done by the CPU, other than the fact that it saves CPU overhead. The same goes for EAX. When people says EAX is done in hardware, it simply means calculations are done by the DSP, when the implementation is still software based. If it is truely hardware, how on earth can we upgrade EAX 3 to EAX 4 by just a driver upgrade? In this sense, DTS decoding is still software, but simply that the drivers program the DSP to do the decoding instead of the CPU. If Creative cards can indeed do true hardware decoding, why will people still pay more for dedicated hardware decoders for their computers which costs so much more? Therefore, the routines for decoding IS in the drivers, which means its still software. If its hardware, the drivers need not contain a decoder and will simply just contain routines which simply turns on the decoding hardware part of the DSP. But if its the latter, than the EMU is not entirely a programmable DSP anymore. As for why GeneralClaymore is able to hear a noticeable difference between the two cards I am unable to know, as I was unable to tell much difference between my own A2 and ZS on my 2 computers at home. Ironically, it sounded better on my personal com with A2, probably because I'm using much better speakers. If the problem lies in the sound, I cannot see how better speakers can make it sounds nicer instead of just amplifying the flaws. This leads to my conclusion that there is not much difference in sound between the 2 cards using the same modded drivers.

Mar 28, 2005, 08:57 AM	Thread Starter #26
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	Hmm, this might be something interesting to wait for: http://www.ntcompatible.com/story36906.html Sound Blaster Zenith, PCIe 1x Any thoughts of it? __________________ Server: Currently Offline Last edited by Shaga; Mar 28, 2005 at 09:08 AM.

Mar 28, 2005, 03:00 PM	Thread Starter #28
Shaga Intelligent Life Form Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nordic Region Posts: 383 Rep Power: 48 System Specs	This is just talk friend, don't take it so hard on yourself. Cheers! __________________ Server: Currently Offline