Audigy 2, worth the money?

Zardon · Nov 21, 2002, 07:59 PM

im thinking of upgrading to an Audigy 2 from the onboard digital 5.1 sound on my MSI KT3 ultra2 raid mobo.

considering most of my listening is stereo Mp3, is this worth the money or not?

I have a pretty high powered sound system in the house, 2 subwoofers and 4 marantz speakers .......

UberLord · Nov 21, 2002, 08:31 PM

Audigy 2 won't be in my computer anytime soon as it features some nasty DRM features

Necrosis · Nov 21, 2002, 10:04 PM

Hmmm.....

I'm quite happy with mine despite the fact of disliking Creative. If you do any gaminig I would say it "might" be worth the upgrade. However, if this is strictly for music I would have to say a Delta would mate w/ your Hifi equipment better.

elektrik · Dec 12, 2002, 11:34 AM

what are the DRM features in the Audigy 2? I'm currently using my motherboard's on-board SoundMAX audio, but I'm looking to get the Audigy 2 later on. If there really are nasty protections then I'll have to forget the upgrade

RIV@NVX · Dec 12, 2002, 11:50 AM

Well, maybe it is...
It is a mixture of good and bad components (ADCs, DACs and it still has AC97) with internal 16/48 DSP processing.
It is like Audigy with 24/96 and 24/192 output on analog.

GDUG · Dec 13, 2002, 04:04 PM

I don't like mine at all.Every two weeks or so it begins to squeel pop and hiss ;reinstalling the drivers solves this but it's a pain.
Also,the apps never work correctly.
I would use the KX drivers, but I can't seem to get the Mic to work in multiplayer games.
It's an A2 sorry.

RIV@NVX · Dec 13, 2002, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GDUG
I don't like mine at all.Every two weeks or so it begins to squeel pop and hiss ;reinstalling the drivers solves this but it's a pain.
Also,the apps never work correctly.
I would use the KX drivers, but I can't seem to get the Mic to work in multiplayer games.

Audigy or Audigy2?

Zardon · Dec 13, 2002, 11:45 PM

well ive had the card a few weeks now and I think i posted all this in another thread but nevermind.

the card hardware is great and the audio output is fantastic, crystal clear and surprisingly clear of any interferance through my high end seperates.

Initially I had major issues with the creative card, thinking it was a driver problem and it was only after a week or so of teeth gnashing and hair pulling that I sorted it out (well I get the occasional hard lock but no more than once a week).

Creatives software SUCKS, its buggy and it causes most of the problems with the card.

so if you get one, or anyone gets one and is having problems my advice is this.

deinstall the whole software package, including drivers. clean your registry and install JUST the drivers, bare, nothing else.

it works ... but I still think creative suck. always have, and I cant see it changing in the future.

~~David~~ · Dec 13, 2002, 11:52 PM

I have one aswell........ Sound is wonderful! software cause my pc to crash. Take my advice , only install the drivers. Not the creative software. I had tons of random BSOD`s!

RIV@NVX · Dec 14, 2002, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David
I have one aswell........ Sound is wonderful! software cause my pc to crash. Take my advice , only install the drivers. Not the creative software. I had tons of random BSOD`s!

Hmmm... BSODs mean that it touches something into system files.
So...
But AudioHQ is really needed (for SoundFont loading, mixer etc.)

RIV@NVX · Dec 14, 2002, 01:15 AM

Detailed info on Audigy2:
STAC9721 AC'97 codec - much better than Creative CT1297 used on Audigy - this STAC9721 is used on some Live! cards
Crystal CS4382 - DAC
Crystal CS4392 - DAC for headphones
both very high quality DACs
Philips UDA1361 ADC - nice one too

caqde · Dec 14, 2002, 02:47 AM

Well I think it sounds like a good sound card. As for the software I will state that almost everything that just came out has major software problems and I believe this will be fixed later. I have seen that people had problems with the 9700 Radeon and even the Geforce4 TI's 4600 etc.

My word of thought is NEVER buy computer hardware until it has had at least been out for 6 months or the message boards for the product have had low amounts of posts for it crashing their PC's.

RIV@NVX · Dec 14, 2002, 02:54 AM

Hey hey... easy... Seems like you don't know what is CL.

Wiz4rd- · Dec 14, 2002, 07:55 AM

Well zardon let me tell ya buddy, my old 5.1 card died on me so I went with the audigy 2. To say the least im very dissapointed, right now audigy 2 and ati video cards = disaster. Prepare for your PC to lock up lots and lots. Personally I think the card is a total hype and a waste of money im sending mine back ASAP!

RIV@NVX · Dec 14, 2002, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wiz4rd-
Well zardon let me tell ya buddy, my old 5.1 card died on me so I went with the audigy 2. To say the least im very dissapointed, right now audigy 2 and ati video cards = disaster. Prepare for your PC to lock up lots and lots. Personally I think the card is a total hype and a waste of money im sending mine back ASAP!

Send back? And you will get the money back?

Necrosis · Dec 14, 2002, 03:11 PM

So far I've been lucky with mine. I haven't had any more lock ups related the sound card since "tweaking" my system. The problems I was having before was because of having a KT400 board and a 9700. Once I fixed these problem things "seem" to be okay. However, windows update seems a bit flaky at times.

I wouldn't take my experience as the norm; I seem to have odd luck when it comes to getting sound cards to work.

Kelsenellenelvian · Dec 14, 2002, 03:38 PM

NO!!!

Nov 21, 2002, 07:59 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	Audigy 2, worth the money? im thinking of upgrading to an Audigy 2 from the onboard digital 5.1 sound on my MSI KT3 ultra2 raid mobo. considering most of my listening is stereo Mp3, is this worth the money or not? I have a pretty high powered sound system in the house, 2 subwoofers and 4 marantz speakers .......

Nov 21, 2002, 08:31 PM	#2
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 70	Audigy 2 won't be in my computer anytime soon as it features some nasty DRM features __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

Dec 12, 2002, 11:50 AM	#5
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 67 System Specs	Well, maybe it is... It is a mixture of good and bad components (ADCs, DACs and it still has AC97) with internal 16/48 DSP processing. It is like Audigy with 24/96 and 24/192 output on analog. __________________ -- Vedran

Dec 13, 2002, 04:04 PM	#6
GDUG DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	I don't like mine at all.Every two weeks or so it begins to squeel pop and hiss ;reinstalling the drivers solves this but it's a pain. Also,the apps never work correctly. I would use the KX drivers, but I can't seem to get the Mic to work in multiplayer games. It's an A2 sorry. Last edited by GDUG; Dec 13, 2002 at 10:38 PM.

Dec 14, 2002, 01:15 AM	#11
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 67 System Specs	Detailed info on Audigy2: STAC9721 AC'97 codec - much better than Creative CT1297 used on Audigy - this STAC9721 is used on some Live! cards Crystal CS4382 - DAC Crystal CS4392 - DAC for headphones both very high quality DACs Philips UDA1361 ADC - nice one too __________________ -- Vedran

Nov 21, 2002, 10:04 PM	#3
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	Hmmm..... I'm quite happy with mine despite the fact of disliking Creative. If you do any gaminig I would say it "might" be worth the upgrade. However, if this is strictly for music I would have to say a Delta would mate w/ your Hifi equipment better.

Dec 12, 2002, 11:34 AM	#4
elektrik DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 13 Rep Power: 0	what are the DRM features in the Audigy 2? I'm currently using my motherboard's on-board SoundMAX audio, but I'm looking to get the Audigy 2 later on. If there really are nasty protections then I'll have to forget the upgrade

Dec 13, 2002, 11:45 PM	Thread Starter #8
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	well ive had the card a few weeks now and I think i posted all this in another thread but nevermind. the card hardware is great and the audio output is fantastic, crystal clear and surprisingly clear of any interferance through my high end seperates. Initially I had major issues with the creative card, thinking it was a driver problem and it was only after a week or so of teeth gnashing and hair pulling that I sorted it out (well I get the occasional hard lock but no more than once a week). Creatives software SUCKS, its buggy and it causes most of the problems with the card. so if you get one, or anyone gets one and is having problems my advice is this. deinstall the whole software package, including drivers. clean your registry and install JUST the drivers, bare, nothing else. it works ... but I still think creative suck. always have, and I cant see it changing in the future.

Dec 13, 2002, 11:52 PM	#9
~~David~~ Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 959 Rep Power: 0	I have one aswell........ Sound is wonderful! software cause my pc to crash. Take my advice , only install the drivers. Not the creative software. I had tons of random BSOD`s!

Dec 14, 2002, 02:47 AM	#12
caqde HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: US, IL Posts: 502 Rep Power: 64 System Specs	Well I think it sounds like a good sound card. As for the software I will state that almost everything that just came out has major software problems and I believe this will be fixed later. I have seen that people had problems with the 9700 Radeon and even the Geforce4 TI's 4600 etc. My word of thought is NEVER buy computer hardware until it has had at least been out for 6 months or the message boards for the product have had low amounts of posts for it crashing their PC's. __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 925 AM3/ Giga-byte MA790XT-UD4P XFX HD5770 1GB / 2x2GB of GSKILL DDR3 10666 8-8-8-23 Samsung SH-S182D DVD-RW drive / Sony Optiarc BD-5300S BD-RW drive Western Digital WD1501FASS(Primary)/Western Digital 15EADS(Secondary)/Western Digital 7500AACS(Secondary)/Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320gb(Secondary)/Western Digital 3200KS 16MB 7200rpm SATAII HD(Secondary) Antec TP-550 / CoolerMaster CMStacker Sound Blaster X-FI Titanium Fatal1ty Professional / Creative Inspire 6600 6.1 speakers Samsugn T200HD 20" LCD Monitor / Logitech Internet 350 Black Keyboard Logitech MX510 Mouse

Dec 14, 2002, 02:54 AM	#13
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 67 System Specs	Hey hey... easy... Seems like you don't know what is CL. __________________ -- Vedran

Dec 14, 2002, 07:55 AM	#14
Wiz4rd- DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 54 Rep Power: 0	Zardon Well zardon let me tell ya buddy, my old 5.1 card died on me so I went with the audigy 2. To say the least im very dissapointed, right now audigy 2 and ati video cards = disaster. Prepare for your PC to lock up lots and lots. Personally I think the card is a total hype and a waste of money im sending mine back ASAP!

Dec 14, 2002, 03:11 PM	#16
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	So far I've been lucky with mine. I haven't had any more lock ups related the sound card since "tweaking" my system. The problems I was having before was because of having a KT400 board and a 9700. Once I fixed these problem things "seem" to be okay. However, windows update seems a bit flaky at times. I wouldn't take my experience as the norm; I seem to have odd luck when it comes to getting sound cards to work.

Dec 14, 2002, 03:38 PM	#17
Kelsenellenelvian Master of my own Destiny Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: EverDawn Kingdom,TruEarth Posts: 1,395 Rep Power: 0	NO!!! __________________ [color=#0000ff] Download Windows Post-Install Wizard v4.3.8 and WPI Lite v1.2 Here [/color][color=red][color=blue][/color][/color]