Sound cards

Kelsenellenelvian · Dec 7, 2002, 09:25 AM

Tired of creative.

Want a new card and I have always had creative so I don't have any experience with other cards.

Suggestions Please??

RIV@NVX · Dec 7, 2002, 09:29 AM

Other soundcards have very bad DLS synth (MIDI playback), usually don't support SoundFonts and have very bad 3D Audio Positioning.

If you can live with Windows 98/ME, take Aureal Vortex 2. Or Vortex Advantage.

Vampyromaniac · Dec 7, 2002, 11:02 AM

HEY!!! hahahahha You said Vortex 2 !!!!
I have Turtle Beach Montego II, hardware A3D 2.0 so sweeeet ahahhaha
I bet RIV had a Quadzilla at some point

Yeah. um, look at Philips I think, for music quality . . . I STILL haven't installed mine yet

Oh isn't XG good for MIDI playback? Do you listen to MIDI anyway???

RIV@NVX · Dec 7, 2002, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
HEY!!! hahahahha You said Vortex 2 !!!!
I have Turtle Beach Montego II, hardware A3D 2.0 so sweeeet ahahhaha
I bet RIV had a Quadzilla at some point

Yeah. um, look at Philips I think, for music quality . . . I STILL haven't installed mine yet
Oh isn't XG good for MIDI playback? Do you listen to MIDI anyway???

All cards except CL's ones, have EAX2 and so on, but have very bad positioning of audio (doh, only CL knows that

)...
Montego II is based on Vortex 2 chip, isn't it.
Actually I haven't had it (just checked knowledge base on Turtle Beach's page)....
And don't you remember how good was Diamond MX300 (it was only Vortex 2 based card in Croatia)?
I was thinking of buying one a long ago...
I would still buy it if someone wanted to sell it

And I am Riva, or RIV@NVX, just to mention.

Vampyromaniac · Dec 7, 2002, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RIV@NVX
Which DSP chip is Montego II based on?

And don't you remember how good was Diamond MX300?

And I am Riva, or RIV@NVX, just to mention.

Montego II = Vortex AU8830 chip . . . Vortex2

My buddy previous comp had MX300, along with Voodoo2 hahaha

Lol, OK "Riva"
hehe like the nvidia chip??

Geez EAX is totally useless to me btw. Well, not totally. . . plain stereo is impossible to play with. But with EAX it's so hard to pinpoint where other players are. And for some reason I can't use/hear voice-chat in Counter-Strike when I have A3D on, so sometimes I'm forced to use EAX.
Lol, I'm the only guy I know with only 2.1 speakers anyway . . . nobody I know uses A3D/EAX when cuz have 4 speakers. They look at me funny when I rave about A3D 2.0.
Is there any use anyway, for A3D or EAX when you have surround speakers?

. . . omg I need to sleep

RIV@NVX · Dec 7, 2002, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
Montego II = Vortex AU8830 chip . . . Vortex2

My buddy previous comp had MX300, along with Voodoo2 hahaha

Lol, OK "Riva"
hehe like the nvidia chip??

Geez EAX is totally useless to me btw. Well, not totally. . . plain stereo is impossible to play with. But with EAX it's so hard to pinpoint where other players are. And for some reason I can't use/hear voice-chat in Counter-Strike when I have A3D on, so sometimes I'm forced to use EAX.
Lol, I'm the only guy I know with only 2.1 speakers anyway . . . nobody I know uses A3D/EAX when cuz have 4 speakers. They look at me funny when I rave about A3D 2.0.
Is there any use anyway, for A3D or EAX when you have surround speakers?

. . . omg I need to sleep

So, Vortex Advantage is WORSE than Vortex 2.
As I said, most frequently available Vortex 2 Card in Croatia was Diamond MX300.
Yes, there is use of EAX/A3D when you have Rear Speakers.
Maybe I buy one @ebay.com for $1.25

Seems that Vortex needs some VX Project Drivers (for AU88XX based cards)...

RIV@NVX · Dec 16, 2002, 06:53 PM

Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space - especially this one
M-Audio Revolution
Audiotrak Prodigy192

Are these based on VIA Envy24HT or VIA Envy24PT? - not sure
But these three cards are good choice (possibly some other on same chip - Hercules or something)!
192/24 playback
96/24 recording
ASIO and GSIF support
EAX2 and A3D1 support
not Creative

DallasStar · Dec 16, 2002, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kelsenellenelvian
Tired of creative.

Want a new card and I have always had creative so I don't have any experience with other cards.

Suggestions Please??

Could you be more specific? What exactly do you want from your new card? What's most important to you about sound? etc...

fornicatarachnid · Dec 17, 2002, 12:21 AM

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

RIV@NVX · Dec 17, 2002, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fornicatarachnid
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

Yep, good card (Videologic Sound Fury in Europe).
Which DSP chip is it based on?
I would probably go for TerraTec DMX 6fire 24/96(LT) - it is only good Envy24 based card available in Croatia atm.

fornicatarachnid · Dec 17, 2002, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RIV@NVX
Yep, good card (Videologic Sound Fury in Europe).
Which DSP chip is it based on?
.

lol, I haven't a clue, I just base my recommendation on what my

ears tell me sounds good

and probably just as important, is

reliable, and never causes any hangs in games as far as I

know

RIV@NVX · Dec 17, 2002, 05:13 PM

Well, OK...
Since it is hard to find here - I leave 3 choices for my next soundcard:
TerraTec DMX 6fire 24/96 LT
TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Space
TerraTec Aureon 5.1 Sky

First one is safe - I know most about it, it has ASIO and GSIF support, real 24/96 internal processing and EAX2.
Second and Third need to prove that they are good - because I don't know will they support ASIO (needed), GSIF (not required to me, just would be nice and some people need it), but what I know is that they both have 24/192 playback and 24/96 recording with real 24/96 internal processing.

Hmmmm... VIA has some nice chips...

gibbon565 · Dec 18, 2002, 01:48 AM

I was thinking about updating my sound card which is currently a sound blaster live 5.1 to a Videologic Sound Fury What do you think?

Vampyromaniac · Dec 18, 2002, 09:29 AM

Go for it, gibbon! (bouncey . . . )

And to riva, it it based on: Cirrus Logic SoundFusionÂ® DSP

RIV@NVX · Dec 18, 2002, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vampyromaniac
Go for it, gibbon! (bouncey . . . )

And to riva, it it based on: Cirrus Logic SoundFusionÂ® DSP

It is same as Hercules Game Theater XP and TerraTec SixPack 5.1

TerraTec DMX 6fire 24/96 LT, ~$125, here I go!

digitalwanderer · Dec 18, 2002, 04:18 PM

I just sent out money for a used Santa Cruz, and I can't wait!!!

Madgoat1979 · Dec 18, 2002, 04:22 PM

I was going to buy that!... hehe

I almost had the guy down for that card.... Oh well hope your happy with it!!! (But is that really a good card?) I can find another cheap one im sure.... Should I go santa cruz? or like Creative?

I want something better than this Peice of (F!!) that I have now..

MadGoat

(make me a sound card match)

fornicatarachnid · Dec 18, 2002, 04:27 PM

Anybody who buys a Santa Cruz, new or second hand, wont be

disappointed with it

RIV@NVX · Dec 18, 2002, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Madgoat1979
I was going to buy that!... hehe
I almost had the guy down for that card.... Oh well hope your happy with it!!! (But is that really a good card?) I can find another cheap one im sure.... Should I go santa cruz? or like Creative?

Anyway - this is my very professional opinion (

):
There are three groups of people who want good audio:
1. Gamers/DVD kiddies - need positioning/surround - Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 (Player/Platinum)
2. Musicians - need ASIO, GSIF, low latency, high quality, routing and signalflow freedom - TerraTec DMX 6fire 24/96 (LT) - for price/quality and for high-end TerraTec EWX or something around $600 for profesional stuidioes
3. Audiophiles - EXTREMELY expensive soundcards (normal people don't understand that) - peter, Winamp2/3 plugin developer (not anymore, he now makes his own player foobar2k) says: "<sarcasm>indeed. audiophiles need big round numbers, prices ending with a lot of zeros, connectors made of weird metals, etc. that's what always makes the best sound.</sarcasm>"

If we make another - fourth group called general, I can recommend Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (Videologic Sound Fury in Europe) to them. It isn't bad for gaming, and it is very good sound quality from what I heard (uses good AC97 codec). Alternative to this one could be TerraTec Aureon Series, but these cards need to prove that they are good.

rogeld · Dec 23, 2002, 06:10 PM

I would go with a Santa Cruz. Not only does it cost less, but the sound quality is superb from my old Audigy and it doesn't IRQ hog. Really all breaks down into preference. I never use 3d positioning, useless IMO be it in games or otherwise unless you have at least 5.1 speakers. Just get whatever you need and nothing more, sound cards are expendable.

Dec 7, 2002, 09:25 AM	#1
Kelsenellenelvian Master of my own Destiny Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: EverDawn Kingdom,TruEarth Posts: 1,394 Rep Power: 0	Sound cards Tired of creative. Want a new card and I have always had creative so I don't have any experience with other cards. Suggestions Please?? __________________ [color=#0000ff] Download Windows Post-Install Wizard v4.3.8 and WPI Lite v1.2 Here [/color][color=red][color=blue][/color][/color]

Dec 7, 2002, 09:29 AM	#2
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Other soundcards have very bad DLS synth (MIDI playback), usually don't support SoundFonts and have very bad 3D Audio Positioning. If you can live with Windows 98/ME, take Aureal Vortex 2. Or Vortex Advantage. __________________ -- Vedran

Dec 7, 2002, 11:02 AM	#3
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	HEY!!! hahahahha You said Vortex 2 !!!! I have Turtle Beach Montego II, hardware A3D 2.0 so sweeeet ahahhaha I bet RIV had a Quadzilla at some point Yeah. um, look at Philips I think, for music quality . . . I STILL haven't installed mine yet Oh isn't XG good for MIDI playback? Do you listen to MIDI anyway??? __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Dec 16, 2002, 06:53 PM	#7
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space - especially this one M-Audio Revolution Audiotrak Prodigy192 Are these based on VIA Envy24HT or VIA Envy24PT? - not sure But these three cards are good choice (possibly some other on same chip - Hercules or something)! 192/24 playback 96/24 recording ASIO and GSIF support EAX2 and A3D1 support not Creative __________________ -- Vedran Last edited by RIV@NVX; Dec 16, 2002 at 07:13 PM.

Dec 17, 2002, 05:13 PM	#12
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Well, OK... Since it is hard to find here - I leave 3 choices for my next soundcard: TerraTec DMX 6fire 24/96 LT TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Space TerraTec Aureon 5.1 Sky First one is safe - I know most about it, it has ASIO and GSIF support, real 24/96 internal processing and EAX2. Second and Third need to prove that they are good - because I don't know will they support ASIO (needed), GSIF (not required to me, just would be nice and some people need it), but what I know is that they both have 24/192 playback and 24/96 recording with real 24/96 internal processing. Hmmmm... VIA has some nice chips... __________________ -- Vedran

Dec 17, 2002, 12:21 AM	#9
fornicatarachnid Clanless Join Date: May 2002 Location: On the web, England UK Posts: 714 Rep Power: 0	Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

Dec 18, 2002, 01:48 AM	#13
gibbon565 Bouncy BOUNCY! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 316 Rep Power: 0	I was thinking about updating my sound card which is currently a sound blaster live 5.1 to a Videologic Sound Fury What do you think? __________________ 3500 x64 ASRock Dual Sata 2 7900 GTO 512 1 gig OCUK HANNS-H HW13D

Dec 18, 2002, 09:29 AM	#14
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	Go for it, gibbon! (bouncey . . . ) And to riva, it it based on: Cirrus Logic SoundFusionÂ® DSP __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Dec 18, 2002, 04:18 PM	#16
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Tee-hee-hee! I just sent out money for a used Santa Cruz, and I can't wait!!! __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Dec 18, 2002, 04:22 PM	#17
Madgoat1979 VTX NuTz!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 763 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I saw that I was going to buy that!... hehe I almost had the guy down for that card.... Oh well hope your happy with it!!! (But is that really a good card?) I can find another cheap one im sure.... Should I go santa cruz? or like Creative? I want something better than this Peice of (F!!) that I have now.. MadGoat (make me a sound card match) __________________

Dec 18, 2002, 04:27 PM	#18
fornicatarachnid Clanless Join Date: May 2002 Location: On the web, England UK Posts: 714 Rep Power: 0	Anybody who buys a Santa Cruz, new or second hand, wont be disappointed with it

Dec 23, 2002, 06:10 PM	#20
rogeld DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 259 Rep Power: 0	I would go with a Santa Cruz. Not only does it cost less, but the sound quality is superb from my old Audigy and it doesn't IRQ hog. Really all breaks down into preference. I never use 3d positioning, useless IMO be it in games or otherwise unless you have at least 5.1 speakers. Just get whatever you need and nothing more, sound cards are expendable.