Are the kX audio driver + SB Live! better than my on-board sound?

jklimek@gmail.com · Oct 3, 2007, 03:43 PM

I have an older SB Live! (Value edition, I think) card laying around and I heard about these kX audio drivers from the Head-Fi forums.

My motherboard is an Asus P5B-Deluxe motherboard that has on-board sound. It has optical outputs and such but all I want are three jacks: speaker output (2-channel), headphone output, and microphone input.

Should I use the kX audio drivers? Will it be a big improvement over my onboard audio?

Can I specify the soundcard jacks so I have two 2-channel outputs (eg. my speakers and headphones which are both 2-channel) and then use my microphone as an input?

Also, do these drivers work with Vista at all?

jklimek@gmail.com · Oct 3, 2007, 03:57 PM

By the way, I only play games on the computer and don't listen to a lot of music.

I know that kX is meant for musicians, but I'm simply looking to improve my sound-quality (and gaming experience) with the equipment I have (onboard audio versus SB Live! with kX drivers)

Will kX improve my audio quality for gaming over my onboard audio?

Maddogg6 · Oct 3, 2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Can I specify the soundcard jacks so I have two 2-channel outputs (eg. my speakers and headphones which are both 2-channel) and then use my microphone as an input?

This is possible with kX....

Quote:

Also, do these drivers work with Vista at all?

Limited. yes.
The release notes for 3539 reveal some Vista quirks.
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/general-...-released.html

I suggest reading the entire thread if you dont like the idea of just trying it out for yourself....

But I will say this - the realtek onboard audio on my Mobo..
1) realtek software got flagged as spyware for me..
2) the audio 'quality' - being subjective - imo - is not a huge difference - seeing as how I can do so much with kX (compression/EQ/ etc..) kx 'sounds' better to me - probably because I have way more control to tailor it to my taste. But I never did any real spec comparisons or test measurements to compare. Just use the REAR output for highest quality (better codec for rear than front)

3) will also depend on *which* sound chip your mobo has. Not all are created equal.

Russ · Oct 3, 2007, 06:56 PM

In addition to what Maddogg6 stated, you should be able to use both (onboard sound and the SB Live!), so...

Oct 3, 2007, 03:43 PM	#1
jklimek@gmail.com DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Are the kX audio driver + SB Live! better than my on-board sound? I have an older SB Live! (Value edition, I think) card laying around and I heard about these kX audio drivers from the Head-Fi forums. My motherboard is an Asus P5B-Deluxe motherboard that has on-board sound. It has optical outputs and such but all I want are three jacks: speaker output (2-channel), headphone output, and microphone input. Should I use the kX audio drivers? Will it be a big improvement over my onboard audio? Can I specify the soundcard jacks so I have two 2-channel outputs (eg. my speakers and headphones which are both 2-channel) and then use my microphone as an input? Also, do these drivers work with Vista at all?

Oct 3, 2007, 03:57 PM	Thread Starter #2
jklimek@gmail.com DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	By the way, I only play games on the computer and don't listen to a lot of music. I know that kX is meant for musicians, but I'm simply looking to improve my sound-quality (and gaming experience) with the equipment I have (onboard audio versus SB Live! with kX drivers) Will kX improve my audio quality for gaming over my onboard audio?

Oct 3, 2007, 06:56 PM	#4
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	In addition to what Maddogg6 stated, you should be able to use both (onboard sound and the SB Live!), so...