Best setup for Audigy 2 and Stereo Content on 5.1

King_Tweaker · Feb 16, 2004, 02:23 AM

Hi all,

I have been playing around for ages to get the most out of my system. I am using Audigy 2 and a set of Megaworks 550 THX. I used to use Media Player and then moved to winamp so I could use ASIO out. But then to get any sort of Stereo X2 mode, I had to use the crappy CMSS 2 from the Creatives EAX Control Panel.

Anyways now I have downloaded the KX drivers and installed them. I have a few questions.

What I want is to get the best possible sound quality when listening to my stereo and 5.1 content.

I know leaving the swap stereo setting enabled gives better quality because of the way the audigys are made but is it still possible to have stereo x2 (front exactly mirroring rear speakers is what I mean), and still have the same quality as if I was using the rear speakers (hope you know what I mean here).

Stereo alone on this setup sounds a bit tinny and I really want to use Stereo X2. In the surrounder I set it to 5.1 rear=front but that made sound come out of my front center speaker so thats not right is it.

Can anyone help me out, or give me any ideas.

Also do I need to use the ASIO out plugin in Winamp to stop the Audigy2 resampling my mp3s? Or does the kx driver bypass this resampling even when using winamps standard direct sound output.

Thanks
KT

C2Mummy · Feb 18, 2004, 01:49 PM

Hi,

In the surrounder try setting your speakers to 4.0.

If you want a better effect try using the prologica plugin.

If you want a much better effect try using WinDVD / PowerDVD in Pro-Logic II mode.

For the best possible sound quality for stereo reproduction, only the front left and right speakers should be used, however you'll need to have a good system to appreciate it.

Regards.

King_Tweaker · Feb 18, 2004, 09:16 PM

Thanks for that. I have made my own setting in surrounder that gives me stereo x2. My God I have prologic and prologic II, they sound really bad to me, even with the latest WinDVD.

Yeah I suppose stereo alone is best but I don't think stereo X2 is bad, and I believe it is better than stereo unless there is some science to do with waves that I don't understand that is going on.

Thx,
KT

King_Tweaker · Feb 21, 2004, 02:28 AM

I am back again in my quest for the best sound quality.

Can anyone tell me if these drivers get rid of the 44.1 khz to 48khz resampling or do I need to use this ASIO plugin in Winamp to avoid it. I read the info on the kxproject.com site but it still doesn't make it clear.

Also is it possible to totally avoid using the AC97 codec on my Audigy 2 so I can listen to 5.1 Surround sound without having to use the swap rear speakers setting and just use the other better codec. Is this possible for front and rear?

Thanks,
KT

Doomsayer · Feb 21, 2004, 09:51 PM

I don't think it is possible to avoid the resampling... You'd have to bypass the DSP completely to remain in 44.1khz.

King_Tweaker · Feb 22, 2004, 03:53 PM

And is that possible?

I thought using ASIO made it possible. Sorry I am still a noob when it comes to all this but does ASIO avoid the resampling or is there some way I can always avoid it using these KX Drivers.

KT

C2Mummy · Feb 22, 2004, 04:57 PM

Hi,

It is possible hardware wise for the audigy cards since they can output DTS audio CDs/wavs via spdif at 44.1KHz with the creative drivers and a software dvd player such as windvd/powerdvd.

How you can do that with the kX drivers is another matter, maybe it will be possible with a newer driver release if you can't get it already for normal audio.

Regards.

King_Tweaker · Feb 22, 2004, 05:06 PM

OK I think its back to the creative drivers for me. I don't see much advantage (for me anyways) with these drivers but hopefully with EAX built in and better support for 3d gaming they can do everything creatives drivers can but better.

Feb 16, 2004, 02:23 AM	#1
King_Tweaker DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	Best setup for Audigy 2 and Stereo Content on 5.1 Hi all, I have been playing around for ages to get the most out of my system. I am using Audigy 2 and a set of Megaworks 550 THX. I used to use Media Player and then moved to winamp so I could use ASIO out. But then to get any sort of Stereo X2 mode, I had to use the crappy CMSS 2 from the Creatives EAX Control Panel. Anyways now I have downloaded the KX drivers and installed them. I have a few questions. What I want is to get the best possible sound quality when listening to my stereo and 5.1 content. I know leaving the swap stereo setting enabled gives better quality because of the way the audigys are made but is it still possible to have stereo x2 (front exactly mirroring rear speakers is what I mean), and still have the same quality as if I was using the rear speakers (hope you know what I mean here). Stereo alone on this setup sounds a bit tinny and I really want to use Stereo X2. In the surrounder I set it to 5.1 rear=front but that made sound come out of my front center speaker so thats not right is it. Can anyone help me out, or give me any ideas. Also do I need to use the ASIO out plugin in Winamp to stop the Audigy2 resampling my mp3s? Or does the kx driver bypass this resampling even when using winamps standard direct sound output. Thanks KT

Feb 18, 2004, 01:49 PM	#2
C2Mummy DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Hi, In the surrounder try setting your speakers to 4.0. If you want a better effect try using the prologica plugin. If you want a much better effect try using WinDVD / PowerDVD in Pro-Logic II mode. For the best possible sound quality for stereo reproduction, only the front left and right speakers should be used, however you'll need to have a good system to appreciate it. Regards.

Feb 18, 2004, 09:16 PM	Thread Starter #3
King_Tweaker DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for that. I have made my own setting in surrounder that gives me stereo x2. My God I have prologic and prologic II, they sound really bad to me, even with the latest WinDVD. Yeah I suppose stereo alone is best but I don't think stereo X2 is bad, and I believe it is better than stereo unless there is some science to do with waves that I don't understand that is going on. Thx, KT

Feb 21, 2004, 02:28 AM	Thread Starter #4
King_Tweaker DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	I am back again in my quest for the best sound quality. Can anyone tell me if these drivers get rid of the 44.1 khz to 48khz resampling or do I need to use this ASIO plugin in Winamp to avoid it. I read the info on the kxproject.com site but it still doesn't make it clear. Also is it possible to totally avoid using the AC97 codec on my Audigy 2 so I can listen to 5.1 Surround sound without having to use the swap rear speakers setting and just use the other better codec. Is this possible for front and rear? Thanks, KT

Feb 21, 2004, 09:51 PM	#5
Doomsayer DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Latvia Posts: 154 Rep Power: 0	I don't think it is possible to avoid the resampling... You'd have to bypass the DSP completely to remain in 44.1khz.

Feb 22, 2004, 03:53 PM	Thread Starter #6
King_Tweaker DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	And is that possible? I thought using ASIO made it possible. Sorry I am still a noob when it comes to all this but does ASIO avoid the resampling or is there some way I can always avoid it using these KX Drivers. KT

Feb 22, 2004, 04:57 PM	#7
C2Mummy DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Hi, It is possible hardware wise for the audigy cards since they can output DTS audio CDs/wavs via spdif at 44.1KHz with the creative drivers and a software dvd player such as windvd/powerdvd. How you can do that with the kX drivers is another matter, maybe it will be possible with a newer driver release if you can't get it already for normal audio. Regards.

Feb 22, 2004, 05:06 PM	Thread Starter #8
King_Tweaker DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	OK I think its back to the creative drivers for me. I don't see much advantage (for me anyways) with these drivers but hopefully with EAX built in and better support for 3d gaming they can do everything creatives drivers can but better.