which soundblaster?

Luchsich · Feb 21, 2006, 10:55 AM

I would lik to know, which SB has the best hardware preformance? ,and has full support from kx drivers

my needs are: low latency (zero) 4 channel mixing (traktor 3), cubase 3 with many channels, live recording with effecting (ableton)

I am choosing between:
audigy se OEM 27€
audigy 2 33€
audigy 2 zs 45€ (used)
audigy 2 value OEM 47€
audigy 4 OEM 54€
audigy 2 zs retail 75€ (used) ?!

I think that audigy 2 zs for 45€ has the best preformance/price ratio. Am I right? If not, correct me please

And which is in the 2nd place?

thank you for any advices

**dj_stick** · Feb 21, 2006, 11:16 AM

forget the audigy SE, incompatible
audigy 2 value may still have some issues
audigy 4 may not be supported fully, but the audigy 2ZS cards should be fine, you'll get your 4 outputs (with special cables, damn creative)

Doug W · Feb 21, 2006, 03:19 PM

I use the Audigy 2 ZS also and am happy with it. I paid about $55 U.S. from the Creatives Labs factory rejects section of Ebay.

joat · Feb 21, 2006, 09:57 PM

yeah the Audigy 2 zs seems to be the go, dont get the value (tho i read that that is now supported with the new beta driver)

also anyone know much about the new range of cards they are bringing out. It seems the Audigy 2 range is on the way to being getting superseaded by the X-Fi range. At least thats what my supplier seem to be moving towards.

ROBSCIX · Feb 21, 2006, 10:06 PM

They Audigy 2 Value is fine works great....it's been supported since 3538i....they are a good deal...Mine has only slight diff's from the ZS and for the price I can live with it.. Also I don't think the Audigy SE is compatible with KX but I could be wrong..

Luchsich · Feb 23, 2006, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

you'll get your 4 outputs (with special cables, damn creative)

Can I make myself that 'special' cable?

Maddogg6 · Feb 23, 2006, 05:10 AM

the 4 pole jack is available at DigiKey and Mouser electronics...

**dj_stick** · Feb 23, 2006, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

the 4 pole jack is available at DigiKey and Mouser electronics...

i haven't seen it myself, but i haven't looked to hard

if you can get that jack, then all you need is a 4 core wire, preferably of a decent gauge and what ever termination plugs you need, rca, jack etc

ROBSCIX · Feb 23, 2006, 03:56 PM

Oh he's talking about the Digital I/O jack on the audigy2? the 4 pole connector? I was wondering about that myself..that is what we are talking about I hope..Now wouldn't a easy way to do it would be to get a 1/8 mini to dual RCA and plug that in one RCA would be SPDIF in and the other would be SPDIF out? wouldn't that work? then you could use adapters to change the rca to whatever connecter you wanted..

Maddogg6 · Feb 23, 2006, 05:30 PM

Actually - on my A2ZS - you can use the same 4 pole jacks in the Analog Outs for access to the addittional 'SIDE' outputs for 7.1 surround. Look closely at the quick setup guide that came with the card - it shows the jack in the pic for 7.1 speaker connections.

So with the same adaptor, you can accees 3 SPDIF from the digital output - or if you have 2 adaptors, you have access to 8 analog outs instead of themore obvious 6 outputs. I would need 3 adaptors to acceess ALL outputs on my card at same time.
The 'SIDE' outputs I assume are the 'I2S-2' on Epilog. - Doesnt seem to be available on ProFx Kxlt.

**dj_stick** · Feb 23, 2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Oh he's talking about the Digital I/O jack on the audigy2? the 4 pole connector? I was wondering about that myself..that is what we are talking about I hope..Now wouldn't a easy way to do it would be to get a 1/8 mini to dual RCA and plug that in one RCA would be SPDIF in and the other would be SPDIF out? wouldn't that work? then you could use adapters to change the rca to whatever connecter you wanted..

the digital out jack is actually 3x SPDIF out, so there's no input sorry

ROBSCIX · Feb 23, 2006, 09:36 PM

You are incorrect stick my version the SB0400 has a 4 Pole jack it is a DIgital I/O jack one output one input..this is right from Creative...they also sell a SPDIF module that has Inputs and outputs on it that connects to this plug...This SB0400 is a strange bird indeed...I do have A SPDIF input according to Creative..

**dj_stick** · Feb 23, 2006, 10:34 PM

hmmm that must be unique to your card… odd

Feb 21, 2006, 10:55 AM	#1
Luchsich DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	which soundblaster? I would lik to know, which SB has the best hardware preformance? ,and has full support from kx drivers my needs are: low latency (zero) 4 channel mixing (traktor 3), cubase 3 with many channels, live recording with effecting (ableton) I am choosing between: audigy se OEM 27€ audigy 2 33€ audigy 2 zs 45€ (used) audigy 2 value OEM 47€ audigy 4 OEM 54€ audigy 2 zs retail 75€ (used) ?! I think that audigy 2 zs for 45€ has the best preformance/price ratio. Am I right? If not, correct me please And which is in the 2nd place? thank you for any advices

Feb 21, 2006, 09:57 PM	#4
joat DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	yeah the Audigy 2 zs seems to be the go, dont get the value (tho i read that that is now supported with the new beta driver) also anyone know much about the new range of cards they are bringing out. It seems the Audigy 2 range is on the way to being getting superseaded by the X-Fi range. At least thats what my supplier seem to be moving towards. __________________ AMD 3800 64 2X 939, 1gb ddr400, WD 36GB SATA 10k rpm, 200 & 2x 300 GB seagate sata, ATI 9600 256mb, audigy 2 zs. http://www.davethedog.co.nz

Feb 21, 2006, 03:19 PM	#3
Doug W HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Montevideo, MN USA Posts: 973 Rep Power: 0	I use the Audigy 2 ZS also and am happy with it. I paid about $55 U.S. from the Creatives Labs factory rejects section of Ebay.

Feb 21, 2006, 10:06 PM	#5
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	They Audigy 2 Value is fine works great....it's been supported since 3538i....they are a good deal...Mine has only slight diff's from the ZS and for the price I can live with it.. Also I don't think the Audigy SE is compatible with KX but I could be wrong..

Feb 23, 2006, 05:10 AM	#7
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	the 4 pole jack is available at DigiKey and Mouser electronics...

Feb 23, 2006, 03:56 PM	#9
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	Oh he's talking about the Digital I/O jack on the audigy2? the 4 pole connector? I was wondering about that myself..that is what we are talking about I hope..Now wouldn't a easy way to do it would be to get a 1/8 mini to dual RCA and plug that in one RCA would be SPDIF in and the other would be SPDIF out? wouldn't that work? then you could use adapters to change the rca to whatever connecter you wanted..

Feb 23, 2006, 05:30 PM	#10
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Actually - on my A2ZS - you can use the same 4 pole jacks in the Analog Outs for access to the addittional 'SIDE' outputs for 7.1 surround. Look closely at the quick setup guide that came with the card - it shows the jack in the pic for 7.1 speaker connections. So with the same adaptor, you can accees 3 SPDIF from the digital output - or if you have 2 adaptors, you have access to 8 analog outs instead of themore obvious 6 outputs. I would need 3 adaptors to acceess ALL outputs on my card at same time. The 'SIDE' outputs I assume are the 'I2S-2' on Epilog. - Doesnt seem to be available on ProFx Kxlt.

Feb 23, 2006, 09:36 PM	#12
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	You are incorrect stick my version the SB0400 has a 4 Pole jack it is a DIgital I/O jack one output one input..this is right from Creative...they also sell a SPDIF module that has Inputs and outputs on it that connects to this plug...This SB0400 is a strange bird indeed...I do have A SPDIF input according to Creative..