Impressed by a cheapy old sound card I found lying around...

[gee3000]

Dismantled my uncles recently fried Dell XPS 600 last night to sell the parts on MM, and thought I'd check out the sound card that was in it. It was a Creative Audigy 2 ZX.

I'd read before that onboard audio these days was generally as good as most sound cards so had never bothered buying a sound card and didn't expect this one of all would be worth keeping.

But damn did this cheapo card impress me! The sound is so much clearer than the onboard from my Abit IP35 Pro XE with Logitech Z-5500 speakers.

My question is - would a newer, more expensive sound card impress me even further? ;0

 

[Auraomega]

Almost certainly, I moved from onboard to Audigy 4 to Xonar DG and the quality difference was huge each time. You could have a gander at a cheap card (current cheap > old cheap) or get a more expensive card from the MM for a similar price (for example, the DX usually goes for around £30-35). At worst you'll only lose a few quid trying it and end up selling

 

[FatRakoon]

I have some great onboard Audio options, but I still use a proper soundcard.

I have a few creatives, and one xonar

If you do go for an upgrade then dont bother with any XFI options... While the yare better than the Audigy 2, they are not better enough to warrant the cost, so look out for a used DX and you wont be disappointed.

But listen... The A2ZS is a great card, so just use that for now... Dont rush into getting another card just yet.

 

[gee3000]

I wasn't too keen on the idea anyway, I was just curious as to just how much better sound output can get? Currently I'm pretty please, and unless a more expensive sound card is gonna make me eargasm I don't feel the need to spend the dosh

 

[FatRakoon]

Yeah mate. You will read here that this or that is trillions of times better than the other etc etc etc, you get it all the time, when it truth, it might be a tad better yes, but not anywhere near as much as many seem to make out.

For me, I was using my Audigy 2 ZS, and I use the LiveDrive on it, and so, I went for the XFI Fatal1ty as this also comes with a Live Drive front bay thingy that was pretty much the same as the ones on the Live, Audigy and the Audigy 2 ( I have them all in my LAN PCs... I realyl dont know why other than I really think the Creative cards are great for the price.

Anyway, the XFI is definitely better, but is it really THAT much better?

No!

Similarly, I have an XFI Gamer that cost me £12 used.

The XFI Fatal1ty was £200

How much better is the Fatal1ty ?

NONE

Thats right, I have compared them head to head and there is absolutely ZERO difference in quality between the Gamer and the Fatal1ty.

The output was tested with a set of Altec Lansing 955's for the 5.1 output and also my HiFi for straight stereo.

Was I gutted? Too right.

Similarly when I got the Xonar DX I found that I often found the Creative a better card.

Now, the XFI has little extras like the crystalizer which is a nice little touch, however the Creative cards need this because at stock, its a fairly average sound... Lovely sound dont get me wrong, but nothing special. While the xonar was certainly better. The creative needed the EQ to beat it and to be fair, even to this day I find them still about level as each other but each having their own advantages.

If you were to splash out howeve, id go for the xonar any day.

Im just always going to lean towards creative cos I love them

 

[gee3000]

I actually had the Asus Xonar DS 7.1 around a year ago and sold it soon after as I wasn't overly impressed :\ I'm more impressed by this A2ZX which I got for free lol.

 

[Auraomega]

...

It's all subjective though. Some people can make a clear distinction between, for example, the DX and D2X, others can't. Similarly some people are perfectly happy with onboard and don't see the need for a sound card.

Personally I was blown away with the DG in comparison to onboard and when I finally figure out what amp I'm going for (I.E. integrated DAC or not) I'll upgrade if the PC will be doing the audio.

Not trying to undermine your opinion, but it comes across as if you're peddling it as fact. Like I always say trust your ears never somebody else's opinion.

 

[alex24]

I remember I once found an old Creative Soundblaster Live! 5.1 lying about. Decided to get away from Realtek AC'97 and boy was I pleased! What a difference! I think onboard can be very poor, even a basic soundcard (of decent quality) can make a very marked improvement.

Currently using an X-Fi xtremegamer (have been for over 3 years) and still very happy with it. Never had any driver issues like people always cite - been a perfect card.

 

[whitecrook]

Most of those cards are pretty rubbish tbh. They're alright, but for quality playback you need more of a pro card, like a m audio delta or emu etc. Even a sceptic will not fail to notice the difference a card like that would make.

 

[alex24]

Most of those cards are pretty rubbish tbh. They're alright, but for quality playback you need more of a pro card, like a m audio delta or emu etc. Even a sceptic will not fail to notice the difference a card like that would make.

Can you link to a product page for some decent cards please?

From what I gather, cards from M-Audio and such are great if you like high quality stereo etc, but not so good if you're a gamer who wants good quality sound/positioning/features and so on. Prove me wrong though, I'd happily get something better than the X-Fi now I have a decent amp and speakers.

 

[Rroff]

The Xonar and Audigy/X-Fi have very different sound characteristics, the creative cards tend to have a harsher, some might say clearer, sound which is quite clinical. The xonar tends to have a warmer, richer more mellow sound.

 

[Rroff]

Can you link to a product page for some decent cards please?

From what I gather, cards from M-Audio and such are great if you like high quality stereo etc, but not so good if you're a gamer who wants good quality sound/positioning/features and so on. Prove me wrong though, I'd happily get something better than the X-Fi now I have a decent amp and speakers.

X-Fi with opamps replaced is very good sound quality wise.

 

[whitecrook]

Can you link to a product page for some decent cards please?

From what I gather, cards from M-Audio and such are great if you like high quality stereo etc, but not so good if you're a gamer who wants good quality sound/positioning/features and so on. Prove me wrong though, I'd happily get something better than the X-Fi now I have a decent amp and speakers.

yes - different types of card, targeted at different market segments. I've never heard one, and had difficulty trying to get one, but the Chaintech 7.1 used to get pretty decent recommendations for sound quality, as well as having surround and other features.


http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=PCIinterfaces

I got the 2496 from ebay for £40 and it really is a gem. Upgraded from SB live with kx drivers using the rear outputs. This card sounds even better than my NAD CD player. But I use it for music recording and playback. It works with Quakelive as well. Not tried any other games.

 

[alex24]

yes - different types of card, targeted at different market segments. I've never heard one, and had difficulty trying to get one, but the Chaintech 7.1 used to get pretty decent recommendations for sound quality, as well as having surround and other features.

That card is very old and not for sale anywhere I can see. So which cards are you talking about, I'm struggling to understand your recommendation?

What about this?

For best quality, what about a DAC? Pretty neat solution and easy to upgrade.

I think you have to ask what you need to use it for, really. If you are gaming, there's no question really that you need a Xonar or X-Fi at the moment, imo.

EDIT: I see you edited your post a bit.

 

[FatRakoon]

Not trying to undermine your opinion, but it comes across as if you're peddling it as fact. Like I always say trust your ears never somebody else's opinion.

1 - No, dont worry. Everyone has an opinion whethjer they are right or wrong, its still an opinion.

2 - Peddling as fact.
Hm, yes I suppose it may seem that way, but as I stated, I do love cretive cards and so I am a little bias too!

3 - Trust ears not other opinion.
I do, and that post reflects my own thoughts and for me, I have found... Well, if you read my post you iwll find that I have found that both the Xonar and the XFI have advantages over each other, which makes me realise that you didnt read my post as I meant it to be read.

---

The thing is that soundcards are like TVs

If you check out a TV, and you compare a CRT to a flat screen... For Video now, not asa computer screen. you will find that a TV is a softer focus, while a flat screen is a crystal clear sharp image.

Personally I feel that in a TV, the softer focus works well to blend in the lines and so on on a face for example, while the sharper image is better for things like footie when you have the overhead lomng distance stuff.

Anyway, SoundCards are similar to this... I find the Creatives are the sharper sound, while the xonar is a fluffier sound.

This is NOT to take away the fact that any one is better than the other, because it is not. I also love the sound from my good old Santa Cruz .

 

[FatRakoon]

The Xonar and Audigy/X-Fi have very different sound characteristics, the creative cards tend to have a harsher, some might say clearer, sound which is quite clinical. The xonar tends to have a warmer, richer more mellow sound.

Yes, thats what I should have said.

 

[whitecrook]

For best quality, what about a DAC? Pretty neat solution and easy to upgrade.
.

Yes, an emu404 or something like that a usb breakout box is probably what I should have bought, but these cost a lot more. As I wish I could use it on my laptop, and my mac that's not really possible with a PCI card. But now that I have heard the difference a real soundcard makes, I would have no hesitation spending the money on a offboard DAC/breakout when the time comes.

 

[Auraomega]

@FatRakoon:
I wasn't referring to your Creative vs Xonar thing I meant it more in reference to the difference between onboard and low end cards, and low end cards vs high end cards. I've only got the DG due to the headphone amp and because it was cheap and getting all round good reviews by other posters (and I missed actually having a sound card too), but the difference between my onboard and this card which by all accounts is cheap was astounding to me.