Comparison OB Sound v Creative Z.

Kralz

Kralz

Kralz

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Joined
14 Feb 2012
Posts
23
Ok

So my ole cheap soundcard looks like it has given up ghost!.

But, what im wondering is , is it worthwhile buying - Soundblaster Z.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/crea...ound-card-retail-70sb150000001-sc-087-cl.html

Currently i have the Microlab FC 330 speakers (which i absolutely love for their looks and quality per pound), yes they are only 2.1, but dont have the infrastructure for 5.1's extra speakers

So would buying that sound card offer me an upgrade worthwhile over my
onboard sound from ROG MAXIMUS VIII RANGER - Which again im led to believe at time of release had the best on board sound (sure i read a respectable review that stated that)

Now, i know that generally dedicated soundcard over on board is a one way fight, however, with wedding and Christmas fast approaching would it be a worthwhile upgrade :)

Lastly, how does the soundcard perform with hyper X headsets :) just personal opinions is fine :)

Thanks in advance

Q.
 
You probably won't hear much difference using the speakers but the Soundblaster should pull ahead with the HyperX headset, as long as it's not the Cloud II which has it's own USB card.
 
rids57 said:
You probably won't hear much difference using the speakers but the Soundblaster should pull ahead with the HyperX headset, as long as it's not the Cloud II which has it's own USB card.
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Nope just the cloud, didnt' like idea of usb headphones, something was stopping me :)
 
I played with the SB-Z and on board audio on my MSI Gaming 7 X99 MB, wanted to save pennies and went with the MB audio for a while, I finally caved and got the SB-Z the difference was night and day, outstanding, I would never use onboard audio again, ever.
Albeit I only tested with headphones.
If you want to save some money, I'm upgrading from my SB-Z shortly as I'm upgrading my cans so need the extra power. Probably will be banging it on MM for £30 delivered. Let me know if your interested.
 
Born_2_Kill_83 said:
I played with the SB-Z and on board audio on my MSI Gaming 7 X99 MB, wanted to save pennies and went with the MB audio for a while, I finally caved and got the SB-Z the difference was night and day, outstanding, I would never use onboard audio again, ever.
Albeit I only tested with headphones.
If you want to save some money, I'm upgrading from my SB-Z shortly as I'm upgrading my cans so need the extra power. Probably will be banging it on MM for £30 delivered. Let me know if your interested.
Click to expand...

awesome thanks, but typical, i just carried on boogling everything and looking at previous comment have just jumped in and bought it, gets delivered tomorrow, just in time for my new game which will be opening tonight :D So lets see what all the fuss about lol :)
 
I have the ranger viii and a sound blaster z. Like you I caved and bought the soundcard, but to be perfectly honest I couldn't tell much difference either with half decent speakers or bog standard headphones. Onboard sound has come on miles even in the last couple of years.

I'd be interested to hear your experience. Either way a sound card is a good buy, as it's one less thing to worry about when you buy your next motherboard.
 
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The biggest thing that cannot be accounted for when recommending whether someone get a sound card or not as an upgrade to onboard audio, is the listeners own hearing.

We all hear differently, so while someone may hear a difference, someone else may not. Until you've heard for yourself a sound card compared to onboard audio, it's impossible to know whether buying a sound card is worth the money.
 
Marsman said:
The biggest thing that cannot be accounted for when recommending whether someone get a sound card or not as an upgrade to onboard audio, is the listeners own hearing.

We all hear differently, so while someone may hear a difference, someone else may not. Until you've heard for yourself a sound card compared to onboard audio, it's impossible to know whether buying a sound card is worth the money.
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This is absolutely spot on.

I have heard so many people boast about their sound system blah blah and then then take you so "Check it out" and all you hear is exactly that... BLAH BLAH. loads of noise but zero quality.

I have a Z among others and I think the card is very very impressive.
I will admit that I am using the Logiteck 906 speakers but this was a kind of emergency purchase that I do regret buying. I wish I had stuck to my 10 year old Altec Lansings but they are starting to show their age because we have used them for discos at our local youth club and there is only so much they can survive being on fairly loud ( although even in a disco we could never turn them on full btu when they were while messing about... They still sounded excellent LOL ) - anyway, Im digressing.

What sounds good to person A is not always the same as whatperson B would agree with.

With over 5 grands worth of Pro Audio equipment in my attic still boxed because I was not impressed with the stuff, ( the missus would kill me if she only knew! ) that says that I am a fussy phart at times.

Oh and I have 3 BOSE setups among that lot too... I really should have just sent the stuff back cos you can with bose... I wonder if you still can? I should sell it... Its all used once for about an hour to test and then put away!
Thats over 2 grand alone wasted!!!

No wonder Im in debt
 
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