Soundcard recomendations.

[HSK]

hey guys, i've been using a audigy 4 card for a while now, want to get something with abit more juice, mainly for listening to music and playing games - 5.1/7.1 would be good too, but later when i get some decent speakers. i need a card though that will run on vista x64? i was looking at creative x-fi music oem...around 50 quid, have creative updated drivers recent?

any other sugestions up to 50 quid would be much apreciated.

[PenguinJim]

I'm not sure if it would be worth the upgrade for you, but the Audigy 2 ZS is (bizarrely) a bit better than the Audigy 4, and well worth considering - though you'll probably have to get one from eBay. I spy one for a little over £20 delivered, which is the best bang-for-buck in the sub-£50 bracket.

OR SO I THOUGHT, until I found the X-Fi Xtreme Gamer for £46. If I were building a new system, I'm honestly not sure which I'd choose out of those two. Check out a review of the Xtreme Gamer here.

One word of caution: avoid the "Xtreme Audio" at all costs. No hardware acceleration; it's a bit pants!

Also, consider sticking with what you've got until you can put together a decent DTS/Dolby Digital Live system. I managed to pick up a VideoLogic Digitheatre DTS 5.1 setup for £50 from eBay, and you can get some great Auzentech cards which will encode a DTS/DDL output - including one which uses the X-Fi chip (thereby making it better than Creative's X-Fi cards for non-PC speakers!).

[HSK]

cheers! sound advice there (excuse the pun), i'll take a look at those. and maybe rethink for now and maybe wait a lil longer :-) till i can grab a 5.1 speakers too.

[this_is_gav]

If it's the Audigy 4 Pro there'll be no difference unless you've got some very good speakers or headphones and sensitive ears. Whether an Audigy 4 (standard, no breakout box) will or not I've no idea. It's worse than the Audigy 4 Pro and, as Mr. P. Jim said, worse than the Audigy 2 ZS, but whether it's noticeable is dependant on other variables.

Personally I wouldn't do it for merely slightly better audio quality (or the claimed performance boost in games). And don't get taken in by the whole Crystaliser thing on the X-Fis either. It makes audio sound different, so it gives it a new feel, but certainly not how the artist intended it.

If you do go X-Fi though, go the Auzentech Prelude route if you can afford it.

[Lord Midas]

I'd have thought that the only option would be the X-FI
Still, I use the original Audigy ard, it works a treat still.

[HSK]

ahh, yes it's a normal audigy 4 (not pro), the sound is good, dont get me wrong...but it's just i've had it for a while now, and it's sitting in a recent build, i didn't get a sound card at the time build, thought there might be some really great ones around. i think i'll wait then, and hold out for a Auzentech.

cheers guys.

[2Cold Scorpio]

I really love my X-Fi XtremeGamer. Games and music sound great (assuming you have good headphones/speakers ). Some of the features are nice, too, like the X-Fi Crystalizer and such. The pricei s nice, too.

[ukle]

Just a quick note Scan have the Auzentech cards are on Today only special prices - the Prelude is at £105 after Vat so today's the day if you are looking to get one.

[No.72]

This is a brilliant card, and I have one: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
DD live is fantastic.

[PenguinJim]

I have the same, No.72. Remember you need 5.1 speakers with DDL/DTS amp and TOSlink/coaxial connections to get DDL or DTS working, not just a set of PC speakers.

I've recently just been using the card with a £10 2.1 set of Logitechs (long story) and I think the sound quality is still very good. But then again, I'm not Captain Audiophile!

[No.72]

I have these: Logitech Z-5400 5.1 THX 310W RMS Home Cinema Speaker System - Ebuyer through SPDIF and can have DTS or live although I don't really notice the difference unless its a movie.

[PenguinJim]

Nice. I have these old things. I used to use SPDIF, but changed to TOSlink because I thought it sounded a bit rude.

[HSK]

ok, so next week im gonna get hold of a 7.1 speaker set, kindly off my brother:
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
not a pro set up of THX, but heard good things about it.

so i want to order the card best suited for it i guess, but not anything to great still 50 quid.

either the xfi gamer:
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

or the auzentech suggested by the gents above:
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

[PenguinJim]

I really like my X-Plosion, and think it's great that Auzentech are finally pushing sound hardware after Creative have arguably held it back for so long. But the X-Plosion really shines with its digital outputs.

And the T7900 is analogue. So I'd recommend the X-Fi Gamer to go with those speakers, and I honestly think you'll be impressed by the improvement anyway. You'll have a fairly high-end PC speaker setup there.

Plus, you save £20 on the soundcard! (It's £46 at eBuyer, don't forget)

Just out of curiousity, what speakers/headphones do you use at the moment?

[HSK]

I was looking at the ebuyer retail box too, nice price I think i'll put a order in 2moro then.

at the moment Jim im using some really old speakers. this 2.1 setup with a sub (platinum sound SWX 1600must of cost 20 quid back then, but it is suprisingly loud. lol.

and the headfone we have are sony MDR-XD200, they are OK, not anything great though.

[No.72]

I really would consider getting the azuntech and possibly save up and buy decent 5.1's with SPDIF other wise it just a waste. In the long run you will be much happier if you wait and get the better ones, trust me ive been there.