Audigy OEM $54.95 w/ S&H

[vbcrush]

Originally posted by: c627627
Yes we established that.
Now, what about Audigy 2?

This deal is for the Audigy not the Audigy 2.

 

[Atif]

LOL @ c627627. In regards to the Audigy2, here's what's known:

- It will support Dolby Digital EX (6.1) Surround Sound
- It will be the first THX-certified home-use Sound Card in the market (I don't know if this really has any weight seeing as how Creative now owns a major stake in THX)
- It supports the same Advanced EAX HD Audio Codec as its older brother, the Audigy
- Basic (Gamer, MP3+) versions will carry a suggested list price of $129.99, as opposed to the current $99 list price for retail Audigy cards
- The Sound-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) has been upped from 100db to 106db
- Audigy2 supports DVD Audio playback (although I've yet to see a DVD Audio Disc at a Wherehouse/other music store)

I'm trying to compare the actual IC of the Audigy against the Audigy2 to see if a firmware update/added speaker jack is all that is 'really' different.

Peace

 

[c627627]

Originally posted by: vbcrush: This deal is for the Audigy not the Audigy 2.

Check out the big brain on vbcrush...

This is an excellent deal for Audigy sound card.

We're also discussing how it compares to other sound cards and the recently announced Audigy 2 since they say DVD Audio is going to replace CDs in the next few years like CDs replaced vinyl records...

AtifofVNRoundup, let us know what you found out.

 

[wizz0bang]

I don't agree on the SC vs. Audigy... I prefer Turtle Beach Santa Cruz after installing both. Just know that the issue is not resolved in the minds of many. I am biased as I _hate_ Creative Labs... but I've bought nearly every one of their sound cards since the original SB and SB Pro. They are claiming 106dB S/N on the new Audigy 2, which unless I see numbers I am considering patently rediculous. Call me skeptical, but I think they claim higher nubmers for marketing... who has the equipment to really check?

 

[Atif]

Hello Again,

After looking at the incredibly low-detail press photos for the Audigy2 and the Audigy Gamer in my system, I am led to believe that the EMU chip is actually different on the Audigy2.

The pin headers on the Audigy2 are in different positions than the production Audigy boards. Also, there is a new white connector right next to the bracket of the soundcard on the Audigy2 (not on the original Audigy cards)

Sorry I can't provide more information, but I don't have an Audigy2 review sample

Peace

 

[c627627]

In the end, if money is the object, it sounds like it'll be a while before we see a hot deal for Audigy 2 that can even come close to the one that started this thread.

 

[render]

I didn't like my audigy and their marketing(not a real 24bit/96kHz, no ASIO 2.0..etc)
So, I sold mine and am ready to buy Terratec DMX fireLT.

 

[wizz0bang]

Terratec makes solid products and unlike Creative, doesn't lie about their specifications. If you need to record sound from a source, Audigy is simply a toy. If you are just playing games and listening to .mp3s, it will do.

 

[Accreta]

Does anyone know where I can get a good deal on a SOUNDBLASER AUDIGY like this one?

The reason why I ask is becase this deal is DEAD!

I got a call from TWCO today telling me that they cannot complete my order because they are OUT OF STOCK!

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: wizz0bang
Terratec makes solid products and unlike Creative, doesn't lie about their specifications. If you need to record sound from a source, Audigy is simply a toy. If you are just playing games and listening to .mp3s, it will do.

And I'm sure you pay for what you get!

 

[Vette73]

Has anybody used the Philips Acoustic Edge? Supposed to be their top of the line 5.1ch sound card?

 

[hamburglar]

nice

 

[dlaw]

OK, finally bought this sound card to replace my AWE64. Cool, thanx.

 

[Thump553]

Accerta: You may want to check out the clearance rack of your local Staples. Here in central CT, recently I've seen the Audigy MP3 version for $50 and the gamer version for $60, as well as the Phillips Rhymic Edge (2 speaker) card for $18.

I don't think it will be hard to find this card at this price level in the near future, esp when the Audigy 2 hits the streets. Sounblaster's business practice seems to be to continue selling old lines at reduced prices rather than discontinue them. Personally, I suspect that there is a lot of "marketing" built into the pricing of soundcards in general-for what they are, they are way overpriced in comparision to other components.

 

[Mac]

I suspect that there is a lot of "marketing" built into the pricing of soundcards

Without a doubt and Creative should be panicking as it tries to figure out how it is going to survive. Consider that "Sound Blaster" has been the de facto standard for years and is the goose that lays the golden eggs for Creative. With the increasing appearance of quality sound being integrated into the motherboards, the Creative Labs we know is being seriously threatened.

Thus, we see the Audigy2 being priced at $130 which I believe is an attempt at niche marketing and "perceived" value. Which basically means, there is a certain market niche that will pay the $ for specific features. Or it sells on the premise that if it costs significantly more than other products, then it must be better. Abit has played the same game with its "power user" boards which omitted sound but still were priced at the high-end. However, the newer boards now have sound, lan...you name it.

To put it into perspective, consider that you can buy a complete retail motherboard, loaded, with excellent 6 channel sound for less than what the Audigy2 costs. Systems integrators have already moved on because the mass market doesn't care. Once the cold economic reality sets in with the enthusiast crowd, Creative has to either drop its prices or it will be forced out of the mass sound card business because there isn't going to be one. I can see a very near future that unless you have unique specific sound requirements, a standalone sound card will become as irrelevant as the old I/O cards we used to put in our systems before parallel, serial and IDE ports were integrated into the motherboard.

 

[c627627]

Thank you Mac. I haven't seen a more informative post in a long time.

You convinced me to spend more $ on a quality mobo with quality integrated sound rather than on expensive sound cards unless a really hot deal pops up.

 

[MontyBurns]

mac, I agree with you to a point, but you're ignoring the high-end gaming market. Yes, there have been tremendous advancements in onboard sound. But the latest games require serious signal-processing power if you want to jack up the audio quality, and mobo sound systems can't possibly deliver on that (yet).

I certainly agree that paying $130 -- or even $100 -- for a sound card seems ridiculous.

 

[Mac]

...you're ignoring high-end gaming market

The problem is the high-end gaming market is not large enough to offset the cost of deliverying and supporting (already being impacted) the product. If you consider what is the "extra" that even the Audigy offered over some of the latest on-board chipsets, it's not much. It may have a few aural tricks that it can do but how much is that really worth? And, if you read any of the performance analysis, the newer onboard chipsets do not significantly degrade performance anymore than a discrete card. Don't get me wrong, I am not slamming Audigy or Audigy2.

The real question in a situation like this is does the add-on product offer enough value to justify the additional expense (and trouble of customization) over the standard feature set? I believe Creative recognizes this and trys to build value by the SW that is included with the retail cards and features (firewire ports...now what does that have to do with sound). However, at $130 for the Audigy2, I think it will be a tough sell. Once the newness wears off, I think you will see some very large rebates being offered.

But even with lower prices, the whole sound card market is going to be squeezed hard. The one market segment that Creative may be able to hold onto for awhile are the users wanting separate break-out capabilities found in the Platinum series but, again, that is a small market. Even that is threatened because case manufacturers are starting to build some of these features into their designs. When mobo manufacturers start to include this as standard, and it is only a matter of time, there won't be any market left except for specific niche applications.

 

[MDFusion]

will the audigy work with my AMD system ECS K7VMA MB via chipset

 

[nexialist]

I agree with Mac,

I have integrated AC97 sound buil into my MSI KT3 Ultra and it sounds pretty darned good. I use it more for music and my ears are familiar with quality sound systems...I use Z560's. Mobo comes with an S bracket which has an optical SPDIF jack, and a coaxial SPDIF jack...it has 4 & 6 channel audio capability. I think we may be approaching creative's cards, except for mybe the latest Platinum series.

Thing is when I upgraded to this mobo a few weeks ago I once again tried to use my Soundblaster Platinum 5.1. At first it worked. Then I had to removed/re-install it and I once again got the windows protection error, and had to go into safe mode trouble shooting routine. This is the 2nd mobo upgrade using this 5.1. I got it working on my MSI K7T pro 2a....I gave up trying to get it working when I upgraded to an ASUS A7v133 and went with onboard sound. No doubt I can get it working on my current mobo I just don't feel like fooling around with this POS creative board for the 3d time. Apparently, this POS board only works a a select few mobos. We should not have to go thru this. And we don't with onboard sound.

Creative will probably end up licensing their audio, but only if it is superior (and cost effective) to the improving onboard sound.

There, I vented.

Are the Audigy series as trouble prone as the Platinum 5.1?

Anyway, I keep the Creative drive with all the cool inputs/outputs on my computer because it looks cool.

Dan

 

[huesmann]

Doesn't AC97 sound suck down CPU cycles?

 

[RoadRunnerII]

Pardon my ignorance, how does the audigy compare with the extigy? Does anyone know what is a reasonable price for the extigy?

 

[dlaw]

Just got the card today, it is NOT OEM......it came with a box, a retail box. It says Audigy Gamer. Though it is out now. Great deal, thanx again.