Better sound from X-Fi Upgrade or New Speakers?

[Mad4Sax2]

I'm looking to upgrade the sound system on my desktop PC soon, and am undecided whether to upgrade the sound card or the speaker system. Eventually, I will probably upgrade both, but at the current time I only have funds for one.

Currently, I am running an Audigy 2 ZS and Altec Lansing ADA745 4.1 Speakers. My choices of upgrades would be the Creative X-Fi (either the XtremeMusic or the Platinum edition) or a 5.1 surround sound speaker system (currently looking the Logitech Z-5300e). I do high-end gaming on my computer and also use it as my primary music/DVD player. Let me know which option would deliver me the greatest performance boost. Thanks.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: Mad4Sax2
I'm looking to upgrade the sound system on my desktop PC soon, and am undecided whether to upgrade the sound card or the speaker system. Eventually, I will probably upgrade both, but at the current time I only have funds for one.

Currently, I am running an Audigy 2 ZS and Altec Lansing ADA745 4.1 Speakers. My choices of upgrades would be the Creative X-Fi (either the XtremeMusic or the Platinum edition) or a 5.1 surround sound speaker system (currently looking the Logitech Z-5300e). I do high-end gaming on my computer and also use it as my primary music/DVD player. Let me know which option would deliver me the greatest performance boost. Thanks.

Audigy 2 ZS is good enough to power any 5.1 system. Although, 5.1 speakers would warrant NO performance boost, so to answer the original question, I suppose the X-FI would.

 

[Technonut]

It seems that you would benefit the most by purchasing a decent set of 5.1 speakers. For the uses listed, your Audigy2 ZS is just fine....

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Fixed rig link: http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=31043

Yeah, I'd go with better speakers first. If possible save up a bit more to make a bigger jump than the z-5300s.

 

[Mad4Sax2]

what about the Logitech Z-5500s? Those would fit into the higher end of my price range, but seem to offer a lot more than the 5300s.

 

[Reiniku]

I can vouch for how awesome z-5300e's and a 2zs sound together.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Mad4Sax2
what about the Logitech Z-5500s? Those would fit into the higher end of my price range, but seem to offer a lot more than the 5300s.

Those would be a more solid set than the 5300s. If you can go out and demo them, that would be great. The z-5500s have more output capability, have more input options, and overall would be a bigger jump in quality than the 5300s.

 

[Mad4Sax2]

One thing that might be an issue with the 5500s.... I'm in college, so I'm a little worried that getting too powerful of a system might be overkill for a dorm room. I don't want to have my roommate and half my floor wanting to kill me for that huge sub the 5500 comes with.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Mad4Sax2
One thing that might be an issue with the 5500s.... I'm in college, so I'm a little worried that getting too powerful of a system might be overkill for a dorm room. I don't want to have my roommate and half my floor wanting to kill me for that huge sub the 5500 comes with.

I wouldn't call it huge personally

I guess you'll have to decide for yourself what kind of system would be appropriate for your dorm. You don't have to turn something up really loud just because it can. There's more than just increased output levels with the higher end sets.

 

[Mad4Sax2]

Well, assuming I can manage to EQ and balance down the system to not anger my dorm, would that sub safely fit in a dorm room? I've heard it can get pretty hot and I'm not sure I have a safe place to ventilate it. How much space does it need?

 

[fire400]

better speakers... the x-fi, personally sounds similar to an Audigy 2 ZS, and is even sometimes quite unnoticable after a while on the same speaker setup.

to help answer your question, new speakers. I only recommend the x-fi you already don't own an Audigy card. hell, I wouldn't even recommend the x-fi if someone already had an Audigy LS unless they had the money to carelessly fork over for a new soundcard.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Mad4Sax2
Well, assuming I can manage to EQ and balance down the system to not anger my dorm, would that sub safely fit in a dorm room? I've heard it can get pretty hot and I'm not sure I have a safe place to ventilate it. How much space does it need?

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/YOyoYOhowsDAjello/SVS_vs_Log_z-560.JPG that's the z-560 sub on top of the sub I managed to fit into my dormroom... it's all about priorities

If you're not cranking them, the amps for the subs don't tend to get very hot.

Whatever you think though. If you're not going to be using them much or don't think you'll get much out of them then don't spend too much on them.

A nice pair of headphones would be a great idea too for someone who doesn't want to bother people.

 

[0roo0roo]

hd 590 for the low price of 150 now that they are being phased out for the new model..very good price if you can still find it and still premium and uber comfortable headphones that used to cost twice that.
in your dorm you can't take advantage of your speakers..let alone better ones. with a x-fi you can't take advantage of em with ur low end speakers, let alone in your dorm. might as well get as good sound as u can get with good cans. maybe upgrade soundcard later. your current sound card has more than enough sound quality to shine with hd590 or some other high end headphones. i'm not sure why you think you have to upgrade your premium soundcard already. esp when used with lousy speakers. even 5500 aren't anywhere near high end, or enough to tell the difference between audiology and xfi if there really is any at all in music/dvd you'd have to spend an ungodly amount on speakers just to take full advantage of the potential soundquality of the audiology. the only thing xfi has over it is eax 5 which is used in very few games as it is proprietary nonsense.

 

[Skriptures17]

Originally posted by: Mad4Sax2
I'm looking to upgrade the sound system on my desktop PC soon, and am undecided whether to upgrade the sound card or the speaker system. Eventually, I will probably upgrade both, but at the current time I only have funds for one.

Currently, I am running an Audigy 2 ZS and Altec Lansing ADA745 4.1 Speakers. My choices of upgrades would be the Creative X-Fi (either the XtremeMusic or the Platinum edition) or a 5.1 surround sound speaker system (currently looking the Logitech Z-5300e). I do high-end gaming on my computer and also use it as my primary music/DVD player. Let me know which option would deliver me the greatest performance boost. Thanks.

Man dont listen to anybody who does not have the x-fi soundcard. I do (x-fi Xmusic) and man oh man its like something out of a sci-fi movie for sound. Everything sounds like as if i have never heard it. Nebody with the card will confess this is turth i speak, and if they say no then they are lying it's that simple...................hmmm or they are deaf.

Also dont worry if you dont have your 5.1 yet for games i use my head phones and turn it to game mode, then hit the 3d surrond sound(which ps mags will tell you is amazing they way they actually have the 3d sound set up for headphone use) When im playing cod2 i feel like im in the comp running around getting my head blow off by nazi scum. And mind you my headphones r the cheapest piece of crap ever made. Thats how good the sound card is man it made my cheap headphones sound like cherry blossoms in the fall with apple pie.

 

[Db2012]

x-fi is an amazing card but you need good speakers none the less to hear it.

 

[Philippine Mango]

So X-fi does make a difference in sound? I thought the main advantage with X-Fi is the fact it improves frame rates a bit.

 

[GOREGRINDER]

i came from an audigy2 before the x-fi and the difference was pretty noticable(not to mention how much more of the x-fi's sound you can tweak just right to sound perfect ,no matter what your listening to,..games,.music,.movies),..but yeah ..the bonus is that your games will run a bit more responsively to go with your sound candy

id say get the x-fi,..and have speakers be your next sound upgrade

 

[darkswordsman17]

You might also consider going with a nice set of headhpones. For the price of the Z-5500s you could get both the X-Fi Extreme Music and some Sennheister HD-555s. It would be a good match, as headphones is where they were supposed to have made a big jump with the X-Fi. Another option there would be to go with the HD-280s and get a starter amp.

Personally, I wasn't terribly impressed with the X-Fi, but it is good. From what I've read it catches Creative up in the music listening department, and retains their gaming advantage. Pairing it with a nice set of headphones is supposed to be great.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
So X-fi does make a difference in sound? I thought the main advantage with X-Fi is the fact it improves frame rates a bit.

The benchmarks I've seen have shown very little improvement in frame rates (maybe a percent or two) while sound quality is improved a bit. Some people say it's a huge difference and others say it's insignificant.

The surround headphone feature seems like a winner, but the others seem to be more gimmicky (boosting bass and treble artificially and the noobs will tell you it sounds like everything was muffled before etc.)

 

[remagavon]

Originally I though the card was amazing, but after using the new EAX with Quake 4, it actually sounds better with the surround feature off on my headphones. Music is quite good, though; the card has a lot more power to drive my HD-600 headphones than my previous card did.

 

[Skriptures17]

Seriously not trying to be a fanboy or anything but, anybody who says x-fi is bad is either a hater r tone deaf.