Difference between Audigy2

[Azndude51]

Can someone tell me the important differences between the many models of Auidgy2? Like the Value, ZS, ZS Gamer, ZS Platinum, ZS Platinum Pro.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

The Zs has onboard DTS decoding as far as I know.

If you are dead set on buying an Audigy; the Audigy2 ZS is the one to go with.

 

[beatle]

Creative's site is confusing. I thought the Audigy 2 ZS was the only card to support DVD-Audio and 7.1, but under the Audigy 2 VALUE, it lists 7.1 AND DVD-Audio as features!

The A2 ZS has 108 db S/N ratio vs. 106 for the A2. A2 ZS also does DTS, A2 does not. All Audigy cards do Dolby Digital decoding, even the original Audigy.
A2 Platinum Pro has an external breakout box for additional inputs/outputs vs the internal 5.25" bay "drive" of the A2 Platinum.
The A2 Value does not have firewire.

 

[Azndude51]

So if I don't need the slightly improved sound quality, DTS decoding, and firewire, I should just go with the audigy2 value? All I will really do is listen to mp3's, play shooters, and watch the occasional DVD. For speakers, I'll probably get some Logitech x530s or something equivalent. Do you think the Audigy2 Value is good enough for my needs? Or maybe the first Audigy?

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Don't get the first Audigy. I would buy either the Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 2 if I were going to buy something in the Audigy series.

 

[Azndude51]

what about the Audigy 2 value? is that an okay card?

 

[beatle]

The A2 value would work in your system. However, unless you're going to be playing a lot of games, I'd get the Chaintech AV-710. It's $27 from Newegg and will sound just as good as the Audigy 2.

 

[Dragonbate]

My favorite card is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz attached to Cambridge Soundworks speakers.

 

[CoolWind]

To the OP: I was wondering the same thing. Found this:

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Audigy4pro/compare.asp

Not a huge amount of difference among them. Main thing is s/n ratio on 2ZS vs 4, and external IO on 2ZS Plat Pro and 4. ZS Platinum is same as ZS except with a 5.25" front panel section for IO and a remote.

If you're WAY into audio recording, then Audigy4 is what you want. You can save some $ and still get great surround processing and output quality with a 2ZS (non-platinum). Personally, I want to keep everything in the case and won't be doing any recording, so I'm looking towards the 2ZS non-plat (or maybe the platinum if my case door will close over the front panel knobs). It would be nice if there were an Audigy 4 basic with the better s/n but without the external box...

 

[Azndude51]

Originally posted by: CoolWind
To the OP: I was wondering the same thing. Found this:

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Audigy4pro/compare.asp

Not a huge amount of difference among them. Main thing is s/n ratio on 2ZS vs 4, and external IO on 2ZS Plat Pro and 4. ZS Platinum is same as ZS except with a 5.25" front panel section for IO and a remote.

If you're WAY into audio recording, then Audigy4 is what you want. You can save some $ and still get great surround processing and output quality with a 2ZS (non-platinum). Personally, I want to keep everything in the case and won't be doing any recording, so I'm looking towards the 2ZS non-plat (or maybe the platinum if my case door will close over the front panel knobs). It would be nice if there were an Audigy 4 basic with the better s/n but without the external box...

Thanks, but I was actually looking for differences between the Audigy2 (Value, ZS, Gamer, Platinum, etc) not between the A2 and A4.

 

[orangat]

The audigy2 value and live! 24bit are very good values for gamers.
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/digests/sound2k4.html

Theres very little difference between the audigy2 value and the other audigy variants from what I can tell. Its missing some connectors like the firewire but I think it shares the exact same DSP/DACS/codec as the audigy2 ZS.

 

[orangat]

Ok did some checking - http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22623
and it looks like the a2 value shares the same dsp as the a2 original. The a2 ZA has the ICT suffix. So I don't think the value is some audigy1 ripoff.

The snr of 106 also suggest an a2 variant since a1 has an advertised snr of 100db (I think).

And looking at the comparison chart, I seem to have missed earlier that the live! 24bit does not have any EAX acceleration.

 

[Azndude51]

I probably won't buy a sound card until a few months from now, so hopefully the prices go down and/or I get extra money so that I can get a ZS. The value seems like a good card, but I wnat to get the best card I can for the money.

 

[orangat]

I'm getting an a2 value. Its a much better value for gaming since I'm not using my pc for home theater and it has practically everyting the a2 zs has. I would have gotten a live24bit but found out it doesn't hardware acceleration.

 

[finbarqs]

Question: I have an audigy 2 zs soundcard, and i just ordered the Audigy 2 platinum Ex (first Audigy 2 edition w/ external bay) reason being is that i have the Creative DDTS-100 decoder. (DTS, DTS ES, DD, DD-EX) is that better? or should i just get rid of my Platinum Ex and stick with the audigy 2 ZS.

 

[beatle]

No need to have a Platium Ex or a DDTS-100 if you have an A2ZS. The DDTS-100 looks like it'd be useful if you have a 5.1 or greater system with an antiquated soundcard. The DDTS-100 allows for more inputs, but the sound processing features can be done on the A2ZS. Plus, the A2ZS has enough outputs to drive a 7.1 system natively without processing the sound further.

 

[finbarqs]

well i need the DDTS-100 because when i connect my xbox or PS2 or any other game concoles, it would require a hardware decoder with digital inputs. The Audigy 2 ZS does not provide that so i can't go with an audigy 2 ZS solution by itself. This influenced my decision to pick up the DDTS-100. However, since i'm getting that, i also need an optical connection between my omputer and the decoder, thus the Platinum Ex. However, I got the Platinum Ex, not the Audigy 2 ZS plat pro. That's why i want to know the difference between those two sound cards.

 

[FriedPixel]

What about the new video editor sound card? It looks interesting, is it any good?

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[yhelothar]

If the only speakers you can afford is the X-530, don't waste your money on an Audigy2. Buy better speakers first and just use onboard sound. Trust me, you'll get MUCH MUCH better sound than crap speakers and an audigy2.
The gamer edition just comes bundled with 3 games. So unless you want the games, don't waste your money on that.

 

[de8212]

Is the audigy 2 worth the upgrade from an audigy mp3+? Is the sound going to be that much better?

 

[finbarqs]

audigy just generically sucks. The drivers are awful, and there are so many bugs with that sound card. What i would do is UPGRADE. The question is, (at least for me) is if Audigy 2 ZS is worth the upgrade to Audigy 2 Plat Ex. (or downgrade)

 

[beatle]

de8212, if you already have an Audigy and it works fine, keep it. The differences between the Audigy and Audigy2 aren't worth paying for, IMO, unless you enjoy DVD-Audio.

finbarqs, it depends on whether the features of the Plat. Ex are worth it to you. I'd never use them so IMO, no.