M-Audio Revolution 7.1 OR Audigy 2???

[BestJinjo]

I am currently looking to purchase Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 Speaker system and also want to upgrade my 5.1 onboad sound card on Abit IS7

My question is will I feel much of a difference by going with either of these cards over built in sound? (Realtek AC'650)

Also I listen to mp3 and watch DivX/DVD movies most of the time and play videogames much less often than listen to music.

I read reviews saying that Revolution 7.1 is better for DVDs/Music but Audigy 2 for games. The thing is that I want an all around great card so if the small sacrifice that Audigy has in Audio is made up by much much better gaming sound i'd sacrifice some music quality. However, if Revo sounds a lot better with music and not as bad in games as some say compared to Audigy 2 then its the way to go.

And Audigy 2 OEM doesnt have gold plated connecters unlike Retail - Does that result in noticeable difference?

Any suggestions? Thanx

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

I cant tell the difference between the two, but I can tell you that the Audigy 2 uses alot less CPU time than the M Audio. But, when it comes down to it, its all relative anyways...

I have Audigy 2 because im a gamer. Sounds great for music and games imho...

 

[Nebor]

The music difference is negligable. You will notice a difference between a sound card and onboard sound. I'd say go with the Audigy 2, because in games, it makes a BIG FPS difference w/ EAX turned on.

 

[yhelothar]

i don't think your speakers are good enough to hear much of a difference.. maybe if you had nice headphones, i would recommend the m-audio over the audigy2...

 

[Corporate Thug]

i'd rather have the m-audio than the audigy 2 as well

 

[Nebor]

You don't think his speakers are good enough to tell the difference? It doesn't get any better in the computer market than Klipsch...

You might be able to tell a small difference in music... but the gaming performance gain of the audigy 2 is a no brainer trade off.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Nebor
You don't think his speakers are good enough to tell the difference? It doesn't get any better in the computer market than Klipsch...

You might be able to tell a small difference in music... but the gaming performance gain of the audigy 2 is a no brainer trade off.

Those are the keywords

 

[Nebor]

Well sure, you could get a stereo reciever and some Onkyo, or Mark Levenson speakers hooked up there... But that's not even reasonable. Klipsch is the best to buy for your computer.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
i don't think your speakers are good enough to hear much of a difference.. maybe if you had nice headphones, i would recommend the m-audio over the audigy2...

Not good enough? Are you joking, they`re Klipsch speakers for gods sake.

The Audigy2 is good for games & music & DVDs.
The M-Audio is better for budget musicians. Cos it has better ASIO drivers.

I`d pick the Audigy2.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: Nebor
You don't think his speakers are good enough to tell the difference? It doesn't get any better in the computer market than Klipsch...

You might be able to tell a small difference in music... but the gaming performance gain of the audigy 2 is a no brainer trade off.

Those are the keywords

You`d be hard pressed to find speakers in any market that are as good as Klipsch`s. There are other "markets" for speakers but the Klipschs`s are still one of the top makes of speakers around in all markets.
Look at the VideoLogic DigiTheartre Series of speakers. They were primarily designed for "the computer market", but i`ve seen alot of high quality TV and HiFi shops that are selling them.

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: BoomAM

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
i don't think your speakers are good enough to hear much of a difference.. maybe if you had nice headphones, i would recommend the m-audio over the audigy2...

Not good enough? Are you joking, they`re Klipsch speakers for gods sake.

The Audigy2 is good for games & music & DVDs.
The M-Audio is better for budget musicians. Cos it has better ASIO drivers.

I`d pick the Audigy2.

 

[Sid59]

i'd rather the M-Audio Card.

 

[jaeger66]

The Klipsch are mediocre at best, but the Audigy2 is good only if you spend a lot of time gaming. Get the M-Audio.

 

[billyjak]

I have the Audigy 2 and Klipsch 4.1"s and it sounds sweet to me.
I love my games with it.
The M-Audio is also a Dam good card, but for gaming i like the Audigy 2 sound better.
I've heard both, it's a toss up.

 

[lameaway]

Let's get something straight here. The speakers in question are the Klipsch ProMedia 5.1s. Not a reference series floorstander, not Klipsch in general. They are very good in the computer speaker market, but they still follow the cheap-little-driver-in-a-plastic-box formula. They have to. There are other "markets" and "sizes" and "budgets" out there. Spend $300 on a pair of bookshelf speakers and they'll tear the ProMedias apart. No, they're not the same size, no, you dont get surround sound or an included amp. But their sound quality will be good enough to show you that the ProMedias are no holy grail, and in fact on the inclusive scale of speaker quality they score quite poorly.

 

[Nebor]

I have a denon reciever w/ onkyo speakers in the guest room... honestly I can't tell a quality difference between that and the altec lansing 4.1s + audigy 2 in my computer room. You can tell that the new panasonic cd changer shelf system in my garage is far inferior to both though...

I don't know much about stereos, but as I understand it, this denon stereo with onkyo speakers is pretty high up there for a shelf system... and I really don't think the average person can tell the difference between that shelf system and klipsch 2.1s (comparing 2.1 to 2.1)

And I feel that I'm an above average listener... I can tell the differences in sound between my bose triport headphones and my sennheiser 580s.

ANyways, get an Audigy 2 man. They'll sound GREAT with your awsome speakers. And they'll replace a home audio system.

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: lameaway
Let's get something straight here. The speakers in question are the Klipsch ProMedia 5.1s. Not a reference series floorstander, not Klipsch in general. They are very good in the computer speaker market, but they still follow the cheap-little-driver-in-a-plastic-box formula. They have to. There are other "markets" and "sizes" and "budgets" out there. Spend $300 on a pair of bookshelf speakers and they'll tear the ProMedias apart. No, they're not the same size, no, you dont get surround sound or an included amp. But their sound quality will be good enough to show you that the ProMedias are no holy grail, and in fact on the inclusive scale of speaker quality they score quite poorly.

Excellent post.

 

[Paulson]

I'm a big fan of the audigy... great sound all around.

 

[TGCid]

If you are a casual user most likely the Audigy 2 will be your best bet. The m-audio revolution is for people looking to build an HTPC and the like that demand absolutely clean signal or listen to a lot of music (SRS Circle Surround Sound II is really nice for music).

The average person won't be able to tell the difference. Some people can though and its hard to tell if you can or can't. My suggestion is to see if one of your friends or someone you know has the audigy and audition it in person, if you like it go for it. Overall, I would think the audigy is a safer bet if you have doubts since the audigy is a more well rounded of the two in my opinion.

As to your question whether the gold connectors matter. Most likely no unless you are one of those people with golden ears. It does reduce corrosion over time and it looks nice.

 

[Slammy1]

I just got the Audigy2 and am quite disappointed in its performance. The reason I went with Creative is:
1. Gamer.
2. Familiarity (SBLive 5.1 upgrade).
3. Creative, being a bigger company with a long history, willl support their card with frequent updates.

So, I've got some conflict now. I get lots of errors about 1 in 3 times that Windows starts. I lost 200 points in 3dMark03, and the pass through only passes PCM (2.5 channel). Audigy2 seems definitely the wrong choice for any advanced set up. It does a good job on games and a decent job on music, but the software is disappointingly bad (not just in the sense of conflict) and featues seem designed for cheap speaker arrangements. If you plan to upgrade at some point to a better sound environment, go with the Revo.

 

[BigxGuy7]

I've got an Audigy 2 PLatinum for sale if you're interested. I'm selling it to upgrade my CPU. PM me if interested

 

[Nebor]

Yeah, the Creative software SUCKS. Just get the standalone driver package, you'll be fine. Don't install anything from the CDs. For whoever lost the 3dmark points... get the newest drivers from creative, they dramatically increase FPS, by as much as 20%.

I've had no problems with my Audigy 2. And "made for cheap speakers"? Actually, the Audigy 2 ideally runs w/ the creative megaworks 6.1 setup... which costs $345. Klipsch 5.1s are $329... so yeah... made for cheap speakers... keep thinking that.

You just need to rid yourself of all of creatives devil software, then get the drivers alone. THings will run great.

 

[MangoTBG]

Where are the drivers at? I didnt' find creative's website to be helpful for some reason.

 

[Nebor]

Oh yeah, their website is terrible as well. Truly awful. It opens popups for gods sake... Everything about creative sucks except their hardware. THeir tech support is AWFUL.

 

[MangoTBG]

...so do you know where to find the drivers??