My impression on the audigy

[novalogic88]

use to own a game theater xp, traded it for an audigy, boy, does it sound good or what, it just sounds better, more depth, i used some classical music for testing, i can hear all the instrument, cant do that b4 with my game theater. So if you are considering buying a sound card, get an audigy. I know the game theater look cool, but who cares. Inner beauty

 

[Mem]

Yes the sound quality is very good ,you need a good set of speakers to hear the quality,the only negative thing would be Creative Labs are very slow in releasing updated drivers ,lucky for me I`ve had no problems in that department.

I almost got a Santa Cruz card but must admit I`m happy with my SB Audigy.

 

[grifterspawn]

The game theater is fantastic for people who need that many audio inputs, cant beat it in that area, hands down. I own an audigy btw.

 

[Byte]

I have an audigy too, while i can't say it really offers anything special right now next to other cards, the quality is definetely awesome. Also a lot less clicks in those finiky games like the SB Live

 

[4nic8]

Just hope you don't have any problems with it. Creative tech support after 3 hours couldn't help me. I just ended up buying an TB santa cruz.

 

[novon]

audigy is tight

 

[Brian48]

I never really liked my Herc GTXP when I had it. The drivers at the time was buggy as hell, 4 speaker support was spotty, and the USB ports were unreliable. Wounded up getting rid of it and buying a TB Santa Cruz instead. Now I loved my Santa Cruz when I had it, but since upgrading to the Audigy, it'd be very hard for me to go back (in fact, I've bought two more Audigy's since). All those anti-Creative zealots who are holding a grudge against Creative 'cause of the SBLive are really missing out.

 

[Seyba]

<< I never really liked my Herc GTXP when I had it. The drivers at the time was buggy as hell, 4 speaker support was spotty, and the USB ports were unreliable. Wounded up getting rid of it and buying a TB Santa Cruz instead. Now I loved my Santa Cruz when I had it, but since upgrading to the Audigy, it'd be very hard for me to go back (in fact, I've bought two more Audigy's since). All those anti-Creative zealots who are holding a grudge against Creative 'cause of the SBLive are really missing out. >>



Thank you! I thought no one else had the same problems I did.

 

[jacksco]

I'm sure this has been harped on in other threads but what is everyones opinion on the audigy vs. the Live5.1? I'm building my gaming rig and need a new sound card, my TV/Multimedia system has the Live! card, and I don't have any complaints. So is the audigy worth the extra $30-40?

 

[erub]

jacksco: I was debating that about 2 months ago. The difference was $35 from newegg. I ended up buying the Audigy, because it will be the standard card for the future (I think, all the other creative cards have been), so all games/apps will be written with support for it at least. Also I'm planning on getting the Logitech Z560s, and I've heard that they are unbelievable paired with the Audigy.

BTW, I had a Turtle Beach Montego II (Aureal Vortex) before it - this is most definitely a step up.

 

[bacillus]

<< what is everyones opinion on the audigy vs. the Live5.1? >>


the audigy wins out here IMO!

 

[pr0d2]

I just sold my 5.1 Platinium and bought an Audigy, it sounds, in my opinion way better, and im even using crappy old Cambridge Soudworks 4.0 speakers. i want the Logitech Z560's

 

[LiekOMG]

I dunno, personally i think my MX300 sounded better than my audigy. With my MX300 i was able to turn my speakers to full volume and i would hear nothing. With the audigy, i hear a pretty loud hiss. And the amp inside also seems weaker. Overall i'm not too impressed with the Audigy. It offers nothing over my 3 year old MX300 except for drivers for XP. Its such a shame Aureal went out of business.

 

[rickn]

just an FYI, creative has released new XP, Win98SE/ME WHQL drivers today on www.soundblaster.com

 

[Howard]

<< And the amp inside also seems weaker. >>


No computer sound card has an amp. Do you know how much power draw and heat would increase? Plus the fact that you'd need a retaining bracket just to keep the PCB from cracking under all that weight.


<< Its such a shame Aureal went out of business. >>


Yes it is, and that's why I'll never buy another CL product again. Bastards. :|

For some people, the Audigy wouldn't be the best choice, especially if you have a motherboard with a VIA South Bridge. I used to have a link about the fact that the front channels of the Audigy sounded pretty bad compared to other contemporary sound cards.

BTW, I wonder what the 24-bit playback is for? Certainly not for DVD-Audio, because i) DVD-Audio has a 24-bit depth and 192KHz sampling rate (whereas PCM, the signal for CD audio is 16-bit/48Khz), and ii) there are no software decoders for DVD-Audio, and iii) there are no standalone DVD-Audio decoders, and iv) if there were, you would have to connect a digital-out from the Audigy to the DVD-Audio decoder so that it can decode the audio signal and separate it into 6 channels and convert the signal from digital to analog so that the speakers can play it and v), if you wanted that, you could have gotten a DVD-Audio player, whose use is much better applied in a real home theatre. That leaves professional musicians, but then vi) the recording depth/sampling rate is 16/48. How queer is that?

 

[glenn1]

<< Also I'm planning on getting the Logitech Z560s, and I've heard that they are unbelievable paired with the Audigy. >>



Unbeatable? I think not... for the same money, i'd much rather take a set of BA-4800s paired with a Santa Cruz, than Z560s with the Audigy. Both setups are pretty nice though.

 

[Mavrick007]

<< And the amp inside also seems weaker.
No computer sound card has an amp. Do you know how much power draw and heat would increase? Plus the fact that you'd need a retaining bracket just to keep the PCB from cracking under all that weight. >>



Actually, that's not entirely true. Older sound cards actually did have their own "amp" so to speak. I think they stopped using them when people started getting into the powered speakers more. My old SBPro had 4w power to drive it.

I have a SBLive Retail and I haven't had any problems with sound ever. If I wasn't satisfied with it I would buy an Audigy cause of it's low cpu cycle usage but as of now, I will stay with it until I make another machine and have two running at the same time.

 

[Howard]

<< Actually, that's not entirely true. Older sound cards actually did have their own "amp" so to speak. I think they stopped using them when people started getting into the powered speakers more. My old SBPro had 4w power to drive it. >>


Really? I didn't know that. 4W, eh? Is that PMPO? LOL



<< Unbeatable? I think not... for the same money, i'd much rather take a set of BA-4800s paired with a Santa Cruz, than Z560s with the Audigy. Both setups are pretty nice though. >>


glenn, he said unbelievable, not unbeatable.

 

[erub]

well if the BA4800s are better, than I will look into those..the cost difference between the Santa Cruz and the Audigy was practically nil though.

 

[DN]

I am using an Audigy X-Gamer sound card with the Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500's speakers.. The sound is just plain awesome, be it music, games or DVD.. Very happy customer here..

 

[Raspewtin]

btw audigy oem is only 62 bucks at newegg.com!

 

[Mavrick007]

Really? I didn't know that. 4W, eh? Is that PMPO? LOL

Hehe I didn't say it was alot, but it did have enough for sound and it acts as a pre-amp so if you had just a small amp it could multiply the power x4.

 

[Mem]

Rickn thanks for the tip on new Creative drivers out,something must be wrong with Creative Labs new drivers out again already looks like they are picking up their pace on driver updates,anyway I`m downloading now so will try them out on XP .

 

[microAmp]

Thanks for the info. Been debating on getting the Audigy or keep the Live.

 

[Jgtdragon]

I haven't heard the audigy yet, but the MX300 is the best sound card I have heard to date. Too bad it doesn't work in Windows 2000; therefore, I have to sell it.