Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS or value for gaming machine?

[bozack]

Just wondering if the added features of the ZS are worth it over that of the value...thanks

 

[imported_itr]

depends... do you have a 5.1ch speaker setup?

 

[bozack]

no I generally play with headphones....other than that I have two speakers and a sub.

 

[pelikan]

I game mostly with headphones and for me there is no benefit to the ZS so I bought a value.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: pelikan
I game mostly with headphones and for me there is no benefit to the ZS so I bought a value.

thanks Pelikan, wonder where you got your nickname from??

Thanks

 

[bozack]

power up

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I don't have either, but if I was going to get one, I'd get a value unless I wanted a firewire port for some reason.

 

[Aquila76]

Honestly, if you're only using headphones, the onboard mobo audio should be fine for you.

I was going to get the ZS for my PC build (connected to my 5.1 speaker setup), but I'm waiting to see reviews of the X-Mystique(?) HDA and Creative's X-Fi card due out soon. Both can do Dolby Digital Live upmixing/encoding so I could stream it to my receiver in full surround.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Aquila76
Honestly, if you're only using headphones, the onboard mobo audio should be fine for you.

I was going to get the ZS for my PC build (connected to my 5.1 speaker setup), but I'm waiting to see reviews of the X-Mystique(?) HDA and Creative's X-Fi card due out soon. Both can do Dolby Digital Live upmixing/encoding so I could stream it to my receiver in full surround.

Since when can X-Fi do Dolby Digital Live? If it does, that's news to me.

There are already some reviews out for the X-Mystique. I like mine a lot and it's working very well with their new drivers.

review

It's available at newegg already too.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Aquila76
Honestly, if you're only using headphones, the onboard mobo audio should be fine for you.

I was going to get the ZS for my PC build (connected to my 5.1 speaker setup), but I'm waiting to see reviews of the X-Mystique(?) HDA and Creative's X-Fi card due out soon. Both can do Dolby Digital Live upmixing/encoding so I could stream it to my receiver in full surround.

Since when can X-Fi do Dolby Digital Live? If it does, that's news to me.

There are already some reviews out for the X-Mystique. I like mine a lot and it's working very well with their new drivers.

review

It's available at newegg already too.

I thought I read that Creative was adding DDL or something similar into the X-Fi based cards, but in my searches I can't find the article and according to most other sites it appears not. They have their own upmixing solution which is supposed to be good, but no DDL. Sorry for the misinfo.

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: Aquila76
Honestly, if you're only using headphones, the onboard mobo audio should be fine for you.

My results were different. I've had OB sound for a few months and just last weekend pulled out an old SB Live Value that I've had on the shelf for a few years. Installed it using some old drivers - WOW! That old card was a noticeable improvement over OB sound with headphones, then again I was using AC97. As old and outdated as it is I'm glad I kept it.

Since I'm usually at 2.1 or headphones I haven't put much thought into getting a good card, but this one has me wondering how something like an Audigy would sound.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: Texun

Originally posted by: Aquila76
Honestly, if you're only using headphones, the onboard mobo audio should be fine for you.

My results were different. I've had OB sound for a few months and just last weekend pulled out an old SB Live Value that I've had on the shelf for a few years. Installed it using some old drivers - WOW! That old card was a noticeable improvement over OB sound with headphones, then again I was using AC97. As old and outdated as it is I'm glad I kept it.

Since I'm usually at 2.1 or headphones I haven't put much thought into getting a good card, but this one has me wondering how something like an Audigy would sound.

All depends on the mobo, too. My A8N-SLI has pretty good sound, separation, and pseudo-3D positioning for headphone use. I usually use the Audigy though because of the 5.1's for gaming and movies.

 

[Texun]

Yep, the AC97 is a dog. I will probably go to an Audigy Value just to see what's there. I doubt that I will notice a difference but at least I'll know I am getting all I can with the phones. I'm using Sennheiser 457's.

Sorry for the hijack. Have a cold one on me. :beer:

 

[Spike]

Are the benefits of the DD live really that much? I just got a Audigy 2 gamer (ZS card) because it was $69 AR so that seemed decent to me, I might even play a few of the games it came with.

I use my 4.1 logitechs right now but may get a 5.1 setup later. This system will never be connected to a real home theater setup (at least not in the audigy 2 lifetime) so does that mean DD live is not a huge deal for me?

To the op, I am not sure what the difference is between the value and ZS but the ZS sounds better than my onboard soundstorm and uses less CPU so that is a + in my book.

-spike

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Spike
Are the benefits of the DD live really that much? I just got a Audigy 2 gamer (ZS card) because it was $69 AR so that seemed decent to me, I might even play a few of the games it came with.

I use my 4.1 logitechs right now but may get a 5.1 setup later. This system will never be connected to a real home theater setup (at least not in the audigy 2 lifetime) so does that mean DD live is not a huge deal for me?

To the op, I am not sure what the difference is between the value and ZS but the ZS sounds better than my onboard soundstorm and uses less CPU so that is a + in my book.

-spike

I think DDL is pointless unless you're connecting to a decent HT system. On something like z-5500s, you'd be better off with analog inputs I think.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Spike
Are the benefits of the DD live really that much? I just got a Audigy 2 gamer (ZS card) because it was $69 AR so that seemed decent to me, I might even play a few of the games it came with.

I use my 4.1 logitechs right now but may get a 5.1 setup later. This system will never be connected to a real home theater setup (at least not in the audigy 2 lifetime) so does that mean DD live is not a huge deal for me?

To the op, I am not sure what the difference is between the value and ZS but the ZS sounds better than my onboard soundstorm and uses less CPU so that is a + in my book.

-spike

I think DDL is pointless unless you're connecting to a decent HT system. On something like z-5500s, you'd be better off with analog inputs I think.

I agree totally. I'm looking for a DDL card because I'm going to be hooking up my old home theater receiver/speakers to the PC when I get a new set for the living room. It's easier to run one cable to the amp than 8.

 

[xalar]

Originally posted by: Texun
Yep, the AC97 is a dog. I will probably go to an Audigy Value just to see what's there. I doubt that I will notice a difference but at least I'll know I am getting all I can with the phones. I'm using Sennheiser 457's.

Sorry for the hijack. Have a cold one on me. :beer:

You'll definitely notice a difference from onboard to Value [or ZS]. I upgraded from the A8N-SLI Deluxe's onboard to an Audigy2 Value [then later to a ZS], and the difference was impressive. Particularly you'll be able to fully implement EAX in games, and you'll see about a 5% increase in performance, as the Value/ZS will take over audio processing duties.

As for differences between the two, there are few. ZS has gold plated connections, THX support, and better driver support from Creative.

 

[Spike]

Good, that was what I was figureing. The only reason I got a soundcard at all was the good price and the little more cpu power I can get for games.

-spike

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: xalar

Originally posted by: Texun
Yep, the AC97 is a dog. I will probably go to an Audigy Value just to see what's there. I doubt that I will notice a difference but at least I'll know I am getting all I can with the phones. I'm using Sennheiser 457's.

Sorry for the hijack. Have a cold one on me. :beer:

You'll definitely notice a difference from onboard to Value [or ZS]. I upgraded from the A8N-SLI Deluxe's onboard to an Audigy2 Value [then later to a ZS], and the difference was impressive. Particularly you'll be able to fully implement EAX in games, and you'll see about a 5% increase in performance, as the Value/ZS will take over audio processing duties.

As for differences between the two, there are few. ZS has gold plated connections, THX support, and better driver support from Creative.

Since this question gets asked fairly often... did you notice any difference in sound quality going from A2 value to A2 ZS?

 

[xalar]

Since this question gets asked fairly often... did you notice any difference in sound quality going from A2 value to A2 ZS?

No, not really. Although I don't use it for watching movies [THX, DTS, etc]. Just games and music. Upgraded to the ZS only because I came upon an excellent deal, and was able to unload the Value.