Which SB Live Sound Card?

[jcmoran]

Okay, I'm ready to move from the onboard sound of my mobo to an add-on sound card. I think I'm doing this to give my system better sound and more sound choices. It seems everyone and their brother has a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 card, but after reading the information on the Creative web site I decided I needed to come here for some practical advice.
If I'm watching DVDs and listening to CDs or MP3 files or transfering music from vinyl to CDs, which SB Live card would you recommend?

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Which SB Live!? Do you mean like MP3 or Gamer packages? Cuz they're all the same. Just different software. You might wanna get an Audigy though. Thing is, unless you have adequate speakers, you won't notice much of a difference.

 

[AA0]

Save yourself some problems and avoid Creative, they have numerious issues with games, and other hardware configs.

Get a Santa Cruz, Acoustic Edge, or Gametheater XP, all of which will give you better sound then creative products. Unless you do a lot of gaming, then the Audigy cards use a little less cpu power, but its still not worth it, imo.

 

[metalac]

Yeah i also had some problems with Creative products. There are tons of other manufacturers that do do a lot better job than Creative. Also try to spend less than 100$ for sound card i'm guessing even 60$ should do it, but get some 150$ speakers, cuz they do make huge difference.

 

[Adul]

Go with a turtle beach at the least. It does support mp3 playback in hardware and it does sound better then the Sblive. better driver support has well.

 

[jcmoran]

<< Which SB Live!? Do you mean like MP3 or Gamer packages? Cuz they're all the same. Just different software. >>


So, the difference between the SB Live DE, SB Live Value, and SB Live Platinum is just software?

 

[tweakmm]

<<

<< Which SB Live!? Do you mean like MP3 or Gamer packages? Cuz they're all the same. Just different software. >>


So, the difference between the SB Live DE, SB Live Value, and SB Live Platinum is just software? >>


well, sb live platinum has a live drive, it is very nice, heck, im even selling mine.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

<<

<< Which SB Live!? Do you mean like MP3 or Gamer packages? Cuz they're all the same. Just different software. >>


So, the difference between the SB Live DE, SB Live Value, and SB Live Platinum is just software? >>



Oh I see..

I'm assuming the SB Live DE is the one with a 5.1 output. You don't need it unless you have a 5.1 setup.
SB Live value is just the plain Live card without the 5.1 output. It's also the OEM version.
SB Live Platinum is the retail card with the 5.1 capability and also comes with the breakout box, the Live! drive.

 

[bigshooter]

I just got my audigy oem from newegg for $62. It works great, I highly recommend it. Don't get creative or cambridge speakers though. They blow. I think I'm going to get some Klipsch 4.1's to replace my FPS 1800's that are making a beeping sound out of the right channel all of a sudden. (Even when I unplug it from the sound card).

 

[Seyba]

I heard* that if you are a gamer, get the Audigy because of it's excellent EAX support.


*keyword: HEARD

 

[Bovinicus]

If you don't play any games that support EAX2.0 (Advanced EAX), then it doesn't really matter. The Phillips Acoustic Edge is supposed to have some of the best positional audio around.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

<< I'm assuming the SB Live DE is the one with a 5.1 output. You don't need it unless you have a 5.1 setup. >>

DE is the name for european markets, same as 4 speakers output MP3+/X-Gamer/Platinum, then Creative came out MP3+ 5.1/X-Gamer 5.1/Platinum 5.1/DE 5.1.

 

[erub]

Audigy all the way. Beside the great sound, the name is awesome

All the different environments it offers are cool too

 

[jcmoran]

<< Audigy all the way. Beside the great sound, the name is awesome
All the different environments it offers are cool too >>


I want to thank all of you who took the time to offer your opinion. I may not have followed your advice, but it was appreciated.
I just picked up a SB Audigy MP3+ and I'm off to install it now. Thanks again.

 

[Mem]

<< just picked up a SB Audigy MP3+ and I'm off to install it now. Thanks again. >>




Nice soundcard, I`ve the SB Audigy Player and it works great in WinXP and the drivers have not given me any problems,sound quality is very good I use mine through hi-fi amp and speakers .