I've been comparison shopping on a new audio card (I'm looking to upgrade my computer audio system as both my card and speakers are rather old and crappy) and I'm having a heck of a time deciding. I read a lot of consumer reviews, and you know how that goes, there are conflicting statements and you can never be too sure. So I just want to get a sampling of opinions from here as well.
I'm not a gamer, so things like that don't concern me too much. I'm interested in music, but also I would like my music DVDs to sound great, so I am looking for a 5.1 or better sound card. I like clean and sharp bass, not boomy and overpowering. I'm more of a high and treble fan, though. I'm not learned in all the technical stuff on audio, I just know what I like to hear.
So, the cards I've narrowed down to are Audigy ZS 2 and M-Audio Revo 7.1. What would you guys pick? Are there any other suggestions? I'm not looking to go too much over $100 - maybe $120 tops. Speaker suggestions are also welcome (same price range).
Full Version: Looking for soundcard advice
This is a touchy subject.
All people have their own preferences. Here however one must back up sound quality opinions with ABX tests (usually). I guess not many have tested the two aforementioned cards with an ABX set up.
So you probably won't get many replies.
My opininion as an audio hobbyist is that go with the one that has the connections/price/driver features you want. There proabably aren't that much differences in the subjective sound quality between the two. Probably, as I haven't tested them.
Creative cards do have some issues with resampling and clipping at high volumes, so based on those two issues, I'd recommend against them (as you don't need gaming support). However, properly configured both can be nice cards. I have A2 Platinum eX myself, which is very similar to A2 ZS.
So, I recommend get the one that has features you want, is easier/cheaper for you to acquite.
Save the money for the speakers, because bigger gains can be achieved there.
Best of luck with your system building.
All people have their own preferences. Here however one must back up sound quality opinions with ABX tests (usually). I guess not many have tested the two aforementioned cards with an ABX set up.
So you probably won't get many replies.
My opininion as an audio hobbyist is that go with the one that has the connections/price/driver features you want. There proabably aren't that much differences in the subjective sound quality between the two. Probably, as I haven't tested them.
Creative cards do have some issues with resampling and clipping at high volumes, so based on those two issues, I'd recommend against them (as you don't need gaming support). However, properly configured both can be nice cards. I have A2 Platinum eX myself, which is very similar to A2 ZS.
So, I recommend get the one that has features you want, is easier/cheaper for you to acquite.
Save the money for the speakers, because bigger gains can be achieved there.
Best of luck with your system building.
Like you said you're not a gamer, Audigy 2 doesn't offer you as much as Revo.
IMHO Revo is superior for music and movies. I got Revo, but haven't heard A2. Revo got good drivers for multichannel sound with excellent bass management.
edit: Talking about subjective sound quality, there's no such thing as "better" or "best". Someone likes mother and someone likes daughter, you should listen to those cards side by side yourself...
IMHO Revo is superior for music and movies. I got Revo, but haven't heard A2. Revo got good drivers for multichannel sound with excellent bass management.
edit: Talking about subjective sound quality, there's no such thing as "better" or "best". Someone likes mother and someone likes daughter, you should listen to those cards side by side yourself...
Thanks, just looking for a sample of opinions.
Edit: I will probably purchase a new set of speakers first as recommended.
Edit: I will probably purchase a new set of speakers first as recommended.
Super simple answer:
Games: Audigy
Music: Revo
Movies: Either one
Games: Audigy
Music: Revo
Movies: Either one
my two cents,
If you love games/movies/music like me, I chose the audigy2 here's why.
The Audigy2 doesnt suck at all for music. Infact as long as you dont have a $300 set of cans or a set 2.1s over $200 4.1's over $400 and 5.1's over $600 then get the audigy2.
I would say the difference between the two cards is like having the audigy2 playback a mp3 at 256kbps and the revo plays the same one and it sounds like a 320kbps mp3. There's very little difference (talking hands on with both cards experience here) until I used my HD-580's with the cards and then the Revo just sounded cleaner.
The revo seriously lacks in gaming. All new games are using EAX 3 and EAX 4(EAX HD) so if you plan on playing halflife2, doom3, farcry etc with the best sounding audio, get the audigy2. If you don't break you wallet on your audio equipment, get the Auidgy2 its cheaper and offers features up the wazoo that the Revo doesnt.
Having said all that the revo rocks as a movies/music card, but im less than impressed with the cost of the card for the lack of the EAX3/4 support.
If you love games/movies/music like me, I chose the audigy2 here's why.
The Audigy2 doesnt suck at all for music. Infact as long as you dont have a $300 set of cans or a set 2.1s over $200 4.1's over $400 and 5.1's over $600 then get the audigy2.
I would say the difference between the two cards is like having the audigy2 playback a mp3 at 256kbps and the revo plays the same one and it sounds like a 320kbps mp3. There's very little difference (talking hands on with both cards experience here) until I used my HD-580's with the cards and then the Revo just sounded cleaner.
The revo seriously lacks in gaming. All new games are using EAX 3 and EAX 4(EAX HD) so if you plan on playing halflife2, doom3, farcry etc with the best sounding audio, get the audigy2. If you don't break you wallet on your audio equipment, get the Auidgy2 its cheaper and offers features up the wazoo that the Revo doesnt.
Having said all that the revo rocks as a movies/music card, but im less than impressed with the cost of the card for the lack of the EAX3/4 support.
QUOTE(Erukian @ Mar 22 2004, 11:48 PM)
The revo seriously lacks in gaming. All new games are using EAX 3 and EAX 4(EAX HD) so if you plan on playing halflife2, doom3, farcry etc with the best sounding audio, get the audigy2.
First, there is no conclusive evidence that sensaura sounds worse.
Some people actually prefer it to EAX.
Second, you'd better take doom3 off your list, as it's going to use a sofware-only sound engine.
Third, the first post of this thread says "I'm not a gamer".
Regardless of how Sensaura sounds, it doesn't change the fact that the Revo has no DS3D acceleration. Gaming performance isn't up to par.
QUOTE(RyanVM @ Mar 23 2004, 12:24 AM)
Regardless of how Sensaura sounds, it doesn't change the fact that the Revo has no DS3D acceleration. Gaming performance isn't up to par.
Erm.
When it comes to games, the main bottleneck normally is the videocard, and not the cpu. The latter becomes important only for low resolutions or detail settings, which nobody but pro gamers would need/use anyway.
See e.g. http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q1/maddo...er/index.x?pg=6
As you can see, in higher resolutions the performance diference is hardly noticable.
QUOTE
First, there is no conclusive evidence that sensaura sounds worse.
Sensaura is an old format and Newer EAX have dozens of new features the sensaura does not.
QUOTE
Second, you'd better take doom3 off your list, as it's going to use a sofware-only sound engine.
Would like to know where you read that nonsence.
And allmost all newer games are not suporting sensaura anymore.
The Revo does not offer hardware acceleration. I have an Audiophile 24/96 and an Audigy2.
The Audigy2 rates best for games.
The Revo and Audiophile rate better for high perf audio.
The Audigy2 rates best for games.
The Revo and Audiophile rate better for high perf audio.
QUOTE
And allmost all newer games are not suporting sensaura anymore.
As I understand it, Sensaura isn't strictly something a developer has to "support", yes?
IIRC, it's a set of algorithms which helps to position sounds using 3rd party API's like DS3D and EAX1/2, I3DL2, OpenAL, etc. not a seperate API at all.
Hence, game "support" of Sensaura isn't required for it to function.
QUOTE
and Newer EAX have dozens of new features the sensaura does not.
And Sensaura implements a variety of proprietary algorithms for close and distant positioning of sounds which EAX does not. So what?
Indeed, Creative has still yet to implement wavetracing functionality in any version of EAX many years after driving Aureal and their superior A3D 3.0 API into the ground. Should we frown on Creative for not providing all of the features of it's competitors and they Creative?
That would be absurd.
Regardless, Sensaura is effectively dead since Creative has bought them. Since the 3D sound market is rather small, it's doubtful Creative will ever see charges for anticompetitive/monopoly practices in any country (given the existence of OpenAL and I3DL2, it would be impossible to prosecute), and anyone who wants a serious 3D sound API to be supported by their sound card will have to deal with the lovable driver and application idiosyncrasies which has endeared Creative to so many.
QUOTE(tcmjr @ Mar 23 2004, 01:52 AM)
QUOTE
Second, you'd better take doom3 off your list, as it's going to use a sofware-only sound engine.
Would like to know where you read that nonsence.
Well, EAX doesn't support wavetracing, and I strongly doubt that it will in the near future.
The information on doom3 sound is very sparce, but judging by what is available, EAX isn't up to the task.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/sound/120/10/
QUOTE
I still can't recommend the Audigy2 ZS to audiophiles, however. It has exceptional but not audiophile-grade sound, no matter what Creative PR might tell you. There is still some question if it is truly performing at 24-bit standards or not. It would do a world of good for Creative to ditch the emu10K and upgrade to a fully 24-bit DSP. In addition, for recording musicians it would be wise to look for something a little more professional.
QUOTE
I'm not going to give Creative's Audigy2 ZS an Editor's Choice. Why, you ask? What's the point? There's the ZS, and then there's everything else. You wouldn't give a rhinoceros an Editor's Choice for being a rhinoceros. You know what the ZS is good for and why you want one. You don't need my opinion on the subject.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/sound/120/9
QUOTE
I used a pair of Grado SR-125 headphones for all critical listening. WinAMP 5 was used for playback. MP3's were LAME encoded with the -alt insane setting, outputting a 320kbps joint-stereo file.
QUOTE
The very first impression is that the Audigy 2 ZS is bright sounding. Cymbals and snare drums in particular, are on the bright side of reality and can sound 'steely'. Beyond that, the Audigy2 ZS is a very good sounding card indeed!
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