looking for a new sound card

[Ford Freak]

I am moving the Audigy 2 ZS over to my P3 system which is the reason I am looking for a new card. I use the computer for gaming most of the time and listen to music sometimes. I have looked into the X-fi line. I just don't need all that stuff they bundle with the card though. I really want the Elite Pro but I don't feel like paying $400 for all that stuff I won't use or install. I would go for the Fatality version but I refuse to use the card with that light on it... I guess I could remove it and void the warranty as my title states. I prefer to find a different card before I do that though. If anybody has a suggestion, please let me know. FYI, onboard is out of the question.

[FightingChance]

I was going to ask why onboard was out of the question, but the Realtek 850 doth indeed blow.

How about another Audigy 2 ZS? They seem to be pretty reasonable price wise now.

[Ford Freak]

I had thought about that a little bit. I would prefer to get something newer if possible.

[TQ]

I bought the X-Fi Elite Pro because I needed the breakout box since the majority of my gaming is done with headphones and the breakout box fits nicely on the shelf just above my Denon power amp.
Being a real stickler for sound another of the Elite Pro's primary points of interest is that it uses higher quality DAC's than the rest of the X-Fi line.

The Pro, like the Fatal1ty, also has the 64 MB of on-board X-Ram if that's of any interest.

I am thrilled with my X-Fi. I owned two Audigy 2's before it (one of which was a ZS) and the X-Fi sounds stunningly better that either of them.
I remember when I moved from a Santa Cruz to my first Audigy 2 how amazing the differences were in detail and positional audio. The ZS to X-Fi switch was even more impressive.

[vtjvt]

What about the x-fi extreme music????? my games and music have never sounded better, and there is no light.

[TQ]

That would be an excellent choice and a logical upgrade from the ZS.

[Ford Freak]

I would like to go with the fatality or pro if I go with the X-fi because of the RAM on the card. I would really like one of those but I can see myself spending that much on a sound card. The other reason I would like to go with one of those is because I don't upgrade my sound card that often and I want something that will last a while.


TQ, do you have to hook up the power connection on the pro? The other reason I was thinking about the pro over the fatality is because it has a different symbol that lights up. It isn't that stupid "F." I don't use headphones much. I only use them at LAN parties. I am getting this though.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3520

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Ford Freak

TQ, do you have to hook up the power connection on the pro?

I'd think yes, but it's been a couple of months since I set mine up and I haven't thought about the set up since then.

[h20-ski]

Just curious have you thought about Turtle Beach any? I have the new Montego DDL, and it has the second most feature rich C-Media chip.

[PCBruiser]

Well, I certainly do like the X-Fi I got (the Platinum because I need the break-out box front panel). But, I'm going to have to disillusion you about the memory - nothing currently uses it, and AFAIK nothing is even planning to use it. Sound isn't like video where the vidram is needed for textures, etc. and, given that the sound processor on the X-Fi is not only much faster, but also handles many more functions that were dropped back to the CPU by earlier sound processors, that useless and unused RAM is even less useful on the X-Fi than it might have been with earlier sound processors, and it is only there so that they can sell it for a big markup.

Now, there is no question that the Pro break-out box is very nice indeed, and that the only way Creative will bundle it is with the card that has the extra RAM; but, unless you really need the extras that the Pro brings, you will see no improvements in sound quality or performance over the Music or Platinum versions. The Fatal1ty is pure marketing hype.

[sammy2066]

This is OT .. but not really OT ...

If i buy the X-Fi XtremeMusic ... and Logitech Z-5500 Speakers, does this card support optical inputs from the speakers?

What I mean is, does the card or the speakers support optical?

[PCBruiser]

The card doesn't support optical out. I don't know what the speakers support. Having said that - do a double blind test, repeat it a few times, and I dare you to tell the difference between analog and digital out from the card to the speakers in terms of sound quality. Optical in from a playback source, yes that you can tell, at least sometimes, but not with the output. Try it blindfolded - you will see.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by PCBruiser

Well, I certainly do like the X-Fi I got (the Platinum because I need the break-out box front panel). But, I'm going to have to disillusion you about the memory - nothing currently uses it, and AFAIK nothing is even planning to use it.

Au contraire, Bruisimoto...Battlefield 2 currently supports X-Ram. And Quake 4, as well. By typing "listsounds" in the Quake 4 console you can see how much X-Ram is being utilized during gameplay.

[PCBruiser]

Originally Posted by TQ

Au contraire, Bruisimoto...Battlefield 2 currently supports X-Ram.

Wow, one game. I bet you can't hear the difference with and without that ram. Exactly what does that game do with it anyway???

[TQ]

Might want to to check my newly edited post.

But consider this, X-Ram equipped X-Fi cards have only been on the market for a couple of months and yet it's already being supported by two of the biggest game developers in the business.

Not having played BF2 I can't speak to how it sounds with and without, but the reviewers that I have read that mention the use of X-Ram in BF2 have stated they they hear a difference.

X-Ram, though, isn't the sole reason to buy (albeit an interesting one) an X-Fi. I am more interested in it's pure fidelity, it's power, the support of EAX HD 5.0 (which has evolved beyond "mere" environmental reverberations) and the incredible positional headphone audio offered by any X-Fi, regardless of price.

I love mine. It's on the level of (perhaps more so) upgrading to the latest, greatest video card out there, only it's for your ears.