best sound -2part question

mike2h · Apr 30, 2003, 05:52 PM

1st - cleanest sounding card for gaming. I use a yamaha integrated amp & 4 paradigm atoms.

2nd - most stable, problem free card(that is always the trick)

i do not do any sort of sound editing, and only listen to music when i am burning music cd's.
any help/recommendations would be appreciated. price limit of $150
thx mike

ps i know there is another thread about this but it is specific to what i need, kinda dated, well then again i think the only thing that has really changed is drivers and being able to get a oem audig2 for under $95.

Trunks0 · May 3, 2003, 07:29 AM

The audigy2 would be you're best bet

From what I have heard creative has cleaned up on the driver front. Also the 24-bit dacs and 96Hz should give nice head room for nice clean 16-bit 44.1Hz audio. Plus if you have a DVD drive you could pick up some sweet sounding DVD audio discs

Necrosis · May 3, 2003, 09:53 AM

You have a whole host of cards to choose from.

1. M-Audio Revolution 7.1 <-- My personal favorite, DVD Audio planned for later.

2. Hercules Digifire 7.1

3. Fortissimo III 7.1 <--- cheaper than the Digifire but basically the same card w/o firewire.

4. Audigy 2: I want you to really think about this card and remind yourself of the Audigy 1 support. Audigy 3 is on it's way here this fall. A.F.A.I.K.

5. Turtle Beach Santa Cruz <-- definite crowd pleaser and cheap....good card all around.

mike2h · May 3, 2003, 11:41 AM

is driver support for audigy2 as bad as audigy?- heard it was better. audigy3? wonder if it is a big step or another one of creatives minor hardware/ software changes. i am using a 'live' value in my wifes rig(hand-me-down) and a 5.1 gamer in mine. so i have a lot of room for improvement. as stated in my original post, i require a blend, in order of priority, - gaming sound quality & compatibility/stability.
necrosis, what was the basis(if there was one) for putting the cards in the order you did?

Necrosis · May 3, 2003, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike2h
is driver support for audigy2 as bad as audigy?- heard it was better. audigy3? wonder if it is a big step or another one of creatives minor hardware/ software changes. i am using a 'live' value in my wifes rig(hand-me-down) and a 5.1 gamer in mine. so i have a lot of room for improvement. as stated in my original post, i require a blend, in order of priority, - gaming sound quality & compatibility/stability.
necrosis, what was the basis(if there was one) for putting the cards in the order you did?

The driver support is currently better just I'm not a huge fan of Creative anymore. I mentioned the driver support for the Audigy 1 because since Creative hasn't been very good about support most likely the A2 will fall to the way side as well. There was no basis for the order in which I listed the cards. However, your best bet would be to find some reviews on those cards. If at all possible the actual personal experience with a card will make up your mind.

Trunks0 · May 3, 2003, 01:38 PM

I forgot about that(Creative PR must be getting to me

)

But he is right might be a better idea to go with the one of the hercules offerings for long term support

I don't have much info on the M-Audio stuff driver side but Hercules have a unified driver so they tend to take care of all there lines(My GTXP support has been great)

Necrosis · May 3, 2003, 03:23 PM

I used to have one of the Game Theaters as well..good card. The M-Audio has been great for me so far and I have to admit it even surpasses my AWE 64 experience.

mike2h · May 3, 2003, 06:09 PM

well, the awnser was given me by one of my brothers. he wants my old front car speakers(just put soundstreams in all around) & is willing to by me a sound card from his work(office depot). they are pretty much creative exclusive so audigy2 it is. thx for the advice, both of you. i think i might go ahead & upgrade my wifes comp. the fortissmo sounds like the best deal. necrosis, have you had an opportunity to do any sort of sound quality between the audigy2 & the revolution 7.1?

Necrosis · May 3, 2003, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike2h
well, the awnser was given me by one of my brothers. he wants my old front car speakers(just put soundstreams in all around) & is willing to by me a sound card from his work(office depot). they are pretty much creative exclusive so audigy2 it is. thx for the advice, both of you. i think i might go ahead & upgrade my wifes comp. the fortissmo sounds like the best deal. necrosis, have you had an opportunity to do any sort of sound quality between the audigy2 & the revolution 7.1?

I haven't been able to directly compare the two cards side by side but I have owned the Audigy 2 and must say I prefer the Revo. over the A2 any day. If you do a search in this thread you will find details about the Revolution. The thing to remember is even though The A2 is supposed to be 24 bit but internally it is not. M-Audio's card is hardware 24 bit w/ 192kHz. and that is even in 7.1 mode.

mike2h · May 3, 2003, 08:30 PM

i read a couple of reveiws, impressive. would your preference be as strong if it was based only on gaming sound quality? - i am assuming you use that card for other things beside gaming.

Necrosis · May 3, 2003, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike2h
i read a couple of reveiws, impressive. would your preference be as strong if it was based only on gaming sound quality? - i am assuming you use that card for other things beside gaming.

Yes, I would have to say so. I've never had any glitches, slowdowns, or anything with the card. Games sound superb. I do use the card for other activities suchs as digital music, video, etc...

mike2h · May 3, 2003, 10:41 PM

thx! well if i am not absolutley thrilled with the audigy 2 maybe i will egt one & put the audigy in my wifes comp. wished office depot carried that card though, i really would like to try it out & i just happen to still have my old 4.1 boston acoustics dig media theater sitting around. hmmmm. i could move one of the paradigms to c.c., put the remaining one in the closet & use the bostons for the rest. na would not work. i will have to think on this. you probably just got me into trouble. my wife did not believe me when i told her it was just going to be a 'simple', cheap, audio card upgrade. i told her no problem, she LAUGHED at me. still have not told her about the deal with my brother on the audogy2

. anyway got a lot to think about now. shit, i'm already getting a headache.

Apr 30, 2003, 05:52 PM	#1
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	best sound -2part question 1st - cleanest sounding card for gaming. I use a yamaha integrated amp & 4 paradigm atoms. 2nd - most stable, problem free card(that is always the trick) i do not do any sort of sound editing, and only listen to music when i am burning music cd's. any help/recommendations would be appreciated. price limit of $150 thx mike ps i know there is another thread about this but it is specific to what i need, kinda dated, well then again i think the only thing that has really changed is drivers and being able to get a oem audig2 for under $95. Last edited by mike2h; Apr 30, 2003 at 06:40 PM.

May 3, 2003, 07:29 AM	#2
Trunks0 Keeping an open mind Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver,B.C.,Canada Posts: 528 Rep Power: 0	The audigy2 would be you're best bet From what I have heard creative has cleaned up on the driver front. Also the 24-bit dacs and 96Hz should give nice head room for nice clean 16-bit 44.1Hz audio. Plus if you have a DVD drive you could pick up some sweet sounding DVD audio discs __________________ -=SystemSpecs=-

May 3, 2003, 11:41 AM	#4
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	thx guys. is driver support for audigy2 as bad as audigy?- heard it was better. audigy3? wonder if it is a big step or another one of creatives minor hardware/ software changes. i am using a 'live' value in my wifes rig(hand-me-down) and a 5.1 gamer in mine. so i have a lot of room for improvement. as stated in my original post, i require a blend, in order of priority, - gaming sound quality & compatibility/stability. necrosis, what was the basis(if there was one) for putting the cards in the order you did?

May 3, 2003, 01:38 PM	#6
Trunks0 Keeping an open mind Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver,B.C.,Canada Posts: 528 Rep Power: 0	I forgot about that(Creative PR must be getting to me ) But he is right might be a better idea to go with the one of the hercules offerings for long term support I don't have much info on the M-Audio stuff driver side but Hercules have a unified driver so they tend to take care of all there lines(My GTXP support has been great) __________________ -=SystemSpecs=-

May 3, 2003, 08:30 PM	#10
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	necrosis i read a couple of reveiws, impressive. would your preference be as strong if it was based only on gaming sound quality? - i am assuming you use that card for other things beside gaming. __________________

May 3, 2003, 06:09 PM	#8
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	well, the awnser was given me by one of my brothers. he wants my old front car speakers(just put soundstreams in all around) & is willing to by me a sound card from his work(office depot). they are pretty much creative exclusive so audigy2 it is. thx for the advice, both of you. i think i might go ahead & upgrade my wifes comp. the fortissmo sounds like the best deal. necrosis, have you had an opportunity to do any sort of sound quality between the audigy2 & the revolution 7.1?

May 3, 2003, 10:41 PM	#12
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,489 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	necrosis thx! well if i am not absolutley thrilled with the audigy 2 maybe i will egt one & put the audigy in my wifes comp. wished office depot carried that card though, i really would like to try it out & i just happen to still have my old 4.1 boston acoustics dig media theater sitting around. hmmmm. i could move one of the paradigms to c.c., put the remaining one in the closet & use the bostons for the rest. na would not work. i will have to think on this. you probably just got me into trouble. my wife did not believe me when i told her it was just going to be a 'simple', cheap, audio card upgrade. i told her no problem, she LAUGHED at me. still have not told her about the deal with my brother on the audogy2 . anyway got a lot to think about now. shit, i'm already getting a headache. __________________ Last edited by mike2h; May 3, 2003 at 10:47 PM.