Opinions on sound card?

[Omastar]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127002

Thoughts? I want to replace my sb x-fi with it.

[nn_step]

the sound chip isn't exactly worth it
and it is heavily over priced.
This card actually performs better than that one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

[Omastar]

I've heard plenty about that Chaintech but I wasn't sure about quality. How does it perform compared to this? :p:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829156002


chaintech looks :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty for gaming, too. Kinda looking for a good all-purpose card.

[nn_step]

that card isn't going to help you in any games but yes if you Crank your Speakers to 115 Decibels you will be able to tell that it is more clear than your X-FI

[roibm]

The ENVY24 is a decent chip, I had for years an M-Audio 2496 based on an Envy chip, at the time still made by ICE.
I currently have a RME HDSP-9632(of course heavily tweaked), but that's just because I like to use the PC as a source in my system, all other components in my system being DIY things.

For me, x-fi & stuff is just crap, but that's not to say that creative can't do a half decent soundcard, I mean, see the E-MU series(some are not that good, but I guess any is better than any x-fi)

[Omastar]

The ENVY24 is a decent chip, I had for years an M-Audio 2496 based on an Envy chip, at the time still made by ICE.
I currently have a RME HDSP-9632(of course heavily tweaked), but that's just because I like to use the PC as a source in my system, all other components in my system being DIY things.

For me, x-fi & stuff is just crap, but that's not to say that creative can't do a half decent soundcard, I mean, see the E-MU series(some are not that good, but I guess any is better than any x-fi)

X-Fi make pretty mainstream parts, then overprice them and toss in some bloatware and poorly made drivers. That's Creative...

I'm looking at the Azuntech 7.1 DTS Meridian. What do you think, nn? Btw, my speakers are just middle of the road Logitech X-530s.

[oqvist]

You can blame Creative for a lot but not overpricing...

Every contender is always more expensive. Being it the Revolution at it´s time or now the X-Meridian...

Say what you want about Creative. I know all about their shoddy driver support. Bought a Creative Mpeg 2 card just to realize they didn´t have any driver support for it whatsoever.

However they do support their sound cards and they work. For gaming sadly there isn´t much of a choice if you want anything more then stereo sound.

For music there is definiatly soundcards that gives even higher sound quality but they are costing more then the X-Fi. So don´t blame X-Fi for overpricing when cards like the X-Meridian and others is 200$ or more ;).

Nobody forces you to buy an Elite PRO with front panel and everything that you don´t even get with cards like the x-meridian... Not to say Xram...

However if I was to boycott Creative the X-meridian is what I would look for. The Auzentech or maybe the Razer Barracuda (using the same cmedia chip).

Auzentech seems to have better analogue outs if you care for that.

But personally the X-Fi is really good enough for me in music and movies and for games there is no contest really in games that do support surround sound and EAX 3 and higher.

[Omastar]

Creative did overprice their X-Fi parts. The base model X-Fi used to go for $140, and the Elite Pro went for like $279. I think X-Fi is great for gaming, but less than stellar for music, to me anyway. My speakers may be the limiting factor, but the X-Fi undeniably has its quirks, like it randomly loses my settings, switches from Headphones to 5.1, and gives me crackling unless I reset the settings to default every so often, then set them manually.

[oqvist]

new hardware always start high and drop. Creative is absolutely not worse then any others. Just look at your current soundcard it´s way overpriced you will have to agree as well ;).

The fact is they is where they are because they priced their products very low. Soundblaster has never been top of the line only in past years they have really outrunned their opponents on the gaming sound that is. As an all around card it´s very hard to beat. .

Who cares for the Elite PRO if you don´t need the front panel you can´t blame Creative for going for that instead of the XtremeMusic ;). I got that for 100$ (europe so prices is a bit higher overall here) and I wouldn´t say that is overpriced consider with what you get.

The only gripe I have with Creative is shoddy support in the past.

you can even get the front panel separately.