Sound cards [Audigy / M-Audio / X-Fi]

[Fir3^StorM]

Hello, I'm about to buy a new sound card. My new speakers should arrive soon (Logitech Z-5400), and I want a new sound card to replace my 'SoundMax' OB card.

The options are:

* M-Audio Revolution 5.1

* Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

* Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro

* Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
Ignore the prices,
which one is the best card for music?, which one is the best for games?
where's the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro standing?
If you can write it in a form like 1=best, 4=worst,
For music:
1.
2.
3.
4.

For games:
1.
2.
3.
4.

it would be appreciated. :D

Thanks.

[gundam789]

From what i saw on several thread , its pretty much like this

1) AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude (best card for gaming)
2) Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer ( second best card for gaming , will not have same sound quality that the prelude has)
3) M-Audio Revolution 5.1 ( good music card but not to good for gaming)


i also remeber reading that in order to take benefits of the prelude superior sound ,compared to the xtremegamer , you need to be using a high end pair of headphones or really good speakers . If not u better off go with the extremegamer.
You can also mod the extremegamer to sound has good has the prelude .

[ROBSCIX]

I would say out of your choices the X-Gamer would be the way to go. They would sound the best for music ,games and movies given your choices. Also, You cannot Mod a X-Gamer to sound like a Prelude. You can mod a X-Gamer to sound better but I wouldn't go that far.

[revogamer]

if you can afford it, the Auzentech prelude is the best for both.

[Donnie27]

Hello, I'm about to buy a new sound card. My new speakers should arrive soon (Logitech Z-5400), and I want a new sound card to replace my 'SoundMax' OB card.

The options are:

* M-Audio Revolution 5.1

* Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro

* Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro

* Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
Ignore the prices,
which one is the best card for music?, which one is the best for games?
where's the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro standing?
If you can write it in a form like 1=best, 4=worst,

Thanks.

Geesh! Some folks have problems reading simple instructions.
For Music
1. [I]* M-Audio Revolution 5.1
2. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro & XtremeGamer sounds the same.
3. Audigy 2 ZS Platinum

[B]For games:
1. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer, sounds the same but costs less.
2. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro X-RAM might be used more later.
2. Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
3. M-Audio Revolution 5.1

I wish folks would get back to answering questions that were asked:rolleyes:
Hope this helps.

[zanzabar]

For Music
1. [i][b]* M-Audio Revolution 5.1
2. Audigy 2 ZS Platinum pro zs
3. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro & XtremeGamer

For games:
1. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro
2. Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
2. Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
3. M-Audio Revolution 5.1

[ROBSCIX]

@fir3^StorM, Are these really the only card your considering? Is money the concern or availability? There are much better cards out there then the ones you listed. If there is a reason your going with that list, I guess you have you answer. Good luck with your purchase.

[Donnie27]

@fir3^StorM, Are these really the only card your considering? Is money the concern or availability? There are much better cards out there then the ones you listed. If there is a reason your going with that list, I guess you have you answer. Good luck with your purchase.


Originally Posted by Fir3^StorM
Hello, I'm about to buy a new sound card. My new speakers should arrive soon (Logitech Z-5400), and I want a new sound card to replace my 'SoundMax' OB card.

The options are

Anything not listed is irrelevant.:up:

[RADCOM]

Donnie 27 and Zanzabar I notice you have reversed the position of the creative X-fi and Zs pro on the music front... any particular reason? I have both cards and I think the X-fi fatal1ty sounds better than the Audigy personally; but I am tone deaf lol. The X-fi are the same card except for the X-ram which has yet to be proven to make any difference.
For music:
1.M-Audio Revolution 5.1
2.Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro/Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
3.Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
4.

For games:
1.Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro/Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
2.Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
3.M-Audio Revolution 5.1
4.

[zanzabar]

i have the zs and the xfi and the zs has better quality and the external box is nice


once the new maudio card is out in march im getting that with the via envy 2, its supposed to have full open al support and upmixing, so it should be the best for games and music for about $100

[Donnie27]

Donnie 27 and Zanzabar I notice you have reversed the position of the creative X-fi and Zs pro on the music front... any particular reason? I have both cards and I think the X-fi fatal1ty sounds better than the Audigy personally; but I am tone deaf lol. The X-fi are the same card except for the X-ram which has yet to be proven to make any difference.
For music:
1.M-Audio Revolution 5.1
2.Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro/Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
3.Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
4.

For games:
1.Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro/Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer
2.Creative Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
3.M-Audio Revolution 5.1
4.

I reversed it because X-RAM isn't being used Right now. ALL of the X-Fi's except the X-Fi Prelude and X-Fi Elite pro sound exactly the same. The only Audigy that can hang with the X-Fi's is the Audigy 4 Pro. Or this (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=434&product=10853) one. I own an Audigy 4, Audigy 2 and Audigy 2 ZS. Also a Game MUSE and a Aureal SQ 2500.

Audigy 4 Pro Key Features



Audio Performance:

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (AES17, A-Weighted)

Output Voltage @ 2Vrms
Stereo Output 113dB
Front and Rear Channels 113dB
Center, Subwoofer and Side Channels 113dB

Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz (AES17) = 0.003% (2V Rated Output) Frequency Response +/-3dB: 10Hz to 46kHz


The bad news, still limited to 64 Hardware voices and EAX 4. No X-Fi advanced Sample Rate Conversion.

[Donnie27]

i have the zs and the xfi and the zs has better quality and the external box is nice


once the new maudio card is out in march im getting that with the via envy 2, its supposed to have full open al support and upmixing, so it should be the best for games and music for about $100

What to check what you're saying here? My main system has the I/O Drive and the X-Fi Xtreme Music upgraded to Platinum. My old Audigy 2ZS can't hang in Analog Music, Movies or Games.

Most of the time I listen to music in either Digital out or Bit-Match moth in Stereo unless it DVD or DTS audio.