Upgrading my Audigy4. Recommendations....

[JoeBar]

I'm thinking of upgrading my trustworthy Audigy4 after about 2 1/2 years and would like some recommendations. My speakers are Logitech Z5500 and OS Vista.

My options are :

Cheapo: A used X-Fi XtremeMusic (pci a minor disadvantage) or an Asus Xonar DX
Pricey: X-Fi Titanium Pro or Asus Xonar D2X (floppy connector a major disadvantage though).

My main concern is music playback (not that i don't game). Pls give me your feedback... :)

[Bradan]

id just avoid audigy cards at all costs.

I have an audigy 4 card like you, and seeing as they cut out so many features with the vista driver package vs. the xp one, I think this is my last augidy card.

both xonar cards have the floppy connector anyways.
its a very hard call because I can't see power supply manufacturers using the connector much longer, though dongles are always there.... and annoying.

If it were me i'd grab the xonar for music(mainly) and games.

[SoulsCollective]

Is the Auzentech Prelude an option for you? After having used both an Xtreme Music, a Xonar and an X-Fi Elite Pro I much prefer the Prelude over all of Creative's cards. Much better sound quality and clarity, better op-amps, more outputs, standard on-card front port header, no :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty Creative drivers. The sound quality is on par with the Xonar, perhaps a little more detailed and less warm, but it has the major advantage of supporting EAX and having the X-Fi chip on card to handle decoding.

[zanzabar]

keep your a4 and get the DK drivers, i was in your boat 6 months ago and decided that there was no upgrade and u have esentialy the same thing

[SoulsCollective]

Yes, good point - the Daniel_k drivers are definitely worth a shot, as they unlock many features. You'll have to get them via torrent, as the unlocker drivers have been banned due to infringement on Auzentech IP.

[Donnie27]

Cheapo: A used X-Fi XtremeMusic (pci a minor disadvantage) or an Asus Xonar DX
Pricey: X-Fi Titanium Pro or Asus Xonar D2X (floppy connector a major disadvantage though).

My main concern is music playback (not that i don't game). Pls give me your feedback...

I'd go with the Xonar DX-1 and not the 2 model if I were looking for an upgrade.

$79 and only $54 after the rebate (if you get it:rolleyes:) The D2X costs twice as much is NOT IMHO, worth twice the price of the DX.


Yes, good point - the Daniel_k drivers are definitely worth a shot, as they unlock many features. You'll have to get them via torrent, as the unlocker drivers have been banned due to infringement on Auzentech IP.

LOL! If you're using a Prelude, you're using slightly moded Creative drivers:rofl: Daniel-K's drivers are the best and also drivers from YouP_Pax are good as well.

[JoeBar]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! :)

At first Auzentech Prelude is not an option where i live... :(

Installing DK's drivers (keeping audigy) is an option, though i have to say that i'd like an upgrade, if i'm to hear something...

Xonars look appealing but the floppy connector gives me the creeps. I've stopped using a floppy 2 years ago... :p:

Tough decision...

[SoulsCollective]

LOL! If you're using a Prelude, you're using slightly moded Creative drivers:rofl: Daniel-K's drivers are the best and also drivers from YouP_Pax are good as well.
Um...yes, yes you are, although I'd dispute "slightly". I'm not sure what you're LOLing and ROFLing about :confused:

[ROBSCIX]

Yes, good point - the Daniel_k drivers are definitely worth a shot, as they unlock many features. You'll have to get them via torrent, as the unlocker drivers have been banned due to infringement on Auzentech IP.


No, if they were banned, it was due to infringment on Dolby Labs IP. They are notorious for protecting what is theirs.:yepp:

[SoulsCollective]

Auzentech had a license agreement with Dolby to allow DDL on their Prelude; Daniel_K hacked the Auzentech driver (which was at that time freely available for download from the Auzentech site) to work with ordinary Creative cards, Dolby complained to Auzentech, Auzentech complained to Creative as well as pulling the driver download from their public site (in order to download Prelude drivers now, you need to enter the serial number from your Prelude), Creative pulled the drivers from their forums and banned mention of them due to Auzentech's complaint.

So Dolby was involved, but as a third party.

[ROBSCIX]

You no longer need to enter any registration data nor authorization keys to download and use their Prelude drivers. If you do register your card with them though they extend your warranty by another year.

[SoulsCollective]

Partially correct. The RC and Beta Auzentech drivers do not require registration, however the official release packages still do. Auzentech Driver download page (http://www.auzensupport.com/site/download/archive.php).

[ROBSCIX]

Actually totally correct, That official release is a bit old and released before this new policy was implemented. Auzentech started this new policy a fe updates ago so the new driver releases should not require registration nor authorization.

[SoulsCollective]

Read the site - so what if the last official release is somewhat old? Only the RC and Beta drivers do not require registration - that statement is completely correct as written. There're a few letters mentioning that the next official release will contain "internal measures" to prevent unauthorised use, but that official release was supposed to be out in July, and is still not available.

[ROBSCIX]

So what? It means the official driver requires registration because of it's age... The new policy was enabled after that driver was released. The statement is fine as written however you are misunderstanding the meaning.

The RC and Beta drivers do NOT require registration or authorization because Auzentech has a new policy and no longer requires it. You are right the next release will have "internal measures" that prevent unauthorized use -so why would they require you to register also?

Again, Auzentech no longer requires ANY registration or authorization for any new driver release e.g. RC, Beta or official releases. If you do register and qualify you will receive a aditional year warranty.
I am not just guessing at this information as you are, I am just relaying what I have been told by Auzentech themselves. Perhaps you should verify what you are saying also?

[SoulsCollective]

So what? It menas the official driver requires registration because of it's age... The new policy was enabled after that driver was released. The statement is fine as written however you are misunderstanding the meaning.

The RC and Beta drivers do NOT require registration or authorization because Auzentech has a new policy and no longer requires it. You are right the next release will have "internal measures" that prevent unauthorized use -so why would they require you to register also? Ok, this is getting into semantics and general silliness, but I'll bite.

There is only one "official release" driver package available on the Auzentech site. That driver package requires registration to download. Auzentech have said that the next release will contain "internal measures", but as of yet there is no new release. Therefore, the only official driver package available requires registration, therefore to download the official drivers requires registration.

I am not just guessing at this information as you are, I am just repeating what I have been told by Auzentech themselves. Perhaps you should verify what you are syaing also?It matters not one bit what Auzentech have told you is happening in the future. This is a question of deduction, and is unaffected by what will happen in the future. The logic is simple - the only official driver package that is up on the site requires registration to download, therefore registration is required to download the official drivers.

:rolleyes:

[ROBSCIX]

Simple, No future driver releases in any RC,beta or official release will require registration.

This is why current RC and beta driver do not require such. Feel free to contact Auzentech and ask them. That is really the final word isn't it?

I guess we will have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.

[ROBSCIX]

@Joebar, the Xonar DX is considered a budget model but it give very good sound quality for music and movies. People have varying opinions on gaming with anything other then a hardware card so you will have to make up your own mind on that one. For the $80 price tag this card is a great little sound card. It's bigger brother have more to offer but have a higher price tag. The Prelude is also a option and the prices have been dropping steadily on many high quality cards. There will also be a few new ones released within the next few months so you may want to wait and see what new cards come out. If you don't decide to go with a newer model then the prices of "older" cards will have dropped yet again making room for the new ones. Good luck on your card hunt.

[JoeBar]

I'm skeptical if i should make the move now or wait a bit longer...

Even though i really like the Xonars, i can't convince myself to mess with floppy connectors... :p:

That's why, if i decide to buy a card now, i lean towards X-Fi Titanium Pro pcie and that's cause, apart from the lack of floppy connector, i don't have bad experiences with creative cards.

[ROBSCIX]

There are quite a few newer cards coming so perhpas waiting might be a better idea. Atleast prices will still drop on older models if you don't decide to buy one of the newer cards.