sound card [Archive] - XtremeSystems Forums

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disturbed13

09-02-2009, 05:14 PM

what are your opinions about this sound card (Prodigy 7.1 HiFi) (http://www.audiotrak.net/products/prodigy71hifi/)
when you compair it to this sound card (Sound Blaster X-Fi) (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2687630)

RAW-Raptor22

09-02-2009, 05:18 PM

Both of them are terrible. The second one is a rebadged Audigy 1, not even an XFi. The first one is from a company I have never heard of in my life, and their claims are ridiculous. If you are on a budget, find an XFi "Xtreme Music" or "Xtreme Gamer", or an "Audigy 2ZS or 4Pro" if your budget is even tighter. :)

disturbed13

09-04-2009, 08:06 PM

so then if you never heard of the Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 HiFi
how is it terrible?
and does anyone else have any opinions on the subject?

Jamesrt2004

09-05-2009, 01:29 AM

xtreme audio is junk I have one... I got a xtreme music now SO much better and was the same price on ebay lol...

the audiotrak... m think of it as a slighlty modded CHAINTECH AV-710 ... which gets great reviews (due to its REALLY cheap and AWESOME sounding card (though not so much in games as it lacks EAX etc..)

if your just picking out of those two get audio trak unless the price is stupid (can we ask what there listed for where your looking to get them from?)

disturbed13

09-05-2009, 07:58 PM

the audiotrak is 119 w/o shipping
so for me it would be 127.99 w/ shipping

RAW-Raptor22

09-05-2009, 08:22 PM

Dude, just get:

This for PCIe: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102024

Or This for PCI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

Jamesrt2004

09-06-2009, 02:32 AM

the audiotrak is 119 w/o shipping
so for me it would be 127.99 w/ shipping

wayy overproced buddy :) try sourcing out that chaintech av-710 great for music and really cheap :D

disturbed13

09-06-2009, 09:10 AM

is it still waaaayyyyy over priced for the specs that the company says it is?

RAW-Raptor22

09-06-2009, 12:04 PM

is it still waaaayyyyy over priced for the specs that the company says it is?

Yes, its overpriced. :yepp:

Mescalamba

09-06-2009, 02:21 PM

Auzentech X-Fi Forte 7.1 - separated amp for headphones up to 600 Ohm, 7.1 sound, Dolby Digital Live, changable OPAMPs, EAX 5.0 .. I can´t imagine what more should I want from soundcard..

Only thing that can beat that are quite expensive amps with DAC .. like Styleaudio Topaz and such.. and better ones..

disturbed13

09-06-2009, 05:55 PM

RAW-Raptor22

09-06-2009, 06:20 PM

/\ what about this suggestion?

and how does this (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2687630) stack up against any of the suggested above?
thanks for all of the help guys

See post #2 in this thread...

Both of them are terrible. The second one is a rebadged Audigy 1, not even an XFi. The first one is from a company I have never heard of in my life, and their claims are ridiculous. If you are on a budget, find an XFi "Xtreme Music" or "Xtreme Gamer", or an "Audigy 2ZS or 4Pro" if your budget is even tighter.

Pay more attention to what people have suggested or replied to your posts. If you dont want to hear our answers, why ask the question?:shakes:

Jamesrt2004

09-07-2009, 01:28 AM

/\ what about this suggestion?

and how does this (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2687630) stack up against any of the suggested above?
thanks for all of the help guys

hey do it like this

cheap = chaintech av-710 (ebay)

mid = x-fi xtreme music

higher = xtreme titanium (not much diff to the music just has pcie plus a few better opamps iirc)

high = Auzentech x-fi forte

disturbed13

09-07-2009, 12:10 PM

See post #2 in this thread...

Pay more attention to what people have suggested or replied to your posts. If you dont want to hear our answers, why ask the question?:shakes:

i did read your answers
in not understanding why there is such a difference between the card i have now and the ones that you listed
can the human ears even notice the differences between the card that i have
and the one that you listed?

BeepBeep2

09-07-2009, 01:27 PM

Yes.

Mescalamba

09-07-2009, 01:46 PM

i did read your answers
in not understanding why there is such a difference between the card i have now and the ones that you listed
can the human ears even notice the differences between the card that i have
and the one that you listed?

Difference between any "normal" sound card and any Auzentech is something like.. Dacia vs Ferrari. :D You can notice difference on quality 5.1 set, or easier way, on some good headphones.. (for example mine are quite good and difference from Creative products is simply incredible.. I think that its possible to get more from that card with better headphones) or some nearfield reproductors, like those ones from M-Audio..

For what it offers, is X-Fi Forte 7.1 priced very very well..

RAW-Raptor22

09-07-2009, 04:30 PM

Difference between any "normal" sound card and any Auzentech is something like.. Dacia vs Ferrari. :D You can notice difference on quality 5.1 set, or easier way, on some good headphones.. (for example mine are quite good and difference from Creative products is simply incredible.. I think that its possible to get more from that card with better headphones) or some nearfield reproductors, like those ones from M-Audio..

For what it offers, is X-Fi Forte 7.1 priced very very well..

Exactly, and especially even the difference between an "Xtreme Audio" and an "Xtreme Music/Gamer" is huge. I would rather have my Audigy 2 ZS Pro than an "Xtreme Audio"...

disturbed13

09-07-2009, 05:28 PM

thanks for the answers guys
i really appreciate all of the help
especially when i have my dense moments

RAW-Raptor22

09-07-2009, 05:34 PM

thanks for the answers guys
i really appreciate all of the help
especially when i have my dense moments

No problem man. :)

Dont worry about it. ;)

disturbed13

09-07-2009, 05:39 PM

^ nice pic of the F22 breaking the sound barrier as an avatar btw

RAW-Raptor22

09-07-2009, 05:40 PM

^ nice pic of the F22 breaking the sound barrier as an avatar btw

Thanks! :)

I like your evil scientist dude. :p:

Jamesrt2004

09-08-2009, 02:30 AM

^ nice pic of the F22 breaking the sound barrier as an avatar btw

just wondering , what sound system do you run :)

Mescalamba

09-08-2009, 09:36 AM

Exactly, and especially even the difference between an "Xtreme Audio" and an "Xtreme Music/Gamer" is huge. I would rather have my Audigy 2 ZS Pro than an "Xtreme Audio"...

I had and still have my Audigy 2 ZS. :D Great soundcard.. probably last of really good from Creative.

RAW-Raptor22

09-08-2009, 06:13 PM

I had and still have my Audigy 2 ZS. :D Great soundcard.. probably last of really good from Creative.

I agree, its fantastic. Its very close to my old standby, my ISA Sound Blaster Awe64 Gold with built in Amplifier, that card was such a beast. Its still kicking in my K6 II 450MHz, 128MB SIMM memory, SiS 32MB Graphics, Windows 2000 old school gaming rig. :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/KL_Creative_Labs_Soundblaster_AWE64_Gold_CT4390.jp g/800px-KL_Creative_Labs_Soundblaster_AWE64_Gold_CT4390.jp g

Mescalamba

09-09-2009, 07:06 AM

Bad that Creative goes down that much.. Company that isn´t even able to make better HW, than they did lots of years back.. thats sad.. or worth "lol". :D They can thank their marketing department that they still sell something. :D

AWE 64 was pretty special, until now and Auzentech, I haven´t seen another soundcard with built-in amp.. except Xonar Essence STX I think..

disturbed13

09-09-2009, 10:42 AM

just wondering , what sound system do you run :)

a basic set of Logitech G51s
Click Me (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121012)

RAW-Raptor22

09-09-2009, 02:39 PM

a basic set of Logitech G51s
Click Me (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121012)

A good internal amp sound card will help you. Myself I run an external amplifier...

disturbed13

09-09-2009, 07:30 PM

got any links for that external amp?

Donnie27

10-06-2009, 11:43 AM

got any links for that external amp?

Knowing Rap, he might be running an Old School receiver and speakers to match. Hit up a pawnshop. Once you try it, you never go back to computer multimedia stuff again.

Also beware of folks talking about terrible sounding Creative compared to Auzentech is more of a stretch at best. The New Donnie27 will not call it BS! I have an Audigy 2ZS in the wife's computer, X-Fi Platinum in the HTPC and an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude. Prelude does sound better but trying to say the other is that much worse is a poor joke at best. IMHO, the X-Fi sounds better than the Audigy 2 ZS. No the DACs aren't the same as one poster keeps wrongly pointing out. The none A model on the X-Fi is better.

The other advice about finding an Xtreme Music or Gamer is good advice. Unless you don't game, then there are nice cheap good sounding Turtle Beach cards out there as well. Or just get the cheapest Asus Xonar you can find.

dantrona

10-13-2009, 01:47 AM

Fixt00l

10-13-2009, 03:23 AM

I wonder how the hell nobody did propose the ASUS XONAR D2X, based on C-MEDIA 8778, and Auzentech Xplosion Cinema, based on C-MEDIA 8770.Upmixing stereo to DTS 5.1 should easily separate the sounds, so no need of this Craptive EAX, it is NOTHING more than a fake Reverb.The Asus has higher quality elements, opamps, and ADC/DAC stuff, it also features EAX emulation, if anyone wants it.It is a fantastic long-time investment.I mean it.There is well enough info on both cards, and enough reviews.Now I am hesitating between them.Not a single Craptive chipset audio card can compare to them.Stay away from Creative, and poor driver support.Asus is like 10x more serious and respected as quality of service manufacturer.

Donnie27

10-13-2009, 12:27 PM

Just being -absolutely- crystal clear, As I am building a new comp soon and am going to invest in a sound card, http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_forte.php is probably the best sound card available (Sorry for barging in on your thread disturbed13, needed an answer and thought it would be best to put it here instead of opening a whole new thread) I mostly use a5.1 headset (http://www.roccat.org/Products/Gaming-Sound/ROCCAT-Kave/) for gaming, and listening to music.

If you get a Forte, you'll not need to use sub standard headphones. 5.1 cans efforts to expand the sound field kills normal or surround music. Forte via Creative's CMSS 3D does BETTER surround sound that 5.1 Cans anyway.

I wonder how the hell nobody did propose the ASUS XONAR D2X, based on C-MEDIA 8778, and Auzentech Xplosion Cinema, based on C-MEDIA 8770.Upmixing stereo to DTS 5.1 should easily separate the sounds, so no need of this Craptive EAX, it is NOTHING more than a fake Reverb.The Asus has higher quality elements, opamps, and ADC/DAC stuff, it also features EAX emulation, if anyone wants it.It is a fantastic long-time investment.I mean it.There is well enough info on both cards, and enough reviews.Now I am hesitating between them.Not a single Craptive chipset audio card can compare to them.Stay away from Creative, and poor driver support.Asus is like 10x more serious and respected as quality of service manufacturer.

Bold first! Auzentech wouldn't have to use X-Fi if Asus hadn't bought out CMedia and created a Craptive Captive Chipset LOL! No, the EAX Emulation it does doesn't come close!

Upmixing doesn't create a real 5.1 environment like CMSS3D does. Same goes for Dolby HP BTW. The EAX Emulation is a joke compared to the real thing. 8778 is more of a Conduit than a real processor. The CPU does most (90%) of the leg work when Xonar is installed. It is very similar to X-Fi Xtreme Audio that's a rebadged Audigy SE with software processing LOL!

Creative licensed X-Fi tech to Asus, MSI, Rocketfish, Dell, HP, and Auzentech. CMedia's chip is licensed to and owned by Asus.

In all fairness, Xonar is great for Music and movies but many gamers aren't going to be happy with it. There's a few exceptions of course. Users who had bad experiences with Creative cards (more to do with nVidia motherboards) and those who's NEVER heard real/true/functioning EAX in action.

Edit: That little known company is Rocketfish, not Rockfish.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9180414&type=product&id=1218047305021&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=9180414

The sound card might use the same X-Fi Xtreme Audio chipset.

RAW-Raptor22

10-13-2009, 05:04 PM

Knowing Rap, he might be running an Old School receiver and speakers to match. Hit up a pawnshop. Once you try it, you never go back to computer multimedia stuff again.

Also beware of folks talking about terrible sounding Creative compared to Auzentech is more of a stretch at best. The New Donnie27 will not call it BS! I have an Audigy 2ZS in the wife's computer, X-Fi Platinum in the HTPC and an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude. Prelude does sound better but trying to say the other is that much worse is a poor joke at best. IMHO, the X-Fi sounds better than the Audigy 2 ZS. No the DACs aren't the same as one poster keeps wrongly pointing out. The none A model on the X-Fi is better.

The other advice about finding an Xtreme Music or Gamer is good advice. Unless you don't game, then there are nice cheap good sounding Turtle Beach cards out there as well. Or just get the cheapest Asus Xonar you can find.

You are exactly right. I used to run a 1972 Sanyo 2+2 receiver, but now I'm running an early 90s Kenwood direct 5.1 from my 2ZS. :)

Donnie27

10-13-2009, 05:57 PM

You are exactly right. I used to run a 1972 Sanyo 2+2 receiver, but now I'm running an early 90s Kenwood direct 5.1 from my 2ZS. :)

Hey bud, good to hear from ya again!

I had a switching problem and blew out the tweeters on my Fisher XP 9C's:( Trying to find something to replace them.

RAW-Raptor22

10-13-2009, 06:08 PM

Hey bud, good to hear from ya again!

I had a switching problem and blew out the tweeters on my Fisher XP 9C's:( Trying to find something to replace them.

Aw man. :(

Glad to hear from you too Don, besides the tweeter issue, how have you been? :)

Donnie27

10-14-2009, 05:10 AM

Aw man. :(

Glad to hear from you too Don, besides the tweeter issue, how have you been? :)

Been pretty good! Finished the grills for my big speakers. They've morphed some from a single 10" sub to two true 10" woofers! Since I run more 5.1 down in my Den, I'm thinking about getting or making a Crossover that's more midrange heavy.

Since I moved the sub to the bigger Den down stairs, I built a larger and more vented Enclosure for it!

My 46" 1080P TV makes a great computer monitor LOL! Even old Unreal Tournament looks great! The X-Fi sound card in the HTPC sounds great! No matter what in the h@ll the purest say. One visitor thought he was listening to and watching a Blue Ray movie. It was a 1080i up converted DVD via the computer and analog sound via the X-Fi Platinum LOL!

dantrona

10-15-2009, 01:24 AM

Donnie27

10-15-2009, 04:52 AM

Hi! Me again! So, I have looked at my mobo again, and I will be running -two- 5870's which will completely cover over my only PCI-e imput, so I will have to go with a card with standard PCI imput or PCI-X16. Mobo I am getting is a EVGA E758-A1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039) don't really want to change mobos because that will do everything I want. And even I go to 1 vid card, pci-e is still covered by card. Any suggestions?

No, you will not have to go Standard PCI, PCI-E 1X should still work normally in that 16X slot. The 16X slot is backwards compatible with 1X cards. One of the testers told me this as I was complaining about not needing all of the 16X slots on the board. Oh, very nice board BTW!

I'll quickly admit to be being biased for the X-Fi Forte 1st then the Titanium 2nd with the Xonars and etc.... pulling up the rear.

dantrona

10-15-2009, 05:33 AM

So, let me get this straight, Donnie, I can just shove a PCI-e like this Auzentech X-fi Forte 7.1 (http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_forte.php) just into that PCI-x16 slot at the bottom of it without worrying about it? Really??! that would be a load off my mind.

Donnie27

10-15-2009, 12:28 PM

RAW-Raptor22

10-15-2009, 06:52 PM

Been pretty good! Finished the grills for my big speakers. They've morphed some from a single 10" sub to two true 10" woofers! Since I run more 5.1 down in my Den, I'm thinking about getting or making a Crossover that's more midrange heavy.

Since I moved the sub to the bigger Den down stairs, I built a larger and more vented Enclosure for it!

My 46" 1080P TV makes a great computer monitor LOL! Even old Unreal Tournament looks great! The X-Fi sound card in the HTPC sounds great! No matter what in the h@ll the purest say. One visitor thought he was listening to and watching a Blue Ray movie. It was a 1080i up converted DVD via the computer and analog sound via the X-Fi Platinum LOL!

Fantastic. :)

I admire your ability to build speakers and wish I had the time and resources (and knowledge) to do the same. Ive been looking for a new center channel and a new Sub. Preferably something cheap since Im not made of money. :shakes:

Donnie27

10-16-2009, 07:49 AM

Fantastic. :)

I admire your ability to build speakers and wish I had the time and resources (and knowledge) to do the same. Ive been looking for a new center channel and a new Sub. Preferably something cheap since Im not made of money. :shakes:

Not made of money either and built my stuff to save a bundle. What's your budget?

RAW-Raptor22

10-16-2009, 01:08 PM

Not made of money either and built my stuff to save a bundle. What's your budget?

Sub-Benjamin... :p:

Donnie27

10-16-2009, 06:09 PM

Sub-Benjamin... :p:

Creative bidding on EBay or take one of the Benjamins and show one of you local Pawnshop/broker or etc..... I once got one of these used for $90.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=303-432

Almost half price in fact. Not ear shattering loud be has a very nice sound. It has bass similar to the old Air Suspension speakers but much lower.

RAW-Raptor22

10-17-2009, 12:08 PM

Creative bidding on EBay or take one of the Benjamins and show one of you local Pawnshop/broker or etc..... I once got one of these used for $90.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=303-432

Almost half price in fact. Not ear shattering loud be has a very nice sound. It has bass similar to the old Air Suspension speakers but much lower.

Thats awesome. I might just do that. I like my old school air suspension bass I get from my allegros, that sub would be pretty great... :)