Turtle Beach Montego DDL Sound Card..Thoughts & ???

[Sarg]

I have been looking for a Sound Card for a new build, I'm not looking to get another Creative Card and have been researching & reading forum post from here as well as Here and there are many suggestions that the X-FI Forte is the sound card to go with. But Reading how so many different people are having so many problems and many are having the same issue, I also noticed that X-Fi Forte use's Creative Technology as well as drivers or it seems that way from what I have read. But I'm more than a bit Leary on getting the X-Fi Forte Sound card after seeing & reading of all the problems and not to mention the seemingly poor support that I have noticed.

I already have the Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA2 head set that I use for gaming at night and it does have a Mic as well, not that I use it much But the head has Great sound and the build quality is very good. And this what brings me to the idea of getting the Sound card that you see in the title, I did call their tech support today and they have confirmed to me that it is supported by Windows 7 64bit. Only thing is, it is a PCI slot card, I'm not sure how much of an issue that is and getting quality sound, YES it is very Inexpensive as listed on New Egg Also I have found Very few post's on the forums here in reference to Turtle Beach & their sound cards. But From all the reviews I have read that are posted on New Egg by all that have this sound card, It seems to be a Good Product and with Very few problems & or issues.

But what I have noticed is what is listed on the Details page when it comes to EAX, It seems like it may be a bit behind the times kinda, that is if that even makes much of Difference, I mention this only because on the X-Fi Forte product page it list's EAX 1 TO 5, so the question is how much of difference does this make? And what are the thoughts of the Turtle Beach Montego DDL Sound Card that is if anyone here has used one at all and or issues that may be known that I have not come across as of yet. Below are the specs for the build I'm getting ready to do that is if it's needed.

Any & all Suggestions & Ideas Welcome
Sarg

:Specs of new build:
MoBO:P5Q Deluxe
CPU:Core 2 Extreme
Mem:OCZ Reaper 8Gig
Graphics: XFX 5770 x 2
HDD-1: Velocity Raptor 300Gig
HDD-2: (2T Caviar-Video/Picture/Storage/Bckup)
HDD-3: (1T Caviar-Games)

[EniGmA1987]

EAX is completely worthless, especially now days. Games have great positional audio without having to use the proprietary EAX crap.


I just skimmed the post cause I dont have a ton of time, so maybe I missed this. But what is your budget?

Also, PCI cards have the same, sometimes better sound quality than PCI-E cards. This is because PCI slots can provide better power to some of the components such as the op amps. PCI slots are able to provide steady +/- 12v power.

I always recommend the HT Omega, Claro Halo sound card, or the XT version if you want to use it in a home theater system or just want to do surround sound. Easily the best quality sound I have heard. It also had a headphone amp built in before the Auzentech Forte was available, so HT Omega was first on that.

[mattkosem]

I always recommend the HT Omega, Claro Halo sound card, or the XT version if you want to use it in a home theater system or just want to do surround sound.

PCI cards generally provide the best sound but, after seeing that the 6-series chipsets won't be including PCI support, it may be ill advised to go that route. The Xonar ST (PCI) or STX (PCI-E) are good cards to consider along with the Azuen cards that you mentioned. Do your goals lean more toward music or gaming? What equipment are you planning to use along with this card?

--Matt

[F@32]

Sarg,

I bought DDL and tested it in games and music for about week or two. It blows: SNR, Cross talk, dynamic range are pretty bad. For the money, on-board RealTek is about the same.
I've attached 16/44, 24/48 and 24/96 Right Mark benchies below comparing DDL, RealTek, Audigy and M-Audio 2496. It is noisier when watching movies and listening to music and it has worse sound variety in games. In Empire Total War you would not hear multiple explosions...

Regarding EAX... Really you should care about hardware acceleration, not EAX in particular. Modern games are mostly written with OpenAL support or purely with software emulation. Few will have EAX. In Vista and 7 you still can have EAX on X-Fi based card with ALchemy.

[Sarg]

To all that have replied so far thank you. Rather than Quote everyone, and make another Book of a post, I apologize for the 1st post being so long. This speaker set up that I have now is what I plan to use for the new build, It is still in very good condition and works very well.

My Budget, again I apologize for leaving this out, I thought that I did include it. But the Duckets that I'm willing to spend on a sound card for this build, is 100.00 on the low end and as far up to a high end of about 180.00 and "EniGmA1987" I took the time to check out the HT Omega line while the site was down, well I could not access it anyway. And I do like the features of the Striker 7.1 as it has the Auto Mute Feature and the (Claro halo XT) is bit Hi $$ for right now, and The Striker looks like it could be used with the speaker setup that I Linked above.

As for the issue of EAX, it is not that I'm all that hyped up on it or even looking to make it a MUST have, I was just Expressing my thoughts of how much of an importance it really is and "EniGmA1987" thank you for pointing that out. "F@32" thanks for pointing out the issues with Montego DDL.
As for the Equipment that I plan to use, "mattkosem" Please see the linked Speaker set item above and the rest of the Equipment / components for this new build is listed in my First post. And if I failed to mention in the OP this will be mainly for Gaming and HD Video Editing / Photo Editing now that We have an HD Camcorder, there is a lot of video of the kids And I will be doing a Video work Log of the "Ole Glory" build.

Thank you again, oops another long post Please Excuse me.
Sarg

[mattkosem]

As for the Equipment that I plan to use, "mattkosem" Please see the linked Speaker set item above and the rest of the Equipment / components for this new build is listed in my First post. And if I failed to mention in the OP this will be mainly for Gaming and HD Video Editing / Photo Editing now that We have an HD Camcorder, there is a lot of video of the kids

Thanks, it was the audio equipment that I was curious about. An X-Fi Forte and, depending on the DAC in those speakers, possibly a Toslink cable would probably be a good fit for your speaker setup and needs. It doesn't look like Azuentech currently has any refurbs of that model available, but it might be worth keeping an eye out if you want to save a few bucks and have the time.

--Matt

[Sarg]

Matt, Thank you for your assistance & incite, I had a hard time finding this much Info on the 5.1 speaker set up that I currently have & plan to use. As they are Very much out dated / Discontinued. To be honest I would Like to get the X-Fi Forte It is within my Price range as shown on new egg, Everything about it sounds like it is a solid product. But the Only thing makes me think Twice is reading of all the problems & issues that others have been having with it, I do understand that I don't know what each person's set up is & all the little details, but it just makes me feel uneasy, seeing & reading of so many people having problems. But I'm willing to take a leap of Faith & It seems like it's time to shop around for a new Speaker set up, one that is of better Quality.

Sarg

Thanks, it was the audio equipment that I was curious about. An X-Fi Forte and, depending on the DAC in those speakers, possibly a Toslink cable would probably be a good fit for your speaker setup and needs. It doesn't look like Azuentech currently has any refurbs of that model available, but it might be worth keeping an eye out if you want to save a few bucks and have the time.

--Matt

[EniGmA1987]

And I do like the features of the Striker 7.1 as it has the Auto Mute Feature and the (Claro halo XT) is bit Hi $$ for right now, and The Striker looks like it could be used with the speaker setup that I Linked above.

The striker is not a great sound card. Probably the only HT Omega card I do not recommend to anyone. It sounds fine, but it has "sound droop" if there is too much low end in a song, or if you turn the low end up on the EQ. It also does not have Dolby Headphone. Which I know makes things "fake", but in a lot of music it sounds pretty darn good. So look elsewhere than the Striker.

[NKrader]

I like turtles

[Sarg]

Well I guess you can Kick me Now I ordered the Striker From New Egg this morning, I was thinking of getting the the OMEGA Claro Halo, but I am low on funds, well Lower than I thought, well til next month that is, so I took the chance and figured that the External Inspire GD580 Decoder Would get everything working together nicely, Well that is what I'm hoping for. But If things do not work out with the speaker set up I currently have & the Earforce HPA2 Head set, then I'm sure I could send it back and exchange it. But I must say that for the price these Headphones do give pretty good sound & having used them while playing several games with them, I was able to make out sounds coming from either Left or right side as well as behind.

Also I spent several hours late last night searching with Google for a better 5.1 speaker set up and what kept popping up were the Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System I found Very few Reviews but mostly on CNet & found them for about $30.00 Less on Amazon, I have been thinking of saving up and getting them. They do have one draw back though as stated in the Review "Midrange is arguably the system's greatest weakness, because of a somewhat noticeable disconnect between the subwoofer and the satellites".

The striker is not a great sound card. Probably the only HT Omega card I do not recommend to anyone. It sounds fine, but it has "sound droop" if there is too much low end in a song, or if you turn the low end up on the EQ. It also does not have Dolby Headphone. Which I know makes things "fake", but in a lot of music it sounds pretty darn good. So look elsewhere than the Striker.

[EniGmA1987]

Just remember that if you are using digital then there is no point in having your sound card, so be sure and connect whatever system you use via analog.

Many people here like that Logitech Z-5500 system, but a lot also hate it.

[NKrader]

Just remember that if you are using digital then there is no point in having your sound card, so be sure and connect whatever system you use via analog.

Many people here like that Logitech Z-5500 system, but a lot also hate it.

truth. z-5500's are a true love/hate relationship

[ZenEffect]

i test these cards at work for game compatiblity.

the turtle beach drivers suck.... nearly impossible to uninstall. use the diamond xtreme 7.1 drivers (same exact card)
the sound is no better than onboard

[Sarg]

Thanks for the info & for all that provided assistnce and theuir thoughts as well as tips. I know I'm a bit late here in thuis reply, but I have run in other issues here with this old Rig of mine and not to mention my Monitor, as welol as some personal family issues. But I will try and exchange the Striker Sound card in the next few weeks for the Claro halo or Claro halo XT.

Sarg.

i test these cards at work for game compatiblity.

the turtle beach drivers suck.... nearly impossible to uninstall. use the diamond xtreme 7.1 drivers (same exact card)
the sound is no better than onboard

[Donnie27]

Thanks for the info & for all that provided assistnce and theuir thoughts as well as tips. I know I'm a bit late here in thuis reply, but I have run in other issues here with this old Rig of mine and not to mention my Monitor, as welol as some personal family issues. But I will try and exchange the Striker Sound card in the next few weeks for the Claro halo or Claro halo XT.

Sarg.

I hope things are going better for ya'.

EAX is completely worthless, especially now days. Games have great positional audio without having to use the proprietary EAX crap.

Asus, Rocketfish, MSI, Microsoft and Auzentech have EAX licenses.

There seems to be a tiny bit of Misinformation. Just as some Hate Creative cards, some folks like them. But clearly they are not for every user. I've had luck with them but they create problems for others. I'd NEVER buy an On-Board sound chipset stuck on a discrete card and called something its not!

EAX = Environmental Audio Effects and has nothing to do with surround sound. This has been explained but some folks have short memories.

EAX doesn't need Alchemy to work in OpenAL=P EAX ads more voices, occludes, obstructs, reverbs, elevation, distance and etc.. effects to the surround sound OpenAL is already doing.

Alchemy is used ONLY for DS3D and NOT much else. Alchemy has NOTHING to do with OpenAL.

Since many of the things EAX does is written into homegrown Sound Engines, EAX as a separate feature isn't as important as it used to be. Creative will make sure it and or OpenAL doesn't completely die!

For gaming, Local Sound Card Hardware Processing isn't about FPS but low latency Game Sounds for no Lip-Sync issues. You pull the trigger on a weapon you want to go BOOM in mil-seconds, not tents of seconds LOL! Stalker CoP has very nice EAX effects.

[Sarg]

"Donnie27" Thank you and for the info, Well long story short this old PC needed a HD format with the OS Reinstall, then my Monitor turned in to a Disco Light with the way it blinks / Flickers. I did another post on that here So I have been working on getting that taken care of right now.
Can't do much without a monitor.

Sarg.