Audigy - Yay or Nay?

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Testin da Cable

Guest
should I get one? would you get one? do you have one already? do tell pls :)

ps. wanna know more? look here
 
O

Ono

Guest
If I was getting a new PC I would definitely have one.

Would I upgrade from a SB Live! ? No.
 
W

Will

Guest
I go with Ono on this one. To see the advantages of upgrading, I'd need a much nicer sound set-up than the one I have atm.
 
P

Perplex

Guest
I toasted my SB Live! Platinum when plugging in a mates sampler unit, and ever since the treble has been really distorted. Meaning I need a new card. Had my eye on the Audigy Platinum EX.

I'd also be interested to hear from anyone that has, or has used the Audigy Plat EX
 
N

Nibbler

Guest
I messed around with it for a few minutes at this show kinda thing...

Seemed very good, and all the reviewers are going crazy over it.
 
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Embattle

Guest
Does seem very good but don't think I get it unless my GTXP blows up.
 
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lovedaddy

Guest
The techie lads from work seem to rate the nForce way above the new SBLive. I think it can do more audio streams in DS3d, and is the only card that can create Dolby Digital Streams. (the sblive can PLAY dd streams, but it cannot create them, so say if the intro was recorded in dd, the SBlive could play the encoded stream, but it could not create it on the fly, say in game).
I'd wait for the nForce.
 
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Embattle

Guest
Isn't the nforce a Intergrated Mobo chip....*scratchs head*
 
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lovedaddy

Guest
It is aye, but the part that a lot of people seem to miss is that it does sound as well, and from what the tech lads from upstairs at work have to say, it very very good at that too.
 
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PR.

Guest
Embattle what do you think of ya Game Theater XP?

I am looking to get that, but if this new Audigy doesn't suffer the same problems as SBlive 5.1 I might get that...
 
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Testin da Cable

Guest
hmmm. I heard about that nForce audio thingy, but to use it I'd be forced to get a mb that is based on the chip so I guess I have to wait that one out till I actually get around to purchasing a new poota.

Atm, I have a SB-live[value] which I got very cheap and works fine, with no discernable problems. Speaker-wise I have a Labtec Pulse-242 which is a 2+1 setup. Very crisp and clear but no 'surround-esque' stuff as [up to now] I've had my doubts about positional audio in games. That would be the only thing I'd be using it for because [imo] DVD watching is well and good, but I'd rather do that on my dvd-player/hi-fi system/tv than on my poota.

If I were to upgrade my pc to a full 5.1 capable card, I'd also have to get a 4+1 or 5+1 speaker setup. Frankly I'm starting to have doubts about the end justifying the means. Can someone who has a 5.1 setup with his/her pc comment on in-game sound? Is it worth it?
 
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Embattle

Guest
Originally posted by PR
Embattle what do you think of ya Game Theater XP?

I am looking to get that, but if this new Audigy doesn't suffer the same problems as SBlive 5.1 I might get that...
Click to expand...

The GTXP is very good but the new Audigy is naturally better being more recent but the thing is you'e unlikely to hear any difference since computers etc tend to make so much noise in operation.
 
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PR.

Guest
Originally posted by testin_da_cable
Can someone who has a 5.1 setup with his/her pc comment on in-game sound? Is it worth it?
Click to expand...

Well I have my SBlive 5.1 connected to my 5.1 stereo system, and when it worked under Win2k (not often) it worked pretty well, although not many games take the step from just two front / two rear to the full 5.1 I would notice the difference, Clive Barkers Undying had 5.1 and it really made it sound better with voices coming out clear even with the howling of the wind and other enviromental sounds.

When I didn't want to use the TV/DVD I could still get the 5.1 from my comp :)

I also hear that the new XP drivers for the Game Theater XP support 6.1
 
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old.frankie

Guest
5.1 in games tis good, but not amazing... if its like a online fps like CS or Q3 then no, 5.1 system wont do you any favours, but single player gaming tis fun...

not worth spending the money on though, only if u use it for dvd's as well and want the high quality...
 
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Ch3tan

Guest
4+1 is perfect for games, especially online games.

With a game that supports it use 5.1, but its pointless in games that dont.

In CS there is a massive difference being able to tell where sounds are located exactly, whcih is much harder with two speaker setups.

However, after saying all that, I still prefer a good set of headphones for postional audio during games. Although that still requires a good soundcard and EAX is a must.
 
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Nibbler

Guest
Hehe EAX is funee. You can listen to music and make the man sound like a woman. Teeheehee.
 
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Testin da Cable

Guest
well, I can get the use of 4.1, though I'm willing to debate it's value in games over 2.1. 5.1 on the other hand seems rather worthless unless one plays DVD's on ones pc [and perhaps pipes the sound & video to ones tv/hi-fi system as a friend of mine does]
for myself, I'm still not fully convinced as to the added worth of extra speakers in game play.
 
H

Happy Go Lucky

Guest
I have a creative soundblaster 128 card, and 2.1 USB Speakers.
I think my card can do a 4.1 setup, is this worth doing, or should I just get a decent pair of headphones, although my card doesn't do eax, so should I ditch the card.

I like playing quake3 and halflife, not much multiplayer but I may do this more in the future. I also watch the ocassional dvd as well

cheers
 
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lovedaddy

Guest
Right, Ive just got back from a confrence, and I can tell you 1st hand, the nForce is awsome. They had tech demos of a 1st person shooter, the casing from the bullets were all individually sourced in DD5.1, and sounded f*cking awsome. The nForce gets away from the limitations of PCI (the main bottle neck for high quality DirectSound3d), as its now part of the motherboard pipeline. It can do 256 hardware voices (I think the new SBlive does about 60). Basically, WAIT, it will be worth it.
 
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Embattle

Guest
TBH ppl don't only get these for the sound quality since PCs etc tend to make so much noise its irrelevant. What people tend to use are the extra inputs/outputs.
 
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lovedaddy

Guest
Serious, 2 years ago the sampling capibility of the nForce would have cost you 15 grand, this thing is HOT.
 
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Embattle

Guest
I certainly won't be getting it since it won't do much for me although the reviews will be interesting.
 
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Perplex

Guest
Originally posted by lovedaddy
Serious, 2 years ago the sampling capibility of the nForce would have cost you 15 grand, this thing is HOT.
Click to expand...

Errr, the Audigy Plat EX pisses all over the nForce from a very fucking considerable height for composing music.

nForce is merely nothing more than a home entertainment sound soloution
 
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