Audigy - Yay or Nay?

[Testin da Cable]

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

ps. wanna know more? look here

 

[Ono]

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

Would I upgrade from a SB Live! ? No.

 

[Will]

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.

 

[Perplex]

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

 

[Nibbler]

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.

 

[Embattle]

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

 

[lovedaddy]

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.

 

[Embattle]

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

 

[lovedaddy]

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.

 

[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...

 

[Testin da Cable]

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?

 

[Embattle]

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...

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.

 

[PR.]

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?

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

 

[old.frankie]

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...

 

[Embattle]

Originally posted by PR
I also hear that the new XP drivers for the Game Theater XP support 6.1

It does.

 

[Ono]

Why didn't they include DTS support on the card??

 

[Ch3tan]

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.

 

[Nibbler]

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

 

[stu]

surround sound on a pc is pointless, end of

 

[Testin da Cable]

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.

 

[Happy Go Lucky]

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

 

[Embattle]

Originally posted by Stu-
end of

Stop putting this stu since it just seems people then can't help but comment

 

[Testin da Cable]

heh :/

 

[lovedaddy]

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.

 

[Embattle]

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.

 

[Perplex]

I need mine for musical composition

 

[lovedaddy]

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

 

[Embattle]

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

 

[Perplex]

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

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

 

[Embattle]

An intergrated one at that.