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Thread: soundcard

  1. #1
    Figge
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    soundcard

    hello!
    ok my current sound card sound terrible..dark and noisy..been thinking about getting a better but really dont know what to go for...maybe it could be a deacent experience listning to the pc with a good card? any suggestions? what do u use? etc...

  2. #2
    pelly3s
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    I use a Sound Blaster Live Platinum but i have been thinking of stepping up to the Sound Blaster Audigy4 Pro. Its a monster of a card that has a fairly high price though $299.

    http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=10853

    http://us.creative.com/products/prod...&product=14065 this one may also be an option

  3. #3
    RIP 2014 Ken Pachkowsky's Avatar
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    soundcard

    I know Bo has a nice one but can't remember the brand or model. I use a Carddeluxe and simply love it. Its in the 350.00 range as well.

    http://www.digitalaudio.com/digitala...187&PubID=4401

    Ken

  4. #4
    djrobertc
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    I used to have the Audigy but it had a surprising amount of noise. I upgraded to an M-Audio Audiophile 192 and absolutely love it.

  5. #5
    hector.murray
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    Sound Cards

    The M Audio soundcards depend heavily on CPU processing power to deliver sound.
    The Original Audigy sound card was developed before Windows XP was released, hence the lateness for the drivers from Creative as Micro$oft did not release the API code until a few weeks before the release of Windows XP final to the masses. Even after Creative got the API code, the drivers for Win XP still didn't seem right and I don't think they ever really got them right afterward. Using CoolEdit or Adobe Audition for music recording seems to bring out the noise in this card. For some reason the core media player does not. Also it has been my experiance that VIA and SIS chipsets do not interface as well with this card as Intel chipsets.
    The Audigy2 ZS on the other hand has given me no issues at all, but from its' conception it was designed with Windows XP and ergo Media center in mind.
    One of the features I like best is the variable subwoofer low pass filter, allowing you to vary the signals sent to the subwoofer from 10 HZ to 200Hz.
    The Creative audio cards use onboard processors for sound production, which relieves the CPU of audio duties, freeing it up for other tasks.
    If you are using a multi processor system or a system with a virtual second processor and dedicate one of the processors to audio duties then the M audio card should not be an issue. Also, if the machine is being used strictly for audio duties then there would be no problem. If however the machine is being used for file transfer, gaming, video editing or video encoding while processing audio it may take the system an inordinate amount of time to complete those tasks as opposed to a similar system with out an M Audio card or onboard audio.
    I have not used the Audigy4 yet. I expect it to be a reliable audio card, but then you get what you inspect, not expect
    Last edited by hector.murray; 08-23-2005 at 05:39 PM. Reason: typos

  6. #6
    Figge
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    thanks guys!

    since i do play some games from time to time. i´ll think ill go for the audigy..will probably work fine with the 4301b i have for the computer. way better than my current cheapest of chepo´s.

    later on i will rig up a computer out in the stereo room then i´ll go for some nicer usb card. maybe the audiophile. and play the tunes via lan.

  7. #7
    Senior Seņor boputnam's Avatar
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    Hey, Figge...

    Try a SEARCH on this - there has been some great dialogue over the years.
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  8. #8
    Member soundmotor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Figge
    hello!
    ok my current sound card sound terrible..dark and noisy..been thinking about getting a better but really dont know what to go for...maybe it could be a deacent experience listning to the pc with a good card? any suggestions? what do u use? etc...
    If your computer has USB, an external soundcard is another option. I use both a Yamaha Cavit DP-u50 and a Turtle Beach Audio Advantage. The Yamaha is a 20 bit/96kHz unit & the TB 16 bit/48kHz. The Yamaha is used in a fixed location & the TB for mobile apps. The Yamaha is disco'd now but they show up for under $100 on eBay. It also is an analog & digital preamp, DSP effect controller, and has a subwoofer out. The TB is the size of a thumb drive and gives you HQ audio only. They both sound great and are noise-free. The integrated soundcard on my laptop has so much hiss that it is unlistenable on speakers with a tweeter.

    M-Audio (Sonica & Transit) as well as Creative (Audigy 2 NX) are definitely worth checking out as well.

  9. #9
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    MAudio, RME or Lynx Studio

    Hi Figge,

    I can also recommend MAudio-cards. I have used Audiophile AP2496 and Delta 410. Those are pretty cheap nowadays (<100...200 Eur).

    Couple years ago I used 410 on my HTPC driving its analog-outputs to poweramps. WinDVD or Powerdvd did the DD/DTS-processing, no need for AV-amp. Not so handy as pre/pros, but it did the job. And the sound was great. Two-channel AP2496's sound was not so far away from SAT CDFIX...

    RME and Lynx are better, but they are also more expensive. You can find them reviewed on Stereophile archives.

    Search for the RME, Lynx, AP2496 and Delta 410 (or the big brother 1010 with balanced outputs) on the www.avsforum.com. There were a thread where RME 96/8, MAudio Delta 1010 and Lynx Studio-card were compared to Lexicon pre/pro with good results. Maybe the review can't be found anymore...

    - JumBLe -

  10. #10
    Super Moderator jblnut's Avatar
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    Next Gen Creative...

    This line of cards seems to have some real promise:

    http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...818/index.html

    I think that someday real soon we'll see real-time processing that actually improves the perceived quality of sound reproduction. It's inevitable that ever-increasing CPU power and programming sophistication will deliver things like amp and speaker "simulators" and real room effect generators. Things have been moving in that direction for some time but it hasn't triclked down into consumer gear...yet. The "crystalizer" that this card has sounds like a real step in that direction and not just a cheesy EQ/reverb gimmick (ala Carver's Sonic Holography - had it and wasn't impressed).

    Can't wait to hear it :-)

    jblnut

  11. #11
    Member soundmotor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jblnut
    This line of cards seems to have some real promise:

    http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...818/index.html
    Impressive, most impressive!

  12. #12
    hector.murray
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    X-fi Platinum

    X-fi Platinum arrives Wednesdy. I'll let you know.

  13. #13
    Figge
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    i got the audigy 2 for my current pc...but i have some plans for a second as mentioned and its gonna be a dedicated music pc so i will get some even better for that one.

    the audigy was a really fine card and i have none complaints. feels like quality compared to my old card.

    many thanks


    btw, 4301b is some great speakers

  14. #14
    hector.murray
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    X-fi

    X-fi Platinum delayed - I hate merchants that sell an item bofore they have it in stock (website listed it as instock when I ordered it).

  15. #15
    Member richard c.'s Avatar
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    Dual Transformer / Isolator...

    ART DTI - Parts Express 245-875 for $45.00! MCM 555-7685 same price.


    Has anyone installed one of these to eliminate ground loop "hum" problems?

    I just couldn't stand the constant 60Hz hum caused by connecting my grounded PC sound card (Creative Labs Live!) to my audio system which is also connected thru coax cable (DirecTV) to several rooms in my house. This Dual Transformer / Isolator completely eliminated the hum and passes the lowest audio signals nicely.

    Freq response 10Hz to 50KHz (+ or - .5db)!

    There are several other uses for this device, too.

    Richard C.

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