SB Audigy 2 - worthwhile upgrade???

[CotswoldCS]

I have a Creative SB Live! 5.1 Platinum and am considering upgrading to a Audigy 2. My main reason for doing this is to get better quality MP3 music although I am unsure if I am going to notice a difference. Will I notice an appreciable difference in sound quality moving from the SB Live to the Audigy 2???

Many thanks!

 

[A2KLAU]

IMHO I would say the difference would be negligible, reason being is that MP3s are compressed files, and since they are there is already much quality loss.. and since the Live 5.1 is a very good card, the upgrade difference would not really be experienced.. However if it was used more for say DVD work and CD listening then a difference would be erm.. heard..

If its purely for MP3 work then I would save up the money and maybe use it to do other thngs.. but if you like to watch loads of DVDs or listen to CDs as well then the Audigy2 would be a sound upgrade (ignore the unintended pun.)

Albert

 

[yellowperil]

I've owned the SB Live 5.1 OEM (not sure if there is a spec difference between that & Platinum) and I noticed a considerable amount of line noise, especially while using headphones. The Audigy has much better SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) on paper so I assume that the problem was fixed.

 

[BoomAM]

I noticed a big difference when i upgraded my Live5.1 to a Audigy1.

 

[CotswoldCS]

Does anyone know anything about the new Creative MP3+ It's only offers 16 bit sound quality so I am not sure if this is the product for me.

Are there any differences between the OEM and Retail versions, apart from the usual lack of extra software and pretty packaging. The cost difference is significant.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: CotswoldCS
Does anyone know anything about the new Creative MP3+ It's only offers 16 bit sound quality so I am not sure if this is the product for me.

Its an external sound card aint it? If so, then it will suck. It`ll use the USB bus, which`ll eat up all your USB bandwidth and CPU time.

Are there any differences between the OEM and Retail versions, apart from the usual lack of extra software and pretty packaging. The cost difference is significant.

Yes.
The Retail versions usually have gold plated external connectors. But there is practically no sound difference between gold plated, and non gold plated.

 

[corkyg]

The ears are the criteria for sound - you will hear no difference.