Sound Quality...

[compuflyer]

What do you all think: Abit IT 7 Max2 v.2 onboard sound which is the Realtek ALC 650 5.1 vs. Soundblaster Audigy. Are they comparable ? Opinions ? I have Klipsch 2.1 Speakers. I game and listen to a lot of music.

 

[Afro000Dude]

I would go with the audigy. There are other sound cards that would work well for your purposes, as the audigy is kinda expensive. Check out the turtle beach santa cruz or philips acoustic edge.

 

[jaeger66]

Santa Cruz>Audigy2>Acoustic Edge>Audigy>nForce>CMedia>SB Live>anything else onboard

 

[godspeedx]

I have the Klipsch 5.1 with the santa cruz sound card. It's very good but I'm getting the Audigy2 when I get the cash.

I hear that santa cruz has the best card for music, and yes it is good. So it depends what you're going to be doing more of or which you want to sound the best.

 

[Sniper82]

I don't know about everyone else. But I have owned the Santa Cruz and the Philips Acoustic Edge over the past year or so only because they was recommended over the Audigy, yeah they are nice cards but my last card(Santa Cruz) I sold a while back and went to onboard sound(Epox 8k3a+) and couldnt see much difference. Well here a week ago I got ahold of some extra money and decided to try something different and went with the Audigy. Well I can tell a good difference between going from onboard sound to it. IMO I like it better than both Philips and Santa Cruz in both music and games.

The Audigy seems like it has more punch to it than the rest. All 3 was used with Z560's. If your gonna upgrade I recommend the Audigy or Audigy 2.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
I don't know about everyone else. But I have owned the Santa Cruz and the Philips Acoustic Edge over the past year or so only because they was recommended over the Audigy, yeah they are nice cards but my last card(Santa Cruz) I sold a while back and went to onboard sound(Epox 8k3a+) and couldnt see much difference. Well here a week ago I got ahold of some extra money and decided to try something different and went with the Audigy. Well I can tell a good difference between going from onboard sound to it. IMO I like it better than both Philips and Santa Cruz in both music and games.

The Audigy seems like it has more punch to it than the rest. All 3 was used with Z560's. If your gonna upgrade I recommend the Audigy or Audigy 2.

I'm just as deaf as this guy... i can't tell minute differences... but i still went with an Acoustic Edge...

 

[craftsman]

The M-Audio Revolution is all the rage these days!

 

[yhelothar]

nforce2 is good!! well the realtek DAC is definately holding it back...
well i use digital anyways! so the sound quality sould beat an audigy with digital...

 

[Jeff H]

I'm w/ ^Sniper^ re the Santa Cruz. I bought one when I did my most recent upgrade as everyone said it was the best for music. I was underimpressed to say the least. I have the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's, and my SBLive MP3+ sounded better. Plus I couldn't get the da_n TB mixer to "stay put." It was dull and muddy, compared to the SBLive.

FWIW I'm getting ready to do another upgrade and just purchased the Audigy2, $82 from Newegg after rebate (which expires after today). I'm excited to see what it can do, sound-wise.

 

[Ice9]

Originally posted by: craftsman
The M-Audio Revolution is all the rage these days!

No it's not. That card stinks. ZERO equalization possibilities and everything sounds completely flat with no treble at all.