Best soundcard ever.

[deject]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38979
http://www.auzentech.com/site/company/press.php

So basically they're taking the X-Fi and adding in everything it was lacking like the Dolby Digital on-the-fly encoding and surround sound over an optical connection. I want to buy one now.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

Um, you're missing only 2 small points.

1) How does it sound?
2) Y'know Fista pretty much fucks most of the hardware doing for sound, yeah?

[deject]

Um, you're missing only 2 small points.

1) How does it sound?
2) Y'know Fista pretty much fucks most of the hardware doing for sound, yeah?

1) If the sound quality of my current AuzenTech is any indicator (it's the lowest end model they make) it will sound brilliant.

2) Yes I know that but it's not like that's only going to affect this new card. Also don't forget the wrapper Creative made to route everything to OpenAL. The current auzentech cards don't even have OpenAL apparently, so this can only be a good thing.

[eion]

No balanced outputs.
No breakout box.
No other interesting new features.
No interest.

[deject]

No balanced outputs.
No breakout box.
No other interesting new features.
No interest.

Balanced outputs are unnecessary when you're using pure digital streams. Plus, there aren't many gaming soundcards (if there are any at all) with balanced outputs. Almost every soundcard with them is made for music recording and playback.

Breakout boxes can be nice, but they can also be a wast of space.

It's not the new features per-se, it's the combination of all the features that you could never get with one card before.

[eion]

Balanced outputs are unnecessary when you're using pure digital streams. Plus, there aren't many gaming soundcards (if there are any at all) with balanced outputs. Almost every soundcard with them is made for music recording and playback.

Breakout boxes can be nice, but they can also be a wast of space.

It's not the new features per-se, it's the combination of all the features that you could never get with one card before.

Balanced outputs are nice when you have an amp or headphones with balanced inputs (which I would, if my Audigy2 had balanced outputs).

Breakout boxes provide extra isolation from interference, and they're nice for those of us with small computers who still want a decent variety of inputs and outputs.

Doesn't the Audigy2 do surround sound over an optical connection? I thought it did, but I always used SPDIF when I had my surround sound setup. Either way, DD encoding and surround sound over optical are hardly new or revolutionary features. I've also sworn an oath never to buy another Creative Labs soundcard again after way too many bad experiences, and this thing seems too close for comfort.

[deject]

They can pass-through already encoded signals, but the surround sound in games is downmixed to a regular 2 channel stereo signal. All of Creative's cards can only generate a stereo signal an optical or co-ax digital connection. This is why I love the AuzenTech cards, they can do the Dolby Digital and DTS encoding in realtime and send the signal over an optical connection.

[Killavodka]

never felt the need for a sound card... my mobo built-in sound is doing a fine job even when i turn the volume up so loud my chest vibrates.
Damn my child-sized <a href="http://www.kg2k.co.uk/killasetup.JPG">speakers</a>

[Dr. kitteny berk]

Quality over Quantity.

Onboard works fine, but sounds mushy and undefined.

[eion]

never felt the need for a sound card... my mobo built-in sound is doing a fine job even when i turn the volume up so loud my chest vibrates.
Damn my child-sized <a href="http://www.kg2k.co.uk/killasetup.JPG">speakers</a>

Now that is a truly old-school stereo.

But... on-board sound cards can have a pretty significant performance hit in games compared to a decent add-in card.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

But... on-board sound cards can have a pretty significant performance hit in games compared to a decent add-in card.

That, especially in older machines

[Killavodka]

used to have compatibility issues with older on-board sound but not recently. Getting a decent set of speakers in my opinion is far more important.
By the way I could do with a new system for delivering the sound from my pooter to the speakers since the old hifi amp i am using is getting rather old and the equaliser and balance sliders dont work anymore!

[cashy]

never felt the need for a sound card... my mobo built-in sound is doing a fine job even when i turn the volume up so loud my chest vibrates.
Damn my child-sized <a href="http://www.kg2k.co.uk/killasetup.JPG">speakers</a>

Old Warfedales rock the shit out of 99% of modern stuff

[Killavodka]

Old Warfedales rock the shit out of 99% of modern stuff

This hard