Audigy and Audigy2?

[Pouey]

I'm getting either an Audigy or Audigy2 to use with z560 speakers. Has anyone heard the difference between the two soundcards? Will the Audigy2 produce noticable sound quality difference over the Audigy?

[FleshEating Bob]

I don't think so. Even if there is a difference, you'd have to be an audiophile to notice it.

[EluSiOn]

I would say... get audigy 1.


audigy1 and audigy2 has the same output. exactly the same. The difference are the input. Audigy1 is 16bit where as Audigy2 is 24bit. Only unless you are doing major recording demo cd or trying become the next slim shaddy, you don't need audigy2. Moreover, audigy 2 has build in Digital Right Management (DRM) into the hardware, so when WinXP has DRM support, you can say bye bye to your mp3/ not able to exact songs from your audio cd

[Trap]

Get A1 and use A2 drivers..

[Pouey]

What would using A2 drivers do?

[Bantre]

I have both Audigy and Audigy2 sound cards, I have not connected up my 560's to the Audigy, but have them on the Audigy2 and love them VERY VERY much:)
I can tell you I do think the sound is better in the audigy2 by saying it is clearer with better line noise control.
You will love those speakers, it makes my rack system in living room sound bad:(
I do use the input from the dvd/vcr combo since I have a TV in room as well, it serves as the sound system in here.

[Trap]

Originally posted by Pouey
What would using A2 drivers do?

A2 drivers are much much better. Better sound quality, extra features, and the last but the most important it solves all problems under XP. They can even be used with SbLive.

[nard]

i think A2 uses less cpu utilization than A1

live! was just a pos that hogged tons of cpu.

[Pouey]

I think I'm gonna go with the A1. As long as the speakers sound awesome regardless of what card I get, I'll go with the cheaper.

[ScaryDecoy]

I would say look at price......Both cards have the Digital Right Management crap in them, it's not just the audigy2. The Audigy 2 might have more but the audigy Does have it in there. But if there is only $5 difference in the card, I would go with the Audigy 2. Thats just my opinion though.

[Avalanche]

i ordered audigy 2 and klipsch 5.1 for christmas hehe =]

[ScaryDecoy]

Very nice. I think I might go with the new logitech z-680 I think they are. They have the same quality as the Promedia 5.1 but I think they look a little cooler. They are the same price 2 :(

[EclipseJP]

I have the audigy 1 with the Klipsch 5.1's and am very happy. Im not sure what the difference is between the two but Im sure you have to have golden ears to really notice.

[progamer]

Originally posted by Trap


A2 drivers are much much better. Better sound quality, extra features, and the last but the most important it solves all problems under XP. They can even be used with SbLive.

Really? Wow I didn't know that. Are you sure they'll work with sblive though?

[Stumpjumper5200]

I've got the Audigy1 with Klipsch 5.1's.

Absolutely killer setup :D

Take the volume dial, and turn it up. After that, turn it up some more. Finally, proceed to turn it up. Oh yeah :D

[Dragger]

audigy2 will sound better in a year when games start using thx sound :-> the audigy1 can't use thx hehe its only dolby also audigy2 has ac3 which audigy1 don't

[Trap]

Originally posted by progamer


Really? Wow I didn't know that. Are you sure they'll work with sblive though?

yes im sure :)

[mirko_3]

are there absolutely no probelms using audigy 2 drivers with audigy 1? 'cause the correct drivers themselves are somwhat... I'd rather not say it... and i wouldn't want to have to reformat again just to get some extra features...

[Johnny Knoxville]

i would say creative sucks (for many reasons), go for a terratec dmx 6 fire or an m-audio delta (www.m-audio.com) over the audigy 2, or go for the TBSC or hercules game theatre XP over audigy 1

[saulin]

Audigy2 and Klipsch Promedia 5.1 here.

Is just the perfect setup :)

Now are there really better PC speakers than the Klipsch 5.1? Cause man I gotta love the Promedia 5.1. Just switched from the Promedia 4.2 and Wow!

[Trap]

Originally posted by mirko_3
are there absolutely no probelms using audigy 2 drivers with audigy 1? 'cause the correct drivers themselves are somwhat... I'd rather not say it... and i wouldn't want to have to reformat again just to get some extra features...

Read: there are ABSOULTELY no problems with this kind of setup. Just get teh driver CD of A2 and install the drivers and all needed software separately.
And check this link too: http://www.driverheaven.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5972&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

[seamadan000]

go for a terratec dmx 6 fire or an m-audio delta (www.m-audio.com) over the audigy 2, or go for the TBSC or hercules game theatre XP over audigy 1

not if yo are a gamer, those are professional cards that have some real issues with game audio. the manufacturers themselves will tell you that they are not for gaming use.

audigy2 will sound better in a year when games start using thx sound :-> the audigy1 can't use thx hehe its only dolby also audigy2 has ac3 which audigy1 don't

THX is NOT a type of sound, it is a certification, like a RAM standard. we know that PC3500 isn't a official standard, but RAM will still run at those speeds, its just like that with audio. The stuff is certified by the lucasfilm branch THX to be THX certified. This costs money, so many products that meet or exceed the standards don't bother with THX certification. OR, a product generation gets certified when the previous product would have as well, just for the marketing. DTS and DD 5.1 are sound formats that must be supported to run, like directX 9 or whatever. They are COMPLETLY DIFFERENT THINGS. Also, AC-3 IS dolby digital, and they both have it :rolleyes: .

[Johnny Knoxville]

Originally posted by seamadan000


not if yo are a gamer, those are professional cards that have some real issues with game audio. the manufacturers themselves will tell you that they are not for gaming use.


actually the Terratec DMX6 fire is very good for gaming use, it supports EAX
and the m-audio revolution is just as good for gaming too

[seamadan000]

the revolution has some issues with certian games (thats what I hear, not personal experience) but I haven't looked at that terratec, thanks for the tip :)

[HotKoala]

Originally posted by seamadan000
the revolution has some issues with certian games (thats what I hear, not personal experience) but I haven't looked at that terratec, thanks for the tip :)

Creative-anything has problems galore. Drivers also rival the OS install. Personal experience, not hearsay.

[emericanchaos]

first of all there's a HUGE difference between 16 bit 44.1khz and 24 bit 96khz. and it's not just for recording.

anytime your soundcard decodes a stream of information it has a certain amount of other work it has to do. therefore there is always going to be an amount of overhead. so the most quality you get from a 16bit sound card is 12 or less. (usually about 4bit of overhead). now, a CD plays a 16bit stream. but your sound card can only reproduce 12. your losing 25% off the top. no what happens when you play a DVD or a game with DVD quality audio. DVD audio streams are 24 bit. and your only playing at 12 bit or less. your losing HALF the quality.

with a 24 bit card minus 4 bits of overhead leaves you 20bits of useable power. so your CD's will play flawlessly at 16 bit and DVD's will only be losing about 18% percent of their intended quality not 50%

you should not be looking at anything 16bit if you want quality.

also, creative doesn't have a true 24 bit DAC or ADC. as far as any recording and benchmarking software can tell creative's 24bit cards do 18 max. they're falsely advertising the audigy's and extigy. look at terratec and m-audio. they are what audiphiles and musicians use. what would be better to decode a recorded stream than what was probably used to record it in the first place?

[SilverNBlack]

I am sure there are some differences between the two cards sound quality. But to the naked ear, it won't be too noticable. THX will be cool if you watch movies on your computer, otherwise, games don't really take advantage of it.

Saying there are major differences between A1 and A2 is like saying that the AA on a Radeon 8500 absolutely blows away the AA on a Geforce3 Ti 500. If I had the money, of course I would go for the A2 over the A1. But if you are trying to get as much for your $$ as possible, and many are, then getting an A1 is something to consider. Put that extra $$ towards some better RAM or something.

[lclark2074]

for temp sake can you add two satalight sp on their own for the rear chanels