Best sound card - need your opinions!

daba · Post by **daba** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:46 pm

Well it has boiled down to the M-Audio Revolution 7.1 or the Audigy 2 ZS (Platinum) for my Klipsch 5.1 Promedia Ultras. I'm not satisfied with ASUS's onboard sound on my P4P800-DLX.

I've read some reviews and the Audigy 2 ZS seems to be better for gaming while the M-Audio Revolution is superior to the Audigy 2 ZS in everything BUT gaming.

Thoughts, comments? I would like some advice from you before I make my purchase!

(or if anyone has a Audigy 2 ZS [Platinum with black faceplate] or an M-Audio Revolution please PM me for a possible sale!)

Thanks in advance,
daba

rogue · Post by **rogue** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:56 pm

Depends on your needs, really. I personally despise Creative for their shoddy drivers and software, but the Audigy 2 ZS is indeed a better card for gaming than the Revolution. If you don't do that much gaming or none at all, then I say go for the Revo.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:56 pm

personally, I have always been a fan of the Creative cards

daba · Post by **daba** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:59 pm

Actually, I game a lot, but listen to music equally as much. I do not watch many DVDs.

To anyone who has owned both an M-audio Revo and an Audigy 2, is the difference noticable?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 7:07 pm

I have owned a few Creative cards and never had a REAL problem with them. That being said I did hate their driver support and for that reason alone if I were buying a new card today it would be the M-Audio over the Creative.

Invisible Evil · Post by **Invisible Evil** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 3:45 pm

I might be wrong but the reason that the Audigy is superior is that the M Audio doesnt have an onboard DSP?

rogue · Post by **rogue** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 4:05 pm

Originally posted by Invisible Evil
I might be wrong but the reason that the Audigy is superior is that the M Audio doesnt have an onboard DSP?

Well, the Audigy is superior because it does EAX/3d sound processing through hardware rather than software. However, the Revo has much superior sound and DACs.

smb · Post by **smb** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:23 pm

The best soundcar ever had to be the Aureal 3500 based soundcards. Too bad they went away.

I'm still using a Phillips Acoustic Edge, but I don't game very much.

VidmanII · Post by **VidmanII** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:52 pm

I just hooked up my M-audio REVO and it's sweet. I listen to music more than I game and if you do the same, this IS the card.

daba · Post by **daba** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:02 am

Ack, I play a lot of games.

Oh well, hopefully when I overclock my machine it won't be a problem.

I'm sealing a deal for the M-Audio right now.

Mike89 · Post by **Mike89** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 2:25 am

I only can speak of the Audigy 2 ZS since I have one. I changed my old Santa Cruz and got the Audigy 2. I can say it is a much better sound card and sounds superb.

As far as drivers are concerned, Creative has come a long way and has much better driver and software support than they used to. It's got a nice feature where you can go on the website and it will look at your system (sort of like Windows update does) and tell you if you need to update your drivers/software and do the whole thing for you. Works very well.

As far as music, I can't imagine anything sounding any better. For gaming, I doubt any sound card can beat it and you can always count on the drivers being up to date, which I can't say for the other ones.

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 2:34 am

Herculese Game Theater XP!!!!!!!! It owns em all

Gand1 · Post by **Gand1** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:11 am

Originally posted by PreDatoR
Herculese Game Theater XP!!!!!!!! It owns em all

Pred,

You took the words right out of my mouth!!!!

PreDatoR · Post by **PreDatoR** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:41 pm

This thing has never gave me a bit of a problem. And it sounds great 2 years later.

daba · Post by **daba** » Fri May 21, 2004 7:19 am

I ended up buying a Revo from a pal for $48 Shipped