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Topic: Seeking PC Audio Card Advice! (Read 10298 times) previous topic - next topic
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Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

I have been using Creative product for years (Starting with the original Sound Blaster 8 bit!), but have been very disappointed with my last two Creative purchases: The Audigy 2 ZS and the X-Fi Platinum. While the Audigy 2 started out good, after upgrading to a motherboard with a nForce 4 chipset, I started getting the SCP (Snap, Crackle, Pop!) issues commonly described on Creative's forums. I then upgraded to the X-Fi Platinum... and to my surprise, the same issues! After doing more research, I've found that many people are having these exact same issues with multiple Creative cards, and Creative doesn't want to do much more other than point the finger at nVidia -- funny thing is, I don't see these kind of complaints coming from owners of other sound devices 

So this brings me to my current predicament: What new card to use. I have narrowed my options down to three cards and am looking for suggestions, experiences, etc. about any of them (Though, I'm open to opinions on other cards as well still):

I am a HUGE audio freak. I have a high quality sound setup for my PC and would like to improve it if possible. My speakers are Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1. I listen to a lot of audio, dabble with producing at times, and play some games (mostly World of Warcraft...  ).

Other than the obvious must of having supurb audio quality, 7.1, DTS, etc., the sound card must support Windows Vista x64 edition (e.g. they must have 64 bit Vista drivers!); BETA drivers are no problem for me.

Please, I would love to hear any thoughts, experiences, and information regarding these cards (and again, any others you may recommend over them).

Much appreciation in advance!!!

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #1 –
M-Audio Revolution 7.1
"You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight."  Neil Peart  'Resist'

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #2 –
NuSkooler:

Which motherboard and what BIOS version are you using?
Break The Rules!!!

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #4 –
M-audio 5.1  & 7.1
EAC secure | FLAC  --best -V -b 4096 | LAME 3.97 -V0 -q0 -b32

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #6 –
You can't go wrong with HT Omega, Auzentech or Razer.  Depends on how much you want to spend in the end.  Also, check out some major reviews of the cards.
Zune 80, Tak -p4 audio library, Lossless=Choice

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #7 –
Quote from: NuSkooler on
Asus M2N32 WS Pro (AM2), Award BIOS (1102 / 2007-1-25)

Asus M2N32 WS Pro is using NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP chipset and not nForce 4 chipset.

I do not recall there is any Vista x64 support for OxygenHD chipset (Auzentech, Razer, etc) as well as M-Audio soundcard yet, please correct me if I am wrong.

Since there is only one PCI slot (the last slot) for your motherboard, you may want to remove your X-Fi, uninstall the driver, clean the goldfinger, plug back and reinstall again.
Break The Rules!!!

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: master on
Asus M2N32 WS Pro is using NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ MCP chipset and not nForce 4 chipset.


Sorry, yes you are correct. The board experiences the exact same issues as the nForce 4 series -- removing the card remedies the issue. I get the same issue if I install my old Audigy 2 ZS.

Quote
I do not recall there is any Vista x64 support for OxygenHD chipset (Auzentech, Razer, etc) as well as M-Audio soundcard yet, please correct me if I am wrong.


AFAIK, there are beta drivers for at least the Razer and the Auzentech devices. I have contacted the manufactures of each for verification.

Quote
Since there is only one PCI slot (the last slot) for your motherboard, you may want to remove your X-Fi, uninstall the driver, clean the goldfinger, plug back and reinstall again.


This is now across three verisons of Windows: XP Pro 32 & 64, and now Vista 64.

Perhaps I'll try one last time, cleaning the connections better... I did use some air on them a while back though.

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #9 –
Quote from: NuSkooler on
AFAIK, there are beta drivers for at least the Razer and the Auzentech devices. I have contacted the manufactures of each for verification.

My understanding yes there is beta driver for Vista x32 but not x64 as of now. You can check Hardforum for more info.
Break The Rules!!!

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #10 –
NuSkooler,

My guess is that you have not heard about any issues Auzentech, Barracuda or Omega users have because these are new products few people have - unlike Audigy or X-Fi.
Actually nForce4 chipset has some unresolved issues with PCI latency From wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NForce4

"The nForce4 chipset has also been blamed for issues with PCI cards, related to NVIDIA's implementation of the PCI bus. RME Audio, a maker of professional audio equipment, has stated that the latency of the PCI bus is unreliable and that the chipset's PCI Express interface can "hog" system data transfer resources when intense video card usage is occurring. This has the effect of causing audible pops and clicks with PCI sound cards.[11] Gamers have noticed this effect, especially with Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound cards."

There is another good brand of sound cards called RME - users had very bad problems with this chipset, so that RME company tested and meassured nVidia boards already in 2005. Results were simple- this board is not good for audio: http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/nforce4_tests.htm
I have not heard of any major changes on nForce4 in audio dept, and according to RME sites their issues are unresolved. So before you pull the trigger I'd suggest you move the audio card  you have to another PCI slot - if you have not done this before.  You can also decrease level of hardware audio accelaration - this will increase CPU load but might help with crackles. Ultimately - consider getting new motherboard.

Good Luck

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #11 –
I heard there was a problem with the early revisions of the x-fi but a silent revision of the card was put out which fixed the problem (if the problem was with the card to begin with or its was a fix to make the card work with other manufactuers hardware problems I don't know). I remember this as i did a lot of research before buying, after many years ago swearing not to buy creative again after a live card scp'ing on my old via chipset. (Looking back this might have been a via fault, who knows)

So when i bought my X-fi i made sure it was from a online company with a very fast turnover of stock to make sure i got a new revision and it has worked flawlessly with my abit an8 ultra (nforce4 ultra) motherboard.

Its a shame as I am sure these instances of problems have put many people of the card which i think sounds awesome. Definately the best sound card i have had in 10 years of trying many

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #12 –
Quote from: UrbanVoyeur on
M-audio (Revolution) 5.1  & 7.1
No Vista drivers yet.
Quote from: M-Audio link=msg=0 date=
Currently, M-Audio does not offer Vista drivers or Vista software updates (beta or otherwise).  As soon as Vista drivers or updates for any product are available, this FAQ and other portions of our Web site will be immediately updated to reflect this.  Due to the nature of software and driver development, we are not able to provide exact dates or timeframes for when specific drivers will become available—but please rest assured that supporting Vista is a top priority for us.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #13 –
I have an Auzentech X-Meridian. Works flawlessly with Vista. That said, I am using 32 bit version of Vista. And don't plan on going with 64 bit anytime soon. Recent visit to their site shows they have beta drivers for Vista 64.

As a side note: I had terrible SCP issues with XP / NF2 board in old machine until I switched to a USB keyboard. Go figure that a keyboard whacks audio output that bad. Anyway, that helped a lot.

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #14 –
For higher audio quality that includes great gaming sound and overall compatability, go with the XiFi Elite as it has better chips.

X-Fi ExtremeMusic/Platinum: Identical cards; good 8 channel DAC (CS4382); quite good Wolfson ADC; mediocre JRC/NJR OPamp for front channels; el cheapo ST opamps for other channels; Platinum comes with front bay module and remote.

X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS: Card almost identical (same DAC & ADC, same OPamps) with ExtremeMusic/Platinum except 64 instead of 2 MB ram and additional LEDs; comes with front bay module and remote like Platinum.

X-Fi Elite Pro: Different card; 4 very good top-of-the-line stereo DACs (CS4398); very good AKM ADC; juicier ok JRC/NJR OPamp for front (JRC/NJM2114); ok JRC/NJR OPamps for other channels (JRC/NJM2068); also 64 MB RAM and additional leds; comes with remote and external module, which additionally sports 3 PCM1804 ADCs for the analogue inputs.
---------
The lower 3 X-Fi series uses:
Cirrus Logic CS4382 D/A converter (192 kHz, 114 dB)
Wolfson WM8775 A/D (96 kHz, 102 dB)
Input Op-Amps: MC33078
Output Op-Amps: NJM4556 for front, STL 4558 for surround

The X-Fi Elite Pro uses:
Cirrus Logic CS4398 D/A converters (192 kHz, 120 dB)
AKM AK5394 A/D converter (192 kHz, 123 dB)
Output Op-Amps: NJM2114 for front, NJM2068 for surround
RACK:
TI Burr-Brown PCM1804 A/D converters (192 kHz, 111 dB)
Cirrus Logic CS4392 D/A converter (192 kHz, 114 dB) and NJM4556 op-amp for the headphone jack

Seeking PC Audio Card Advice!

Reply #15 –
The OP already said that he has a X-Fi Platinum and that he is highly disappointed with it...