Sound upgrade?

[jcburgwin]

Hi,

I am currently using on-board sound with a pair of altec lansing ATP3
2.1 speakers that I have had for around 4 years. I would like to
upgrade my sound card and it seems that the best consumer card at the
moment is the Audigy 2 zs which I have priced at £43 online.

Since I have very little room I would like to stay with a 2.1 speaker
system for now.

So would the upgrade to the Audigy 2 zs card over the onboard ac97 be
worth it for a 2.1 system?

If so what would be the best 2.1 speakers to use between the ATP3's and
another set I have the inspire t2900, or would I be better off getting
a new set of THX certified 2.1 speakers to go with the new card? for
example the logitech z-2300.

Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks, Jason

 

[kony]

Hi,

I am currently using on-board sound with a pair of altec lansing ATP3
2.1 speakers that I have had for around 4 years. I would like to
upgrade my sound card and it seems that the best consumer card at the
moment is the Audigy 2 zs which I have priced at £43 online.

Since I have very little room I would like to stay with a 2.1 speaker
system for now.

So would the upgrade to the Audigy 2 zs card over the onboard ac97 be
worth it for a 2.1 system?

If so what would be the best 2.1 speakers to use between the ATP3's and
another set I have the inspire t2900, or would I be better off getting
a new set of THX certified 2.1 speakers to go with the new card? for
example the logitech z-2300.

Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks, Jason

You would be best off not buying cheap(ly made) computer
speakers and instead buying shielded hifi bookshelf
speakers.

Audigy 2 ZS is a good gaming card choice... that's mostly
what Creative cards are best at, not audio quality. It is
barey above average for any serious audio beyond gaming. IF
you need both functions, it's a fair choice. If not, budget
is a large factor but the lower end cards that sound better
(technically as well as audibly) are based around Via Envy
chipsets. Chaintech AV-710 is one example, Mag Dog
Entertainer 7.1 is another, though an important detail is
that the best sound from such cards comes from a unique
configuration of running the L/R speakers from the rear
channel outputs, which is not a problem but necessary to
know so you're running from a better ADC.

 

[jcburgwin]

Hi kony,

I will mostly be using them for gaming but wanted something better than
the on-board audio. I am no audiophile and listening to music on my PC
is something I rarely do. I have read good things about the z-2300's,
whats your take on these?

 

[kony]

Hi kony,

I will mostly be using them for gaming but wanted something better than
the on-board audio. I am no audiophile and listening to music on my PC
is something I rarely do.

Then the Audigy is a fair choice, it is better than most
integrated sound, maybe all integrated sound options.

I have read good things about the z-2300's,
whats your take on these?

My take on all of them is that they're poor. There are no
good "computer" computer speakers, ironically enough, IMO.

The Z-2300 has only full-range drivers in the satellites,
yes? That alone would cause me to pass over them. I don't
like dongled volume adjustment either, but some do.
Extensions of unshielded analog signal should generally be
avoided. Then again, I am telling you from a purity,
approaching audiophile concerns for music. For gaming you
might never notice the difference, but with every more games
incorporating surround sound, I'd be looking at, at least
4.1 sound system for gaming.

Sound though is just SO subjective, you might see if there's
any way to audition any prospective choices locally.

 

[Sleepy]

Hi,

I am currently using on-board sound with a pair of altec lansing ATP3
2.1 speakers that I have had for around 4 years. I would like to
upgrade my sound card and it seems that the best consumer card at the
moment is the Audigy 2 zs which I have priced at £43 online.

Since I have very little room I would like to stay with a 2.1 speaker
system for now.

So would the upgrade to the Audigy 2 zs card over the onboard ac97 be
worth it for a 2.1 system?

If so what would be the best 2.1 speakers to use between the ATP3's and
another set I have the inspire t2900, or would I be better off getting
a new set of THX certified 2.1 speakers to go with the new card? for
example the logitech z-2300.

Any recommendations are most welcome.

Thanks, Jason

***********************

Virtually any sound card will be better than that onboard AC97 sound chip.
Even my old SBLive card sounds *fuller* and *warmer* than the onboard
sound which is thin and harsh. My brothers Audigy is better than my SBLive
too
and Ive compared it in my system too - ie using the same speakers. We have a
set
of Altec Lansing speakers knocking around that my Dad bought - they cost
about £70
and he bought them to go with a Extigy to play his Classical music but
frankly they sound
quite poor. The satellites tho well made are very small and deliver very
little mid range so the
sound is bright and detailed but you cant listen comfortably for very long.
Actually my brothers
Creative Labs 2.1 speakers sound a LOT better for music and films as well as
games.

 

[jcburgwin]

Hi sleepy, I have been looking at the audigy 2 zs cards which for 40
odd quid seem like a good upgrade (as this was suggested as a good
gaming card, which is what it will be used for) and also since there
are few alternatives that are not showing their age.

However I am now reading about problems with this card and Norton AV
which I also use.

So it seems as though there is liitle point getting slightly better
sound and upsetting my very stable system.

So unless there has been some recent fix that is guaranteed to work
100% of the time for this conflict then I will have to be happy with
what I've got.

 

[Sleepy]

Hi sleepy, I have been looking at the audigy 2 zs cards which for 40
odd quid seem like a good upgrade (as this was suggested as a good
gaming card, which is what it will be used for) and also since there
are few alternatives that are not showing their age.

However I am now reading about problems with this card and Norton AV
which I also use.

So it seems as though there is liitle point getting slightly better
sound and upsetting my very stable system.

So unless there has been some recent fix that is guaranteed to work
100% of the time for this conflict then I will have to be happy with
what I've got.

Havent used Norton Antivirus for a long time because in my experience its
shite
software - everything from Norton is. I use AVG from Grisoft and have no
problems
with it and my SBLive. My brother uses AVG with his Audigy and again - no
problems.
My advice - ditch the shitty software and get a decent soundcard. AVG is
free btw.