What is the best soundcard?

[Frank_L]

I want to buy a new soundcard to replace my good old vortex2. I want 5.1 sound for DVD and good music quality since I listen to music mostly on my computer. I'm also playing some fps games like UT 2003 and Quake. My Vortex2 was a very good card for 3d effects but it's a real cpu hog. I would want about the same quality but with better performance. I was not really impressed by EAX2 on the Live cards. Here are the cards that I'm considering:

SoundBlaster Audigy (even if it's a false 24bit)
Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1
Hercules Game Theatre XP 6.1

What would be the best choice for me?

[thcdru2k]

i believe the hercules game theatre xp is the best of those 3.

[thcdru2k]

actually if you have a decent speaker setup with a good amplifier, and good speakers etc, get a terratec dmx 6fire, this soundcard is way ahead of any creative card. it runs around 100-150 dollars but the sound quality is absolutely amazing. it runs pretty decent with games too. if you just have regular computer speakers than a creative will do, or better yet the hercules xp, or santa cruz.

[McBane]

or you could go for the Terratec 6fire LT...its the same card as the 6 fire but it doesnt have the brakout box, which means it cheaper...

http://www.terratec.com/products/6firelt/nav_6firelt.htm

[thcdru2k]

very true, hadn't notice that terratec made that card without the breakout box. you could also go for m-audio audiophile 2496..equally impressive sound quality to the terratec.

[netviper13]

I've got the Game Theater XP and it is an awesome card. There is just so much you can do with it, almost any speaker config works.

[The Baron]

M-Audio Duo if you ever want to do real sound stuff... it's a Beautiful Thing.

[thcdru2k]

or a lynx lol

[sbp]

Beast Buy is clearing out their Hercules Game Theater XP Audio Station for $75.50 w/ free shipping.
http://www.bestbuy.com/ComputersPeripherals/GraphicsSound/SoundCards.asp?m=488&cat=521&scat=523

The Vortex 2 sound cards were great sound cards for their time. I tried my MX300 under Win2k but it wasn't fully functional since unfortunately Aureal died before the drivers were finished. It was time to upgrade.

I have both the SB Audigy and Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and think they are both good.

Sound Blaster Audigy (http://www.americas.creative.com/products/category.asp?Category=165&MainCategory=1)
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/santacruz/producthome.asp) uses the same Cirrus Logic SoundFusion CS4630 (http://www.cirrus.com/design/products/overview/detail.cfm?d=42) soundchip as the Hercules Game Theater XP.
The Hercules Fortissimo uses the Cirrus Logic CS4624 (http://www.cirrus.com/design/products/overview/detail.cfm?d=41) soundchip.

The Audigy has the best EAX implementation and is a bit more forward looking (EAX Advanced, firewire).

Turtle Beach has solid WinXP drivers. A lot of people like it since it has a nice clear sound.

links of interest: http://www.3dss.com/
http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/Audio/Sound_Cards/

[FastM]

Does anyone know all the differences between the

Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1

and

Hercules Game Theatre XP 6.1

I thinking i want to try something other than creative to maybe help the performance hit im taking in Unreal2003 with Hardware sound enabled. These two seem like the best options. I can go and get the XP 6.1 card from a local retailer today, but i want to know if its worth it to get the 7.1 (Basically if there is anything different apart from support for 1 more speaker).

Btw, i use a 4 speaker setup and thats not going to change for a while.

[Fluke]

I replaced my Audigy a while back with Hercules Game Theatre XP 6.1 and I'm not looking back. And the best is my game perforamance, no slow downs in heavy action with heavy sfx or voices. Can't believe I have been disillusioned all these years. Took a few sites to wake up and realize Creative is crap.

[FastM]

Originally posted by Fluke
I replaced my Audigy a while back with Hercules Game Theatre XP 6.1 and I'm not looking back. And the best is my game perforamance, no slow downs in heavy action with heavy sfx or voices. Can't believe I have been disillusioned all these years. Took a few sites to wake up and realize Creative is crap.

That is exactly the type of comment i was looking for. Im going After work to buy the Hercules XP 6.1, thanx for the reply.

I already cant wait to Try selling my Audigy, the worst part is i know lots of people want one...

[SavagePaladin]

Originally posted by Fluke
I replaced my Audigy a while back with Hercules Game Theatre XP 6.1 and I'm not looking back. And the best is my game perforamance, no slow downs in heavy action with heavy sfx or voices. Can't believe I have been disillusioned all these years. Took a few sites to wake up and realize Creative is crap.
You, me, and everyone else....don't feel lonely.
If I ever look back, I'm prepared to put a gun to my head :p

[saturnotaku]

Originally posted by FastM

I already cant wait to Try selling my Audigy, the worst part is i know lots of people want one...

Hehe, I sold mine on ebay for $81. Goodbye and good riddance, I say to that sound card.

[pelly]

I can't wait for nForce2........No worries about sound-quality.....

:D

If I had to pick a card though, I would opt for the Hercules....nothing but good things heard about them....

:)

[thcdru2k]

isn't the nforce2 just a realtek alc650 wit dolby decoder? that isn't the best but its decent

[LORD-eX-Bu]

What I did was I took a regular ol'e 250W amplifier, and then I took my stereo speakers which were like 2 15" subs, 3 high range woofers and 2 little monitor speakers and then I made a connector for my PC. I hooked it up to my PC thru the amplifier and that rocked! It was the best sound I have ever heard, and it was just on a regular AC'97 Codec, lol. That was great, I had to eventually take it down tho due to complaints that it was too loud and shaking stuff. Give it a try. I might hook it up again, I hope it sounds better with a new sound card. And maybe this time I will give my set of four new 18" subwoofers a try.:D

[LORD-eX-Bu]

How much does a Game Theatre XP 6.1 cost?

[Monolyth]

Definately stay away from CL, they used to be one of the best Audio companies out there (the reason their so powerful now). Makes you wonder about Nvidia, but anyway...this is about Audio not Video.

Hercules initially had some problems with their Game Theater, but were quickly resolved with steady driver updates & optimizations. The Turtle Beach Santa Cruz WinXP Drivers (as previously stated) run smoothly & work great. The only problem with most cards (besides CL) is EAX Implementation. Considering its CL's own beast of course they will make it hard for others to implement it on their chips/boards. Looking @ other companies with large numbers of patents of pretty much "industry standard technologies", you will see the same thing. But since EAX tech changes so rapidly smaller companies that can't produce updated boards quickly enough get left behind, ie. Turtle Beach.

Now, not to go off-topic but it was rumored TB was working on a new board using one of Cirrus Logic's chips w/DD Encoding :D, can we say "True 5.1 AC-3", imagine an EAX process going into an AC-3 Hardware Encoder onboard then straight out to ur sound system. But since many peeps don't have the setup I have, so it probably wouldn't benefit them, but just imagine it...mmmm.

Of course the Nforce was going to have onboard DD Encoder but considering the usage of AC97 Codecs on crappy onboard chips makes life more difficult. But anyway...just is stay way from Audigy, Hercules & TB both great companies, also haven't heard many probs from Philips cards...

[FastM]

Well i just ordered the Hercules Game Theater XP 6.1 from a local store. Im paying 149$ Canadien + Tax (94$ USD). Maybe not the best price but its only down the street so i cant complain.

Does anyone know if there will be less of a FPS Hit playing UT2003 with SoundHardware enabled? Compared to the Audigy of course.

Also, whats the CPU Utilisation while playing like an MP3 compared to the Audigy.

[Monolyth]

I heard playing w/Software is faster than w/Hardware...But as always things change from box to box...

[SavagePaladin]

Originally posted by Monolyth
Definately stay away from CL, they used to be one of the best Audio companies out there (the reason their so powerful now). Makes you wonder about Nvidia, but anyway...this is about Audio not Video.

Hercules initially had some problems with their Game Theater, but were quickly resolved with steady driver updates & optimizations. The Turtle Beach Santa Cruz WinXP Drivers (as previously stated) run smoothly & work great. The only problem with most cards (besides CL) is EAX Implementation. Considering its CL's own beast of course they will make it hard for others to implement it on their chips/boards. Looking @ other companies with large numbers of patents of pretty much "industry standard technologies", you will see the same thing. But since EAX tech changes so rapidly smaller companies that can't produce updated boards quickly enough get left behind, ie. Turtle Beach.

Now, not to go off-topic but it was rumored TB was working on a new board using one of Cirrus Logic's chips w/DD Encoding :D, can we say "True 5.1 AC-3", imagine an EAX process going into an AC-3 Hardware Encoder onboard then straight out to ur sound system. But since many peeps don't have the setup I have, so it probably wouldn't benefit them, but just imagine it...mmmm.

Of course the Nforce was going to have onboard DD Encoder but considering the usage of AC97 Codecs on crappy onboard chips makes life more difficult. But anyway...just is stay way from Audigy, Hercules & TB both great companies, also haven't heard many probs from Philips cards...

Aren't codecs for converting digital to analog anyway?
If so...who cares? I know for a fact my nforce does dolby digital 5.1....and has a professional codec attached, not that I care.

[Monolyth]

Implementation of a true DD Encoder on a chip the size of Nvidia's MCP would be VERY VERY hard. I'm not talking going from digital to analog, I'm talking about going from analog to digital. That takes quite a bit of processing power, even with professional level codecs installed it will eat your processor down fast. I'm talking about a card that actually takes an EAX effect and truly converts it into a digital format, be it DD 5.1, DTS, etc etc. Most people only use standard speakers hooked up to their computer, I hookup my Receiver to it, and use the S/PDIF Out on my card. Now I will lose depth in-games, ie. Surround Sound. If I was so inclined I could always hookup to the standard analog inputs on my receiver, but I'm lazy.

Anyway, I kinda went off topic. If a card could truly take an EAX enhanced game and allow for DD 5.1 or what have you as an ouput option then my sort of setup would be far superior to that of a standard user connecting via standard RCA cables straight to their speakers. I trust the DD processor in my receiver much more than I would on my card. So then people that do what I do could enjoy true EAX, instead of using crappy Dolby Pro Logic II. Which ain't bad, but you can always tell the difference...atleast I can...

Anyway thats what I meant with that whole spew of junk in that previous post ;)

[SavagePaladin]

Originally posted by Monolyth
Implementation of a true DD Encoder on a chip the size of Nvidia's MCP would be VERY VERY hard. I'm not talking going from digital to analog, I'm talking about going from analog to digital. That takes quite a bit of processing power, even with professional level codecs installed it will eat your processor down fast. I'm talking about a card that actually takes an EAX effect and truly converts it into a digital format, be it DD 5.1, DTS, etc etc. Most people only use standard speakers hooked up to their computer, I hookup my Receiver to it, and use the S/PDIF Out on my card. Now I will lose depth in-games, ie. Surround Sound. If I was so inclined I could always hookup to the standard analog inputs on my receiver, but I'm lazy.

Anyway, I kinda went off topic. If a card could truly take an EAX enhanced game and allow for DD 5.1 or what have you as an ouput option then my sort of setup would be far superior to that of a standard user connecting via standard RCA cables straight to their speakers. I trust the DD processor in my receiver much more than I would on my card. So then people that do what I do could enjoy true EAX, instead of using crappy Dolby Pro Logic II. Which ain't bad, but you can always tell the difference...atleast I can...

Anyway thats what I meant with that whole spew of junk in that previous post ;)

None of that made any sense.

I'm going to sleep.

[The Baron]

Wait a sec, WHY would you convert analog to digital--that kind of ruins everything about digital (sound quality, etc) except that you only need one cable to output it to a receiver or speaker system in 6 channels... :confused: