audio question

[tomster2300]

What do you guys think about this card coupled with a set of logitech z-5300e's?

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mul...atinum-ex.html

Would I get discrete surround sound? The speakers are analog.

[TwoRails]

The Audigy 2 series are very nice cards, tomster2300, and should push those THX speakers nicely. What are you using currently?

[tomster2300]

I'm currently using onboard sound and am not getting discreet surround sound. The only problem is I've never heard of this card (the ex version I mean). After reading the reviews they only mention EAX HD support, but nothing else. Will I get discreet surround sound with it, plus is it older or newer than the ZS version of Audigy 2 cards? I think it only supports EAX 1.0 - games are up to EAX 3, correct?

[glc]

EX means it has the external box. It's older than the ZS.

[tomster2300]

Is it worth buying for $100? (+ $5 sipping). Should I just pass over it?

[TwoRails]

For only $100 ?? Heck, I might get one Where can you find it for that (if you don't mind me asking).

Yes, it's still a good card, and yes, it's still and Audigy 2. Not sure what, if any differences there are, though.

[tomster2300]

Thanks TwoRails for the advice. I just bought one. Ever heard of the website woot.com? They offer a deal a day and it runs until midnight - then they put another one up. My mother checks it daily and thought I might be interested in the Audigy.

This doesn't seem to be selling too well (it's also the second time they've sold it in the last six weeks) so go pick one up if you'd like it.

I can deal with the lack of the most current EAX support - anything has to be better than my onboard sound.

[TwoRails]

No, never dealt with them, tomster2300, but they have a decent rating at resellers:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8373.html

The specs listed at their sight (woot's) reminded me that that card is also THX, which would be a good match for your speakers.

TR

[glc]

The external box has a lot of semi-professional features - like 1/4" phone jacks. It also has Firewire.

[Hi Ho]

That's a great card for $100. You should be very happy with it.

[tomster2300]

I read a handful of those reviews from the link TR posted and I'm kind of wary now. The majority of them told how either their packages never came, came extremely late, or came damaged (severely damaged) from woot. One even said that they were sold a broken item when the online description said "new". It had a note inside the package from the previous owner (it was used as well) stating it was broken.

They pretty much all said the company had little to no customer service or tech help.

I hope I just didn't blow my money.

[glc]

If you used a credit card, you are protected. Remember that when you read reviews at a place like resellerratings.com, most people who have a positive experience don't post - only those who have a problem bother to make some noise.

[tomster2300]

Alright, good. I should have considered that, and yes, I did use a credit card.

I cleaned my post up.

Do you turn EAX 3 on or is it simply something that the hardware supports? How do you utilize it? - Does it kick in only if the game supports it, or is it solely hardware based?

[tomster2300]

I got everything fixed, so I'm erasing all the previous problems that I posted. The speaker not working turned out to just be unplugged where it met the extension cord (it was behind my desk so I didn't notice it). I downloaded a few more drivers and fixes and now everything is running much better. The sound quality in music is also much clearer and cleaner. A lot of smaller sounds are now emphasized and it creates just an more overall entertaining (and satisfying) listening experience. I haven't extensively tested any games, though I did play AOE III for a few min and it sounded a bit better (fixed the stupid problem the game had with my onboard sound - the sound would randomly amplify itself to 10x the normal volume, then suddenly jump down to nearly unaudible levels). Hopefully I'll see some improved framerates as well.

The neatest aspect of this entire thing is the remote control. I can be anywhere in my room and with the remote bring up my music library and either make a playlist or play individual songs. I can also control the volume, music settings, bring up IE, scroll through it, and even turn my computer on and off, all remotely. Very cool. Kind of like having my own pvr - audio at least - without any of the other hardware or programs. (I can record any audio as well with one click). So far I am very satisfied.

[tomster2300]

I don't believe that edits bump threads back to the top of the list, so I'm going to repost here. Please read my last post ^^ for the update. Thank you!

[TwoRails]

Thanks for the update, tomster2300! I hate to admit it, but I own two "Platinum" edition Audigy cards, but have never once played with the remote. Never really thought about it. So you like it enough to recommend it?

[tomster2300]

Defintately, especially if it's in your room and you're lazy enough to make use of it (like me). If you put your entire music collection into the supplied mediasource program you can access all your music remotely.

I spread my speakers apart a bit more than they were, recalibrated them, plugged my mobile dvd player into the box and my lcd monitor (I lack a dvd drive in my tower), and watched Star Wars Episode I. The podracing (and everything else) sounds simply amazing.

One complaint is I barely hear anything from the rear speakers in movies. They're loud during calibration, but not during dvds. Any ideas?

[TwoRails]

In my office, everything but the TV is arms-length, but I might give it a try out in my work shed. That's the system I've been converting all my old cassettes on. Sounds like the remote will save me some running around to pause recording and the like when I'm doing something else in a different area of the shed.

I don't have a clue on the DVD thing other than the generic "settings" answer. I've played exactly one DVD (in full) on a computer, and that was just the other day in the work shed; the problem there is I have a 2.1 speaker system in the shed...