hppal23

What is the real difference between the creative x-fi xtreme musicsound card and the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS sound card. Will you really notice a difference in sound quality between the two. What is the real difference between the 2. The Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS is a lot cheaper so why would I spend the extra money on the x-fi if it really isn't that much better. also are both of the sound cards compatible with the logitech z-5500 speaker system. that is also what speakers the sound card will be going with. Thanks
Matt

TheChef

If you're really an audiophile you'll notice a small difference in the cards, although I doubt most people do notice anything. I'd definetly settle with an Audigy 2 ZS, its still a fine card. The main difference is a better SPU on the X-Fi series, but nothing humongous.

__________________

hppal23

What is a SPU?

ckfordy

sound processing unit. kinda like a cpu central processing unit it does the same thing but with sound.

Blue

You should hear a rather large difference actually. I upgraded from a Soundblaster Audigy 2 (Value though) to the Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum and the difference is huge. Also your regular stereo headphones really do seem to be surround sound with these cards. They just sound amazing. Also you get what you pay for and this is partly reason for the Audigy being cheaper then the X-fi.

__________________
FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

Pr0

X-Fi Fatal1ty fps has the best quilty sound then all that you just names in this thread so far.

__________________
My MONSTER
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 RC-830-SSN1
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 1066MHz w/ Zalman9500 fan
Asus P5W DH Deluxe
4x1GB CORSAIR XMS2 DDR2 PC2 6400 4-4-4-12
1x WD HDD Raptor 150GB 10k rpm, 16mb Cache
1x SAPPHIRE X1900XTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO
XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S4P4 650W ATX12V

suprasteve

well this is how I look at it, I picked up an Audigy 2 ZS on sale for $42, now why would I spend $185 on an x-fi even if it is better?

Blue

If you think there is enough difference between the Fatal1ty and the Platinum you are mistaking. The only real difference is the amount of X-RAM. As a matter of fact there is nothing there to make it sound even a wee bit better then the Platinum and that is just a fact.

You just answered that for yourself . Because it is better. It is the same as saying... I just picked up a Radeon 9600Pro for $80... Why would I spend more for the X1900XT? Or how is this? I just spent $400. on a new computer... Why would I want to spend $2000.? Boils down to because it is better.

__________________
FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

Dr Studly

but is the x-fi good enough to justify the price difference? is the x-fi really 4-5 times as good as the Audigy 2 ZS? No. Sound cards are like pulling a rubber band. It only stretches so far and it gets harder to stretch the rubber band. Sound cards only get so good... a expencive sound card isn't 4-5 times better than the less excpencive one... does anyone get what i am saying?

Blue

Yes I get what you are saying (I'm not that dumb). You must realize that It is mostly opinion and yours is not any better then mine. As for how great they are well... They have been justifiably compared to when Soundcards finally reached Hi-Fi levels. It is a considerable leap in sound technology on the PC. If you had one and used it for a bit you would agree I'm sure. Also if you use headphones much for gaming then I would have to say the X-Fi cards are much better then the Audigy. When I say much better I mean there just is not comparing. I could go on with all the features but that info can be found online in many places.

In ways yes they are 4-5 times better. You hear the difference right away yet the largest improvements is when you listen through a pair of headphones and by playing with the many enhancements.

__________________
FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358