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I still run with one of the Xi-Fi models when I use speakers. If X-Ram makes a comeback I am all set.
Bruh wutNo, especially a HELL NO if you're using headphones because of noise interference. External DAC is the way to go.
I use one (a Soundblaster Z) but I don't really know why i got it lol. Kind of a waste in retrospect tbh.
Audigy 2 represent!
I haven't use on-board audio in years just because back then they were EXTREMELY noisy. Especially since I got into high-end headphones, that was an issue. I'm sure it's changed now, but I really have no reason to use anything but my card.
Anything advertised for "gamers" is laughable. No audio expert recommends internal sound cards. Always go with an external usb dac. I also used to have an Asus Xonar DX and it was total shit. Changed them twice because I thought they were defective but they were worse in some cases than the onboard mobo audio of the Asus Sabertooth P67 that I had back then. Too much noise with headphones it was painful. Then I got an external dac and it was heaven.
That's ignoring the excellent headphone virtual surround dedicated cards offer though. That is unmistakably an upgrade for anyone who games with 'phones.Tom's Hardware did a blind test and basically couldn't tell a difference between onboard Realtek and dedicated cards, which is exactly the result I would expect.
In default settings maybe.Tom's Hardware did a blind test and basically couldn't tell a difference between onboard Realtek and dedicated cards, which is exactly the result I would expect.
There were some cheap Audigy cards (i have those too), some medium range and some expensive ones (i actually have all of them). The cheaper (smaller size) weren't great (they don't even support all the software and filters) but the others are much better.The Audigy 2 was pretty terrible actually in terms of pure sound quality. The X-Fi was significantly better. I wouldn't be running "high end" headphones out of an Audigy 2, you might want to invest in a decent DAC.
Which implementations have you tried and found lacking?"virtual surround"
Yuck
However, the Audigy line (for example) has some settings in the audio panel called "advanced EAX settings" or something like that (i'm not on my main PC right now so i could be wrong). In there, i found some presets that completely change the sound and the change is so big that after i use the setting i like, i miss it if it's not there. The sound becomes stronger, clearer and the bass deeper.
I don't know... I can't reproduce the sound on a simple equalizer, not even close. It's not like the bass becomes louder. It becomes deeper. In the same way, the highs are not just louder or quieter. They become cleaner. Can't really explain it. The preset i made just sounds so satisfying : /That is just a bad equalizer and I wouldn't recommend using those presets. Equalizers generally fool even people who work with audio into thinking they are hearing improvements so I don't blame you. Just keep in mind you don't need to EQ anything and you shouldn't unless the audio is badly produced which I doubt is the case.
I don't know... I can't reproduce the sound on a simple equalizer, not even close. It's not like the bass becomes louder. It becomes deeper. In the same way, the highs are not just louder or quieter. They become cleaner. Can't really explain it. The preset i made just sounds so satisfying : /
Yeah but don't get me wrong though, i still want to test something new, the card is like 12 years old anyway. An external DAC sounds like a good idea because i can still keep my current card on the internal PCI and use it at the same time, even do a lot of comparisons this way.Upgrading to the right equipment would most likely give you the same/better effect without all the distortion. If you're happy with what you have now then it doesn't really matter at the end of the day, you might be better off just sticking to it.
The Audigy 2 was pretty terrible actually in terms of pure sound quality. The X-Fi was significantly better. I wouldn't be running "high end" headphones out of an Audigy 2, you might want to invest in a decent DAC.
I don't know... I can't reproduce the sound on a simple equalizer, not even close. It's not like the bass becomes louder. It becomes deeper. In the same way, the highs are not just louder or quieter. They become cleaner. Can't really explain it. The preset i made just sounds so satisfying : /
Anyone using the new Sound BlasterX G5?
What about with a console?
I had the soundblaster E5(basically the same) for two days, then I returned it. It removed the noise that my onboard made, but it did a terrible job with the audio, i couldnt make it reproduce the audio correctly, even when all their shitty enhancements was turned off and set to do direct playback. It got easily beaten by my onboard in regards to music reproduction, i even did measurements..
This is just the audio output looped back to line in. The micro IDSD is not in this picture but it looks 100% like the original audio, but damn well should at that price.
Tom's Hardware did a blind test and basically couldn't tell a difference between onboard Realtek and dedicated cards, which is exactly the result I would expect.
Can you enable both the sound card and the on board and just pick which one to use from the control panel (like how you can use pick the HDMI output)?
I am used to just disable the on board chip from the bios.
If you've got expensive headphones a soundcard is always worth it. But that said it's so much better than the 90's when you had to buy expensive equipment to get decent sound.