Onboard Sound Vs. Add in Sound Card - Page 13

Postalisback · 07-07-2008, 14:35 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrik1

Hey everyone, I'm new to the whole sound card stuff, so I was just wondering if my onboard ALC888S card is bad and what would be the best sound card for a 2.1 speaker system (yes I know it's only a 2.1) and if there even is a point in changing to a new audio card with the one I currently have onboard. And another question would be what is this Virtual Sound option that I have in my sound card settings, it barely describes anything about it so should I turn it on or off... Thank you.

Well since you have a pretty good system might as well go with the best you can get at the moment, which is the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude.

I can tell you right now that it is miles ahead of onboard (I have ALC888 on my motherboard) I use a 2.1 setup as well, and the sound is fantastic, whether I'm gaming, listening to music or watching movies/DVDs, it all sounds brilliant.

Andrik1 · 07-08-2008, 00:12 | posts: 10

Thanks Postalisback for the info I will definately consider on getting that card, just got a Tuniq 120 the other day so kind of on the short amount of money. But I still wonder what the Virtual Sound option is, anyone know?

ROBSCIX · 07-08-2008, 02:58 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Virtual usually implies some type of acoustic modeling such as surround modelling over headphones or over 2.0....

GREGIX · 07-08-2008, 09:18 | posts: 238 | Location: Poland

and, in some circumstances doesn't sounds so good, except dolby digital heaphone and/or virtual speaker on some c-media oxygen based sound cards(xonars from asus, razer)
but i don't like any addons to software/drivers(except dd hp) so my music is native 2.0 stereo only, and so movies

WaroDaBeast · 07-08-2008, 11:42 | posts: 1,867 | Location: Réunion

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREGIX

i don't like any addons to software/drivers(except dd hp) so my music is native 2.0 stereo only, and so movies

Same here. I've had 2.0/1 setups for years before I got my Z-5500, and I've never liked audio virtualizers or enhancers, the latter which usually do nothing extraordinary except maybe outputting washed out sound. The only thing I have ever bothered using sound-wise in the long run is the equalizer, in order to lower the low frequencies a tad bit.

Postalisback · 07-08-2008, 15:38 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

I recently stopped using CMSS-3D in games, it seemed to make the sound duller and I prefer the clean sound without it enabled.

Tinuva · 07-08-2008, 16:35 | posts: 234 | Location: South Africa - Cape Town

I agree, I do however like the crystalizer but turned down to about 20-40% instead of 50-100%

Postalisback · 07-08-2008, 16:43 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

I don't feel I need to use the Crystalizer anymore, I deleted all the lower bitrate tracks I had, so everything I have now is either FLAC or 192kbps mp3.

Crystalizer seems to bring the treble forward a lot as well, making songs sound hissy/tinny, don't really like that. (Just my thoughts on that one)

RejZoR · 08-26-2008, 11:16 | posts: 4,212 | Location: Europe/Slovenia/Ljubljana

Ever wanted to know how X-Fi Crystalizer and Analog Devices Sonic Focus sound together?
It's just freakin awesome. I've rerouted signal from AD2000b back to input line of X-Fi Xtreme Music so the both apply their effects. And man the sound is outstanding.
It does absolute wonders to MP3's and DivX movies.

urmysin · 08-26-2008, 11:53 | posts: 238 | Location: Planet Earth & Camping On The Moon

I have personally had some kind of problem using onboard sound for one reason or another. If I were to use an onboard soundchip my choice would be a CMedia chip. I have had a few motherboards over the years that had CMedia on them and I really did not have any problems with those. But again I replaced them with a ad in soundcard eventually. I am really not a big fan of creative labs either although I do currently use one of their cards. I have always had problems with their customer support. They will not even answer a simple question if they suspect your card is at its' end of warranty period. I think this is just stupid and lame. Just my 2 cents worth.

RejZoR · 08-26-2008, 12:25 | posts: 4,212 | Location: Europe/Slovenia/Ljubljana

I've been using Realtek, Analog Devices and C-Media and none was problematic.
They are basically all the same if you compare them in the same class.

Laykun · 08-26-2008, 13:06 | posts: 3,205 | Location: New Zealand

Quote:

Originally Posted by RejZoR

Ever wanted to know how X-Fi Crystalizer and Analog Devices Sonic Focus sound together?
It's just freakin awesome. I've rerouted signal from AD2000b back to input line of X-Fi Xtreme Music so the both apply their effects. And man the sound is outstanding.
It does absolute wonders to MP3's and DivX movies.

The same effects can be accomplished simply by adjusting the equalizer, as that is what those effects essentially do.

RejZoR · 08-26-2008, 13:14 | posts: 4,212 | Location: Europe/Slovenia/Ljubljana

Equalizer never creates such effects. Sonic Focus creates much more vibrant sound with just 4 sliders.

Laykun · 08-26-2008, 13:17 | posts: 3,205 | Location: New Zealand

I'd like to see how it accomplishes these 'amazing' effects then.

AnthraxPants · 08-26-2008, 14:43 | posts: 1,536 | Location: AUSTRALIA

I use none of creatives CMSS or other effects. I only use stereo surround to play my music though my analogue 5.1 speakers. The rest of the time CMSS 3D setting is set to off. I use the Audigy 2 Value primarily for audio programs such as Ableton Live, Reason and Fruity Loops. It does support up to EAX4, but not EAX5, though I bought it very cheap a few years back so I never expected miracles from it.

Unless you want EAX5, or to use audio creation software, then decent onboard sound should be fine for most tasks. Most onboard sound solutions offer 7.1 sound these days, and some have limited hardware support. Creative has crappy customer support from my experience also, and they already seem to be completely ditching support for XP.

ASUS Xonar D2X site has now removed the reference to EAX5 as it does not support EAX5. I know Xonar D2X supports EAX2 and possibly EAX4, but I'm not sure about EAX4 as it may have just been hype like previously mentioning EAX5 on their site. The Xonar D2X page also notes the following.
'Xonar D2 provides intuitive DS3D GX to solve Vista gaming audio issues'
Many users commented that Vista performance of Xonar D2X was crippled with the original drivers, but there now seem to be fairly regular driver updates which may fix some of the initial problems.

X-Fi seems to have the edge with it's EAX5 support. Don't get sucked in by the budget X-Fi though, which is really not an X-Fi card. Be wary of the overly expensive X-Fi cards for serious music creation as there are far better cards that offer much more compatibility, lower latencies for ASIO programs, and some level of modification. If you aren't that serious at music creation, want to play the latest games with EAX5 and have enough money, then the higher end X-Fi cards will allow you to game with the best surround sound effects as well as make music using a MIDI device with reasonably low latencies and decent sound quality.

RejZoR · 08-26-2008, 15:18 | posts: 4,212 | Location: Europe/Slovenia/Ljubljana

Auzentech Prelude is the ONLY 3rd party soundcard that has EAX capability beyond version 2.0. All others cannot go beyond EAX 2.0 no matter what they say.

ROBSCIX · 08-26-2008, 16:55 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

The Xonar series do NOT offer TRUE EAX 3,4,5 support.

the GX2.0 drivers intercept the EAX calls and translate them into effect parameters the Xonars effect engine can interpret and use. The effects aren't quite as refined as hardware DSP based EAX/OpenAL based effects BUT the GX 2.0 drivers definatley improve the gaming sound effects ability of the Xonar cards. The Xonar cards definatley sound better with GX 2.0 while gaming then without.

damien666 · 08-26-2008, 17:02 | posts: 11,834 | Location: nottingham, uk

i get Auzentech Prelude tomorrow i hope it does eax5.0

ROBSCIX · 08-26-2008, 17:08 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Yes, it does EAX 1,2,3,4,5 through both Direct sound and OpenAL using onboard hardware. Your fine for gaming....

damien666 · 08-26-2008, 18:43 | posts: 11,834 | Location: nottingham, uk

Quote:

Yes, it does EAX 1,2,3,4,5 through both Direct sound and OpenAL using onboard hardware. Your fine for gaming....

i use vista ultimate x64 mate and i intend to totally disable my mobo sound via removing drivers and from the bios if possible, is this needed and what do you mean by that last comment,

Quote:

both Direct sound and OpenAL using onboard hardware

do you mean onboard as in sound card or onboard as in obboard mobo sound

aircool · 08-26-2008, 18:51 | posts: 13,426 | Location: Devon, In A Little Town.

Quote:

Originally Posted by damien666

i use vista ultimate x64 mate and i intend to totally disable my mobo sound via removing drivers and from the bios if possible, is this needed and what do you mean by that last comment,

do you mean onboard as in sound card or onboard as in obboard mobo sound

He meant, 'using the hardware onboard'. The sound card that is

By the looks of it.

damien666 · 08-26-2008, 18:57 | posts: 11,834 | Location: nottingham, uk

ok thanks, im reading loads up on eax and stuff at moment

ROBSCIX u got msn i have a few questions

ROBSCIX · 08-26-2008, 20:35 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

sure, check your PM.

ROBSCIX · 08-26-2008, 20:57 | posts: 16,079 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

..yes, I meant onboard hardware of the soundcard,meaning the DSP chip.

AnthraxPants · 08-26-2008, 21:23 | posts: 1,536 | Location: AUSTRALIA

The Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 looks like a very good quality card. EAX 5.0, DTS, and ASIO latencies as low as 1ms sounds especially good for my music apps. I think I will be purchasing this card next as it is much cheaper and a better quality product than the available Creative range.

http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_prelude.php