When was the last time you upgraded your sound card?

I have been using the same Sound Blaster Audigy card since 2001, it's been through three cases and numurous setups. I still haven't felt the need to replace this card. Is there really any difference in it and a new X-Fi card? When was the last time you upgraded the old sound card? Or do a lot of you guys use on-board sound?

 

I bought my X-Fi XM in summer 2006. I used to have Audigy 2 Value and i don't regret a single € that i paied for X-Fi.

 

I've always upgraded my sound card. I've used Audigy ES for quite a long time until I started using nForce 2 SoundStorm, I got my X-Plosion later then I bought the X-Meridian, I also bought an X-Fi after that. My move to the X-Meridian is the biggest improvement I've made and I think that buying the X-Fi is a step backward from X-Meridian for me but now I'm using two sound cards. My X-Meridian is my primary sound card and I only use my X-Fi for games that support EAX >2.0. For games with EAX <2.0 or without EAX, I use my X-Meridian. Since I didn't play much games like before, I rarely use my X-Fi.

 

I upgraded sound card from a XFI to the Razer Barracude 24 days ago. That was my last upgrade.

 

I bought my X-fi XG two weeks ago, IMO it's definetely worth every coin you buy it for. I had an ALC850 before and the difference is huge, it sounds like i have a completely new set of speakers/headset

 

I have always liked buying new soundcards becasue I like aound more then GFX. I just bought the X-Meridian when released. My next audio upgrade will be the X-tension board. Any soundcard will totally kill a onboard soundchip.

 

I upgraded from my old sb live! Xtreme-Gamer to the X-Fi Fatal1ty this last summer. Quantum leap for sure and very noticable on my 4.1 klipsch setup

 

Had an SBLive from 2001 to 2004. Got new computer in 2005 and used that onboard (ALC 650, ewwwww) until early 2006. Bought an X-Fi then which is my current soundcard.

So I've only made 2 soundcard purchases, SBLive and X-Fi, in the past 6 years (I've made 3 videocard purchases in that timeframe).

 

I think it's great Audio cards aren't afflicted with the same thing as videocards. WHere you need to upgrade every 6 months. Consider even when you do upgrade it's not rlike your old gear sounded BAD it just doesn't sound quite as good as your new gear. I am really hoping this OpenAL move by MS will force companies to start competeing again.

 

How is it?

 

Same reaction like people who went to X-Meridian from X-Fi

 

I got my EMU 1212M 1 month ago It pwns.

 

I swear I'm the only person with a soundstorm.
Its actually part of teh reason i've kept this computer for so long, nothing I've seen does digital out as well as the old SndStorm

 

Last week I went to my uncle in England. He had bought an X-Meridian because he had this surround sounds setup using an Home theater system. It sounded awesome, so I'm thinking about getting one (or two, not sure) too. Problem is, they don't sell them in Holland yet. What would be the easy way of getting those cards?

 

X-Fi about 16 months ago and Happy as hell with it

 

I have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, Audigy 1 Gamer, Audigy 2 Value, X-Fi Platinum, and yes ...a Soundblaster Live. (SoundStorm too, but unfortunately using analog)

I like my X-Fi the best, which seems natural as it is pricier and uses later technology

I have a ASRock 939 Dual VSTA with pretty good onboard sound.

My X-Fi is on a NF4 motherboard and some say that has been a problem, but not for me.

 

I know my dad is happy with his sound card upgrade, he has my XFI and my Z5300 setup. Maybe he doesnt knock the rear speakers over like I did when i was using my Z5300. Hes a very lucky person heh.

I lost count how many times the rear fell on the cemet floor but hey they still works like nothing happen to them heh.

 

Grabbed an X-Fi about 10 months ago, haven't looked back since.

 

I had the Diamond EDGE pci videocard with built in sound, which sounds quite okay even when compared it to the isa Sound Blaster AWE64 in that time (1996);

Upgraded to soundblaster live, which sounds very good (1998);

Than upgraded to an Audigy 2 (2003), which I found it's a great improvement over the soundblaster live! And I need the firewire for DV, which is a nice bonus!

Build a second pc (mainly as HTPC) and bought an extra Audigy 2, this time the updated Audigy 2 ZS (for just 50 euro); love the firewire, because the new mainboard does not have one; very nice for firewire devices (2005)!

 

I got my Sound Blaster x-fi ExtreamMusic 2 days ago packaged with the Soundblaster Gaming headset for £92, befor that i only had my soundcard, use it with my Logitech X-530 speakers and its 100% great,