My Personal Gaming Experience: Zx vs AE-7 VS ALPHA S

AE-07 gets better and better
Every new driver is a step forward.

AFAIK now sound positioning is even better than was in September.
BFV Multi.

Im very happy with my AE-7 -> If You can just buy it.....
I've tested ATMOS & DTS:X and it just not it for my setup.

The sound is working NP without it, Yes i can hear guys on top floor in BFV.
best experience?
Good Headphones + AE-7 and some Tweaks -> Everything is just great.

 

feh soundcards I've moved onto dedicated DAC and amp, and a tube preamp. G6 is SBX virtualizer in case it's needed, else I have Dolby Access/DTS:X/WavesNX

 

Today i've installed BF4 - need to test some FPP

UPD.
Great experience, sound positioning is on Point ->

 

The AE-7 just does not like some Motherboards/PCs. For a $200 card this is unacceptable.

Endless problems with it not detecting in Windows when I boot up and now the external audio controller volume dial is not working. I see I am not the only one with these problems.

 

Windows has new Driver for AE7
6.0.105.58 -> Working OK

 

Since I added AE-7 to my PC my system started acting weird, long boot time, Windows Explorer slow AF, dunno where the problem is. Ofc all is updated etc.
I heard it may be the problem with PCI-E 4 and REBAR (I have Z490 MSI Carbon, latest BIOS version added both REBAR and PCI-E 4 support)
Others suggested a conflict between GPU and sound card, but I already put AE-7 in PCI-E x1 slot..

Guess I will have to go back to onboard sound (Realtek 1220) sigh..

 

disable 10bit Tagging.

 

Thanks but I don't have AMD CPU (I'm assuming this only applies if you have AMD setup?), and I don't see that option in my BIOS (I have 10850k+z490)

 

Try to disable REBAR and set PCIe to 3.0
IMhO it's something in the BIOS config that causing this thing.

Check BIOS Tab after Tab and figure it out.
Try to resit AE7 or put it in the last PCIe slot.

 

New SB Command is released
3.5.2.0

 

Hello everyone,

I currently have the Soundblaster Z + Cloud Alpha S. From the reviews I realized that the AE-7 is a very good card. I am an active CS:GO player.

Do you think I should switch to the AE-7? Is it possible to switch to this card just for the game?

@Eastcoasthandle

 

If you have a Cloud Alpha S there is no need to get a AE-7. You already have a 7.1 simulated surround sound headphone set.
Did you use the amp to enable 7.1? Did you check in win10 under System > Sound > Sound Control Panel > PlayBack
You should see an option for your Alpha S. Under Config make sure win10 recognizes it as 7.1 and not stereo.

Try that 1st. I have to be honest I don't recall the sound quality in CS:GO it's been a while for me.

 

I tried the settings you mentioned. In fact, it gave great results but Alpha S + Soundblaster Z it was much better.
Louder and fuller voice, bass is better with Alpha S + SBZ config.
I just don't play games. I think it will be much better when watching movies vs.

So im staying with SBZ + Alpha S for now.

 

I upgraded from the SB Zx to the AE7 a good while ago. And, from my experience I didn't notice fuller voices that you mentioned. As for bass you can adjust the button snaps on each headphone cup. So, I didn't have an issue there.

Overall, the SBZ was a good card for the time but I did notice an improvement in audio going to the AE7 from the SBZ. If I recall I believe the ZXR was good at what you described. But nothing like what you experienced with those headphones. Are you using them for gaming or for something else? For me I only used those headphones for positional audio in games.

 

I use the headphones for gaming and daily. There is no speaker connected to the computer. Always headphones. So I use it for everything from gaming, movies, music vs.
The SB-Z was a great card, but I think it's a thing of the past. If you think it's worth the AE-7, I'll go. I can sell SB-Z and then buy AE-7. The price difference doesn't matter to me.

 

Ah, I see. Then the Alpha S is horrible for anything other then gaming IMO.

But to be fair the SBz was suppose to be exactly like the SBZx. What I do recall is that ZXR would have been more ideal for your needs. And I do know that the AE7 doesn't come close to the ZXR. Food for thought. You can't go wrong with the AE7 it's an upgrade from the SBz. However, I am not sure it will give you the "upgrade" you are looking for. In any case I hope that helps.