Top 5 PC Sound Cards

[samiram]

i tot you might quote that..... but that's fine anyway...
since the facts still remains, the SOUND STILL BETTER... OVERALL!!!!!!
and that is not as subjective as you think it was.... it has already been tested by some of my colleagues(a quick blind test)
since not all of the cards tested is ASIO native... so we just use Kernel Streaming without using DSPs, from CDs, FLACs, and APEs. using Quad 11L, Z5500, Klipsch promedia, S750, Sennheiser HD600, and Audio Technica A900.
so Audigy 2 ZS has more features than onboard, decent audio qualities and better than onboard overall(it's not as bad as you think it is, but still worse than the rest of onboard)
my question is... have you compare them before? or have you actually heard Audigy 2 ZS audio performance before?
if yes, can i ask you with what media player and which configuration did you test it?
as i can post all the test details on the test i had done.
i may not be as good as you in technical mumbo jumbo... hell no... but i do know which one is better and which one is worse.
that my friend, i can guarantee you.
N r u so dumb?? who said anything about a E6600? CPU n Audio Processor are 2 different things.......
CPU=Process Data
Audio Processor=Process Audio
+ where did u get the info on "sound extracting part is done by the CPU"??

hmm...
yes i didnt test it....
ok im dumb..
can you explain the process for me then..?
so you can show my points are wrong and..
you also can help me buy explaining these things...

 

[Dj.BigBear]

ok..
so these things also apply to spdf outs..?
i mean other than the CPU..
the equipment qulaity and stuff..?

ok now we move on to spdif or digital connections.

first we all have to know that by using a digital connection, the task of the soundcard will be narrowed to extracting the data from the media and then passing it through.

yes, it won't be bothered by converting digital to analog signal anymore, but still those data have to be extracted from the media and modify it to be later suited better with the receiver.

easy task if you read it like that.... but actually it still needs processing power.

and if you are using onboard sound, still the processing power will be dependant to PC CPU and RAM.

and please do keep in mind, that processing movie format or gaming software is not as easy as it sounds.... it does stress your CPU and RAM quite considerably to interfere with other task.

if you want example, for those using onboard, try playing audio while unzipping/unrar 500 mb of zipped/rarred file.

 

[Dj.BigBear]

i would not call Z5500 as a top notch speakers since there are clearly better setup with bookshelf speaker and amplifiers out there.

but for the budget and features it offers, some ppl just don't have enough knowledge or budget to set their own bookshelf speakers and amplifiers that will cost you easily >$500

 

[samiram]

ok now we move on to spdif or digital connections.

first we all have to know that by using a digital connection, the task of the soundcard will be narrowed to extracting the data from the media and then passing it through.

yes, it won't be bothered by converting digital to analog signal anymore, but still those data have to be extracted from the media and modify it to be later suited better with the receiver.

easy task if you read it like that.... but actually it still needs processing power.

and if you are using onboard sound, still the processing power will be dependant to PC CPU and RAM.

and please do keep in mind, that processing movie format or gaming software is not as easy as it sounds.... it does stress your CPU and RAM quite considerably to interfere with other task.

if you want example, for those using onboard, try playing audio while unzipping/unrar 500 mb of zipped/rarred file.

yup i agreed with the performance thing...
but the quality..?
is it compromise by using an on board sounds..?

 

[Dj.BigBear]

yup i agreed with the performance thing...
but the quality..?
is it compromise by using an on board sounds..?

yes... it still has to be processed by certain components on the soundcard right?

while onboard has generic components, many great add-in soundcard has audiophile grade components for that.
by audiophile grade, i mean those stuff created solely for audio stuff.

beside, if onboard soundcard depends to much on CPU and RAM while they're clearly performing other stressful task .... your sound will be choppy/screechy/statics.

 

[Anusha]

Yup 70% use analogue outputs 29.5 uses digital outputs there are 0.5% ppl like you who doesn't need outputs but medical attention........

Oh....feeling sorry for you...getting desperate you seem!

 

[samiram]

yes... it still has to be processed by certain components on the soundcard right?

while onboard has generic components, many great add-in soundcard has audiophile grade components for that.
by audiophile grade, i mean those stuff created solely for audio stuff.

beside, if onboard soundcard depends to much on CPU and RAM while they're clearly performing other stressful task .... your sound will be choppy/screechy/statics.

ok..
so if its sending an pure digital out to the receiver..
no components needed for that ne..
because of no media conversations..
and the pc is in idle condition..
still does the quality drops..?
BTW there is a separate chip for the on-boards audios too...
in my situation its ADI 1988b....

 

[Dj.BigBear]

as for Analog, Digital preferance....

for those who are playing with hi-end audiophile music, they should know better that using Analog will be better from digital. they provide more neutral sound than digital.

but there's a big sound quality and price gap between mediocre Analog setup and hi-end Analog setup.

most mediocre Analog setup is inferior to Digital, that's why most of casual listener prefer digital over analog.

but when you reach hi-end analog setup, digital won't suit your ear.... why you ask?
digital audio has a certain stiffness in their sound signature, different from Analog.

 

[Anusha]

yes... it still has to be processed by certain components on the soundcard right?

while onboard has generic components, many great add-in soundcard has audiophile grade components for that.
by audiophile grade, i mean those stuff created solely for audio stuff.

beside, if onboard soundcard depends to much on CPU and RAM while they're clearly performing other stressful task .... your sound will be choppy/screechy/statics.

Why do you always talk about RAM? Sound cards don't have RAM onboard. Only the X-Fi Fatal1ty has some sort of RAM...X-RAM.

 

[Dj.BigBear]

ok..
so if its sending an pure digital out to the receiver..
no components needed for that ne..
because of no media conversations..
and the pc is in idle condition..
still does the quality drops..?
BTW there is a separate chip for the on-boards audios too...
in my situation its ADI 1988b....

no. components are still needed, if not, there will be totally no use of onboard soundcard also.
as i have stated, doing digital will narrow the task of the soundcard, that means releasing much of the task usually used by analog.
but that doesn't mean it doesn't need resources, it does. especially when you PC is doing major task like unzipping/unrar large files or playing a very stressful game or playing HD movie contents.

and if components are still needed, it still have large amount of effect to the sound quality.

yes ADI1988b is a soundcard chipset, but not all soundcard chipset does total audio processing without help from other resource such as CPU and RAM.

 

[Dj.BigBear]

Why do you always talk about RAM? Sound cards don't have RAM onboard. Only the X-Fi Fatal1ty has some sort of RAM...X-RAM.

no.... to tell you the truth all X-Fi has ram....
but only Fatal1ty and Elite pro has X-Ram.
Xtreme music has 2-4 mb of ram.

 

[samiram]

as for Analog, Digital preferance....

for those who are playing with hi-end audiophile music, they should know better that using Analog will be better from digital. they provide more neutral sound than digital.

but there's a big sound quality and price gap between mediocre Analog setup and hi-end Analog setup.

most mediocre Analog setup is inferior to Digital, that's why most of casual listener prefer digital over analog.

but when you reach hi-end analog setup, digital won't suit your ear.... why you ask?
digital audio has a certain stiffness in their sound signature, different from Analog.

you are too pro men..
i asked a simple question..
i know analogue is better than digital..
but my point is when you use a pc to produce the sound...
you use a optical out to the reciever...
by a on-board sound card...
and nothing is done to the sound from the pc....(pure)
and the pc is in idle stage..
whats happen to the quality..?

 

[Dj.BigBear]

you are too pro men..
i asked a simple question..
i know analogue is better than digital..
but my point is when you use a pc to produce the sound...
you use a optical out to the reciever...
by a on-board sound card...
and nothing is done to the sound from the pc....(pure)
and the pc is in idle stage..
whats happen to the quality..?

i was answering other post.... as for your post, look a bit lower.

 

[Dj.BigBear]

take a look at this for X-Fi RAM thingy

 

[samiram]

no. components are still needed, if not, there will be totally no use of onboard soundcard also.
as i have stated, doing digital will narrow the task of the soundcard, that means releasing much of the task usually used by analog.
but that doesn't mean it doesn't need resources, it does. especially when you PC is doing major task like unzipping/unrar large files or playing a very stressful game or playing HD movie contents.

and if components are still needed, it still have large amount of effect to the sound quality.

yes ADI1988b is a soundcard chipset, but not all soundcard chipset does total audio processing without help from other resource such as CPU and RAM.

thats the point im going to prove..
what ever you friend chanster wont believe it..
he says all the on-board's are crap..
ask from an electrician...
he can transform a normal cd-rom to a cd player..
buy getting the digital out directly from the Laser head..
and send it to receiver by coaxial out as PCM source..
if you use a high quality coaxial cable cant notice even a small noice..
if you dont believe me ask from and pro electrician...

 

[Dj.BigBear]

thats the point im going to prove..
what ever you friend chanster wont believe it..
he says all the on-board's are crap..
ask from an electrician...
he can transform a normal cd-rom to a cd player..
buy getting the digital out directly from the Laser head..
and send it to receiver by coaxial out as PCM source..
if you use a high quality coaxial cable cant notice even a small noice..
if you dont believe me ask from and pro electrician...

yes you could do that...
but still the sound quality resulted from of each brand of CD-Rom used for that transformation will vary.
try it....
i;ve done that also

 

[chanster]

Why do you always talk about RAM? Sound cards don't have RAM onboard. Only the X-Fi Fatal1ty has some sort of RAM...X-RAM.

not only that....

Xtreme Audio - No X-Fi Chipset, no hardware acceleration, no EAX 5.0, lowest audio quality of all X-Fi cards.

XtremeGamer - All features of X-Fi cards including hardware acceleration and EAX, smaller profile, lacks AD_Link port to connect external breakout box.

XtremeMusic (Discontinued) - All features including AD_Link port, normal profile.

XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro - All features plus 64MB X-RAM.

Platnium - No 64MB X-RAM, includes front panel.

Fatal1ty FPS - Includes 64MB X-RAM and front panel.

Elite Pro - Includes 64MB X-RAM and breakout box, higher quality DAC (Cirrus Logic CS4398).

 

[samiram]

i was answering other post.... as for your post, look a bit lower.

hmm..
you dont understand me..
i think my English is wrong...
you post about x-ram says alla about..
sound processing in games and stuff..
i only talk about pure digital outs..
no processing..
what ever thanks..
i will find my answers by my own..

 

[Dj.BigBear]

actually... talking to much about it won;t do too much good.

you can choose wether to believe me or not, it's totally up to you.

but the only thing that can prove it, is by demonstrating the difference between onboard and a decent soundcard yourself.

i've stumbled across too many ppl saying that paying considerable large amount of money on a soundcard is a complete waste of money.
but most of them will say the exact opposite when they came to my audio store, and audition it for themselves.

yes... i came from a world that even power cable has effects on audio quality..... yes.... power cable..... the one the connects the electricity to your audio device....
sounds rediculous? most of audiophiles don't think so.

 

[samiram]

yes you could do that...
but still the sound quality resulted from of each brand of CD-Rom used for that transformation will vary.
try it....
i;ve done that also

ok thats the answer i was waiting for..
how could that be..
CD is a digital source of audio nee..
so sound is stored as data..
so the its reads as a data..
its sends the audio as data..
so how can that be different..