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PC hardware: Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams
Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams
by epastrana - 7/11/07 11:34 AMI'm not familiar with sound cards and I want to see if I can get some orientation from you guys.
I have a PC Dell Dimension, with XP, Pentium 4 2.8 GHz, 512 MB RAM and 80 GB HDD.
What I want to do is to improve the quality of sound from music streams (Internet radio, MySpace music, Rhapsody, Napster) and I was thinking about the Soundblaster X-FI Fatality.
Am I way beyond of what I need or it is one of the best alternatives around? (if I can afford it of course).
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot for your time.
Emilio Pastrana
fatality's overkill for your needs
by ramarc - 7/12/07 6:39 AM In reply to: Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams by epastranajust get a regular x-fi since it will sound the same.
Thanks for your advice
by epastrana - 7/14/07 10:55 AM In reply to: fatality's overkill for your needs by ramarcramarc,
thanks for your advice. This single comment would save me several dollars.
I appreciate your colaboration.
Emilio Pastrana
X-Fi XtremeMusic
by bobafett892 - 7/15/07 7:43 PM In reply to: Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams by epastranaIf you're looking to increase your music quality and are looking into an X-Fi card, this is the sound card for you. It specifically helps the sound of your music. It might be a little more expensive than the original X-Fi card, so if you're looking out for the price, then go with ramarc and get the original X-Fi.
Thanks for your response too
by epastrana - 7/18/07 10:02 AM In reply to: X-Fi XtremeMusic by bobafett892bobafett892,
thank for your response and just to clarify, if I buy the X-FI Fatality I'll get better music quality.
In case that I am more oriented to the price than the quality of sound, then I have to get the original X-FI.
Am I right?
Lowest cost
by kpo6969 - 7/18/07 11:22 AM In reply to: Thanks for your response too by epastranaalternative would be the SoundBlaster Audigy SE. You can pick one up at Walmart for under $30.00 and work fine on Dell's. Big improvement ovet the Sigmatel on-board audio and alot less hassles.
all x-fi cards have the same audio chips
by ramarc - 7/18/07 11:39 AM In reply to: Thanks for your response too by epastranaand sound the same for music.
the xfi xtreme is the basic card.
the xtreme music card adds an ad-link connector for an optional io console. http://creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14711
the xtreme platinum adds a front-panel io console and remote.
the xtreme gamer is the same as the basic card but has software support for eax hd.
the fatal1ty gamer is the music card with eax hd and adds 64mb of 'xram' which can be used by certain games.
the platinum fatal1ty adds the io console and remote from the platinum version.
the elite replaces the front-panel io console in the platimum fatal1ty with the external io console.
Re: same chips, different extras
by Scott Gardener - 3/25/08 9:33 PM In reply to: all x-fi cards have the same audio chips by ramarcThanks for the tip-off on this one. It helps me avoid over-spending on stuff I don't need, once one gets past all the packaging blitz.
It sounds like either the "xtreme" basic or the "xtreme gamer" are the best choices for my purposes--most likely the basic. Granted, I might be a bit more ambitious were it not for the overall age of my system; I'm planning on either a new purchase or a new build in a year's time or so.
A sound card...
by ozos - 7/18/07 11:05 PM In reply to: Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams by epastranaWon't hardly improve stream quality worth anything. Yes the X-Fi and Audigy (not the SE cards, the real Audigy boards like the 2 ZS) have some EAX processing effects which try to clean up audio by removing clicks or static, they won't improve the audio any over source. The audio streamed from the sources you've listed is anywhere between 32kbps and 96kbps, as its optimized for streaming. Having an expensive sound card won't improve the quality at all, because you aren't improving the source quality at all.
In addition to all of that, Creative cards aren't at all known for sound quality (among those who know) they're known for gaming features (EAX hardware support and acceleration) and making stuff that "looks cool", if you want a higher quality audio capture/playback solution (still won't help your online streams at all, but for playback of decent quality sources on the computer (like CDs or high quality mp3s (256kbps or higher)) you should consider Turtle Beach, M-Audio, or Auzentech, all of which are geared towards high quality output, not gaming features.
There isn't hardly anything you really can do to improve the quality of audio streams, they're setup to be low quality for two reasons:
1) Less bandwidth is used, so it makes them more accessable to users
2) Less desirable to pirate, as the quality is so low it isn't worth retaining the data
I think that I would go for the SoundBlaster Audigy SE or th
by epastrana - 7/19/07 3:35 PM In reply to: A sound card... by ozosThank you all for your suggestions and orientation. I think that I would go now for the SoundBlaster Audigy SE or the M-Audio since I will be unable to improve the quality of audio streams.
Do you think that I can get at least more bass and treble with any of these two sound cards?
Some players...
by jackintucson
- 7/19/07 5:10 PM
In reply to: I think that I would go for the SoundBlaster Audigy SE or th by epastrana
have there own equalizers and there are third-party equalizers like DFX (google) that provide very good sound enhancement over and above any sound card. I've been using DFX for several years and there are several equalizers to choose from, depending on what player you use. It's software driven.
and life goes on...
Jack
disagree about x-fi sound quality
by ramarc - 7/19/07 4:45 PM In reply to: A sound card... by ozoswhen compared to a professional sound card, it's true creatives are lacking. but when compared to other consumer cards, creatives are always top tier and x-fi brought true audiophile capabilities with extremely low signal-to-noise and 96khz processing.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/08/18/creative_x/page18.html
the x-fi is the best sound card for under $80. with that said, most folks won't be able to hear the difference between it and an audigy SE but the x-fi supports the "crystalizer" dsp that some folks swear improves the perceived quality of marginal content.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102007
X-Fi is an excellent general purpose card.
by fbbbb - 7/20/07 10:44 AM In reply to: Upgrading sound card in order to better listen music streams by epastranaThe cheapest one will do in your case most likely, as streams of the services you listen top out at 192K WMA. Not bad quality, but no need for a 'pro' card.
On the other hand, if you have no need for gaming or multichannel audio and you just want a card focused towards stereo sound, then look at the E-Mu (owned by Creative) 0404. This is a card intended for those starting out in digital musicmaking. You should be able to buy it for just under a hundred bucks in most places.
http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=10447
Bear in mind also that whatever you're using to listen on (speakers, headphones) will also be a very important factor in what you hear - if anything, more than the soundcard.
What I am looking is to enhace maybe the bass and treble
by epastrana - 7/20/07 11:58 AM In reply to: X-Fi is an excellent general purpose card. by fbbbbThank you all for your suggestions. Is it possible that a sound card may have some kind of "equalizer" to enhance bass, treble and the overall sound?
Do I need maybe a little equalizer?
As I said, I'm not familiar with the devices and I just want the sound from the computer to come out a little better. I can invest a little bit on the card or the device but if it's worth. Of course, if I can save a couple of dollars, would be great but I can spend up to $150.00. Thanks for your help.
One check, and one question.
by fbbbb - 7/20/07 1:33 PM In reply to: What I am looking is to enhace maybe the bass and treble by epastranaI presume you're not using any add-on cards but the built-in soundcard, and you have something like a Dimension 4600 with the ADI 198x-series built in sound.
Question: What are you using to listen? (speaker/phone and type)
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