Creative Sound Card Diferences

[Ascii2]

Does Creative have competition in the sound card market?

If so, what is the competition?

Also if so, how does it competition compare?

[covana2244]

For gaming.....Not really. I mean some use Turtle Beach cards, and don't get me wrong they are good cards.

For other purposed yes. M-Audio and Echo are just a couple of the high-end cards makers.

[cetoole]

Creative is the only real gaming card, but for sound quality, there are a lot of others. Creative has very bad sound quality.

[breez]

Creative has very bad sound quality.

I think that's a serious over exaggeration.

[Ascii2]

Creative is the only real gaming card, but for sound quality, there are a lot of others. Creative has very bad sound quality.Is this to imply that gamers opt not for the sound quality?
If that is true, then I am at a loss at understanding why a gamer would choose a Creative sound card the has lower quality than other cards with greater quality and a lower price. Perhaps because gamers (I am generalizing) do not know about other sound card manufacturers.

[cetoole]

Creative is meant for gaming, they have the most hardware acceleration, but for music and anything that needs high quality sound, creative cards are not the best, even in the same pricerange. The Chaintech AV-710 is a very cheap card that does better than the Audigy 2 zs, but is not as good for gaming. When I said very bad sound quality, this is in comparison to other cards. For example, the creative cards resample everything, so a 44.1 kHz cd is resampled to 48 kHz before being played by the creative cards.

[Mr. Chambers]

The other cards are going to sound as good, if not better than the creative cards - the only difference being they will lower your FPS as they use a bit more CPU to do their processing. That, and you won't have the newest EAX features in games, but I never used those anyway - and you still have surround sound.

So to say that if you're a gamer you NEED the creative cards, that is wrong, because you don't. Besides, most people's weakest link in their computer sound systems is their speakers anyway, if you're referring to quality of sound.

[Ascii2]

The other cards...difference being they will lower your FPS as they use a bit more CPU to do their processing...Assuming statements are true, I can now understand why a gamer may choose a Creative card over another of equal or better sound output with a lower price. Lower FPS would especially not be favorable.

[Mr. Chambers]

Assuming statements are true, I can now understand why a gamer may choose a Creative card over another of equal or better sound output with a lower price. Lower FPS would especially not be favorable.

Yes but on any modern gaming system, you're not going to notice the small drop in FPS, especially since anything over 40fps or so is not noticeable by the human eye.

[deception``]

Yes but on any modern gaming system, you're not going to notice the small drop in FPS, especially since anything over 40fps or so is not noticeable by the human eye.

It's 60 Fps, actually. And if you are a heavy gamer, you know that every single frame counts. Granted, such gains are not always clearly realized, but they are still important to some.

I must admit that I show a liking to Creative's products for their sheer compatibility and features. Sure, there are other comparable cards (as recommend by many other members) but most games and audovisual applications are designed with Creative and EAX in mind. So if gaming is a big thing for you, I'd definitely look up the Sound Blaster lineup.

deception``

[deception``]

Besides, most people's weakest link in their computer sound systems is their speakers anyway, if you're referring to quality of sound.

Yes. I am going to have to agree here. While I have no problem recommending a nice card, I must say that it goes without question that you shouldn't even consider a high-end card of any brand unless you couple it with a deserving sound system.

deception``

[Buhammot]

Does Fiber optic cable to a HT setup count as a deserving?

See sig for details

[deception``]

Does Fiber optic cable to a HT setup count as a deserving?

See sig for details

Only if you're a die hard audiophile. I usually use monster cable for my setups. Then again, most of HT systems are not based on pc speakers. I usually keep my pc-based 5.1 setups in the mid-range, as I use them solely for gaming enjoyment and to enhance any computing experience.

deception``

[Ascii2]

Thank you for posting.

I now have the information I desired.

[TollhouseFrank]

don't forget about Phillips, they make sound cards too.

i dont' know why you people are so hard on creative. I have listened to rigs that are exactly the same (have had my z-680's since the day they came out... i have hooked them up to a dozen different cards and on board sound solutions... and you can HEAR the differences between the hardware).

One thing i have noticed is that 95% of the sound is the same if it is an expansion card. built in audio usually sucks BAD. the other 5% of expansion cards are those that use 24bit sound and EAX and all those other nice bells and whistles. If you have 2 comparable cards from seperate companies, with similar gewgaws and such, they will sound the same.

HOWEVER, I have used a creative card from the first SoundBlaster 16. I have come to trust all things SoundBlaster.

[Ascii2]

HOWEVER, I have used a creative card from the first SoundBlaster 16.I am still using the first (ISA) Sound Blaster 16.

Signiture has been modified.

[`Infr@ReD~NT]

i have one too, not in MY comp though...

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Does Creative have competition in the sound card market?

If so, what is the competition?

Also if so, how does it competition compare?Does Creative now have competition?

[ScottinIndy]

One of the cards mentioned in this thread from years ago Chaintech AV710 is a card I picked up years ago on the egg for less than 20 bucks and it is still going strong in my wife's rig and I still think it really sounds nice. I hope it keeps on kickin..