do I need an Audigy?

[mpholic]

do I need an Audigy?
I built a new computer (P4 2.4, 512mb ddr333, GF4 ti4600) I moved my SB live 5.1 from my old computer to my new computer and everything is working fine. The sound from all the games I've played sounded great but I am wondering if I am missing anything by not having an Audigy soundcard? I know the Audigy supports EAX advanced HD vs. EAX 2.0 from the SB live. My question is there very many games utilizing EAX HD? I've read a number of articles that state most games just use Direct sound and very few programmers are going to the extra effort of writing the extra EAX code. Anyone out there used to have a live and switched to Audigy and noticed a big difference? I have Cambridge FPS2000 4.1 digital speakers connected to the digital output of my SB live 5.1. Does the Audigy support digital speakers?

Thanks

P4 2.4Ghz 533 FSB
Intel D845PESV mainboard
512Mb Corsair XMS3000 (board uses this as pc2700)
PNY GF4 ti4600
WD 1200BB
Antec AMG1080 430watt case

[Budfred]

No, you do not NEED an Audigy, you will survive quite handily with or without it. However, if you want top sound, apparently this is something that will give you that. Whether it is discernible to your ear will depend on your own physiology, the acoustics of your home and other ambient sounds.

Budfred

[BigBlue66]

The Audigy2 supports dig speakers, not sure about the regular Audigy, but I would assume that it does. Take a cruise over at Soundblaster's website. You can find all the specs there.

[Nooyawkah]

I for one cannot tell the difference.

[HeadachesAbound]

Based on the information from the soundblaster website (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/compare.asp), you are missing something. Whether or not you would actually notice is dependent, as Budfred said, on a number of things. I just recently upgraded to an optical digital sound card (http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?n=0&oidPath=0%3a-15464%3a-15500%3a679586&coe=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_0905876952.1040331450_CS_&BV_EngineID=cccdadchdfdgigicfkfcfkjdgoodflh.0) for $30 and a set of Creative 5.1 5200 Speakers for $80. This upgrade (which is less than the cost of the Audigy Platinum 2 from newegg.com at $172) provided me with a difference that I can both hear and feel.

You can live without the upgrade and probably won't miss out on too much.

[BigBlue66]

I just slapped my new Audigy2 Platinum in the case two nights ago. I upgraded from a Santa Cruz which I always thought was superb.

I can tell you that the Aud2's sound is crystal clear, even at high volume. :rolleyes:

The LiveDrive that comes with it has more options than I'll ever use, but it's nice to have and looks cool. Even has a remote. The headphone jack has its own volume control. The Firewire will come in handy for downloading movies from my camcorder.

I for one am extremely happy with it. I won't have to upgrade my soundcard for a long long time.

[gopi_vs]

The audigy2 supports digital speakers. Visit the following URLs abt the description of the Audigy2. I think its worth buying. Check out for youself.

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/specs.asp
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/system.asp
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2/compare.asp
http://www6.tomshardware.com/video/20010927/


_________________________________________

<b>Sky is <font color="green"><b>not</b></font> the limit.</b>