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I was near my local computer store and I thought, why don't I finally get an A2 oem and upgrade from my SBlive5.1? I've been putting it off, waiting for the price to drop. I couldn' wait any longer and went ahead and got it. Gonna take out my SBlive5.1 and install the A2 now. Impressions/review will follow.:D
Congrats!
You are gonna love it! :)
Holy crap it's about time!
Enjoy that card man, I'm interested in how your PM14's sound now:eek:
Got it up and running now.
First impressions:
Talk about bass! At the neutral bass setting, I'm getting so much more bass out of my PM14 sub. It's as if I've jacked the sub level 4-5 decibels. As for the highs, they seem much more forward. They are certainly crisp. They may be a little too crisp on the PM14's. Gotta do some more listening and tweaking.
How do I keep CMSS disabled? It keeps enabling itself on startup.
UPDATE:
My new replacement Z560's JUST arrived. Awesome timing! :D :D :D
Great, soupnazi, I know that you will be very pleased with the A2.
You know, you also beatme, I havent even finish setting my speakers, guess I'm a little lazy, but I'm making custom stands and its taking time.
I'll be waiting for your review on the A2.
Take care,
Abula
So far here's what I'm noticing.
When I first got the card, I noticed that it was huge compared to my SBlive. It was slightly larger than my Geforce 2 vidcard. It also smelled alot like solder.;)
The highs are very clear. It's as if there are more layers in the music. You can hear suble sounds that weren't there on the SBLive. The SBlive seems flat in comparion to the A2. On my Z560's, the highs seem a little too bright, but I think it's the speakers because the PM14's sound phenomenal. I've also noticed that the output of the A2 is greater. You only have to set the A2 software volume at 44% to achieve a 60% volume setting on the SBlive. This clarity allows for better imaging and pinpoint sound effect placements in games. I noticed this most in BF1942. I could easily tell that my surround speakers were on, unlike with my SBlive.
The midrange seems to be a tad more forward and pronounced. Voices can be heard easily in games instead of being drowned out. The bass seems to be alot stronger on the A2. It's also tighter and more punchy. My games also seen to have less stutter. Whenever I enabled hardware acceration BF1942 with the SBlive, the game would have quite a bit of stuttering. When I tried it with the A2, there was no stuttering at all and sound effects seem more pronounced.
I find the software package to be quite user friendly. I'm just not too keen on how creative's CMSS (simulated surround) keeps enabling itself on startup. It adds reveration to the surround channels, but I'm still testing to see if it alters the front channels. Overall I'm quite happy with my "impulse" purchase.:D
Cool soupnazi!! I love mine. Now if Klipsch would just send out my Ultras!!!:D
Those do look interesting. You and XP18004life are on the edge of your seats, waiting for those to come out. Actually, I'm interested in how that monster sub performs.:eek: ;)Quote:
Originally posted by LgFriess
Cool soupnazi!! I love mine. Now if Klipsch would just send out my Ultras!!!:D
Update your drivers, soup. It'll solve the CMSS problem. I had that when I first got my A2 but since the new driver sets have been released, there's been no problems.
I used the autoupdate after installed the drivers on the cd and here's my driver info.Quote:
Originally posted by CrawlingEye
Update your drivers, soup. It'll solve the CMSS problem. I had that when I first got my A2 but since the new driver sets have been released, there's been no problems.
Date: 4/11/2003
Version: 5.12.1.383
1. Are these the latest drivers?
2. Are these the ones you have?
3. Is it normal for my A2 only to be recognized only as a "SB Audigy" in the device manager?
Quote:
Originally posted by soupnazi
I used the autoupdate after installed the drivers on the cd and here's my driver info.
Date: 4/11/2003
Version: 5.12.1.383
1. Are these the latest drivers?
2. Are these the ones you have?
3. Is it normal for my A2 only to be recognized only as a "SB Audigy" in the device manager?
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Same here, normal.
Thanks, Ignitionator. CMSS doesn't seem to be acting up anymore.:)
ccms2 is where it's at.
Ewwwww. CMSS2 adds too much reverb and makes the bass too boomy.;)Quote:
Originally posted by PinchyCM
ccms2 is where it's at.
Really doesn't seem to do much for my bass. I think (if anything) it adds a lower mid boost. It doesn't have the depth to be a bass frequency, IMO.Quote:
Originally posted by soupnazi
Ewwwww. CMSS2 adds too much reverb and makes the bass too boomy.;)
Reverb I haven't noticed with it. If you notice reverb in CMSS or CMSS2, I think you should go to your EAX control properties and make sure you have a pure signal coming through.
Another thought on the CMSS thing is that perhaps it's just the additional volume boost from more speakers. Then again, I haven't done any real comparing with headphones on (which would be my only real 2 channel device).
I find CMSS2 shifts the voices too much into the surrounds and there is definately a bass boost.;)
Guys help me out .. As of now I have the cambridge soundworks FPS 1800 speakers (4.1 sound ) and the audigy gamer card (5.1)
What do you recommend I do for upgrades ? I only want to spend 80 dollars for a card and maybe 100 for speakers ..
Thanks in advance !
So do you have a Soundblaster live X-gamer or SB Audigy?
$100 won't get you much of an upgrade with 4.1 speakers. You might have to spend more and get the Logitech Z560's.
What do you use the PC most for? (music/movies/games?)
audigy gamer card
I'd stick with your current card. You'd only notice a slight difference in music quality if you went with an A2. You can always try this. (at your own risk)
http://www.tech-pc.co.uk/audigy-1.php
thanks man... thats what a Creative CSR told me too .. Hey what about speakers ? what do you recommend ? somin in the 5.1 ranger for 150.00 or less is what im looking for .
Hmmmm...there doesn't seem to be a really good set of 5.1 speakers in the $150 range. Do you watch alot of movies? If not a 4.1 system will suffice, like the Logitech Z560's.
No I don't watch movies on my pc at all . Do you recall the older Cambridge Soundworks FPS1800 ? If i recall I think they are 4.1 .
Do you suggest I stick with them ? I play mostly FPS and Everquest games . I also listen to my Mp3's.
If you're happy with the FPS1800's I'd just stick with those. I upgraded from the FPS2000's to the Z560's and mostly noticed more volume & more bass. If the FPS1800's are loud enough for ya, I'd stick with them.:)