Finally got my AUDIGY 2 !

**soupnazi** · 09-19-2003, 03:59 PM

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.

**Ignitionator** · 09-19-2003, 04:09 PM

Congrats!
You are gonna love it!

**XP1800** · 09-19-2003, 04:25 PM

Holy crap it's about time!

Enjoy that card man, I'm interested in how your PM14's sound now

**soupnazi** · 09-19-2003, 05:18 PM

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.

**soupnazi** · 09-19-2003, 06:28 PM

UPDATE:

My new replacement Z560's JUST arrived. Awesome timing!

**Abula** · 09-20-2003, 10:25 AM

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

**soupnazi** · 09-20-2003, 12:34 PM

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.

**LgFriess** · 09-21-2003, 08:21 AM

Cool soupnazi!! I love mine. Now if Klipsch would just send out my Ultras!!!

**soupnazi** · 09-21-2003, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by LgFriess
Cool soupnazi!! I love mine. Now if Klipsch would just send out my Ultras!!!

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.

**CrawlingEye** · 09-21-2003, 02:01 PM

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.

**soupnazi** · 09-21-2003, 02:15 PM

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.

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?

**Ignitionator** · 09-21-2003, 02:27 PM

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.

**soupnazi** · 09-21-2003, 02:42 PM

Thanks, Ignitionator. CMSS doesn't seem to be acting up anymore.

**PinchyCM** · 09-21-2003, 10:09 PM

ccms2 is where it's at.

**soupnazi** · 09-21-2003, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by PinchyCM
ccms2 is where it's at.

Ewwwww. CMSS2 adds too much reverb and makes the bass too boomy.

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