Sblive!Value! vs. AV-710

[Athens]

I've had an Sblive!Value! for about 3 years now, and am curious how much better the AV-710 is, seeing how nice it's price is. Is it really that noticable that someone "sorta" content with an Sblive! would be happy with? What are the advantages/ disatvanges of the AV-710? I've heard it's great for music, that's it, no details. Can someone please enlighten me?

[thrawn86]

depending on your speakers and what kind of media you're playing, its likely going to be a significantly big upgrade.

People say that the av-710 is compraple to the audigy2 for music, thats supposedly a bad thing. for 25 bucks though, I don't see how.

[flutie98]

for 25 bux im sure its worth trying out, xp1800 can give you more impressions as he has one right now

[Motoman]

I'm pretty impressed with the Av-710 - used a few of them now. High quality stuff for not much coin. Two Brazillian thumbs up!

[XP1800]

I'd say the AV710 is about a notch below the A2 for music. However, it'll be many notches above the SB Live, so for $25, why not?

If this thread would have started about 5 months ago when I just got my Chaintech, and I didn't have all this nice audio gear, I'd be raving like a fanboy. Now she's just the weakest link in my setup, so it's obvious that I can't wait to get rid of it. But for your use, I think it will be an awesome budget card.

Disadvantages? Anything other than music, forget about it. I've played some UT2K4 and the positioning is horrible, just horrible. DVD audio is so-so, but I'm not too tough an audience in that category.

[masteraleph]

Keep in mind, incidentally, that when XP says the Chaintech is the "weakest link in the system", he's running a $400 amp, $150 pair of headphones, plus special cables. Ergo, "weakest link" should be taken with a grain of salt

[XP1800]

Originally posted by masteraleph
Keep in mind, incidentally, that when XP says the Chaintech is the "weakest link in the system", he's running a $400 amp, $150 pair of headphones, plus special cables. Ergo, "weakest link" should be taken with a grain of salt

Yeah I should have mentioned that...thanks masteraleph

The AV710 is the card right now for music. I don't think someone on a budget looking for a good music card can do better, unless they find an EMU-1212 that fell off a truck or something

[Athens]

Thanks for the reinforcement guys, I'm gonna get the Chaintech once I find some cash lying around (ordering an A500 today, sorta drains my wallet).

[Hypo_Luxa]

XP1800 is right. For 2/2.1 ch music, the chaintech is a great card. I have one and love it. It pretty much blows for anything else though. Luckily it plays nice with other cards, so you can keep your gaming card and just use the chaintech for music listening.

[davnport]

I know I am a little late here, but I don't think the chaintech sucks for gameplay and dvd. In game play positioning is weaker than the A2, but not too bad. While watching DVDs it is fine as well. I watch a lot of dvds on my computer, and the chaintech does a fine job. Not the best I have heard, but better than onboard or sb live 5.1 (which I have also used... its sitting in the closet). Music though is a noticable difference. Hope you enjoy it!

[Motoman]

I have to concur...people slam the Via Envy chipset for gaming, but I honestly don't know why. I really can't tell the difference between it and my Fortissimo III on my 5.1 surround speakers when gaming... I think it's bollocks, especially for the coin you lay down.