is this a viable soundcard?

[KabuTheFox]

a friend is offering me the Creative Labs SB0886 (( http://www.amazon.com/Creative-SB0886-Titanium-Fatal1ty-Professional/dp/B0018EFGTM ))
soundcard for new (bought but never used) for around $50, is this a viable option or is there something better for around the same price tag?

just want to make sure that i am not getting ripped off even if it is unintentional

[Epiclol86]

haha, a 50$ sound card... Most poeple can't distinguish onboard audio and audio from a sound card anyways (apart if your onboard is really old or really shit). so if your onboard is decent and isn't broken, don't bother.

[KabuTheFox]

4 minutes ago, Epiclol86 said:

haha, a 50$ sound card... Most poeple can't distinguish onboard audio and audio from a sound card anyways (apart if your onboard is really old or really shit). so if your onboard is decent and isn't broken, don't bother.

well the actual sound card is around $400 new not sure if its discontinued or what

[KettyKoala]

10 minutes ago, Epiclol86 said:

haha, a 50$ sound card... Most poeple can't distinguish onboard audio and audio from a sound card anyways (apart if your onboard is really old or really shit). so if your onboard is decent and isn't broken, don't bother.

There is actually quite a big difference, even with good motherboards, the sound quality will never be as good as a decent sound card, especially when using a good pair of headphones 

[zMeul]

42 minutes ago, KabuTheFox said:

a friend is offering me the Creative Labs SB0886 (( http://www.amazon.com/Creative-SB0886-Titanium-Fatal1ty-Professional/dp/B0018EFGTM ))
soundcard for new (bought but never used) for around $50, is this a viable option or is there something better for around the same price tag?

test it 1st

for 50$ when a brand new one is ~400$ .. it's a steal

 

I have an older X-Fi Fatal1ty and I would not trade it for anything on-board

[Pomfinator]

34 minutes ago, KettyKoala said:

There is actually quite a big difference, even with good motherboards, the sound quality will never be as good as a decent sound card, especially when using a good pair of headphones 

Onboard is just fine. Don't know why this particular statement is making the rounds.  As long as it has no audible noise floor and no crackling, it's fine.

 

Save the $50 OP.

[SSL]

36 minutes ago, KettyKoala said:

There is actually quite a big difference, even with good motherboards, the sound quality will never be as good as a decent sound card, especially when using a good pair of headphones 

 

Or, like, not.

 

Not all onboard is the same, there can be differences, blah blah. But assuming it is well-designed, the difference will be challenging to hear.

[KettyKoala]

6 minutes ago, Pomfinator said:

Onboard is just fine. Don't know why this particular statement is making the rounds.  As long as it has no audible noise floor and no crackling, it's fine.

 

Save the $50 OP.

Yes onboard audio is fine... But just fine haha, If your someone who wants better audio, which I don't see why not, a sound card is a good way of achieving that. 

[Pomfinator]

Just now, KettyKoala said:

Yes onboard audio is fine... But just fine haha, If your someone who wan't better audio, which I don't see why not, a sound card is a good way of achieving that. 

You're better off spending that extra money on better headphones than a useless piece of junk in your PC.  If you're going to get something good, be sensible and get a Micca Origen, not that PoS.

[Crowes]

1 hour ago, Epiclol86 said:

haha, a 50$ sound card... Most poeple can't distinguish onboard audio and audio from a sound card anyways (apart if your onboard is really old or really shit). so if your onboard is decent and isn't broken, don't bother.

Or if you wanna fiddle with multiple inputs/outputs.

[Pomfinator]

And I'm sorry but I can't take a company seriously when they say this.

 

X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost Details
Recover lost audio detail with X-Fi Crystalizer technology. This smart technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your games, music, and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the sound as it was meant to be heard.

 

Cause apparently you can recover data that doesn't exist *slow clap*

[SSL]

2 minutes ago, Crowes said:

Or if you wanna fiddle with multiple inputs/outputs.

Sounds like a pain in the ass.

 

Literally.

[Crowes]

1 minute ago, SSL said:

Sounds like a pain in the ass.

 

Literally.

It always is, but it's the only real point in a sound card imo.

[KettyKoala]

10 minutes ago, SSL said:

6 minutes ago, Pomfinator said:

 

 

3 minutes ago, Pomfinator said:

And I'm sorry but I can't take a company seriously when they say this.

 

X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost Details
Recover lost audio detail with X-Fi Crystalizer technology. This smart technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your games, music, and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the sound as it was meant to be heard.

 

Cause apparently you can recover data that doesn't exist *slow clap*

Where you abused as a child using a sound card? You seem to have an outsanding beef with them

[KettyKoala]

13 minutes ago, Pomfinator said:

And I'm sorry but I can't take a company seriously when they say this.

 

X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost Details
Recover lost audio detail with X-Fi Crystalizer technology. This smart technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your games, music, and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the sound as it was meant to be heard.

 

Cause apparently you can recover data that doesn't exist *slow clap*

And yes this is probably a stupid marketing feature, but most company's can be slammed for that, especially in the PC world... All I can say is if you heard first hand the difference in the quality of music when moving from onboard audio to a decent sound card, you would agree, especially when using a good set of cans. The difference isn't absolutely massive which you may be expecting, but its the same level of difference between an OK set of headphones, and a high quality set of headphones.

[SSL]

 

Just now, KettyKoala said:

And yes this is probably a stupid marketing feature, but most company's can be slammed for that, especially in the PC world... All I can say is if you heard first hand the difference in the quality of music when moving from onboard audio and a decent sound card, you would agree, especially when using a good set of cans. The difference isn't absolutely massive which you may be expecting, but its the same level of difference between an OK set of headphones, and a high quality set of headphones.

 

I like that you're talking to the guy like he hasn't heard high quality headphones from a decent audio stack.

[KettyKoala]

Just now, SSL said:

 

 

I like that you're talking to the guy like he hasn't heard high quality headphones from a decent audio stack.

I don't even know him...

[SSL]

Just now, KettyKoala said:

I don't even know him...

 

 Try reading his sigline.

[KettyKoala]

Just now, SSL said:

 

 Try reading his sigline.

Cool, my point still stands

[Pomfinator]

1 minute ago, SSL said:

 

 Try reading his sigline.

Shhh, the new forum obfuscates that for a reason.

[SSL]

Just now, KettyKoala said:

Cool, my point still stands

 

On what?

[KettyKoala]

Just now, SSL said:

 

On what?

That jet fuel can't melt steel beams

[BoredErica]

This thread's getting better and better.

[Dackzy]

3 minutes ago, Dark_wizzie said:

This thread's getting better and better.

Yeah it's fun to see them argue.

[KabuTheFox]

20 hours ago, Pomfinator said:

And I'm sorry but I can't take a company seriously when they say this.

 

X-Fi Crystalizer Restores Lost Details
Recover lost audio detail with X-Fi Crystalizer technology. This smart technology restores the audio detail that is lost in compressed audio files so you'll regain vibrancy and clarity in your games, music, and movies. Highs and lows that were lost are enhanced, so whether you're listening to cymbal crashes or wailing guitars, you'll hear the sound as it was meant to be heard.

 

Cause apparently you can recover data that doesn't exist *slow clap*

looks to be the same idea as tv / monitor marketing with there "truemotion" (or whatever the company whats to call it, when the actual term is interpolation) 

but it sounds like a good idea to not get it and maybe go with something more modern (i did a bit of research on the card and it goes back to 2008 (maybe even later) and was $100~ til it was discontinued a couple years back, if i do decide i want better audio i will probably go and grab a audioquest dragonfly DAC or something of the sort though my v-moda m100s should do enough of a trick to please me)

_____________________________________________

and what the hell is going on in this thread....it like exploded