Sound Card Upgrade

[k_benlevi]

Hello,

I’ve got a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2ZS. I’ve been using it for years and recently installed it into my new gaming PC. Since this card was made almost 15 years ago, I was wondering whether it is a good idea to upgrade to a newer one. I usually just use my headphones with my computer, but I do have an ear for audio and appreciate good sound. Every now and then I use my Logitech Surround Sound Setup with my audio card. Anyways, are there any reasons/advantages to upgrading to a new card? The Logitech surround Sound has its own built in Amplifier (in the sub), and the headphones don’t have that high an impedance. I mostly use my Bose QuietComfort 2.

[themctipers]

use the motherboard's built in audio if you don't need the extra IO of the soundcard

[k_benlevi]

8 minutes ago, themctipers said:

use the motherboard's built in audio if you don't need the extra IO of the soundcard

But is there any reason/advantage to upgrade to a new sound card? I’m aware of what onboard audio is.

[GoodBytes]

That sound card is aged old, and the on board sound sound could probably match the sound quality. For superior sound, you can upgrade it to a nice ASUS Xonar series sound card (of course, you know the drill, the low end model is mostly no better sound just better amp and filtering for a clean static free sound, and once you pass the about 100$ mark you have better sound)

 

HOWEVER, the field of sound card has changed over the years. Now you, thanks to competition and  growing demand in music production by people doing this as a hobby, professionals, and various creators, and so on, external sound card powered by USB, called a DAC (Digital Analogue Converter) (which includes an Amp, and everything else to make an external sound card, basically), are a better, allowing you to get a better for your money. Something to look into.

 

Now, I am not experts, and the fine member of this community can definitely be able to help you. Sadly, you posted in the wrong forum section, posting in the right place will get you the best advice and help. I moved your thread to Audio section.

 

[elira]

54 minutes ago, k_benlevi said:

Hello,

I’ve got a Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2ZS. I’ve been using it for years and recently installed it into my new gaming PC. Since this card was made almost 15 years ago, I was wondering whether it is a good idea to upgrade to a newer one. I usually just use my headphones with my computer, but I do have an ear for audio and appreciate good sound. Every now and then I use my Logitech Surround Sound Setup with my audio card. Anyways, are there any reasons/advantages to upgrading to a new card? The Logitech surround Sound has its own built in Amplifier (in the sub), and the headphones don’t have that high an impedance. I mostly use my Bose QuietComfort 2.

I would continue to use it as long as it works.

[imparadu]

experienced with asus xonar and creative sound blaster z:
- the xonar had absolutely no power to drive headphones beyond 40ohm, the driver was a solid 2/10(no joke)
- the creative is superior in every chapter, can properly drive more power hungry headsets or headphones, driver is a solid 7/10.
The new cards from asus have the same specs as the creatives now tho, the strix soar is priced almost the same as the creative sound blaster z. So it depends what driver you like the most.
If you own the logitech z906 you can use an optical cable and turn on the DTS encoder on the creative sound blaster z, I find it sounds way better on DTS rather than on analogue cables. The asus card has to have something similar to DTS, so you might be able to use it with an optical cable too.