Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS sound card for laptops

[Double_H_F]

Does anyone have this card? How is it? I would be using it for a 2.1 setup playing mp3's and dvd's, but no games. I have the Logitech Z2300 200 watt THX speakers, so thought maybe this sound card would improve my sound drastically.

[YauYin]

A sound card for a 2.1 setup? I believe that would be highly unnecessary.

The Z2300 is a good set of speakers for the price but if u dont have 5.1 speakers like the 5300-e or a standard 5.1 unit with s/pdif input, getting that sound card would be pointless i believe.

[ShadowVlican]

buy it from a place you can return it.... if you can't hear a difference in sound quality, return it

most likely you won't be able to hear a difference

[Double_H_F]

buy it from a place you can return it.... if you can't hear a difference in sound quality, return it

most likely you won't be able to hear a difference

Guess its all hype eh :lol:

[super_paws]

what does sound quality have anything to do with the number of speakers? the audigy 2 zs notebook would be a great upgrade for any integrated laptop audio solution.

[Double_H_F]

what does sound quality have anything to do with the number of speakers? the audigy 2 zs notebook would be a great upgrade for any integrated laptop audio solution.

Ok thanks. Reason I ask is because I tried the ext. 24bit Soundblaster a while back and didnt notice much difference for mp3's. Movies yes, but wasnt a huge improvement. Who knows, maybe the Audigy is 100x better.

[matkun]

buy it from a place you can return it.... if you can't hear a difference in sound quality, return it

most likely you won't be able to hear a difference

There's a lot more then just sound difference. Doing dedicated hardware processing of sound vs software is much much faster.

And I can tell you that the EAX effects in games that support them (which is pretty much everything) are DEFINITELY audible.

But the performance difference alone justifies it.. Just compare the software mode of any of the 3dMarks to the hardware mode. That's pretty much the same comparison for a onboard mostly software audio solution and a dedicated hardware sound card.

[ShadowVlican]

if you read his first post, he was looking to improve his audio.... he also said he isn't playing games ;)

[matkun]

if you read his first post, he was looking to improve his audio.... he also said he isn't playing games ;)

Ah, sorry, missed that. Audio quality will end up being subjective really. Some people can tell a difference, others just don't have the ear.

[Double_H_F]

The only thing i dont like is having it stick out of the laptop, but i guess thats fine.

[ShadowVlican]

Ah, sorry, missed that. Audio quality will end up being subjective really. Some people can tell a difference, others just don't have the ear.
yea i agree

he's got the Z-2300... me MIGHT be able to hear a difference with a A-B test

[Double_H_F]

yea i agree

he's got the Z-2300... me MIGHT be able to hear a difference with a A-B test

:| sound cards decrease the volume significantly.

[matkun]

:| sound cards decrease the volume significantly.

Where did you get that idea from?

[Double_H_F]

Where did you get that idea from?

got it when i tried the ext. 24bit SB live

[Takada]

I tested my integrated sound on my laptop vs. my Soundblaster Audigy on my desktop by plugging in my headphones back and forth. I could'nt hear a difference on headphones, even when I tried really hard by listening to each single instrument separately.

[YauYin]

I tested my integrated sound on my laptop vs. my Soundblaster Audigy on my desktop by plugging in my headphones back and forth. I could'nt hear a difference on headphones, even when I tried really hard by listening to each single instrument separately.

thats wut im saying, in the case of the origianal poster with the logitech 2.1 setup via headphone jack where he listens to movies/mp3s, i HIGHLY doubt there will be any sound quality difference wutsoever.

but ultimately its all back and forth bickering until he buys it and tests it for himself.

[Double_H_F]

i will most likely hold off on it for now. Even if it does make a difference, is it a $120 differene :lol:

[Oversized Rooster]

Most, if not all, integrated audio options both on laptops and desktops are still behind a real dedicated sound card.

I installed the Audigy 2 ZS on my laptop, and don't plan on getting rid of it, until I get rid of the laptop itself one day.

If you have crappy or mid-range speakers, like the Logitech Z-4 or X-230, then you won't hear a real difference aside from the EAX effects. Such speakers are not able to produce clear sound anyway, so feeding them a better signal is no use.

However if you have some mid-range headphones, or higher-end speakers, you will actually hear a very big difference. I have $hitty $40 Sony headphones, with which I can easily hear the difference. At my cottage I use the Logitech Z-680 500W THX 5.1 speakers, and at home the Logitech Z-5500 500W THX 5.1 speakers. If I don't feed them from an Audigy 2 ZS on my laptop or from my desktop, they sound powerful, but flat.

Find a member who's selling an Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA here on RFD. I got mine from RFD for $65.

[Double_H_F]

Most, if not all, integrated audio options both on laptops and desktops are still behind a real dedicated sound card.

I installed the Audigy 2 ZS on my laptop, and don't plan on getting rid of it, until I get rid of the laptop itself one day.

If you have crappy or mid-range speakers, like the Logitech Z-4 or X-230, then you won't hear a real difference aside from the EAX effects. Such speakers are not able to produce clear sound anyway, so feeding them a better signal is no use.

However if you have some mid-range headphones, or higher-end speakers, you will actually hear a very big difference. I have $hitty $40 Sony headphones, with which I can easily hear the difference. At my cottage I use the Logitech Z-680 500W THX 5.1 speakers, and at home the Logitech Z-5500 500W THX 5.1 speakers. If I don't feed them from an Audigy 2 ZS on my laptop or from my desktop, they sound powerful, but flat.

Find a member who's selling an Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA here on RFD. I got mine from RFD for $65.

$65 wow, well the thing is I dont know if im going to like it forsure or not. So im best off buying local first where i can always get my money back. But $65 is hot, wow.

So you say running your music through onboard, y ou get lots of power but flat? How is it with the ZS? Less power but better acoustics?

[matkun]

got it when i tried the ext. 24bit SB live

Was that a powered external card? Or unpowered? Were the speakers you were using with it powered or unpowered?

You realize that sound volume is just a function of the impedance of the headphones/speakers if they are unpowered.. And if powered, then it just depends on the maximum power output of the speakers? It has nothing to do with the sound card unless the speakers/headphones are unpowered and have a fairly large impedance.

[Double_H_F]

Was that a powered external card? Or unpowered? Were the speakers you were using with it powered or unpowered?

You realize that sound volume is just a function of the impedance of the headphones/speakers if they are unpowered.. And if powered, then it just depends on the maximum power output of the speakers? It has nothing to do with the sound card unless the speakers/headphones are unpowered and have a fairly large impedance.

Powered sound card im sure, i had to plug iti into the wall.

[Double_H_F]

i think im goign to get it today and try it out. $109cdn at London Drugs is the cheapest locally. Cant wait, hope it drastically improves my mp3's

[matkun]

Powered sound card im sure, i had to plug iti into the wall.

Then I don't see any reason as to why it would be quieter, unless there was another volume control on that sound card that was set to a lower volume.

I've never run into a computer sound system that wasn't 'loud' enough at half volume.. If I wanted to go deaf I could always turn it all the way up.

[Double_H_F]

Then I don't see any reason as to why it would be quieter, unless there was another volume control on that sound card that was set to a lower volume.

I've never run into a computer sound system that wasn't 'loud' enough at half volume.. If I wanted to go deaf I could always turn it all the way up.

I noticed my volume decrease no the z2300's by at least 25%, when I changed over from two different toshiba laptops. Different sound DAC but still, why so much difference? All my volumes are at full.

[injanear]

i think ncix has or had it for about $80 after some rebate