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

[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.