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Soundcard on the 51-m, Suggestions?

post #1 of 12
9/14/04 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 NX USB External

Zalman ZM-RSSC 5.1 Channel USB Sound Card

Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio

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I naturally took the top one because it was most expensive, but does anyone have an suggestions on which sound card to get?
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post #2 of 12
9/14/04 at 8:21pm
You get the sound-blaster pro no matter what you choose...it is the on-board audio and I think it sounds pretty good. The Creative and Zalman are both USB units and provide extra connections, but REQUIRE external speakers, they will not work with the on-board speakers.

To finish my thought...I would like to pick up one of the Creative units, but that means I have to buy more speakers, and can only use them in one place because they just aren't very portable. If your lappie won't be leaving the desk very often, then go with the creative...if you carry it everywhere like I do, stick with the on-board audio.
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post #3 of 12
9/14/04 at 8:43pm
Very eloquently said, Flapjacks.
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post #4 of 12
9/14/04 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flapjacks
You get the sound-blaster pro no matter what you choose...it is the on-board audio and I think it sounds pretty good. The Creative and Zalman are both USB units and provide extra connections, but REQUIRE external speakers, they will not work with the on-board speakers.

To finish my thought...I would like to pick up one of the Creative units, but that means I have to buy more speakers, and can only use them in one place because they just aren't very portable. If your lappie won't be leaving the desk very often, then go with the creative...if you carry it everywhere like I do, stick with the on-board audio.
Will it work with headphones though? Or just speakers?
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post #5 of 12
9/14/04 at 9:40pm
Any of the offerings will work with headphones, but to me, it's kinda pointless to get an external sound card and then use headphones, then it's just an extra piece of equipment to carry arround. The onboard audio will handle headphones very well. The onboard audio supports 5.1 surround through the spdif port in case you feel like hooking it up to a surround receiver or digital-ready speaker, as well as EAX2.0 for environmental effects, and a nifty speaker setting program to set it up just the way you want it.

Overall, the external unit is nice, but not really necessary. If you wanna save some cash, the sound would be a good place to start...but if you are a real audiophile, then you need the Creative unit, as it does offer better quality than the internal SC. Both are good options, just depends on how much you want to spend and how good the audio has to be.

Confused yet???
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post #6 of 12
9/14/04 at 9:53pm
Thread Starter 
How large of a difference will I see between onboard and the creative unit?
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post #7 of 12
9/14/04 at 10:45pm
I use an external sound card with headphones..The sound is MUCH better with the external card, plus it resolved some issues I was having with my sound card and my games freezing.

The external card sounds great..but if your not having any problems the onboard sound does a fantastic job as well.
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post #8 of 12
9/14/04 at 10:47pm
I suggest ATM dont buy the xternal. try the onboard if its good enought u have saved yourself some $$$ if not u can buy one in any shop. or on the net. its nothing speical.
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post #9 of 12
9/15/04 at 12:32pm
Either I have an older model that doesn't have the 5.1, or the lappies doen't support 5.1. I have tried to use the optical out before, and it only seems to send a two channel sound signal. I have tried and tried to figure out how to get it to send a 5.1 signal, but have not made any progress.

I have a foldable USB Headset that sounds a heck of alot better than regular headphone that you plug into the audio out jack. It is also very handy for trhe microphone on it to use teamspeak.
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post #10 of 12
9/15/04 at 12:53pm
I use Audigy 2 nx with logitech 5.1 speakers when the laptop resides on the desk. I just unhook audigy and the internal soundcard comes alive with the internal speakers when on the go.
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post #11 of 12
9/15/04 at 3:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor1182
Either I have an older model that doesn't have the 5.1, or the lappies doen't support 5.1. I have tried to use the optical out before, and it only seems to send a two channel sound signal. I have tried and tried to figure out how to get it to send a 5.1 signal, but have not made any progress.

I have a foldable USB Headset that sounds a heck of alot better than regular headphone that you plug into the audio out jack. It is also very handy for trhe microphone on it to use teamspeak.
I got 5.1 sound through my dolby digital receiver with the s/pdif, but only when playing DVD's with 5.1 capable software like PowerDVD. I'm pretty sure it only works with DVDs, because the sound is already encoded in 5.1 format on the disc, whereas game audio has to be encoded by the sound card...and the internal does not have that ability.
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post #12 of 12
9/16/04 at 6:14am
It all depends on what you wan't to do with it, Zalman has a lower latency designed for low end laptop audio recording such as live music recording, etc. On board SB is pretty good but has a lower fidelity of sound than the external ones. Namely any thing below say 300hz which is the pretty bassy notes and drums are almost non existant, and it is no better with head phones though you can make it out there. Creative would be good if you like more bass to your sound, but again is added equipment.

I personally use onboard sound, and intend on getting a Layla PCMCIA professional audio card for my multitracking my music stuff.
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