Rocky 1,224 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 When faced with deciding which sound card to go for, I decided on an Audigy, and it came down to choosing between the Audigy 2 Value or the Audigy 2Zs After comparing the Audigy range it was clear their was very little difference between the Value version and the more expensive Zs version. Infact the only real difference was no THX support on the value version - not a big deal for most folks, and not for me. So I got the Value version and now, like many others, am regretting it not because there is anything wrong with the card, but because Creative has stopped supporting it (even though it is in the current range). While they throw out new drivers with enhanced this and that features (like EAX 4 for Doom 3), they do not provide any download drivers for the Value version - not ANY, not even the basic ones. Search Creative suport for drivers for Value card and all you get offered is software for DRM! Creative boast that the Audigy 2 Value has "With full EAX® 4.0 ADVANCED HD™ performance", why then have they just released new drivers that offer improved EAX 4 for the whole range APART from the Value version? In fact, try and install any driver from the Audigy range when you have a Value card installed and the installer will tell you that your system does not have a Audigy card installed at all! The ONLY way to get drivers for it is off the disk that came in the box, you can't even get them from the offical support site. Not a problem for me, but I can Google countless people for who it is a problem. I'm going to email Creative about this, and get all frustrated at the ensuing run around probably.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Snake@War 0 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Is there an online petition? If so, I'ld be glad to sign. If there isn't, there should be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteKnight77 1 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Have you tried drivers for the ZS to see if it would work? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WytchDokta 6 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 This is a waaaaaay better than the soundblaster range: More info here: TerraTec DMX 6Fire 24/96 Sound Sytem Demanding users will experience an awesome sound experience, when using the DMX 6fire 24/96 Sound System: 6-channel audio reproduction in excellent 24Bit quality, advanced connection options on the computer's front side and full compatibility to audio standards of games, DVD entertainment and music. Based on the successful EWX/EWS88 technology, DMX 6fire 24/96 uses only the best in sound technology: 24Bit/96kHz transducer components for all inputs and outputs guarantee a straight frequency response and a signal-to-noise ratio beyond -100db! The front module offers audiophile options to sound enthusiasts. In addition to stereo inputs and outputs for analogue and digital devices (optical and coaxial), there are plugs for MIDI instruments, headphone and microphone. Furthermore, a direct connection of tape deck and record player is also possible and the supplied power pack of phono amplifier and professional software enables you to polish your oldest records with the finest digital sound! It's only £115.08 too, and has recived 5-star rating all round. "TerraTec's SoundSystem DMX 6fire 24/96 - the complete sound package that beats all existing standards!" Nuff said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky 1,224 Posted May 28, 2005 Author Share Posted May 28, 2005 Have you tried drivers for the ZS to see if it would work? ← In fact, try and install any driver from the Audigy range when you have a Value card installed and the installer will tell you that your system does not have a Audigy card installed at all! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dannik 43 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Unfortunately, the only driver updates released that officially support the Value series is merely a DRM support module. Not exactly useful in terms of improving audio quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteKnight77 1 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 OK, I need stronger glasses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky 1,224 Posted May 28, 2005 Author Share Posted May 28, 2005 Unfortunately, the only driver updates released that officially support the Value series is merely a DRM support module. Not exactly useful in terms of improving audio quality. ← Exactly. Plenty (well, I found a "few") other customers have also picked up on that. I'll put a complaint in and see what happens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hatchetforce 0 Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 Email Creative and beat your drum about who you are. You might be surprised what they will do. This and your other sites are not exactly small time. Creative also has a beta driver program that is pretty good. And unless you are gaming Shadow Ops Red Mercury, don't sweat the THX. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightCrawler 137 Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 You make me glad that I didn't buy a Creative card when I bought the new box, instead went with Turtle Beach at a fraction of the cost I might add. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky 1,224 Posted June 1, 2005 Author Share Posted June 1, 2005 Email Creative and beat your drum about who you are. You might be surprised what they will do. This and your other sites are not exactly small time. Creative also has a beta driver program that is pretty good. And unless you are gaming Shadow Ops Red Mercury, don't sweat the THX. ← Yeh I will email them, there's already a thread at their own forums on this subject that is gathering some pace, so it might be worth dropping an email in and seeing where it leads. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CR6 0 Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Creative is notorious for poor support of their cards, but we keep buying them cuz they are the industry standard, especially after they bought up Aureal and Sensura. It's also sad that Nvidia has cancelled their SoundStorm chip (in the Xbox 1 and older nForce boards) since they figured it was too expensive to keep paying royalties for Dolby Digital. I've owned a SB16, AWE 32, AWE 64, Live OEM and Audigy 1 over the years, and pretty much once the new-gen sound card came out, driver support for the old one died. The exception is the Audigy 1 which suprisingly got a drive update a year after Audigy 2 came out. BTW, I did own a Turtle Beach Montego II A3D (Aureal Vortex chip) which rocked at the time and used countless AC'97 onboard sound chips I agree with HF ... write to Creative and keep pushing them to support even their lower end cards. With Intel shaking things up with their high-def onbaord sound spec (Intel HD Audio) which is finally replacing the ubiquitous AC'97. Creative has to shape up or their discrete sound card market will go the way of the dodo. Ref: http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/hdaudio.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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