Audigy or Santa Cruz?

[HappymaN]

I can't afford any of the non-consumer soundcards, but I've heard that out fo the mainstream models, these two are the best for headphones, as they provide a nice and clean line out. Here in Australia, they are about the same price each, about $80US.

Which one should I buy if I'm looking for audio quality and clarity? I don't play games, but I do watch the occasional DVD.

What do the experts reckon?

Santa Cruz or Audigy?

 

[Keiso]

While I'm a newbie in the headphone club, I have tried many soundcards, including the two cards you mentioned.

The short version: Screw the Audigy, get the Santa Cruz.

The long version:
I have previously owned the Audigy, bought it for a week and sold it right after. First of all, do not be fooled by its 24/96 marketing. This card is not 24 bits at all. While the SNR ratio is improved, it is not over 100 dB (according to a test I know someone did). As for my first hand experience, I didn't like the card at all. It distorts way too easily, especially on the lower freq.

I had to put the sound level to around 50% to avoid the distortions, which is pretty bad. This was done at 50% treble and 50% bass setting. You won't notice it for normal use, but when I tested the card with some heavy bass test tunes, it was obvious for me.

As for the Santa Cruz, no complain about this card whatsoever. I don't know who told you that the Audigy is suited for headphone listening, cuz it's not. I mean, it's not better than the others in this aspect. The Santa Cruz, on the other hand, should give you the best 3D effect on cans, if that's what you want. The sound is perfectly clean as well.

Did I forget to mention that the Audigy will occasionally screw up your PC? It's even a problem Creative has admitted, and yet hasn't found a solution to yet (I think, haven't been following that news for a month now, not really interested....).

So get the Santa Cruz and be happy

 

[Audio-Me]

I'm no expert, but try the M-Audio DiO 2448. I don't think M-Audio makes any consumer level products.

http://www.digitalaudioworks.com/mimd482.html
$107, free shipping.

When you say you watch occasional DVD, do you mean you want digital output to a receiver for surround sound (home theater)? You certainly don't want lowly 16bit 44.1khz output for DVD now do you? (voices would sound so bad)

 

[tangent]

Get the Santa Cruz because that's the only legal way I know of to get a copy of "The Monkey and the Hitman".

 

[dlow]

Unless you get the AudioTron

 

[markjia]

Yes i concur with Audio&Me, the m-audio line of sound cards are much better. I personally use their Audiophile 2496, but I would think the DiO 2448 would produce as high a quality of sound. These cards are no good for games, but you said you didn't need it to be, so I would think this are a better choice. They provide much higher quality sound than the audigy, none of that upsampling crap. The santa cruz is not as bad, but still not quite a good as m-audio line.

 

[pawwh98]

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio&Me I'm no expert, but try the M-Audio DiO 2448. I don't think M-Audio makes any consumer level products. http://www.digitalaudioworks.com/mimd482.html $107, free shipping. When you say you watch occasional DVD, do you mean you want digital output to a receiver for surround sound (home theater)? You certainly don't want lowly 16bit 44.1khz output for DVD now do you? (voices would sound so bad)

The 2448 is only suited for digital output. It does have an analog output as well, but it is of poor quality(~70 dB SNR).

I have this soundcard myself, for use with MD-player and soon an ART DI/O.

 

[Audio-Me]

I don't care for measurements, have you tried the analog out to a good amp using good cables?

Is the output of the coax/optical out passive on the DiO 2448? Direct pass through non-audio mode, as in if you played a dvd on the computer, will it send the 24bit/192khz stereo pcm or 96khz dts/ac-3 full bandwidth signal untouched?

If it can only output 48khz digital signal, then the use of an art dio would probably be a great idea.