[genclaymore]

Holy HOLY CRAP GUYS!!!!!!!
http://www.soundblaster.com/x7/


•PC/Mac/Console/Smartphone Host Mode compatible connectivity!
•Asychronous USB/Optical in&out/RCA in&out/Dual simultaneous Bluetooth connections/Stereo Speaker taps!
•Higher specs than the ZxR!
•Dolby Digital Live 5.1/7.1 digital decoding for consoles via Optical input!
•Swappable OpAmps!
•Built-in beamforming mics!

Just let that sink in a bit...

Yea I saw that on guru3d, But it wont stop people from connecting dollar store speakers and headphones into it and it wont push them into getting more for their money. Now they should make another model which uses Vacuum Tube's . Of course I wont be getting one, I already have the setup that i am happy with and instead of op-amp's, I have vacuum tube's.

 

[x7007]

If I have Logitech 5500, how exactly can I use X7 so it will do the digital surround and not the Logitech ?  I wonder how

 

[genclaymore]

Easy by plugging in the analog out on the X7 into the Z-5500 analog inputs.

 

[Silverwind]

I have to imagine a price similar to the zxr for this guy. Are these specs superior to the Zxr? I am using headphones on a pc.

 

[x7007]

  Easy by plugging in the analog out on the X7 into the Z-5500 analog inputs.

Console analog ? ps3  

 

[genclaymore]

  Console analog ? ps3

Connect the X7 5.1 analog output's to the Z-5500's 5.1 analog input's,This way you getting the benefit of the X7 components so it wouldn't go to waste.  Then plug the game console's optical into optical input's connection on the X7. The X7 will Decode the Dolby Digital or DTS signal and send it out into your speakers.For your computer usage you can use the USB input on the X7 and i sure there prolly a switch or a remote of something for changing the input's.

 

[haejuk]

I just ordered myself a refurbished ("re-certified") Z off Newegg for $45 (ends today if you are interested). 
 
Anyway, is anyone else using the optical out to a modi/magni stack?  How does it sound compared to straight out of the card itself?  I will be using AD700 (will probably be fine straight out of the card), JH13 (probably won't be fine and the cable is too short), and possibly LCD-2 (though I might sell that along with my old amp, definitely would at least need an external amp for this).
 
Also, it looks like that new SBX7 is going to retail for $399.99.

 

[genclaymore]

When you are using optical, all the sound card will be doing is sending it software and dsp functions to the modi which will then be doing all the work. the Z will just act as a Digital transport device into the modi optical. Which is useful if you want to use the gaming functions while still using the external dac.

 

[haejuk]

That was my original plan, which is why I got the Z instead of a higher end card.  I still wanted something good for music, but with the added DSP for gaming and movies.  I just didn't order the magi or modi yet.  I don't have really high hopes for the internal amp on the Z honestly, but at least leaving out the external DAC is a possibility.

 

[alv4426]

The Zxr has a pretty good amp in it. I am actually using it right now for my T1 and hd650 (temp while I find a "better" one) but I can live with this system just fine.

 

[kiwikozo]

So I have an Asus Maximus VII Hero z97 mobo. There is an issue with the onboard sound, it hisses when you try to record. I was forced into getting a soundcard, but was planning to anyway.
I own 1 x ATH-M50 and 1 x Sennheiser PC320 Gaming headset

I bought the Original Sound Blaster Z - £70 the red one, and when I recorded I heard static whenever I spoke. I disabled onboard sound in the mobo settings, nothing really fixed it so I sent it back.
I then bought the Sound Blaster Z from Amazon, the OEM one. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-PCI-E-Sound-Blaster-Soundcard/dp/B009S1NTUU/

Now I saw somewhere that if it had gold caps on then it was higher quality and if it was black then it wasn't. What amazon shipped me is not as shown in the picture. They are black.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pmuzkystno8fjnu/z%20sb.jpg?dl=0
This is not what was shown in the picture. I think I will return this because of it. As these are poor quality as to what is advertised.


Getting to the biggest issue:
When I use my Sennheiser PC320 headset, i just sound worse. Even with the smart volume, audio echo, mic boost... Sometimes It's okay, but then I start to hear static after every word when I record.

Another HUGE issue is all of a sudden things get distorted, so voices get very deep and sounds just go crazy! This happens mostly when I switch between the gaming headset and my ATH-M50s. This requires a restart and gives a splitting headache if I have headphones on.

The sound when I listen normally is fine, most of the time.

I had my old laptop with a creative sound blaster sound card, with the same settings and I tried it + I sound much much better. There is an issue with this sound card, not with my headset. Can this be fixed with some software tweaks or no?

So I'm in a massive dilemma, what can I do? I tried the Creative sound blaster 5.1 and that gave me horrid microphone quality. I need to fix this issue ASAP.

Please help me to achieve clear, crisp, loud microphone quality with no issues! What should I do? Eveything is updated to the latest driver. It's in PCIE slot 1, I've tried in different slots too and I've disabled the Realtek sound completely. I could get a USB headset, but I really like this headset. It's perfect and I just want it to work as well as it did with the creative sound card on my laptop!

OR Should I just go for an external sound card? I want perfect audio quality.. I listen to FLAC Music and have M50s. The Z gives me great sound quality, it's just the microphone quality is awful! If I get the original Z that will cost me £70, which is a lot and is the same price as the Asus U7 compact which seems like it will be better. http://www.amazon.co.uk/U7-Soundcard-Integrated-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CP53ML2/

I don't have to have a pcie sound card but it's more convenient. I'm just so fed up with this right now, need it working. frown.gif

So what should I do, which sound card should I order? This Asus U7 compact or something else? Ideally my MAX budget would be £80. Spending less is welcome and I wouldn't exactly mind trying out Asus PCIE sound cards. I just don't know why I haven't been able to get decent microphone quality with these? Is the creative sound blaster Z generally terrible for recording audio?

Would the Asus Dx or even something like the DGX 5.1 make any difference for my use compared to the Asus U7? I don't plan on getting a 5.1 setup. Sticking with Stereo and just using my M50 for Music / Videos and then the PC320 for gaming.


Thanks in Advance.

 

[genclaymore]

You can find a sound blaster omni on ebay cheap if your lucky but i think amazon sent you a old stock of the Z because all of the ones i see people with are the one with the gold components.

 

[kiwikozo]

Thanks but that's not my question. Is the Asus U7 external Sound Card better than the Z? It certainly seems it from the reviews. And better than anything from creative sub £100. I can get the Asus U7 off Amazon for £70
 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F8VB0IW/ Omni is £60 on Amazon and the U7 is only £10 but seems quite a lot better.
 
Or is the Creative X-Fi better http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GMDWNJK/ and should I get this instead? If I get this sound card hopefully I will end up keeping it for more than 5 years.
 
Or should I get this Creative one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Sound-Blaster-Surround-External/dp/B00FJMQ4C2/
 
I really don't know the difference between them.
 
I will only be using this to power my ATH-M50 and PC320s, is this overkill and would a Asus DGX be a better card?

 

[kiwikozo]

Sorry to the Admin because I keep on editing my posts!
 
I'll make it clearer. I think it might be an issue with static which is causing this noise when recording.
 
I need to pick between these products, or if there are any other recommendations please suggest:
 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GMDWNJK/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Sound-Blaster-Surround-External/dp/B00FJMQ4C2/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00F8VB0IW/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/U7-Soundcard-Integrated-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CP53ML2/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Express-Normalizer-Virtual-Speaker-Shifter/dp/B007RMMYFI/
 
I don't know what to pick, and if spending a lot on an external one is overkill because I'll only be using my M50s and Pc320. No 5.1 only stereo.

 

[genclaymore]

It sounds like you loved the Sound blaster Z but didn't like the mic quality, did you disable the mic options in the panel or did you disable the mic boost which some times messes with the quality of your voice. I found with the omni that i had to disable The mic boost and other options before my voice came out clear, even when I had the omni on my desk away from my mouth, they was still able to hear me, but that was because I had the option on that allow you to talk softly and still be heard.  Also some of the voice changer options also can also cause issues too. Did you try another PCI-E socket? I have a friend which uses the Z as well and uses a mic and he doesn't have your issues as he turns off all of the voice effects and mic boost.
 
As I found the DG/DGX to have muddy bass which was also boomy and you might not enjoy it since you loved the Z that much. I would suggest you try the suggestions I mention before shipping the Z back again. Going external might solve your issues as I have had similar issues but re-guards to noises in the audio which was gone when i switch to the omni. The major thing is the U7 has Dolby home theater V4 which is very poor software if your looking to use virtual headphone dsp. If you have no plans of ever using it, then that wont really matter.  But a Used omni that you linked is $49ish dollar's, The only thing with the omni is that it only supports 48khz and 96khz playback, meaning you might have to use a re-sample plugin if you use foobar 2k, tho you might not have to if you use the default Direct sound option in foobar.
 
Edit: the sound blaster omni is the replacement for the X-FI HD Usb which was on the market. the Omni just has a better headphone amp over the X-Fi HD/pro Usb.