Is Audigy SE noisy (RF interf.)? Are these Daniel K's drivers any good? UPDATE: Page 3: Now considering the HotUSB1 DAC

[Vitor Machado]

[size=xx-small]This thread is a continuation of this one[/size]

I'm getting some new cans, the Denon D1001.

My onboard sound can get pretty noisy (RF noise, I can hear HD clicks pretty loud), so, since I'm on a budget (as usual), I was considering buying an Audigy SE. Do you think it'll be enough to reduce or remove all the noise?
I'm worried these Denons will show my onboard's noise in all their "glory".

I don't really mind for these newest EAX effects, Crystallizer and these stuff... Just want to make sure I won't hear HD clicks with my music.

Also, does anyone recommend these unofficial Daniel K drivers? Since Creative drivers are crappy, I'm tempted at trying this one when I get the card (if I do).

Thanks everybody!

 

[milkweg]

Get an external soundcard for music. EMU 0404 is under $200.00 or you can get 0202 for even less. That will solve the RF noise issues. A new internal soundcard might not. The issue could be due to your PC power supply.

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkweg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Get an external soundcard for music. EMU 0404 is under $200.00 or you can get 0202 for even less. That will solve the RF noise issues. A new internal soundcard might not. The issue could be due to your PC power supply.

$200 is waaaay above my budget. After the $100 Denons I'll be broken.

I am aware that an external soundcard would be better in that respect, but they're usually expensive, at least here where I live... In fact, I think the only option that really fits my budget, and that I can actually find here, is the Audigy SE. I belive AV-710 is discontinued by now...

EDIT: Oh and btw, I saw a guy here in the forums saying the rear output of the Audigy SE sounds better. Does someone know if it have a better DAC than front?

 

[1Time]

The HotUSB1 is available direct from hotaudio.com or eBay. I don't think the D1001 would reveal noise from your system any differently than most other headphones. If the interference is there, you'll hear it with just about any headphones. I've read this problem is sometimes resolved by changing the card to a different PCI slot. Usually the slot that's furthest away from other components is recommended.

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif The HotUSB1 is available direct from hotaudio.com or eBay. I don't think the D1001 would reveal noise from your system any differently than most other headphones. If the interference is there, you'll hear it with just about any headphones. I've read this problem is sometimes resolved by changing the card to a different PCI slot. Usually the slot that's furthest away from other components is recommended.

I live in Brazil, so I depend on people going to the USA to buy these stuff, and it's easier if they can buy them at physical stores. And in the case of the Audigy SE, I could buy it here myself.

Actually, my (16 ohms) Philips SHS8000 (in-ear) revealed a lot of noise, whereas the Philips HP250 (which really suck at revealing details btw) doesn't present a third of the noise the in-ear does (it's 32 ohms and really hard to drive, in contrast to the in-ear which is very, very easy to drive).
And since the Denon is way better than these other headphones, I thought it'd reveal more noise, at least like the SHS8000 (and that's very annoying already).

Also keep in mind my actual "soundcard" is AC'97 onboard, I can't change it's slot.

Of course, if I get the soundcard, I'll surely put it in the lowest possible slot.

Thanks people.

EDIT: Now I was thinking... the motherboard chipset is very close to the HDD bay, and the soundcard would be much farther away. Maybe that's just enough to reduce it? Maybe even put some ERS paper or something in between them too...

 

[1Time]

Worldwide shipping buys the HotUSB1 for $60... a nice upgrade from onboard sound, for future reference. Updates to your mobo may help the noisy onboard sound.

 

[milkweg]

THe rear output of the Chaintech AV-710 is supposed to sound better but don't know about AudigySE. Getting the AudigySE may well solve your RF noise issue because onboard mb sound is notorious for that issue. One o fmy PC's has a cheapish Asrock mb and RF interference is really bad with the onboard audio. I put in a Chaintech AV-710 and don't have RF issues with that card but for usic I feed it digtially to an EMU 0404. I use it in analog for games though and don't hear RF interference. My X-Fi on another PC still has a slight touch of RF interfernece but you can only hear it if I turn the volume up really loud with nothing playing over it and use my mouse scroll wheel to scroll web sites. I use the X-Fi didgitally to my EMU 0404 fro music too though so it's no big deal. Try the AudigySE and it will probably solve your issue but maybe not completely. You might still get some RF interference but no where near as much. RF can be an issue for internal TV tunders too and some people have gone so far as to make a shield around the tuner section with tin foil but again the real solution is to use an external tuner and using tin foil can cause a short if you are not careful. I think Asus makes a soundcard that has a shielding shroud around the soundcard to alleviate any possible issues with RF interference. Costs more than AudigySE though.

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif Worldwide shipping buys the HotUSB1 for $60... a nice upgrade from onboard sound, for future reference. Updates to your mobo may help the noisy onboard sound.

Hmm that's cool. Maybe, someday...

And what do you mean updates to my mobo, BIOS, drivers? I have already updated it's BIOS, I think it's not the newest available, but almost... and the drivers are the newest.
But I don't believe that's related in this case. Btw, the mobo is an Abit KV7, quite an old mobo...

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkweg /img/forum/go_quote.gif THe rear output of the Chaintech AV-710 is supposed to sound better but don't know about AudigySE. Getting the AudigySE may well solve your RF noise issue because onboard mb sound is notorious for that issue. One o fmy PC's has a cheapish Asrock mb and RF interference is really bad with the onboard audio. I put in a Chaintech AV-710 and don't have RF issues with that card but for usic I feed it digtially to an EMU 0404. I use it in analog for games though and don't hear RF interference. My X-Fi on another PC still has a slight touch of RF interfernece but you can only hear it if I turn the volume up really loud with nothing playing over it and use my mouse scroll wheel to scroll web sites. I use the X-Fi didgitally to my EMU 0404 fro music too though so it's no big deal. Try the AudigySE and it will probably solve your issue but maybe not completely...

That's what I wanted to hear, and I don't have a TV tuner (and don't pretend to), so I'm fine with that.

The only interference I can distinguish is from the HD, I can perfectly hear it in sync with the HDD usage LED, it's reeealy annoying!

EDIT: Here's a HUGE pic of the Audigy SE (link), does anyone see a different DAC? I might be wrong but I think it's the same for all the 3 analog. outs.

 

[milkweg]

You should find this info interesting. It uses a single 8 channel DAC.

Jimmy’s Junkyard » Blog Archive » X-Fi Xtreme Audio = Audigy SE ???

It's the AV-710 that has two different DACs for 6 channels and 2 rear channels.

Chaintech AV-710, and why I love Envy24

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkweg /img/forum/go_quote.gif You should find this info interesting. It uses a single 8 channel DAC. Jimmy’s Junkyard » Blog Archive » X-Fi Xtreme Audio = Audigy SE ??? It's the AV-710 that has two different DACs for 6 channels and 2 rear channels. Chaintech AV-710, and why I love Envy24

Yeah I've already seen this information somewhere else, about the XtremeAudio... and I think, this must be what Daniel K exploits to create his modded drivers, he says they allow X-Fi software to work on the Audigys, and he also promises better performance with EAX...
Did anybody try them?

And about the AV-710, I knew it had a Wolfson DAC in the rear, but the guy I saw here, he was talking about the Audigy SE... I don't really see a reason to have better sound from the rear out of the Audigy... It must've been placebo...

 

[milkweg]

I've never tried those drivers so don't know what to say. I did use some Russian KX drivers on Audigy I had at one time and they were lousy in games so stopped using them. I don't have any issues with X-Fi driver I use now. Not saying I never had any issues but the drivers are in a pretty mature state now so doubt you will have any issues. If you do then try those 3rd party drivers but not before trying the official drivers.

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkweg /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've never tried those drivers so don't know what to say. I did use some Russian KX drivers on Audigy I had at one time and they were lousy in games so stopped using them. I don't have any issues with X-Fi driver I use now. Not saying I never had any issues but the drivers are in a pretty mature state now so doubt you will have any issues. If you do then try those 3rd party drivers but not before trying the official drivers.

Yeah, or I might try the unofficial first, but with a grain of salt...
You know, the opportunity to use an Audigy SE just like an X-fi is very tempting.

(even if it's the crappier, person son XtremeAudio. You know just for the hell of it.

)

Well actually if it works well, it'll be great, since the X-fi drivers seems to be more stable as you said yourself (and AFAIK the Audigy drivers pretty much s*ck), and there's the promised EAX performance improvement also.

Anyway, I'll report back my conclusions here when possible...

 

[john5220]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitor Machado /img/forum/go_quote.gif [size=xx-small]This thread is a continuation of this one[/size] I'm getting some new cans, the Denon D1001. My onboard sound can get pretty noisy (RF noise, I can hear HD clicks pretty loud), so, since I'm on a budget (as usual), I was considering buying an Audigy SE. Do you think it'll be enough to reduce or remove all the noise? I'm worried these Denons will show my onboard's noise in all their "glory". I don't really mind for these newest EAX effects, Crystallizer and these stuff... Just want to make sure I won't hear HD clicks with my music. Also, does anyone recommend these unofficial Daniel K drivers? Since Creative drivers are crappy, I'm tempted at trying this one when I get the card (if I do). Thanks everybody!

Aah yes hear what to do. Get the Xonar DX its really clean but has poor bass for headphones.

Or better yet get the Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 2.

DO not get the Audigy SE. Its utter garbage.

The best bang for the buck is the turtle beach cards you can geta 24 bit one for $20 USD or the Montenegro I believe its called for $50 US.

Seriously if you got the X Fi gamers edition for $80 USD on amazon you would be set but the Fatal1ty for $139 is much better.

Either way the audigy SE is crap. get the turtle beach or the Xonar DX.

I gonna trade me xonar for my old Audigy 2 ZS i had sold cause the ZS owns

 

[1Time]

If not needing surround sound, I'd say it's better money spent on a USB DAC/amp than a sound card. I've used the AV710 with an amp, and I prefer the sound from my HotUSB1. In comparison (not A/B), the AV710 has a darker/warm sound, and the HotUSB1 has a clear/transparent sound. Why spend over $60 for a sound card that probably doesn't sound better than the HotUSB1? And, the HotUSB1 will amp better than the sound card too. I suggest buying a sound card instead if the additional functionality/surround sound is needed.

 

[Vitor Machado]

Quote:

Originally Posted by john5220 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Aah yes hear what to do. Get the Xonar DX its really clean but has poor bass for headphones. Or better yet get the Audigy 2 ZS or Audigy 2. DO not get the Audigy SE. Its utter garbage. The best bang for the buck is the turtle beach cards you can geta 24 bit one for $20 USD or the Montenegro I believe its called for $50 US. Seriously if you got the X Fi gamers edition for $80 USD on amazon you would be set but the Fatal1ty for $139 is much better. Either way the audigy SE is crap. get the turtle beach or the Xonar DX. I gonna trade me xonar for my old Audigy 2 ZS i had sold cause the ZS owns

Unfortunately there are some problems.

-Xonar DX costs a fortune here (taxes... import taxes are sooo high here). You know, I've already asked the guy to bring a Denon for me from the US, I'm not asking for a soundcard now so fast, I don't wanna be that annoying.

-The same goes for the Audigy 2 series.

-On the other hand, for some reason, I can get the Audigy SE very cheap here, for like... approx. $25 (R$60 here)

-Turtle Beach cards are nowhere to be found here. It's been quite a while (years) since I saw a Turtle Beach selling somewhere here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif If not needing surround sound, I'd say it's better money spent on a USB DAC/amp than a sound card. I've used the AV710 with an amp, and I prefer the sound from my HotUSB1. In comparison (not A/B), the AV710 has a darker/warm sound, and the HotUSB1 has a clear/transparent sound. Why spend over $60 for a sound card that probably doesn't sound better than the HotUSB1? And, the HotUSB1 will amp better than the sound card too. I suggest buying a sound card instead if the additional functionality/surround sound is needed.

AV-710 is discontinued. Even if I where to use a DAC, I would need at least a soundcard to use the SPDIF out (the onboard probably suck).
And again, I have no idea where I can get a good DAC here around, and to import a HotUSB1, and plus the soundcard price, is a bit above by budget right now...
So I'll get the Audigy SE, and if I can later, I could get the DAC. What you think?

EDIT: Hmmm seeing it better here... looks like the HotUSB1 is identical to an external soundcard right? It's connected to the USB and does all the dirty work. That's really interesting, but still above the budget now... I'll surely consider it later.

Thanks guys.