What is a emu0404 that everyone is talking about?

[sirnice]

I did a google search and it lead me to a sound card.
Creative emu0404.

Is that what it is? a pci sound card?
What is so good about it?
I currently have the Audigy ZS2 Platinum (paid $249.99), and the emu0404 is only $89.
Is the emu0404 sound better than the Audigy?

 

[grawk]

It is a soundcard, and a lot of people think it's a great card. I haven't heard em tho.

 

[Paxonator]

I've own an audigy 2 and emu 0404, with the audigy 2 being first of course. I've never done a direct comparison but when i switched over to the 0404 for the first time everything sounded much clearer. I'm not quite sure how to explain it but it beat out the audigy 2 without a problem.

 

[sirnice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxonator I've own an audigy 2 and emu 0404, with the audigy 2 being first of course. I've never done a direct comparison but when i switched over to the 0404 for the first time everything sounded much clearer. I'm not quite sure how to explain it but it beat out the audigy 2 without a problem.

Did you install both sound cards on on the same PC or separate PC?
I read (just now) that the emu0404 card isn't for watching DVD or games.
It's mainly for audio recording and such.

 

[saturnine]

I have both an 0404 and an Audigy2 installed right now. The stock 0404 beats the crap out of the Audigy sound wise. The 0404 is great with games + movies, as long as you dont care about the overrated (imo) EAX effects or multichannel support. The 0404 is a 2 channel card only. I only use the Audigy with my speakers.

 

[Distroyed]

And you can loop the digital (EAX processed) sound signal from the Audigy 2 through your 0404 to get the best of both worlds. The 0404 is far superior in sound quality than anything the Audigy line has produced to date.

 

[sirnice]

Intersting. I never knew about the E-Mu0404. I've always upgraded to the latest Creative sound cards since the original isa 8bit sound blaster card and never heard of the EMU-0404.

Maybe it's time to invest a $100 to buy one for my PC.
Where is the cheapest place to buy the E-MU 0404?

I just visited the creative.com website. Seems like they have 3 other E-MU models: E-MU 1820M, 1820 and 1212M. 0404 being the lowest of the product line. Anyone have the other 3 higher models you can comment on?

 

[J-Pak]

The Audigy 2 is overpriced. Nice for games though

Quote:

Originally Posted by saturnine I have both an 0404 and an Audigy2 installed right now. The stock 0404 beats the crap out of the Audigy sound wise. The 0404 is great with games + movies, as long as you dont care about the overrated (imo) EAX effects or multichannel support. The 0404 is a 2 channel card only. I only use the Audigy with my speakers.

I'll disagree, EAX effects in games really help with immersing you in the action. I find it a lot better than standard positional audio

 

[Asmo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirnice Intersting. I never knew about the E-Mu0404. I've always upgraded to the latest Creative sound cards since the original isa 8bit sound blaster card and never heard of the EMU-0404. Maybe it's time to invest a $100 to buy one for my PC. Where is the cheapest place to buy the E-MU 0404? I just visited the creative.com website. Seems like they have 3 other E-MU models: E-MU 1820M, 1820 and 1212M. 0404 being the lowest of the product line. Anyone have the other 3 higher models you can comment on?

It depends on your gear, and your music preference, I have heard the 0404 and 1212m in the same computer and prefer the 1212m by a lot, the 0404 to my ears did not sound natural, but it is a 'exciting' soundcard. The quality is great, the 1212m flaws are it has a cold vocal presentation, but the details, and depth of the instruments and music is very good.

The 1820m is like an external version of the 1212m.

The E-MU soundcards have a few quirks about them that some people are not used too... compared to other soundcards, their analog outputs are 1/4" mono (balanced on the 1212m), not your standard 1/8" stereo mini jack. So you will need adapters or new interconnects. They are line level output only, so you need a headphone amplifier also to reap the most quality. You cannot use standard PC microphones with them either, no amplified input, you need a preamp/micamp or use onboard sound/another soundcard, or a USB microphone (gamers often run into this problem).

Like posted above, you can keep your audigy, and put in a 1212m and loop the music digitally into the emu card and still have the gaming support from the audigy series.