Difference between SB Live and Audigy?

sciacca_paul · 17th November 2004, 4:48 PM

Difference between SB Live and Audigy?

I currently have a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 sound card plugged up to my Logitech Z-640 5.1 speakers.

I am just wondering what the difference is between my current sound card an the Audigy series? is it worth spending the extra on an Audigy?

NTBlowz · 17th November 2004, 7:02 PM

Audigy have EAX 4.0 through driver update, while Live is stuck on EAX2.0, and the sound quality/performance is a bit better than Live

But I think you should upgrade to A2 at least for more noticeable difference.

Enverxis · 17th November 2004, 9:50 PM

In Games there will be a difference in positional audio and SQ
In music there's pretty much next to nothing (perhaps even placebo)

Noah · 19th November 2004, 6:03 PM

So where do I get my SB Live > Audigy 4 driver upgrade?

SnooP-WiggleS · 19th November 2004, 9:55 PM

Well there is a bit of difference in sound quality. Better DACs and the Audigy2 does have a second chip that allows it to output 24/96 24/48 and 24/192 stereo without going through the DSP (and hence resampling to 16/48). I see it this way. If your a gamer, buy an audigy 2 (just the card) for EAX. An audigy1 also has improved EAX over a Live card. if your a music listener buy something that isn't creative. envy24 based cards are decent for music listening, with chaintech av-710 being the best of the range for price vs performance

Enverxis · 20th November 2004, 3:23 PM

I dont know about the Audigy but for me the SB Live and Audigy LS have no audible sq difference in music, with kernal streaming + foobar 2000 outputting to Sony SS-D105 System.

ZoLi · 20th November 2004, 8:03 PM

I just started using the KX Project drivers with my Live. I fully recommend
also started using Asio Output plugin with foobar.

I dont really know how much you would gain by upgrading. at the end of the day your spending more just to get slightly better game experiance. I generally use my PC for Home Theatre/Music listening, does the job well.

Enverxis · 21st November 2004, 9:45 AM

the LS isnt compatible with any softmods of the sort, a waste of money, imo - better to get a live, and softmod it to use EAX 4 :P $40 cheaper too

puls3 · 22nd November 2004, 9:47 PM

how can i undertake this softmod you speak of?

SnooP-WiggleS · 23rd November 2004, 8:53 AM

Just gotta download hacked drivers from somewhere. The term softmod is rather misleading actually, it doesn't change the workings of the card itself AFAIK (as compared to unlocking pipes / shaders on graphics cards which does). Oh and an audigy will be better for EAX3/4 than a live due to the more powerful DSP (probably not by much though).

puls3 · 24th November 2004, 12:32 AM

ok, anyone know where i can download the "hacked" drivers?

stmok · 24th November 2004, 3:22 PM

I own both the Live and Audigy...The sound difference is noticeable when playing games and listening to music. The Audigy seems fuller and richer, while the Live is more like radio-ish. IF you're an audiophile, its very noticeable.

You can do some minor "hacks" to load up Audigy drivers onto a Live, but the latest features of the Audigy line won't be used. Since Live doesn't have them!

So, for the most, you get a new GUI to look at and lower CPU usage in games, because the drivers have matured. (while the older Live ones haven't been touched by Creative).

Enverxis · 24th November 2004, 6:01 PM

http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...&page=18&pp=15
http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...t=45004&page=1

Cheers

17th November 2004, 4:48 PM	#1
sciacca_paul Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 417	Difference between SB Live and Audigy? Difference between SB Live and Audigy? I currently have a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 sound card plugged up to my Logitech Z-640 5.1 speakers. I am just wondering what the difference is between my current sound card an the Audigy series? is it worth spending the extra on an Audigy?

17th November 2004, 7:02 PM	#2
NTBlowz Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NZ Posts: 256	Audigy have EAX 4.0 through driver update, while Live is stuck on EAX2.0, and the sound quality/performance is a bit better than Live But I think you should upgrade to A2 at least for more noticeable difference. __________________ Proud owner of Tomy Project D Set ANTEC/CHIEFTEC CASE OWNERS/MODDERS MEMBER #114

17th November 2004, 9:50 PM	#3
Enverxis Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: 3556, VIC Posts: 496	In Games there will be a difference in positional audio and SQ In music there's pretty much next to nothing (perhaps even placebo) __________________ Intel E6850 @ 3.6GHz @ 1.35v \| Noctua NH-C12P \| Asus P5N-E SLi \| Team Xtreem Dark 2x2GB 1066 @ 800Mhz 4-3-3-9 \| 1GB Sapphire 4890 VaporX \| 120GB Seagate IDE + 1TB Samsung HD103UJ + 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B \| Antec TruePower 2.0 550W \| EMU 0404 \| Logitech MX518 \| IBM Model M Keyboard \| SGI/Sony GDM-FW900 24" Flat CRT \|

19th November 2004, 6:03 PM	#4
Noah Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,080	So where do I get my SB Live > Audigy 4 driver upgrade? __________________ Seti 5,000 Club

19th November 2004, 9:55 PM	#5
SnooP-WiggleS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ballarat, Victoria Posts: 2,498	Well there is a bit of difference in sound quality. Better DACs and the Audigy2 does have a second chip that allows it to output 24/96 24/48 and 24/192 stereo without going through the DSP (and hence resampling to 16/48). I see it this way. If your a gamer, buy an audigy 2 (just the card) for EAX. An audigy1 also has improved EAX over a Live card. if your a music listener buy something that isn't creative. envy24 based cards are decent for music listening, with chaintech av-710 being the best of the range for price vs performance __________________ RIG - CPU: Q6600 @ 3.3ghz \| RAM: 2GB 667 \| MOBO: Abit IP35 pro \| GC: xfx 8800gt @700 \| HD: 250gb + 500gb \| Audio: m-audio delta 1010lt -> PA2V2 -> Audio Technica a500 \| Case: Antec Sonata 3 PSU watts and 12V calculator (work in progress - feedback/suggestions welcome) Discussion thread OCAU WIKI's - heres what i've added, what can you add? The OCAU PSU wiki. ST-365 PSU review. Video Card wiki. XP DVB tuner setup. Quiet PC Last edited by snoop_wiggles; 21st November 2004 at 9:53 AM.

20th November 2004, 3:23 PM	#6
Enverxis Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: 3556, VIC Posts: 496	I dont know about the Audigy but for me the SB Live and Audigy LS have no audible sq difference in music, with kernal streaming + foobar 2000 outputting to Sony SS-D105 System. __________________ Intel E6850 @ 3.6GHz @ 1.35v \| Noctua NH-C12P \| Asus P5N-E SLi \| Team Xtreem Dark 2x2GB 1066 @ 800Mhz 4-3-3-9 \| 1GB Sapphire 4890 VaporX \| 120GB Seagate IDE + 1TB Samsung HD103UJ + 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B \| Antec TruePower 2.0 550W \| EMU 0404 \| Logitech MX518 \| IBM Model M Keyboard \| SGI/Sony GDM-FW900 24" Flat CRT \|

20th November 2004, 8:03 PM	#7
ZoLi Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 411	I just started using the KX Project drivers with my Live. I fully recommend also started using Asio Output plugin with foobar. I dont really know how much you would gain by upgrading. at the end of the day your spending more just to get slightly better game experiance. I generally use my PC for Home Theatre/Music listening, does the job well. __________________ Windows Vista Ultimate \| AMD Athlon 3000+ @ 2.3GHZ\| 2GB DDR400 \| Seagate Barracuda 80GB ATA + 320GB SATA \| 6600GT AGP \| Dvico Fusion Plus \| Audigy 4 via Optical - Sherwood RD-6108 - Mordaunt-Short 902i \| DELL 2007WFP \|

21st November 2004, 9:45 AM	#8
Enverxis Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: 3556, VIC Posts: 496	the LS isnt compatible with any softmods of the sort, a waste of money, imo - better to get a live, and softmod it to use EAX 4 :P $40 cheaper too __________________ Intel E6850 @ 3.6GHz @ 1.35v \| Noctua NH-C12P \| Asus P5N-E SLi \| Team Xtreem Dark 2x2GB 1066 @ 800Mhz 4-3-3-9 \| 1GB Sapphire 4890 VaporX \| 120GB Seagate IDE + 1TB Samsung HD103UJ + 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B \| Antec TruePower 2.0 550W \| EMU 0404 \| Logitech MX518 \| IBM Model M Keyboard \| SGI/Sony GDM-FW900 24" Flat CRT \|

22nd November 2004, 9:47 PM	#9
puls3 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Adelaide Posts: 208	how can i undertake this softmod you speak of? __________________ ANTEC/CHIEFTEC CASE OWNERS/MODDERS MEMBER #178

23rd November 2004, 8:53 AM	#10
SnooP-WiggleS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ballarat, Victoria Posts: 2,498	Just gotta download hacked drivers from somewhere. The term softmod is rather misleading actually, it doesn't change the workings of the card itself AFAIK (as compared to unlocking pipes / shaders on graphics cards which does). Oh and an audigy will be better for EAX3/4 than a live due to the more powerful DSP (probably not by much though). __________________ RIG - CPU: Q6600 @ 3.3ghz \| RAM: 2GB 667 \| MOBO: Abit IP35 pro \| GC: xfx 8800gt @700 \| HD: 250gb + 500gb \| Audio: m-audio delta 1010lt -> PA2V2 -> Audio Technica a500 \| Case: Antec Sonata 3 PSU watts and 12V calculator (work in progress - feedback/suggestions welcome) Discussion thread OCAU WIKI's - heres what i've added, what can you add? The OCAU PSU wiki. ST-365 PSU review. Video Card wiki. XP DVB tuner setup. Quiet PC Last edited by snoop_wiggles; 24th November 2004 at 1:04 PM.

24th November 2004, 12:32 AM	#11
puls3 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Adelaide Posts: 208	ok, anyone know where i can download the "hacked" drivers? __________________ ANTEC/CHIEFTEC CASE OWNERS/MODDERS MEMBER #178

24th November 2004, 3:22 PM	#12
stmok (Taking a Break) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,271	I own both the Live and Audigy...The sound difference is noticeable when playing games and listening to music. The Audigy seems fuller and richer, while the Live is more like radio-ish. IF you're an audiophile, its very noticeable. You can do some minor "hacks" to load up Audigy drivers onto a Live, but the latest features of the Audigy line won't be used. Since Live doesn't have them! So, for the most, you get a new GUI to look at and lower CPU usage in games, because the drivers have matured. (while the older Live ones haven't been touched by Creative).

24th November 2004, 6:01 PM	#13
Enverxis Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: 3556, VIC Posts: 496	http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...&page=18&pp=15 http://www.driverheaven.net/showthre...t=45004&page=1 Cheers __________________ Intel E6850 @ 3.6GHz @ 1.35v \| Noctua NH-C12P \| Asus P5N-E SLi \| Team Xtreem Dark 2x2GB 1066 @ 800Mhz 4-3-3-9 \| 1GB Sapphire 4890 VaporX \| 120GB Seagate IDE + 1TB Samsung HD103UJ + 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B \| Antec TruePower 2.0 550W \| EMU 0404 \| Logitech MX518 \| IBM Model M Keyboard \| SGI/Sony GDM-FW900 24" Flat CRT \|