SB Audigy 2 vs. ESI Wavelab 192L & M-audio

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-- SB Audigy 2 vs. ESI Wavelab 192L & M-audio

Posted by jammer42777 on Jul-13-2003 20:05:

SB Audigy 2 vs. ESI Wavelab 192L & M-audio

I have a few questions, I am considering getting a Soundblaster Audigy Platinum, becuase it seems to deliver high quality sound for a good price, and all of the connectors that I need.
I have compared it to the ESI wavelab 192L and some baseline m-audio cards.
Is the audigy a good quality card (and respected amongst the DJ community)or would I be better off getting an M-audi or a waveterminal card?
Based on sound clarity would the sb-audigy be a good choice (vs. the other cards)
Also if you have any S/N answeres for INPUT on the audigy let me know.
If you have any good or bad experiences with these cards, please let me know.

Essentially I need to know if I can use the audigy as a professional sound card or if I should go with a different card
Thank you for your help.
--Joshua

Posted by DjJade on Jul-13-2003 22:06:

the audigy is a good home/gaming use card but if youre gonna record get an m-audio. its quality is much better..the only way i can discribe it is that its much smoother and more natural sounding.

the only problems that i have had is that the jacks on the back of the card wore out pretty fast. i have only had it for a year and the connections are loose. i only use it for playback and gaming. but for recording, i think m-audio is the way to go. plus the audiophile 2496 is only like 150 dollars... its not too much more than an audigy card.

Posted by DJ Chrono on Jul-14-2003 02:35:

I also suggest you go with M-Audio.

The audigy is built more for gaming and general home PC use, while the M-Audio cards are actually designed for professional recording.

I own a M-Audio Delta 44 and I couldnt be happier with it.

Posted by hapamoto on Jul-14-2003 03:48:

yah.. i actually have the audigy 2 platinum, and i thought it would be great cuz of the front mount rack of plugs and all the connectors, but u can get a front panel for most other cards as well, or even get a generic one and hook it up. I agree w/ the guys above, i've never used an m-audio card (although i have a m-audio radium keyboard/midicontroller, not quite the same thing though heheh) anyways, as i was saying, the audigy 2 is definetly more a gaming/pc/media card. the rca jacks in the front don't realy provide any advantage over a stereo 1/4" or 1/8" jack u could plug to ur line in to the back of any regular card. it does have the spdif inputs and the optical inputs for you if u are going to record digitally, but i haven't done this because i don't have a digital out on my mixer, but i do use the optical outs to record on to MD from the audigy but thats not a big deal. and im not even using the midi in/out ports on the front panel cuz its easier for me to just plug in my keyboard using USB cable. Now I'm not a gamer, and I don't watch movies on my pc (cuz i burn 'em to vcd and watch it on a regular tv) so essentially i have 5.1 thx certified surround sound that i don't use, well i use it but only cuz its there, i'm actually planning on moving my altec lansing speakers to my living room and get a pair of monitors. the point of my rambling is that I believe i wasted money on the functionality of this card, not that its crappy, I just have no use for the potential it has because im not a gamer and I don't intend on making my PC the ultimate multimedia center. i say ur better off getting a card thats designed to do what you want it to do.. but hey, if u play games i've heard that it kicks ass, i wouldn't kno tho cuz i never played a game w/ this card. hope this helps.. although i must admit the remote control is cool, cuz u can turn off ur pc w/ it.. i'd still use the remote if i knew where it was hahaha.

Posted by DjJade on Jul-14-2003 04:05:

i use the remote every now and then..its nice when you have a girl over : P the 5.1 card i use becuasei have a sub...so the .1 channel goes to the sub. so my mixer main output is connected to the audigy card, record out is connected to the audiophile...and booth out is connected to my speakers only so i record without the sub with the booth output of my mixer, and when im spinning for people i use the main output so there is full bass and everything. i also play games so the eqpresets and the effects are cool.

Posted by Breeze on Jul-14-2003 16:57:

i recently brought the SB audigy platnium and i started to record my mixes and burn them to cd i must say it was very clear and the sound was good. i dunno much about computers and stuff but im happy.

Posted by IspI on Jul-14-2003 20:20:

i agree with everybody else, the SB cards are good for normal use, but its better to get soemthing alittle higher quality. i ahve a SB live 5.1 (predecessor to the audigy) the connectors on the PCI card are too close together for well insulated cables, and they doo wear out quickly. not too many features that make it worth the money. all sound cards have a 1/8" line in, so you can record on jsut about any soundcard, but overall i wouldnt recomend the creatives for production use. Good luck

Phil