Definitive answer on Ep 8rda+ audio

[Bigjakkstaffa]

I keep hearing massively differing things on this, as far as i was aware the audio on this board is in fact as the soundstorm hardware (info i got here @ sysopt if i remember rightly) - said to be equal to audigy 2 but is lacking 6.1 support as standard and as such failed to make the certification standard.

Other sites tell me its 'the dreaded crappy AC97 codec and it su><00rz' well as far as i can tell it performs better than my Sblaster PCI512... but seriously, does anyone have THE DEFINITIVE answer as to wehter this really is (more or less) Soundstorm audio, or something much more lowly.

Cheers

--Jakk:t

[Rocketmech]

The 8RDA+ comes with everthing to get Soundstorm quality sound , except it doesn't ship with the SPDIF addon to make it officially certified Soundstorm.
The 8RDA+ uses the Realtek ALC650E codec, but only use for digital to analog conversion. 6.1 is still available. So, if you have analog speakers it will use the Realtek codec, but with Digital speakers its not needed.

http://www.8rdafaq.com/8RDA/index.php , checkout the audio tab.

I'll atest to its better than Audigy1, with analog speakers. :) Equal to Audigy2? I dont know...:rolleyes:

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Yeah thats exactly the info i had, but kept reading all these reviews which ignorantly slagged it off as having 'crappy onboard AC97', indeed i knew it wasnt 'crappy' given the fact it pans my Soundblaster.

As for the issue of soundstorm vs audigy 2 theres a showdown at firingsquad and in conclusion both recieve the same score

--Jakk:t

[Rocketmech]

This standoff was with analog or digital? got a link?

[Rocketmech]

Ah, found the article.:)

I see your point, they claim "..the nForce doesn’t even have 6.1 output, but the Dolby Digital ICE means that you can have the 6.1/7.1 processing done on your receiver."
I have analog speakers like most folks, and 5.1 speakers. So, cant say about 6.1 or 7.1 , I'll take their word for it, that it wont work in analog. But I wonder if they're speaking of the Nforce or Nforce2?

[Bigjakkstaffa]

I think it would be the nforce 2, the nf original was prolly a bit early for the Audigy 2. As for me im still stuck in good old 2.0 stereo so all that new fangled-ness dont bother me.

I am thinking of goign for some 5.1 speakers soon though, i was wondering if i were to buy analogue ones would they just plug straight into the soundcard or do i need any other new fangles bits of kit (im not up on speakers AT ALL)

Cheers

--Jakk:t

[Rocketmech]

For 5.1 analog , there's 3 minijacks to plug in, front, back, center/sub . The audio link above shows the 6-channel speaker setup.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Ah, i get it now, cheers mate :t

--Jakk:t

[$1500-P4 gamer]

The reason it got no SS certification is #1 no spdif included
#2 it doesnt have amped audio output. Only line-out. Neither will effect its use-or quality for gaming, audio playback or anything else. Heck mine is amped-but I dont even use that. I have 5.1 surround, so what good is it? I have the spidf-but no spidf device to plug into it! So again what dif. did it make other than prolly making it cheaper on you $.:D

[Bigjakkstaffa]

im thinking of maybe getting a set of these to compliment it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008O0U4/ref%3Dbr%5Flf%5Fce%5Fh%5F%5F17/026-5854914-5961233

--Jakk:t

[BipolarBill]

It just so happens that I have a leftover SPDIF bracket from my MSI Ultra-ARU. Fits good too...

:D

[ichorid]

hey jakk, those u found r a brilliant price for 5.1, but if uve got the money these (http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?refer=pricegrabber.com&id=905) really are the best

[Bigjakkstaffa]

*Chokes on own tongue whilst reading price tag*

:eek:

Far too much for me, plus they'll probably be about 1.5x more expensive here in the Great Kingdom of United Britain

Jusging by the price of the Videologics, the reviews and the fact im only in an eeeny peeny spare room they should be fine for me

--Jakk:t