The configuration
interface/applets have received a make over and feel
strongly influenced by Windows XP’s interface. Unlike the
Audigy, the configuration utilities aren’t all located in
Audio HQ, rather separate via the Start Menu. Here’s the new
look of the Surround Mixer, which allows you to adjust the
volume level for various channels.
The EAX Console,
Speaker Settings & Diagnostics applets can be access using
the icons to the right of the Default button. Next up
there’s the Speaker Settings applet.
Beyond allowing you
to select an appropriate output mode it provides an access
point to the Speaker Calibrator and bass management options.
As you can see icons are available in each applet allowing
you to switch back & forth with ease through the various
applets.
In consequence
however, Audio HQ’s role has been diminished, both Device
Controls & EAX Control Panel remain basically unchanged from
those with the Audigy drivers except for Dolby Digital
decoding support (covered in detail later on).
Overall the drivers
seemed perfectly stable during the evaluation; the new
interface worked well with available help if you were to
need it, and of course, there’s also our Audigy 2 section in
the
Soundcard
Tweak guide which is a must read for owners.
24-Bit/96kHz
The Audigy 2 features
high quality
Cirrus
Logic CS4832 DACs, a considerable improvement
over the Audigy and Extigy.
The Audigy 2 is
indeed a more capable card when it comes to 24/96, it can
actually playback & record such sources without resampling
with a notable caveat to this when the effects engine comes
into the scene; the Effects Engine of the Audigy 2 still
works at 48kHz meaning that resampling will occur
in such occasions. While this isn’t particularly stated
anywhere in the documentation, it’s sort of poorly half
hinted in the Speaker Calibrator.
This sort of
ambiguity clearly isn’t of much benefit to anyone and it’s a
shame it hasn’t been better explained by Creative.
Thankfully though, CosmoKramer over the 3DSS forums has
spent some time testing this feature with his results
posted here
and instructions on how to get resampling-free playback at
those rates. In other words, while the Audigy 2 clearly is a
more capable 24/96 soundcard than it’s predecessors it’s
still not quite there yet.
You can read full system specifications
on next page, if you want to skip that,
click here.
