Audigy vs A7N8X Nforce

Is the nforce soundstorm better then audigy sound card. I don't care about my system performace, but the sound quality.

If you want quality, I can make several recommendations, but first I would like to know what you need this soundcard to do, and what you will be using it for.

Gaming?

Music?

Home Theatre?

Recording/mixing?

Hooking up to a pre-amp, or home stereo?

Hooking up to a professional audio system (ie: DJ, sound studio, etc.)?

What are your needs? Frankly, if you demand quality at all costs, neither will suffice.

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528

The the Revo 7.1 would be your best bet. It provides far superior 44.1khz sampling to the audigy2. The audigy2 resamples all audio less than 48khz back to 48khz, which causes severe sound quality loss. As far as I know, the Revo 7.1 does not do this. It also has a flatter sound stage, so that instead of sounding like you're at a live concert (like the Audigy2), it puts you right on stage. Personally, I'm getting the Revo 7.1 because I want the higher quality it offers over the Soundstorm I have onboard already, in addition to the fact that it's $100 less than the Audigy2 platinum (was thinking remote would be a good idea, but it apparently doesn't work with anything than the creative software, so I'm just going to get an ATI AIW 9700 pro . I'll just use the onboard for monitoring my headphones when DJing.

M-Audio 4EVR!!!!

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528

I'd still say the Revo would smoke the Soundstorm, because the revo has a better sound processor. It does do realtime 7.1 decoding. The Revo has it all. I'm picking one up next week or so, maybe even tomorrow! I'll let you know which one I like more. Most likely the revo, because I'm an audiophile ;-)

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528

I really can't comment. Given that most sites I've been to give this card an amazing grade (and these aren't run-of-the-mill review sites, mind, these are high-end audiophile magazines making the reviews), I would attribute it to more of a glitch than anything. I mean, look at the paper specs in comparison to the Audigy2, it even beats that out (and beats it out in test scenarios as well, about half the time). I mean, one site compared it to it's big brother, the Delta Dio. That is one of the best solutions on the market, second only to the RME Digi series, IMO.

So, in all fairness, I believe that the Revo is still a better solution, especially considering creative's compatibility issues of the past, and the revo's are supposed to be as refined as the come, and the absolutely massive software package it comes with (games, dj and studio software, the works!)

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528