SB X-FI Surround x Audio Advantage SRM

I'm looking for a replacement for my Audigy 2 ZS notebook (I love it but my new notebook doesn't come with PCMCIA) and I found these two soundcards:

Sound Blaster X-FI Surround (SB1090):
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=17751&nav=1

Turtle Beach Audio Advantage SRM:
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/audio-advantage-srm/home.aspx

I didn't find any comparison between those cards or many details of SRM.
SRM is a little more expensive than SB but checking the specs of it ( http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/tb_srm/5.htm) it seems that SB is better.

Did anyone tried both cards or tried SRM ? Which card do you recommend ?

 

I have tried neither card, but the SB should be better because it is made by a more widely used company (Creative), and you will probably get better driver support, EAX and maybe a full equalizer. Again I have tried neither, but I believe that the SB is very good.

-J.B.

 

The sound blaster cards are good, but they are a bit overpriced since audio circuitry is pretty basic.
The quality of the onboard audio may be near to identical to the sound blaster card so if you are just using the laptop for music you can get away with using the integrated audio.
If you are an audiophile, than you may notice a difference in quality with the creative sound card.

K-TRON

 

Yes, I agree with on that point, I've never had any problem with my Audigy 2 ZS, on the other hand I didn't find many information about SRM soundcard...

 

That's the point, I would like to know more information about the chip that the X-FI Surround and that the SRM is using.
On their webpages you can't even get the response frequency information!!

 

Check out the Asus Xonar, ran across it the other day in google.

 

If you are selling the Audigy 2 PCIMA slot with the accessories I'd be interested in buying! =D

 

X-Fi is a much better pick out of these two. Starting from X-Fi technology, which is a separate DSP processing unit, then up to EAX 4.0 support, plus very good driver and software support.

Here are RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.1.2 test results, might be useful



It's not an audiophile soundcard, but in that price range it is the best bang for buck.

 

I hate 2 Creative cards, a Live! 24 bit USB one , and the Xtreme Xi-fi express slot one.
The latter totaly blows the onboard sound away. The USB one also makes a huge difference...

 

I am in the exact same boat as the OP. I also own the Creative Audigy 2 ZS and now my laptop has expresscard.

What would be the best choice?

1) Creative X-fi Extreme notebook
2) USB sound card
i) Turtle beach SRM
ii) Creative x-fi surround 5.2
iii) other....better usb sound card??

 

Just got myself a Creative X-Fi Go (Stereo) USB sound card, here is a small review I wrote. I know this thread is about surround sound cards, but thought maybe some of you might be interested.

I was also considering Sound Blaster X-FI Surround (USB), but over here in Japan, it is around 8000Yen (~$80) which I thought was little too much for a sound card, besides I’m not going to use surround sound speakers, so didn’t really see much of a point in spending additional $40 for 5.1.