Sound Blaster Audigy 2
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Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is a PCI sound card from Creative Technology. It is an add-on board for PCs.
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[edit] Overview
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (September 2002) featured an updated EMU10K2 processor, sometimes referred to as EMU10K2.5, and had an audio transport (DMA engine) that could support playback at 24-bit precision up to 192 kHz (2-channel only. 6.1 limited to 96 kHz) and recording at 24-bit precision up to 96 kHz, thereby overcoming the single biggest criticism of its predecessor. However, the DSP again was limited to 16-bit at 48 kHz, so all DSP effects had to be disabled to prevent harmful resampling.
The Audigy 2 supported up to 6.1 speakers and had improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over the Audigy (106 vs. 100 decibels (A)). It also featured built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (which is technically 7.1) decoding for improved DVD play-back. A IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connector was present in all modifications except Value.
Audigy 2's 3D audio capabilities received a boost when compared to its predecessors. Creative created the EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD standard to coincide with Audigy 2's release. The chip again can process up to 64 DirectSound3D audio channels in hardware. It also has native support for the open-source OpenAL audio API.
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS, improved upon the Audigy 2 by having a slightly improved signal-to-noise ratio (108 vs. 106 dB) and added built-in DTS-ES (Extended Surround) for improved DVD playback. The Audigy 2 ZS supported up to 7.1 speakers (although the 4.1 speaker configuration was still in reality only 4.0; a dedicated low-frequency-effects channel output was only available with 5.1 and higher, requiring the presence of a centre speaker).
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value was a somewhat stripped down version of the Audigy 2 ZS, with an SNR of 106 dB, no IEEE-1394 Firewire connector, and no DTS-ES 6.1 playback. It is, however, fully hardware accelerated for Directsound and EAX 4 and was sold as a cheaper companion for the more expensive ZS.
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 SE
This card is similar to the Audigy SE and Live! 24-bit edition in that it does not have a hardware DSP as part of the audio chip. As such it puts far more load on the host system's CPU. The card is physically smaller than other Audigy 2 cards. It is designed as an entry-level budget sound card.
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCMCIA
A cardbus version of Audigy 2 ZS was also created in Fall 2004, for the notebook market. It had nearly all of the capabilities of the PCI edition, but in a far smaller form factor. Reductions in capability included somewhat limited MIDI capability (compared to the PCI version) and the loss of Firewire. It was the first gaming-oriented sound hardware addon board for notebooks that offered full hardware acceleration of 3D audio along with high-fidelity audio output quality. The card struggled with compatibility due to quality issues with the cardbus host chipsets in many notebooks of the time, a problem also suffered with other companies products, such as Echo Digital Audio Corporation's Indigo product.
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX was an external USB soundcard, supporting 24 bit playback, but with no DSP chip.
[edit] Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor was an external USB soundcard, which combined audio playback, accelerated video editing and a 4-port USB 2.0 hub in one solution. It featured accelerated video encoding with DoMiNoFX video processing technologies. The audio system provided THX® certified sound and 24-bit EAX ADVANCED HD™ in 5.1 or 7.1 surround.
[edit] See also
- Sound Blaster
- Creative Labs Model Numbers - Resource of all Creative model numbers. Good for board indentification.
