Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

Gullible Jones · 2005-02-05 04:07:13

Which should I choose? I've been having a few audio problems, which may (or may not) have something to do with Via's onboard audio... And last time I played a CD, I heard a lot of funny little bubbling noises that definitely should not have been there.

On the other hand, the sound card that I could install - a Creative Labs Ensonique 1371, which I know to be very good - is from a gateway that's got to be at least 5 years old.

Which should I use?

kth5 · 2005-02-05 11:54:35

in my experience the via onboard cards always had better sound output quality than the es1371 which was why i removed it one day but if you have that annoying kind of problem...
i'd recommand the es1371, it even supports the famous mmap stuff in Alsa and OSS as it is used in many games (Quake3, Never Winter Nights, UT2k3 aso.) where the vias do not and need to emulate that using OpenAL etc. which slows down things a lot. i'd go with the es1371.

Gullible Jones · 2005-02-05 16:58:31

Thanks.

Edit: Though I'm not a heavy gamer... Probably the most taxing game I'd ever play would be BZFlag or something like that. So if the output's better, maybe I should stick with onboard audio...

(This is really weird though, these problems. IIRC Via's onboard audio is supported very well on Linux. :? )

kth5 · 2005-02-05 19:50:33

Gullible Jones wrote:

(This is really weird though, these problems. IIRC Via's onboard audio is supported very well on Linux. :? )

it is? err... well, i keep having problems with the mixer of the card on my Asrock K7VM4 mobo... like Master and PCM can only be muted/unmuted and i need to regulate PCM volume using *the second* Via DXS switch... hmm....
well, i can live with that since i get working 5.1 over spdif and much better quality than that of the es1371. the good old ES served me well from my P200MMX up to my late P2-400.

lucke · 2005-02-05 20:29:33

Hym, I have no problems with my VIA - the only quirk is that volume control, mentioned by kth5, but it's just a minor annoyance. Most importantly, sound is clear, without any distortions.

miqorz · 2005-02-06 01:08:47

I have an onboard VIA soundcard and an ES1371 and I would choose my ES1371 over the VIA any day.

The ALSA drivers I've used haven't been up to snuff. Lots of lag, etc.

I'm going to get a high end sound card soon enough though.

Gullible Jones · 2005-02-06 01:23:42

Interesting... I just managed to get it working, I think! Why didn't I remember alsaconf... :oops: Apparently, Hotplug is not enough. And the sound quality is incredible... I thought that the ES1371 was good, but this is freaking amazing.

Edit: nope... Only for CDs. I don't think this is a hardware problem anymore... Anyway, would you guys please look at the "files do not play" thread?

Arch Linux

#1 2005-02-05 04:07:13

Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#2 2005-02-05 11:54:35

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#3 2005-02-05 16:58:31

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#4 2005-02-05 19:50:33

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#5 2005-02-05 20:29:33

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#6 2005-02-06 01:08:47

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

#7 2005-02-06 01:23:42

Re: Via onboard audio or Ensonique 1371?

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