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Sound Cards Soundcard help.

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Old 24-February-06, 10:19 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Soundcard Recommendations

I am running a Soyo KT880 with Built in Realtek 8 Channel audio but have noticed some clipping in the sound. I am thinking about disabling onboard and going with a stand alone PCI card. Any suggestions as to what would be a good replacement. Trying not to spend more than $200
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Old 24-February-06, 10:21 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Get a Creative X-Finity. The music only card runs around $110 and will give you excellent sound in both music and game applications.
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Old 11-April-06, 07:52 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAkita
Get a Creative X-Finity. The music only card runs around $110 and will give you excellent sound in both music and game applications.

Agreed. I have the X-Fi XtremeMusic and it is very nice (read my review here). The Auzentech Xplosion looks like pretty nice too and would be worth a look. It's prettymuch the new, updated Xmystique with some extra features I think (Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect). Has native digital optical and S/PDIF out too (not sure what your speaker system is like).
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Old 11-April-06, 02:54 PM   #4 (permalink)
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X-Fi as a first choice... Anything from an Audigy 2 as a budget choice...

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Old 16-April-06, 01:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I've got an X-Fi Platinum. Absolutely amazing sound quality.
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Old 16-April-06, 02:38 PM   #6 (permalink)
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I just have an audigy 2 value, nothin special, but trust me, goin from anboard to even a low end card such as mine, there's a huge difference.

I used my Adit duaghter sound card taht came with my Fatal1ty mobo (piece a junk). Half the ports didnt work, and the ones taht did, were misslabeled. But I have the Logitech z-530's, I think they are good, only 50$ on newegg, they have to be the best budget speakers ever. Very good highs and lows. When I got my audigy 2 value, I noticed that bass was more clear, and handled much better. Just a much better overall sound quaility

X-fi, since everyone else reccomends it.
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Old 18-April-06, 05:11 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ator
I've got an X-Fi Platinum. Absolutely amazing sound quality.

Quoted for truth.
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Old 18-April-06, 10:06 AM   #8 (permalink)
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While I agree that Creative makes good cards, I still believe their drivers are their worst problem.
If any of you ever find yourself wishing you had different ones, do yourself a favor and check out kX Project
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Old 18-April-06, 11:13 AM   #9 (permalink)
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It's all about On-Board sound...
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Old 20-April-06, 03:56 PM   #10 (permalink)
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MRZOMBIE, you didn't say if you use the sound primarily for music or primarily for listening to music. it can make a difference price/featurewise.

Gamer cards support all 3D sound modes, EAX and all that shiznit, but for my HTPC I use a Chaintech AV710. It's about 30$ can, you get 7.1 sound and can apparently output bit-perfect, but it's no good for gaming as you don't have all the fancy extras. But it's pretty cheap for the sound quality.

So make sure you know what you want
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Old 20-April-06, 04:08 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
and ive got one if you want it for like 80
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Old 20-April-06, 04:50 PM   #12 (permalink)
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For the best possible sound go with an X-Fi. They're expencive like there's no tomorrow, but they're supposed to sound amazing.
I have a Creative Audigy 2 Value (X-Fi's have no Linux support, yet). It has an emu10k1 chipset and sounds excellent. It cost about $30 CND, too.
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Old 20-April-06, 07:42 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Just like everyone said a mid level card is a great upgrade to a onboard sound you be able to hear the diffrence.
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Old 20-April-06, 07:52 PM   #14 (permalink)
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I have the x-fi xtreme music and I love it. I think when I got mine a few moths ago it was around $120 but it sounds awesome. Everything is much clearer soundsing. It also makes camping in cs a lot easier
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Old 20-April-06, 07:57 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Amish Kid
I have the x-fi xtreme music and I love it. I think when I got mine a few moths ago it was around $120 but it sounds awesome. Everything is much clearer soundsing. It also makes camping in cs a lot easier

What speakers do you have? Id love to hear one of those in person. Id really love to hear one connected to something like a NAD amplifier.
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Old 20-April-06, 09:08 PM   #16 (permalink)
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I have the Logitech x-530's. They arent anything special but my room isnt too big so I dont need anything really loud.
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Old 20-April-06, 09:23 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire Hawk
What speakers do you have? Id love to hear one of those in person. Id really love to hear one connected to something like a NAD amplifier.

How do you hook up a pc to this?



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Old 21-April-06, 03:22 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Quote:
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How do you hook up a pc to this?




Im prettie sure it can be easily done with some adapters. I think 3.5mm audio jacks to composite jacks (I think theyre called composite). Its basically connecting your PC to your stereo or home theater.
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Old 25-April-06, 06:10 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire Hawk
Im prettie sure it can be easily done with some adapters. I think 3.5mm audio jacks to composite jacks (I think theyre called composite). Its basically connecting your PC to your stereo or home theater.

Of course, you can always use the coaxial SPDIF .
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Old 26-April-06, 04:58 PM   #20 (permalink)
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meh your all lucky gits

i have been using onboard simply for the fact i cant afford a seperate card

in saying that i have a sound blaster live 5.1 sitting about somewhere must hoke it out

pity im using a 7.1 set of speakers

only got myself a GigaWorks 7.1 S750 set to run on onboard sound

anyone wana donate me a x-fi