Soundcard Recommendations

MRZOMBIE · 24-February-06, 10:19 PM

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

BigAkita · 24-February-06, 10:21 PM

Get a Creative X-Finity. The music only card runs around $110 and will give you excellent sound in both music and game applications.

gvblake22 · 11-April-06, 07:52 AM

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).

The Dragon Reborn · 11-April-06, 02:54 PM

X-Fi as a first choice... Anything from an Audigy 2 as a budget choice...

TDR

Ator · 16-April-06, 01:09 PM

I've got an X-Fi Platinum. Absolutely amazing sound quality.

Wafflesomd · 16-April-06, 02:38 PM

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.

z0mbi3 · 18-April-06, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ator


	I've got an X-Fi Platinum. Absolutely amazing sound quality.

Quoted for truth.

godfoot · 18-April-06, 10:06 AM

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

Zaltan · 18-April-06, 11:13 AM

It's all about On-Board sound...

Enigmachine · 20-April-06, 03:56 PM

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

icdpride · 20-April-06, 04:08 PM

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

Fire Hawk · 20-April-06, 04:50 PM

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.

CubanConnectionZ · 20-April-06, 07:42 PM

Just like everyone said a mid level card is a great upgrade to a onboard sound you be able to hear the diffrence.

The Amish Kid · 20-April-06, 07:52 PM

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

Fire Hawk · 20-April-06, 07:57 PM

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.

The Amish Kid · 20-April-06, 09:08 PM

I have the Logitech x-530's. They arent anything special but my room isnt too big so I dont need anything really loud.

CubanConnectionZ · 20-April-06, 09:23 PM

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?

Fire Hawk · 21-April-06, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CubanConnectionZ


	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.

Ator · 25-April-06, 06:10 PM

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

.

FuRI0 · 26-April-06, 04:58 PM

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

24-February-06, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
MRZOMBIE Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 47	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 __________________

24-February-06, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,315	Get a Creative X-Finity. The music only card runs around $110 and will give you excellent sound in both music and game applications. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

11-April-06, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NL Posts: 1,267	X-Fi as a first choice... Anything from an Audigy 2 as a budget choice... TDR __________________

16-April-06, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ator At-Whore Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The ends of the earth Posts: 2,057	I've got an X-Fi Platinum. Absolutely amazing sound quality. __________________ AMD Opteron 146 CAB2E 0540 FPMW @ 3216Mhz 321.6x10 (max OC benchable, 300x10 daily)\| Radeon X1800XT @ 766/900 (stock cooler, 700/800 daily) \|SuperPI 1M: 26.109\| 3DMark05: 11454 \| 3DMark03: 21355 \| 3DMark01: 40456 \| Join Team Ator's F@H FORCE! Click HERE for info! NOW RECRUITING!

18-April-06, 10:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
godfoot A George Orwell fan...sorta Join Date: May 2003 Location: "Truth is not determined by majority vote." Posts: 9,948	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 __________________

16-April-06, 02:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wafflesomd Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,923	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.

18-April-06, 11:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Zaltan Apex Tech God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,394	It's all about On-Board sound... __________________ *E6600 @ 3.6GHz/P5B-Deluxe/TeamXtreem 667MHz 21GB/HD4670**

20-April-06, 03:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Enigmachine Apex Techie Lite Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 43	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

20-April-06, 04:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
icdpride Apex Master Tech Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 248	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 __________________ http://forums.pcapex.com/case_moddin...tml#post515666

20-April-06, 04:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fire Hawk Apex Tech Maniac Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kind Of Near Toronto Posts: 824	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. __________________

20-April-06, 07:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
CubanConnectionZ Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CENTRAL FLORIDA Posts: 2,114	Just like everyone said a mid level card is a great upgrade to a onboard sound you be able to hear the diffrence. __________________ Cue the grumpy old man voice: "Why back in my day, we didn't have 64-bit multi-core chips with gigabytes of ram, And we liked it. ..."

20-April-06, 07:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
The Amish Kid Apex Tech Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 501	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 __________________ AMD Opteron 165 2.25ghz(250 x 9) \| Thermaltake Big Typhoon \| DFI Lanparty Ultra D \| eVGA 7800GT@ 465/1110 \| Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic \| 2GB G. Skill DDR 500 @ 280mhz 3-4-4-8 \| 320gb SATA + 200GB IDE \| 480w Thermaltake Silent purepower \| Thermaltake Tsunami Dream case (Black) \|

20-April-06, 09:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
The Amish Kid Apex Tech Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 501	I have the Logitech x-530's. They arent anything special but my room isnt too big so I dont need anything really loud. __________________ AMD Opteron 165 2.25ghz(250 x 9) \| Thermaltake Big Typhoon \| DFI Lanparty Ultra D \| eVGA 7800GT@ 465/1110 \| Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic \| 2GB G. Skill DDR 500 @ 280mhz 3-4-4-8 \| 320gb SATA + 200GB IDE \| 480w Thermaltake Silent purepower \| Thermaltake Tsunami Dream case (Black) \|

26-April-06, 04:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
FuRI0 Apex Master Tech Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 383	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