Well, with my past problems with my audigy 2, and the fact taht, well, creatives cards are not up to pro standards, I'm now on the prowl for a new, professional sound card, something with some serious sound quality.

I'm looking for something that will support 5.1, if not, thats fine, I can just use my koss k'6 lc headphones.

I'm looking at these:

http://www.audiotrak.net/prodigy7.1LT.htm (cant find them anywhere)

and

http://floridamusicco.com/proddetail~prod~0404sx.htm (which I can find but...) I'm not sure if this would work with 5.1, since it seems to be only 2 channel, but at the same time, a review on toms hardware, showed that they used creatives gigaworks, which are 7.1, so, idk.

Anyone have any opinions, or other choices, remember, sound quality is all I'm looknig for.

I know you don't want to go down the creative road but the X-fi looks sooooooooooooooo sweet!

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/x-fi/

It doesn't look sweet. It is sweet.

I've heard very good things about the audio creation mode, although I've never had reason to try it.

No doubt the other audiophiles will fly down with some suggestions other than soundblaster for you.

I am trying to stay clear of creative, apperently there's a plxcore error upon installation that prohibits my card from working right.

Turns out its also past its EOSL (end of service life) wtf?! who does that, all of my parts have support for life, and they only offer it for a limited amount fo time?!!!!!

audiotrak linkage
http://www.compumusic.com/p31229.htm
http://www.floridamusicco.com/prodde...artner=froogle(the same store you found the other card at)

The audiotrak is cheaper than a creative x-fi so you might as well buy the audiotrak. The other card you listed comes w/ software and is $569. Do you need this? What kind of audio system are you running?

Oh, sry, I'm only going to the card, not the software lol, just using that link as an example.

Yeah, but how much is the card by itself? If it's cheaper than the audiotrak buy it, otherwise I'd stick w/ the audiotrak.

What are you going to be using the card for and w/ what audio components? If you are just listening to music or games on computer speakers you might get the best performance w/ the creative x-fi.

The card itself, I found for 70$ cheapest,

I plan on powering my Logitech z-5500's via optical or coaxial.

I'd go for the audiotrak, imo, since it has optical and can do surround sound for sure. I think the emu has optical but not I'm really sure on surround sound capabilities. Optical is better than coaxial so use that if you can.

However, games don't like digital out w/ surround sound. You will probably still want to use the analog connections when you are playing games in surround sound.

I'm going to keep my audig 2 for gaming, the emu will be for music.

Alright, that works.

So is optical sound better than the regular 3 prong 5.1 plugins, you know, black, green, and orange.

Yes, optical is digital and the colored plugs are analog.

Edit: The only reason I brought up analog is because sound in games doesn't usually work correctly/at all with digital.

Well, I think I've settled on the X-fi Elite, yah, pricey, now lets hope ppl buy from my FS thread

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd Well, I think I've settled on the X-fi Elite, yah, pricey, now lets hope ppl buy from my FS thread

Welcome to the dark side.

Yah, now to get 300$

Wonder why this card is freakin 300$, must be the console it comes with.

what kind of ports are you looking for?

If you have a reciever Turtle beach makes a sweet SPIDF out USB stick (does Dobly Digital, DTS, DSP).
They also make a nice card.

Just the regular 3 prong 5.1, and the big 1/4 connection for my koss headphones.

3-prong? Hmm I dont know what that is, Im running 6.1 with optical out to my Harrmon AVR 135...

Maybe can you say what your whole system is goin to be? Maybe you'd be better off with a nice reciever and a $30 USB SPIDF out?

I've got the X-Fi Elite with the GigaWorks S750 and it is auditory BLISS!!!!

I'm sure there are people who would say that the card is overpriced, and they're right. But, at this moment, I just can't find anything that matches this great soundcard in terms of features + quality.

Games sound SWEET.

Music sounds LUSH

Movies are IMMERSIVE.

Overall, if you can afford it, I would recommend this card.

Unfortunately it doesn't have optical outs, but as was mentioned above, games don't play nice with digital outs.

Good luck on your search/purchase. If you get the Elite you will NOT be sorry. I know I love it.

-hartigan


BTW - 3-Prong means there are three 1/8 in. jacks that supply the connection for your surround channnels.