Recommend me a sound card!

[weirdwaldo]

Tired of dealing with the onboard Realtek sound of my A8N5X mobo, most recently being unable to get 5.1 output to my home theater.

So, not knowing whats out there nowadays, I need a sound card.

Requirements are:

-Vista x64 compatible
-PCI (I dunno, there such a thing as an agp soundcard?)
-5.1 DTS with either digital (the rca plug kind) or optical out
-Under $100, the cheaper the better to be honest, price is a factor
-Good sound quality always a plus

So should I just get any old creative labs soundblaster 2009 or whatnot? Is there a cheaper, better brand of card out there?

Thanks much

Weirdwaldo

 

[Modelworks]

I really like auzentech.
It meets your requirements and is a great card.
http://www.auzentech.com/site/...s/x-plosion_cinema.php
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829156006

Same card , a bit cheaper, you cannot change opamps on this card though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829271001

 

[jamesbond007]

If you don't mind used or the Creative lineup, I saw a Creative X-Fi Extreme Music for $22 shipped yesterday in FS/FT. Seems like a bargain if you're in the market for one.

 

[mmntech]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
I really like auzentech.
It meets your requirements and is a great card.
http://www.auzentech.com/site/...s/x-plosion_cinema.php
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829156006

Same card , a bit cheaper, you cannot change opamps on this card though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829271001

Any card using the C-Media CMI8770 chipset is pretty much recommended given that EAX is on the way out.

Just thinking out loud but doesn't it seem odd that there don't seem to be any sound cards that support Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio. Just the Xonar but I hear it's not perfect. I guess they expect everybody to be using HDMI pass-through.