Sound Card recommendation

[Dudewithoutapet]

I listen to music, and watch movies with a set of Logitech Z-5300. I play games with a seinhesser(?) head phones (495). What do you guys recommend? SHould I stick with on board? or buy one of ther other two, they cost about the same used and I need help. Thanks.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Can't you just get a Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit and stick with that? It has suited me well over the past year.

 

[Dudewithoutapet]

lol, I never thought about that, well I have but .... idk. I'll think about it again, I mean is it good enough?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Audigy 2 ZS is better for games with the latest EAX support and the faster performance. I really enjoy mine and the drivers are no longer bloated.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Yeah, I'd also go with the Audigy. I loved my Hercules GTXP, however its a dated product - however much better than onboard sound, it was a sweet card for games and still would be pretty good, however don't expect any of the newer technologies that pretty much only newer Creative cards now support (EAX4/5)

 

[Shadow Conception]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Audigy 2 ZS is better for games with the latest EAX support and the faster performance. I really enjoy mine and the drivers are no longer bloated.

Since you have over 20,000 posts, I'll recommend that one, too. I still think you should get the Live! unless you have more than 2 speakers.

 

[InlineFour]

Audigy 2 ZS cards are coming down in prices ever since the release of the X-Fi cards.

 

[imported_Reck]

it's probably best to spend a little more and get an xfi xtreme music. the sq of the a2 is quite mediocre.

 

[Dudewithoutapet]

I was hoping to spend between 30-50, which those two fell on, the xtreme music is around 80-100. And yes I have a 5.1 system so is the Live! no longer recommended?

 

[InlineFour]

If you don't mind non-gaming sound card, take a look at the CHAINTECH AV-710. It's the best sound card in the $30 price range.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Originally posted by: Dudewithoutapet
I was hoping to spend between 30-50, which those two fell on, the xtreme music is around 80-100. And yes I have a 5.1 system so is the Live! no longer recommended?

Recommended, but it would be a bit better to spend a bit more to get an Audigy 2 ZS as it would sound better.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception

Originally posted by: Dudewithoutapet
I was hoping to spend between 30-50, which those two fell on, the xtreme music is around 80-100. And yes I have a 5.1 system so is the Live! no longer recommended?

Recommended, but it would be a bit better to spend a bit more to get an Audigy 2 ZS as it would sound better.

The reason why the Audigy 2 ZS and X-Fi are so expensive because they're gaming cards. Basically, they reduce the load on the cpu and do the processing on the sound card itself. You probably won't even notice the difference.

Another thing you're paying for on gaming cards is EAX. This is multichannel surround sound technology that's only available from Creative and since you have a 5.1 system already, you'll benefit from EAX.

While it seems like Audigy are great sound cards, they are, however, not known for music. The CHAINTECH AV-710 is a better and cheaper alternative. It's about $25 online.

You can look around on ebay for used Audigy 2 ZS if you want under $50.

 

[Shadow Conception]

What's the highest end sound card available?

 

[InlineFour]

Probably one of those BlueGears Soundcard with real time Dolby Digital/DTS decoding.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Probably one of those BlueGears Soundcard with real time Dolby Digital/DTS decoding.

I disagree. Just the fact that it has the DD and DTS ENcoding doesn't mean its the most advanced. Its analog output can't compare to the X-fi extreme music and it is not great with its game support as it doesn't use above EAX 2.0(I think thats the version..would have to double check). In games like battlefield...the sound has to be put into software mode meaning no high end sound effects.

The ONLY reason to get a AUZENTECH X-Plosion is if you have a receiver and don't have/want to connect via 5/6/7.1 analog connections.

 

[Dudewithoutapet]

Hmm thinking about a chaintech av-710, is it good for movies? I know the Audigy 2 ZS is THX certified (w/e that means).

Edit- Oh and thanks everyone. This is quite an amazing amount of help.

 

[imported_Reck]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
What's the highest end sound card available?

xfi elite pro.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Probably one of those BlueGears Soundcard with real time Dolby Digital/DTS decoding.

I disagree. Just the fact that it has the DD and DTS ENcoding doesn't mean its the most advanced. Its analog output can't compare to the X-fi extreme music and it is not great with its game support as it doesn't use above EAX 2.0(I think thats the version..would have to double check). In games like battlefield...the sound has to be put into software mode meaning no high end sound effects.

The ONLY reason to get a AUZENTECH X-Plosion is if you have a receiver and don't have/want to connect via 5/6/7.1 analog connections.

Heh, mixed up my decoding and encoding. Thanks for clearing that up.

He asked for "high end", which seems pretty vague. That's why I mentioned the cards with builtin encoders since they are pretty new and expensive.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: Dudewithoutapet
Hmm thinking about a chaintech av-710, is it good for movies? I know the Audigy 2 ZS is THX certified (w/e that means).

Edit- Oh and thanks everyone. This is quite an amazing amount of help.

You have to realize with your budget, you're limited to the sound cards to choose from. A lot of reviews show that the Chaintech AV-710 is one of the best bang per buck card available. You can google for reviews.

THX is just a marketing tool. Don't be fooled by it.

 

[imported_Reck]

Originally posted by: Dudewithoutapet
Hmm thinking about a chaintech av-710, is it good for movies? I know the Audigy 2 ZS is THX certified (w/e that means).

Edit- Oh and thanks everyone. This is quite an amazing amount of help.

i don't recommend geting the av710 if you are using headphones as it does not have an amplified headphone out. it's quite crappy at driving even low impedance headphones.

edit: :yea if you aren't willing to pay more than 50 bucks then go with the audigy 2.

 

[sniperruff]

a cheap sound card will work. screw the $100 cards. anything's better than on-board.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: InlineFour

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: InlineFour
Probably one of those BlueGears Soundcard with real time Dolby Digital/DTS decoding.

I disagree. Just the fact that it has the DD and DTS ENcoding doesn't mean its the most advanced. Its analog output can't compare to the X-fi extreme music and it is not great with its game support as it doesn't use above EAX 2.0(I think thats the version..would have to double check). In games like battlefield...the sound has to be put into software mode meaning no high end sound effects.

The ONLY reason to get a AUZENTECH X-Plosion is if you have a receiver and don't have/want to connect via 5/6/7.1 analog connections.

Heh, mixed up my decoding and encoding. Thanks for clearing that up.

He asked for "high end", which seems pretty vague. That's why I mentioned the cards with builtin encoders since they are pretty new and expensive.

Not a problem. I was looking in to getting one(I have a receiver and running 6 cables is...ugly...and a pain...but it didn't live up to what I wanted it to do. Its main point would be games...and it just does not have the driver support to work for them...so my Audigy 2 ZS stayed...even though its nothing amazing to me. Glad to see someone reading up past the Creative cards however :thumbsup:

BTW. Bluegears is coming out with a new card this spring based on a more advanced chip than the Auzentech X-Plosion. This is after Bluegears sold the X-mystique line to Auzentech. Should be interesting to look into.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Since you have over 20,000 posts, I'll recommend that one, too.

I hope you were being sarcastic. Don?t base know-how on post count here. 19000 of my posts have been in ATOT, where I walk the fine line between neffing and banning.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Since you have over 20,000 posts, I'll recommend that one, too.

I hope you were being sarcastic. Don?t base know-how on post count here. 19000 of my posts have been in ATOT, where I walk the fine line between neffing and banning.

Cheers Schadenfroh! :beer: