Soundcard Comparison Question (mp3 playback)

[elfnumber1]

I've been hearing that the Soundblaster series aren't actually that great despite there share in the market. People have been saying that the Turtle Beach or even the Philips was given quite better reviews.

How are the Hercules GTXP's? I can find that setup with external control for about ~$60. How do these stack up? Thanks.

elf

 

[HouRman]

You gotta be kidding me, external control GTXP for $60.

Go get that, I spent $140 on mine and thought that was justifiable. I use it for my HTPC and it works great as a prepro.

 

[elfnumber1]

Yeah it's a employee purchase program through Best Buy on Hercules items. Anyhow, I just wanted to know if it was a good soundcard. I really don't want to spend anymore money on this stinkin' computer since I just bought a new monitor that cheap-o $50 compaq 17" after MIR. Then I gotta get a new keyboard and a surge. So that's almost another $100. Well I exaggerate of course.

Then road runner is coming in a few days and that's another $50. Oh if anyone doesn't know, time warner will let you pay a year advance payment and take 10% off which makes it approx. $40/month. That's pretty hot I guess (though this isn't hot deals).

But this soundcard the GTXP is a good one and is recommended if I were to get another soundcard? Thanks for the advice guys.

elf

 

[jcmkk]

Well, the GTXP is a good sound card. It uses the same sound processor as the Santa Cruz. Phillips makes good cards. Their Acoustic Edge is nice. The reason that a lot of people are talking bad on creative cards is because of the "hate the man on top" syndrome. They do have pretty crappy drivers, but if you mess around enough, you can get them to work right. They are good cards when you get them to work. If you checked out the system rigs of most people in these forums, then you'd notice that most have a Soundblaster Audigy, or a different model creative card.

 

[RanDum72]

Well, if music playback is important, then look no further than what you have right now. Cards based on the Crytsal soundFusion chipset (GTXP's, Fortissimo II, Santa Cruz) is generally regarded to be better in MP3 and music plaback than Creative cards.