Affordable sound card for music use only (2.1)?

[slackerinabox]

I just broke my soundblaster audigy sound card...Yeah, I'm a freaking idiot (I tugged on my computer while the minijack for the speakers were still plugged in so the audio out jack got serioulsy screwed up)... So what should I replace it with? I only listen to music and never game on the thing but I'm pretty serious about my music listening - I have a yamaha received (analog inputs) hooked up to a subwoofer and two high quality (acoustic research) speakers... So I'd like a soundcard that does VERY good stereo reproduction - any ideas for something affordable? Again, I don't need 5.1 sound or any other bells and whistles - just a sub-$100 (sub-$50 really but I'm trying to be realistic) sound card that has nice, clear, unadulterated sound .
thANX!

 

[slackerinabox]

Anyone know how good the realtek sound cards built into Abit BH7 motherboards are? Testing it right now - not bad but should I just get a decent sound card instead of relying on the integrated soundcards?

 

[Chaotic42]

A really good card for music is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

 

[spanky]

sblive is nice and cheap.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

The sound on the motherboard won't be that bad so I'd give that a try first.

If you still need one, for a nice high quality one if you can go $100, you're basically going to get a high end one but it will come with 5.1. You have a few options:

Audigy 2 OEM - $73
Audigy 2 LS - $63: I have no clue what this is, I just saw it today at newegg.com
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz - $55

Those are three options that stuck out to me, but you can still go with an Audigy 1 as well for a lower price. The Audigy 2 seems to be a favorite right now, but the Santa Cruz has been reccomended by Anand in a few articles throughout the past.

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
A really good card for music is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

And they were less than $10 after rebate.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

For music quality you want a Santa Cruz... SBLive! my ass.

 

[Vette73]

If you want to spend a little mor emoney then get the Turtle Beach. If you are about to upgrade your system get a nForce2 boiard with soundstorm (Abit NF7-S). And if you want a really cheap card that sounds good get a Cmedia 8738 card, they gor for less then $10 at ebay.