best sound card out there?

[yeknomboy]

I haven't been up to date in the past two years on sound....but they haven't advanced a HUGE amount like the other stuff have they?
what is the best card for the money out right now? cause i'll be playing alot of games and music...so good sound makes a difference

thanks!

 

[LilSweetPea]

Originally posted by: yeknomboy
I haven't been up to date in the past two years on sound....but they haven't advanced a HUGE amount like the other stuff have they?
what is the best card for the money out right now? cause i'll be playing alot of games and music...so good sound makes a difference

thanks!

Just a reminder...no point in getting the BEST sound card out there if you don't have the nice speakers to go with it.
Good sound card is not all you need for good sound.

 

[yeknomboy]

well i'm going to get the creative inspire 5.1 speakers. So right now I'm finding a toss up between the creative labs audigy and the hercules gaming theater xp 6.1....
plus, anyone know just how much of a difference the audigy gamer and the audigy mp3+ is?

 

[clicknext]

Gamer and MP3 is just softwear bundle difference. The sound card is the same.

 

[LouPoir]

SBLive - still cant beat it

 

[Trashman]

sweetpea....makes a good point....not sayin its the best one out there, but I picked up an Audigy card....and boy did it make my old crappy speakers sound worse....so then i had to spring for a set of Logitech's Z560's....now i can sit back and enjoy.

 

[clicknext]

There are acceptable 4.1 speaker systems below $100 too... like the Logitech 540, I hear. Good speaker system definately makes a world of difference. In my opinion, good speaker system crappy sound card is better than crappy speakers good sound card.

For sound cards... if you don't wanna spend that much, the SBlive5.1 is not a bad card at all. Or the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

Originally posted by: LilSweetPea

Originally posted by: yeknomboy
I haven't been up to date in the past two years on sound....but they haven't advanced a HUGE amount like the other stuff have they?
what is the best card for the money out right now? cause i'll be playing alot of games and music...so good sound makes a difference

thanks!

Just a reminder...no point in getting the BEST sound card out there if you don't have the nice speakers to go with it.
Good sound card is not all you need for good sound.

she's right. anyways the best are:

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Hercules Game Theater XP
Creative Soundblaster Audigy Series
Phillips Acoustic Edge

 

[yeknomboy]

but the Hercules Game Theater XP has external things to help control it beter than the Creative Soundblaster Audigy Series. Would that make it better or just more hassle?

 

[clicknext]

I think you should decide that for yourself. Think about it... do you need those features? Would those features be actually useful to you or just another space waster to keep that lonely minidisc player company?

 

[holdencommodore]

I like the Philips Acoustic Edge..... however you may want to check out 3d Sound Surge for some reviews.

Cheers

 

[f4u57]

Think w/e you want guys, but since purchasing an Audigy and a set of Klipsch 2.1's there's no turning back. Get yourself a nice setup and the latest drivers and you'll soon fing yourself not wanting to turn off your comp for ph34r of interrupting your mu51k.

W/e you buy, make sure it suits your needs and b3 h4ppy with it. My bro cant decide on much but when he does itz 1337.
BTW, full sound + MOHAA +Stalingrad + LAN = scary : crouch, sneak *wind blows*, sneak, BANG!!! .....dead

Can't beat it.

-p34c3 0u7
-f4u57

 

[yeknomboy]

out of the audigy series.....
is there a HUGE difference between audigy mp3+/gamer and a audigy platinum?

 

[Piano Man]

I suggest you get something that has true 24/96kHz support and that can play games. That would be the Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96. Great sound plus it supports A3D1.0/2.0 and EAX 1.0/2.0. I've been using it for 3 months, and it hasn't let me down yet.

 

[NEVERwinter]

My suggestions are:
- SB Live! DE 5.1
- TB Santa Cruz <--- good price/performance
- Game Theatre XP
- Phillips Acoustic Edge <--- better for music I guess
- SB Audigy
- Terratec DMX 24/96 <--- i think it's the best

yah... it's up to you

 

[Evilmage]

I just got a set of z560s. My old sound card doesn't support 4 speakers. Now tell me this. It it better to spend 30 bucks for a sound blaster live 5.1? or 60 bucks for an audigy?

 

[clicknext]

If money isn't an issue for you, I'd say go all the way for an Audigy. But if you'd like to save as much as you can, SBLive5.1 ain't a bad card at all. Also consider the cards that neverwinter suggested.

 

[yeknomboy]

I just ordered a santa cruz
anyways, I went by best buy today to listen to some of the speakers that they had on display to give me a good idea on what to match with the card.
the creative speakers disapointed me.....
and I didn't get a chance to listen to the z-560s cause they had some connection issues. so the only thing I got to hear was the altec lansing(i forgot the model, but its the one with the little remote connected to it)
any suggestions on a good set of speakers around $150 range?
thanks!

 

[clicknext]

I listened to the z-560's yesterday and they were amazing. Of course I have heard nothing of the same league to compare it with, so my opinion might not matter that much. One thing is for sure, though, and that's that they're good. Reviews have said they're on par with the Klipsch Promedias. Z-560's around $160 at newegg, I think.

 

[TheWart]

I'd go with the Phillips Acoustic Edge....it is an amazing card.

 

[samajm]

good deal here...turtle beach santa cruz for $42 shipped! missed this one by 2 weeks. i could've saved $20 bucks.

Santa Cruz

this card is very nice...got it and a set the Altec Lansing 221 speakers/subwoofer and it sounds awesome.

 

[yeknomboy]

got the santa cruz from buy.com. Just hope that the z-560s that I'm going to order will be a good match!
what have yall put speakers wise with your santa cruz?

 

[4fingerwu]

Its coming up as 67.95 at buy.com
4Finger

 

[supertle]

 

[supertle]

As for speakers,

This is what I think about speakers. They are something that hold their value. They're not like computers where your computer is outdated in about 2-3 years or even faster! I think the same way for monitors too. CRT Monitors held their value pretty good until LCD came out in huge numbers in the last year or so. So what I suggest is buy the best speaker system there is. This is an item you should not skimp out on. Don't be cheap and settle. Buy something that you can enjoy and keep for 10+ years. I went with the TB Santa Cruz and the Klipsch 5.1 6 speaker system. At buy.com u can get the Santa Cruz for $41.80 and at buyxtremegear.com you can get the Klipsch 5.1 for $338 shipping included. It may sound like a lot of money, believe me it's worth it.