does onboard vs real soundcard really make a big difference on z560?

[Avarice55]

i am using my z560s with 2-channel onboard sound right now on my asus K7v... i sold my old vortex awhile ago when i was using crappy speakers...

im thinking whether or not it is worth 50-60 bucks to buy a new soundcard? i dont really need that 3d positional gaming stuff. i just need to play mp3s really well..

i also have a question: how do 4.1 sound cards deal with 2-channel mp3 files? i understand that the philips acoustic edge can convert the 2-channel into 4?

 

[erikiksaz]

Your setup is like equippinh racing slicks to a stock Pinto. Crappy analogy, but it's true. Get yourself AT LEAST a live-level sound card.

 

[Avarice55]

will i actually here a difference? or will it only give me bells and whistles?

 

[erikiksaz]

There should be a relatively large difference. I'm not sure what the onboard sound chip is, but chances are, it's nothing to get worked up about. The only possibly good onboard soundchip that people have been excited over was the nforce's integrated sound chip.

 

[Adul]

There is a noticable difference. The sound output of a newer sound card is much cleaner sounding.

 

[Avarice55]

how do 4.1 soundcards such as the fortissmo 2 handle 2channel sources (mp3). i mean... when i play mp3s, will the rear speakers have sound coming out?

right now, on my 2.1 srouncard, i have to use m3d to get sound to come out from the rear speakers and it doesnt sound good

 

[Bovinicus]

<< how do 4.1 soundcards such as the fortissmo 2 handle 2channel sources (mp3). I mean... when I play mp3s, will the rear speakers have sound coming out? >>


You have to do research for particular sounds cards to figure that out. You should be able to get sound coming out of the rear channels with just about any card. Of course, some cards probably just reproduce the sounds from the front channel and play them in the rear channel. My SB Live! Value can take advantage of my 4.1 speaker setup when playing MP3s. I hear the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz has some of the best sound quality for playing music, especially for 2.1/4.1 setups. I hear the Phillips Acoustic Edge takes advantage of surround sound setups real nicely.

 

[Avarice55]

<<

<< how do 4.1 soundcards such as the fortissmo 2 handle 2channel sources (mp3). I mean... when I play mp3s, will the rear speakers have sound coming out? >>


You have to do research for particular sounds cards to figure that out. You should be able to get sound coming out of the rear channels with just about any card. Of course, some cards probably just reproduce the sounds from the front channel and play them in the rear channel. My SB Live! Value can take advantage of my 4.1 speaker setup when playing MP3s. I hear the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz has some of the best sound quality for playing music, especially for 2.1/4.1 setups. I hear the Phillips Acoustic Edge takes advantage of surround sound setups real nicely. >>



what do you mean by your sb live taking advantage of 4.1? are the rear speakers just a mirror of the fronts?