Good, Cheap Sound Card

[randumb]

I want to replace my onboard 4 channel sound with something a little better. What is a nice sound card, in the $50-$100 range. (Preferrably nearer $50 🙂)

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Any reason for the upgrade? What do you mean "Better"? 😛

Also, what motherboard?

- M4H

 

[ed21x]

spending up to $100 is not looking for a cheap sound card =) But look around the forums and you'll notice that quite a few people still prefer the good'ol TBSC over the Audigy 2.

 

[randumb]

soyo dragon kt333 lite or whatever. i got 5 channel logitech speakers, so I wanted a better sound card.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Hercules gamesurround fortismo 3

 

[josphII]

cheap would be under $10, for $50-$100 your getting close to top of the line.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: josphII
cheap would be under $10, for $50-$100 your getting close to top of the line.

actually, this is top of the line

 

[MercenaryForHire]

No, that's overkill. 😛

Unless you're watching a lot of DVDs or other DTS/DD encoded material, there's not really a point in going to a 5.1 card over a 4.0. And IIRC, a lot of KT333 boards have 5.1 analog support in the latest drivers. Go update. 😉

- M4H

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'd go for the Audigy 2... I think its $78 with free shipping at newegg and its well worth the money.

 

[randumb]

Hmm...seems to be a lot of opinions. I'll look into the Audigy 2, because I've heard a lot of good things about it.

 

[zodder]

Originally posted by: ed21x
spending up to $100 is not looking for a cheap sound card =) But look around the forums and you'll notice that quite a few people still prefer the good'ol TBSC over the Audigy 2.

Count me in as one of those people. 🙂

 

[Regs]

Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. Sorta wish I had one.

 

[Mem]

Buy OEM version of the Audigy 2,that`ll save you some money and get you a very good sound card.

 

[ronnn]

so where in the forums do I look for info on the turtle beach sound cards. I want a sound card for recording vinyl and games.

 

[Roots]

I got the SB Live! card with a Dell I bought about three years ago, and I just put together a new computer and I bought the same card. I got it for only like $26 I think, and I think it does its job damn well. I don't see any reason to buy these new sound cards, unless you are sporting a 6.1 surround sound system. I just have two speakers and a sub and I can't imagine it sounding any better 😀

 

[alkemyst]

if you don't listen critically at your keyboard (which would also mean a system that is less than 30db and more than likely less than 20db in use) then most soundcards would probably give you decent performance esp. if you are only running 2 speakers.

If recording or processing audio through the card on a 'regular' basis then more variables happen.

I *just* upgraded my MX300 to a Santa Cruz and can't really tell a notice sound quality difference but I do get better compatiblity I think.