Most people want the best sound card....NOT I

[Electronics4Life]

I want the CHEAPEST sound card with digital out. I'd prefer optical but SPDIF will do. I do ZERO gaming. The most sound I hear out of my speakers is the ticks of me clicking in windows. ) I just purchased a video card with tv out and I would like to send some sound to my home theater reciever with that video. Any suggestions?

 

[RaiderJ]

Try looking at the Philips Acoustic Edge, or one of it's counterparts. I know they are under $100, and cheaper depending on the model. It has analog 6-channel output and SPDIF. It's a great card for under $100

 

[Electronics4Life]

WOWsers. $100 cheap? That is about 3-4x the amount I was hoping to spend.

 

[AGodspeed]

<< Try looking at the Philips Acoustic Edge, or one of it's counterparts. I know they are under $100, and cheaper depending on the model. It has analog 6-channel output and SPDIF. It's a great card for under $100 >>



RaiderJ, he asked for the cheapest sound card, not top of the line. You can get an SB Live card for like $25. I suggest you do a search at pricewatch.com though.

If you're going to do any type of gaming in the future, don't use this card. Since you don't game though, you won't have to worry about that.

 

[Muerto]

Why not just get an SB Live! value? They're only $50 here in Canada so they'd probably be around $30 in the US, maybe less. They give great sound at a cheap price (with digital output). And if you ever do feel like gaming then you're good to go.

 

[flood]

Hercules Fortissimo I/II?

 

[Electronics4Life]

I've heard that the Live cards have "issues" with Windows XP. Although I'm not currently using Windows XP, I might be in the near future. With that being said what do you guys think about these 2 cards for the price. Sorry I don't know how to link. But I'm going to try

Sound card from Mwave for 25 bux plus shipping

Hercules Fortissimo II for 32 bux plus shipping, sorry there are no specs, the webpage was down
The Hercules is from Newegg.com
SO are there really major issues with the Live cards and Windows XP?

 

[stuck4life]

AOpen 744 is probably the cheapest with digital output, I'm *guessing* that its around $30US (I live in Australia)

I've got the Fortissimo 2, but the digital output doesn't work right at all...and it isn't just my card. It's around $50US

 

[Electronics4Life]

Anyone else have problems with the Hercules Fortissimo II? I was actually leaning more towards it because it was not so "generic". I thought the aopen was more generic. Hmm...

 

[hkazemi26]

I have been using a SB live Platinum with WInXP Pro for a few months now and I have never had a problem.

HK

 

[LXi]

I wouldnt call the Fort2 a generic soundcard... I had one and it worked very well, I like it more than SBLive!. But It's $60 retail, probably a bit out of your reach. The cheapest with digital out, is probably the Zoltrix Nightingale Pro 6, but the availability is almost non-existent. The AOpen 744 is also a good option, but it's Yamaha sound processor is rather sub-par compare to C-media and CirrusLogic.

 

[Electronics4Life]

So your optical output worked just fine? I just don't want to get a card that didn't work like that one guy was saying. I can get the Hercules Fortissimo II for 32bux oem. Do i really need retail?

 

[flood]

my vote goes for the fortissimo II

 

[LXi]

The retail comes with some nice full versoin software like DVD player and such, you probably wont need them.

 

[Electronics4Life]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I went ahead and got the Hercules Fortissimo II OEM. I already have the software so i should be set. THANK YOU ALL!