onboard sound sucks, which card do i buy?

[SonicIce]

I have the Sennheiser HD-497's which I use for playing games, like HL2 and farcry and ut2004, and listening to cds and mp3s. when i listen do a song on my computer with the realtek soundcard on my epox 8kda3j motherboard, it sounds high pitched and is lacking any sort or bass. when i listen to the same song on my portable cd player or boombox with the phones, it sounds much better. i tried messed with equalizer and have latest drivers and all sorts of stuff. i think a new soundcard will fix this. what is the best soundcard for my needs thats cheap? chaintech av-710? i know it doesn't accelerate games like a creative card but i dont have $70 to spend on an audigy 2 zs. or would it really be worth $70? thanks for any help 🙂

 

[SonicIce]

weeee

 

[Brian48]

I have the AV-710 in my second box. I need it primarily for the optical out. It sounds great with music, but when it comes to gaming, I actually prefer my old Fortissimo III over it (which is the card the AV-710 replaced). Of course, when it comes to games, my A2 walks all over it.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

You could try a http://www.pcimicro.com/.sc/ms/dd/10673...ve%21%2024-bit%20PCI%20Sound%20Card%20]Sound Blaster Live[/URL] ($27). You're not going to be able to get much better unless you spend upwards of $100.

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: Brian48
I have the AV-710 in my second box. I need it primarily for the optical out. It sounds great with music, but when it comes to gaming, I actually prefer my old Fortissimo III over it (which is the card the AV-710 replaced). Of course, when it comes to games, my A2 walks all over it.

how about the improvement over onboard? do you use speakers or phones? what is this about high sample rates 96khz with the rear speakers or something?

I dont need surround sound right now, just quality stereo.

 

[feelingshorter]

there was an anandtech article on it just recently about this. Their advice would be the chaintech.

 

[Penth]

Don't mean to threadjack but this is pretty much on topic. I have a HTPC using onboard sound from a DFI nForce 3 (754 board). I use analog cables to run it into my receiver but it is very quiet. I have to turn the sound on the computer all the way up, and the receiver like 85% for it to be loud enough. I have a lot of hiss when it's this loud. What is a good card for doing music and movies. Absolutely no gaming on this computer.

 

[PurdueRy]

look at M-audio cards if you care about SQ

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: Penth
Don't mean to threadjack but this is pretty much on topic. I have a HTPC using onboard sound from a DFI nForce 3 (754 board). I use analog cables to run it into my receiver but it is very quiet. I have to turn the sound on the computer all the way up, and the receiver like 85% for it to be loud enough. I have a lot of hiss when it's this loud. What is a good card for doing music and movies. Absolutely no gaming on this computer.

Yeah my sound is incredibly low when I connect my 2.0 speakers to it. I guess buying a soundcard would make it louder?