So I just bought Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1 Speakers...

[Ordeith]

I just bought these speakers that were on sale, and would like to get the most out of them. I watch movies, play games and listen to mp3s on my computer, and am wondering what sound card I should pair them with. I currently use onboard, which doesn't support 5.1, and am wondering which offering from Creative would best suit my needs.

The x-fi (just the sound card) is about 150, but is it 'too much' for these speakers? Is there a sound quality difference between sb live value -> audigy -> xfi series etc? Are there new/better alternatives to Creative's line? I've been using sb live values in my last few pcs, and am looking for something to properly enjoy the speakers I just purchased.

 

[Sully]

Ordeith,
I have the same speakers with the X-FI fatal1ty . They sound great !!!!!

 

[0roo0roo]

no need for fatal1ty nonsense. any 5-7.1 soundcard will do fine. just use a decent software player for dvds/movies and you'll get good surround, its not something the soundcard really needs to handle these days with our ghz processors

 

[NanoStuff]

The PMU 5.1s are a pretty nice system, it should be justified to spend the asking price on an X-Fi to get the most out of them.

Keep in mind there are better sound cards for output quality for the same or lower price if music/movie sound quality is of high concern, but these are mostly incompetent gaming cards. The X-Fi is a fair compromise to sound quality for it's gaming capabilities.

You can consider having two sound cards, some people do this. However for the vast majority the X-Fi in itself is a competent card in all categories, just be sure to get the XtremeMusic model to avoid spending unnecessarily much.

 

[sniperruff]

just any sound card will do.

 

[NanoStuff]

I forgot to answer one of your questions 🙂

Is there a sound quality difference between sb live value -> audigy -> xfi series etc?

Each has a sound quality improvement over the previous; if you're referring to output quality. Audigy to Audigy2 probably slightly more significant than SBLive to Audigy, but depends who you ask. Then Audigy2 to XFi with an improvement I'm not sure how to quantify not having compared myself, but one thing is for sure, the sample rate converter is much improved. Just be sure to keep the crystalizer nonsense disabled and all the other creative wannabe bullshit.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The X-Fi Xtreme Music has been having some sales for ~$60 lately. Check hot deals to see if they are still going on.

 

[0roo0roo]

probably, but whether most people actually have speakers capable of taking advantage of the tiny difference in quality between the sb live value and xfi is another thing...😉 i mean even back in the sb live days people didn't like hissy sound or that kinda sh*t, they had cd players😛

 

[NanoStuff]

The so called 'tiny' difference is very apparent even on inexpensive PC speakers. The PM Ultras will benefit nicely. On my electrostat headphones however it's absolutely massive. Not even the X-Fi was satisfactory with them, so I had to drop the gaming functionality and buy an entry level professional card.

As for how an entry level professional card stacks up against an X-Fi with above average multimedia I'd be curious to find out, but one thing's for sure, an XFi will sound plenty better than an SBLive.

 

[imported_Imp]

There is definately a difference between an SB Live and an X-fi, which is even apparenr on garbage $20 speakers (not me, someone else in house). Also, nice choice on the Ultras, good luck on them though, heard their amp blowing rate is atrocious.

 

[Ordeith]

Thanks for the help guys, going to follow YOyoYOhowsDAjello's (what the username..) advice and look for a good deal on that basic x-fi.

Regarding the amps, apparently these are a new revision that don't have this issue (from what I read on the redflagdeals forums, where I found them for such a low price).