Sound Blaster Live! vs. MSI K8N Neo2 Onboard vs. Audigy 2 ZS GAMER

[keeleysam]

Ok, I have had my Sony SRS-Z500 speakers for a logn time now, and want to upgrade to a 5.1 solution. I am pretty sure that I am going to get the Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 THX Certified Speaker System (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=36-121-121&depa=0), but I am unsure about hwo I will power those speakers. So here are my two questions:

1. Does my Sound Blaster Live! support 5.1 audio? Here are 2 pictures of it, I got it second-hand so I don't know. The model is "SB0060", and the top connectot reads "Digital output":
http://www.2600hq.com/images_old/DSCF0233.JPG
http://www.2600hq.com/images_old/DSCF0239.JPG

2. What option should I choose for powering these:
a. MSI K8N Neo2 Onboard
b. Audigy 2 ZS GAMER (would prefer not to spend the money on this)
c. Sound Blaster Live! (If it supports it)

Thanks in advance,
keeleysam

 

[DJStillman]

First thing: Go to Amazon for those speakers. They are very nice, and you will get one heck of a better deal on them...

Second thing: Those speakers do not have digital connectors. For some reason, that feature has kinda disappeared. So, the live card you have will work on them just fine.

I am not a big fan of onboard audio, as most just don't have as much "punch" as I would like.

I have both live and audigy 2 zs cards, and I think the A2 is stronger, but not enough for what it costs.

Go to Amazon, keep your live card, enjoy your sound.

 

[keeleysam]

How would I go about getting the 5.1 sound out of the Live card?

 

[DJStillman]

Green - Front
Black - Rear
Yellow - Center/sub

 

[keeleysam]

I mean like in the drivers.

 

[DJStillman]

Use the larger driver package from the Creative site, go into the audiohq program, go to the speaker panel, choose 5.1

 

[keeleysam]

Will do.