Sound Card Advice

[JMWarren]

Hi Guys,

I just ditched my trusty Microsoft DSS-80 speakers that were running on USB. I'm finding that the on-board on my DFI doesn't quite cut it. Can anyone suggest a decent card?

I don't need 5.1 support and probably never will. I'm running Logitech Z-2300's for now, but might upgrade to a receiver with some bookshelf's and a sub so a digital out would be nice.


Thanks!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

My trusty stereo soundcard option

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

 

[PorscheMaD911]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
My trusty stereo soundcard option

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

Yep, go with that, use the rear DACs and don't look back!

 

[JMWarren]

Yeah, Thats the card my research lead me to. It's just so cheap! I'm accustom to getting what you pay for with audio...I guess that isn't the case here. I assume the Digital out would work nicely with a good receiver and 2.1 audio?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JMWarren
Yeah, Thats the card my research lead me to. It's just so cheap! I'm accustom to getting what you pay for with audio...I guess that isn't the case here. I assume the Digital out would work nicely with a good receiver and 2.1 audio?

Yeah, the digital out on that one worked just fine for me when I had it.

More info:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=364771

 

[Fast Fingers]

How does it compare with Creative's offerings (Audigy 4 and X-fi XtremeAudio) on a purely quality level?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Fast Fingers
How does it compare with Creative's offerings (Audigy 4 and X-fi XtremeAudio) on a purely quality level?

The digital output can do bit-perfect, so that should work fine.

The stereo analog output is supposed to be quite good as well. I only used it for headphones for a while just to test to see if it worked.

The Creative cards are meant for multichannel gaming basically. If you're just looking for music capability, the Chaintech would be fine. There are also some other more "audiophile" oriented cards.

 

[AllGamer]

Get the Fatality Gamer, that's the one i'm using, you wont believe what you can hear with this baby
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/pr...tegory=1&subcategory=208&product=15854


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[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
My trusty stereo soundcard option

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

Does this thing have a subwoofer crossover option? I've got Logitech Z-640's, and they need to have something to calm down the overpowered bass. A regular equalizer doesn't do it either (though an equalizer would definitely be nice to have). I was using the nForce2's APU until my motherboard died. It had a nice subwoofer crossover that effectively trimmed all low frequencies, up to 500Hz. I set mine to 320Hz so that the subwoofer wouldn't alert everyone in the buildingthat I was playing some music. So really, something comparable to the nForce2 APU would be fine. It's got a good interface, good equalizer, and very importantly, the adjustable subwoofer crossover.
I'm fixing on getting a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 motherboard, and I have no idea if its onboard sound has such an option.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
My trusty stereo soundcard option

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=292003

Does this thing have a subwoofer crossover option? I've got Logitech Z-640's, and they need to have something to calm down the overpowered bass. A regular equalizer doesn't do it either (though an equalizer would definitely be nice to have). I was using the nForce2's APU until my motherboard died. It had a nice subwoofer crossover that effectively trimmed all low frequencies, up to 500Hz. I set mine to 320Hz so that the subwoofer wouldn't alert everyone in the buildingthat I was playing some music. So really, something comparable to the nForce2 APU would be fine. It's got a good interface, good equalizer, and very importantly, the adjustable subwoofer crossover.
I'm fixing on getting a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 motherboard, and I have no idea if its onboard sound has such an option.

The Chaintech is only really a good card for stereo speakers or digital output, not multichannel analog output.

 

[Jeff7]

Well that's probably ok. This is effectively a 2.2 speaker system, I suppose. Two front speakers, center, and subwoofer. There's not space here for the rear speakers, and if I am playing a game, I'll use my headphones, as I can hear the sounds a lot more clearly.


I guess I'll start a separate thread to keep this one from getting hijacked.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Well that's probably ok. This is effectively a 2.2 speaker system, I suppose. Two front speakers, center, and subwoofer. There's not space here for the rear speakers, and if I am playing a game, I'll use my headphones, as I can hear the sounds a lot more clearly.


I guess I'll start a separate thread to keep this one from getting hijacked.

That's a 3.1 system if you're not using the surrounds/rears.

 

[UMfanatic]

you know I have those same 640 speakers and the base is crazy I have it turned down all the way and I still get it high, its nuts, it is almost as if they have a mind of their own