Sound card for home audio system

[tcw76]

Im gonna be building a new system and I need to figure out which sound card to get. I want a card that I can connect to my home audio system. I have a Sony 5.1 Dolby Digital Reciever with two digital inputs, one is optical and the other is coaxial, it also has 5.1 inputs. I want to use my home audio speakers so i can save money not buying new ones for the computer. I'll probably buy cheap speakers for the computer for when I dont use the receiver. The motherboard im probably going to get is Soyo Dragon +. It has onboard 5.1 sound with digital out. Should I use that or should I get a sound card? I was thinking about getting the Audigy. Should I get the computer its own speakers or use my home audio system? Please let me know any suggestions or opinions any of you may have. Thanks in advance.

 

[tcw76]

Anyone?????

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Im gonna be building a new system and I need to figure out which sound card to get. I want a card that I can connect to my home audio system. I have a Sony 5.1 Dolby Digital Reciever with two digital inputs, one is optical and the other is coaxial, it also has 5.1 inputs. I want to use my home audio speakers so i can save money not buying new ones for the computer. I'll probably buy cheap speakers for the computer for when I dont use the receiver. The motherboard im probably going to get is Soyo Dragon +. It has onboard 5.1 sound with digital out. Should I use that or should I get a sound card? I was thinking about getting the Audigy. Should I get the computer its own speakers or use my home audio system? Please let me know any suggestions or opinions any of you may have. Thanks in advance. >>

The sound on the Soyo Dragon is the CS-4624 chip, which is 4.1, not 5.1. I'd get a sound card, though I'd rather avoid an Audigy due to Creative Labs' subpar support for Athlon systems in the past. Your solutions boil down to CS 4630 based cards (Santa Cruz, Game Theater XP, etc.), the Audigy (tread carefully), and the Philips Acoustic Edge.

 

[Goi]

For audiophile quality at an affordable price, try the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

 

[NicColt]

I have the Philips Acoustic Edge optical/out plugged into my AMP's Optical in. with 150 Watts speakers. All I can say is that I will NEVER go back.

check out my system here http://ravines.tripod.com/system/ you have to cut and paste because it's a tripod site. I also added two rear speakers and a small sub.... rock and roll

 

[Bovinicus]

Many agree that the Phillips Acoustic Edge has some of the best 5.1 sound quality of any card.

 

[Goi]

The Philips AcousticEdge is a very fine card for consumer standards. I suspect it should be around the same quality as the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and the Hercules GTXP. However, they are not in the same league as semi-pro/pro cards like the Audiophile 2496. However, if all you need is 16/44 or 16/48 digital output, then the AE should suffice.