• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

sound card question

T

TrapAckbarNow

Junior Member
hello, I know little about hardware or components. I recently bought a desktop tower.. and the speakers it came with sound really crappy. Do I need a new sound card or just new speakers?

If I need a new card, which one? How do I figure out which are compatible?

Thanks!
 
new speakers.
1. onboard sound will suffice until you get decent speakers.
2. I need to know what it will be used for and wether you plan to go 2piece, 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 speakers and what price point you plan to buy the speakers at.
 
Welcome to AT.

What speakers do you have?

Do you know what integrated sound you have? Is it a new computer?
 
If the speakers your getting are more than 2.1 then you should not use onboard sound. Onboard sound is no good in surround sound speaker setups, rear channels often have poor sound output.

If you are getting a 5.1 surround setup, then definatly go with something like Audigy 2, if you dont care about EAX then go for some of the 5.1 or 7.1 M-Audio or Chaintech cards, they do not have newer EAX versions but sound is great and drivers are better than the Audigy cards.

Personally I upgraded from Realtek onboard sound and a really old 2 speaker setup to a Audigy 2 Value and Logitech z-530 and sound is brilliant.
 
What exactly is "onboard sound"? I have 2.1 speakers I guess (just two speakers) but I suppose I'm interested in 5.1.

My soundcard is Realtek A97.

So do I need a new soundcard?

Thanks for all your replies
 
surround speakers (4.1 or higher) you sohuld use a plug in pc card like the Maudio(for music) or an audigy2 (for games).
There is of course the Xfi but that's uber expensive.

anyway, onboard si a simulated sound card that uses cpu cycles to decode audio. it does a good job and dosent really use all that much cpu in 2d audio[5%](like a cd) but in games, the Realtek can use up to 30% cpu for 3d audio. buying a seperate sound card will slightly increase sound quality, add features like DDL(Maudio) or EAX(Creative) and lower cpu useage. with an sound card, cpu useage in 2d audio will be about same, but in 3d audio, it should be 1/3 or 1/6 lesss cpu use.

1. what do you plan to use it for?
2. what speakers do you plan to buy(if you plan to stick to 21., stay with onboard)?
 
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
I guess I'll buy new speakers, 5.1 .. and I use it for music and games but more music than games.
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

If this is mainly for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 set could be a better choice than a 5.1 set of equivalent price.

I don't know if you'd like this idea, but you could make a 4.1 / 4.2 set out of a new 2.1 set and your original speakers as surround speakers.

Music is intended to be listened to in stereo, so if that's a good portion of what you're doing it would be a good idea to concentrate on the front speakers since those would be used a lot more.

Just an alternative for you to think about 🙂

mwmorph, Maudio has DDL? (are we talking about Dolby Digital Live or something else that DDL also stands for?)
 
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
No more than $100 combined? Is that unrealistic?
Click to expand...

You could get a decent 5.1 set for that much.

Newegg had a deal on z-5300s that just expired.

You can still get them refurbished from overstock.com or justdeals for around $100 still.

If you wanted to get a 2.1 set, the Logitech z-2300s would be right around $100.
Klipsch 2.1 or Swan m200 would be more in the $150 range as higher end alternatives.

I'd suggest spending all of your budget on speakers for now and then trying out the integrated sound again.

If you still want to, then you could add a soundcard to the mix ($30 Chaintech AV-710 for 2.1 sets or I think you might still be able to get an Audigy2 card for around $45 for the 5.1 sets).

Integrated sound has come a long way lately and most of them are pretty good now for budget speaker sets.
 
Zip Zoom Fly currently has a nice deal on the Audigy 2 ZS. Its $83.99 with a $40 rebate. Might wanna check that out. Its a great deal. I ordered mine yesterday
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
I guess I'll buy new speakers, 5.1 .. and I use it for music and games but more music than games.
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

If this is mainly for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 set could be a better choice than a 5.1 set of equivalent price.

I don't know if you'd like this idea, but you could make a 4.1 / 4.2 set out of a new 2.1 set and your original speakers as surround speakers.

Music is intended to be listened to in stereo, so if that's a good portion of what you're doing it would be a good idea to concentrate on the front speakers since those would be used a lot more.

Just an alternative for you to think about 🙂

mwmorph, Maudio has DDL? (are we talking about Dolby Digital Live or something else that DDL also stands for?)
Click to expand...

my mistake, im thinking about this one, which by the way is an excellent sound card. if you have the $, i'd buy this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127001
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
I guess I'll buy new speakers, 5.1 .. and I use it for music and games but more music than games.
Click to expand...

What's your budget?

If this is mainly for music, a good 2.0 or 2.1 set could be a better choice than a 5.1 set of equivalent price.

I don't know if you'd like this idea, but you could make a 4.1 / 4.2 set out of a new 2.1 set and your original speakers as surround speakers.

Music is intended to be listened to in stereo, so if that's a good portion of what you're doing it would be a good idea to concentrate on the front speakers since those would be used a lot more.

Just an alternative for you to think about 🙂

mwmorph, Maudio has DDL? (are we talking about Dolby Digital Live or something else that DDL also stands for?)
Click to expand...

my mistake, im thinking about this one, which by the way is an excellent sound card. if you have the $, i'd buy this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829127001
Click to expand...

That's cool. I just thought there might be more cards out now that did it. 🙂
 
btw when saying 2.1 speakers...the ".1" part means it comes with a subwoofer...the part that creates bass and that "thump"

like said above, 5.1 speakers get more from games and movies as they use the "surround" sound to make sound seem like they are coming from all around you, what i did for my higher end computer was used onboard sound(sound that comes from the ports on your motherboard) and bought a new pair of logitech 2.1 speakers(strongly reocmmend them) from newegg.com...then i decided i wanted a little better quality sound so i bought a PCI soundcard...pci cards fit the in the little slots on your motherboard and have a face that sticks out the back side of your case...anyways i plugged mine in and am running all my sound thru it, great great sound for someone that doesnt put alot of thought into sound 😛 im more visual
 
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
all right, it sounds like I just need to get some nice 2.1 speakers, thanks
Click to expand...

If you do end up doing this, it's going to sound a little odd if you hook up your current set as surround speakers.

You'll also be a bit limited if you want to get a 5.1 set going eventually. 5.1 is best for DVD watching because it will have a center channel for voices to come out of. If you don't watch movies on your computer though, then whatever 🙂

For music though, a good 2.0 / 2.1 set is the way to go.

If you can, go out to some stores in your area and see if they have any sets you can listen to.

The Logitech sets will tend to have boomy powerful subs compared to some other offerings. If you want a lot of bass, logitech is a good place to look.
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
all right, it sounds like I just need to get some nice 2.1 speakers, thanks
Click to expand...

If you do end up doing this, it's going to sound a little odd if you hook up your current set as surround speakers.

You'll also be a bit limited if you want to get a 5.1 set going eventually. 5.1 is best for DVD watching because it will have a center channel for voices to come out of. If you don't watch movies on your computer though, then whatever 🙂

For music though, a good 2.0 / 2.1 set is the way to go.

If you can, go out to some stores in your area and see if they have any sets you can listen to.

The Logitech sets will tend to have boomy powerful subs compared to some other offerings. If you want a lot of bass, logitech is a good place to look.
Click to expand...

kilpsch has good sub too, but be careful, some sets are bad with other tones such as midrage in favor fo bass.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TrapAckbarNow
all right, it sounds like I just need to get some nice 2.1 speakers, thanks
Click to expand...

If you do end up doing this, it's going to sound a little odd if you hook up your current set as surround speakers.

You'll also be a bit limited if you want to get a 5.1 set going eventually. 5.1 is best for DVD watching because it will have a center channel for voices to come out of. If you don't watch movies on your computer though, then whatever 🙂

For music though, a good 2.0 / 2.1 set is the way to go.

If you can, go out to some stores in your area and see if they have any sets you can listen to.

The Logitech sets will tend to have boomy powerful subs compared to some other offerings. If you want a lot of bass, logitech is a good place to look.
Click to expand...

kilpsch has good sub too, but be careful, some sets are bad with other tones such as midrage in favor fo bass.
Click to expand...

If Klipsch made a 5.1 set in this range I'd recommend it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top