Sound Card & Speaker upgrade

[ThisGoodNight]

Can anybody recommend a sound card and speaker upgrade.
I dont play games or watch DVD's, basically I am using my computer as a jukebox to listen to MP3's during social gatherings, can anybody recommend anything to make for a real kickin system, bass is good but I'm really looking for clear highs and good sound quality. Thanks for any recommendations!

 

[viper118]

what is your budget???

 

[Malladine]

Klipsch speakers and Fortissimo 3, Santa Cruz or Audigy sound card. For 3.1 Klipsch and a santa cruz you're looking at ~$230

And hey, welcome to the boards

 

[Corporate Thug]

santa cruz and z-560 for under 200

 

[ThisGoodNight]

My budget is fairly open to anything. And thanks for the recommendations!

 

[teckmaster]

I run the Audigy with Altec Lansing Enhanced 5100 5.1 surround speakers. Quite the awesome little sound machine. I can open the window in my computer room and hear my music from my mother-in-laws which is about 100 feet away.

 

[ThisGoodNight]

Sounds sweet! but I'm confused, I was told that you dont need 5.1 surround if your just listening to music, Can somebody enlighten me?

 

[Corporate Thug]

of course you dont need it, but its nice to have

 

[teckmaster]

you don't need it, but it does make a difference when you have it.

 

[Malladine]

Makes a difference if you're stood in the middle of the speaker setup, but if it's on one side of the room and you're on the other, 3.1 (2 speakers and a subwoofer) is just as good. IMO for just listening to music 5.1 is overkill. It's only worth it for movies and gaming (if you don't have a nice pair of headphones).

 

[DitaminV]

m-audio revolution 7.1

Envy24HT chipset.. produces stunning sound (up to 24bit/192khz playback and 24bit/96khz recording)

driver installation and integration is head and shoulders above creative labs' implemtation (IMO) .. its really painless with the revo.

newegg has them for 90 bucks w/ free shipping (where i got mine)

 

[ThisGoodNight]

What speakers are you using with it?

 

[OverVolt]

I have Logitech Z-560s' 400W THX for $150 on sale @ CompUSA. And i got a SB Audigy2 at a local MarketPro PC show for $118. It sounds really nice, MP3's and all.

Not sure how it would sound if you weren't sitting in the middle of a room

 

[Slammy1]

Well, if your budget is really open to anything (within reason...)

I've been checking out the DMX Fire 24/96 as seen here.
http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2003q1/soundcards/index.x?pg=8

I think I see the LT version of that card at some upgrade point in the future. For speakers, run a toslink to a nice receiver with good fronts, maybe a sub. It's really the best music listening option. For games I have the miniplug to RCA converters running into my external decoder input. It gives the pointal sound effects.