what is your sound card suggestion?

[lifestyle]

Dear all,

I'm considering to purchase a new sound card, which supports SPDIF pass-through and costs under $40 US.
What is your suggestion? Please give me the advice. Any reply will be highly appreciated.

 

[HendrixFan]

The old soundblaster live! gold (not value) has SPDIF in and out, so you can use the out as a passthrough. I did a quick check and couldnt find it at pricewatch, but maybe someone in the For Sale forums would be willing to part with one.

 

[Wolfsraider]

<< I'm considering to purchase a new sound card, which supports SPDIF pass-thorough and costs under $40 US. >>



googlegear has the sblive 5.1 for 35.35 Here

this is the card i use and i haven't had any issues with it but some have.

it does work very well for a cheap sound card in my opinion very nice actually

hope this helps middle picture top of the page


edit welcome to anandtech lifestyle

 

[Daovonnaex]

The Philips Acoustic Edge has what you're looking for, and far superior sound to the SB Live!

 

[NeoMadHatter]

umm, under $40, well, the Live! should be good, and the phillips if you can find it that low would be good.
for more money, the TB Santa Cruz, and the Audigy, and for more money the GTXP and AudigyPlatinums.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< umm, under $40 >>

Touche. I stand corrected.

 

[lifestyle]

Dear all,

Thanks to all the people who wrote replies.
The Philips Acoustic Edge is now added up into my consideration.

I would like to listen more suggestions (except Sound Blaster Series
since they have some compatibility problem with my system), May I?

 

[ChemMan]

I would definately recommend the Philips Acoustic Edge over any of the Sound Blaster cards. However, the Philips cards does not currently have any linux support, which means no sound under linux.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I would definately recommend the Philips Acoustic Edge over any of the Sound Blaster cards. However, the Philips cards does not currently have any linux support, which means no sound under linux. >>

Did he ever say he was using Linux? Besides, xfree86 probably has made drivers for it by now.

 

[lifestyle]

<< Did he ever say he was using Linux? >>


No, I didn't Currently I'm using Windows XP, and is never going to use Linux.
It is ok if the card supports Windows XP well.

This is one good site I found while websurfing:
http://www.soundcardcentral.com
In "review" menu, there are several sound card reviews
and they will help people who want to choose new sound card.

By the way, how about the Philips Seismic Edge instead of the Acoustic Edge?

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< By the way, how about the Philips Seismic Edge 5.1 instead of the Acoustic Edge? >>


To the best of my knowledge, the Seismic Edge doesn't have a SPDIF pass-through. Check up on it, though.

 

[lifestyle]

<< To the best of my knowledge, the Seismic Edge doesn't have a SPDIF pass-through. >>


http://www.soundcardcentral.com/reviews/soundcards/PhilipsSE51/page1.shtml
According to the above review, the Seismic Edge does have SPDIF pass-through. very nice!!

 

[Daovonnaex]

<<

<< To the best of my knowledge, the Seismic Edge doesn't have a SPDIF pass-through. >>


http://www.soundcardcentral.com/reviews/soundcards/PhilipsSE51/page1.shtml
According to the above review, the Seismic Edge does have SPDIF pass-through. very nice!! >>

See if the Rhythmic Edge has it, then you can save even more money.

 

[holdencommodore]

If you don't need SPDIF In, or 5.1 channel support, see if you can get the Philips Rythmic Edge PSC703 (4.1 channel). It uses the same ThunderBird Avenger DSP as the Acoustic Edge, only costs less.

Cheers

 

[lifestyle]

Note:
There are two versions of seismic edge: Seismic Edge 5.1 (PS C705) and Seismic Edge (PS C704).
The difference between two model is whether the main chipset supports SPDIF out and 5.1ch or not.
It would be better if choosing the newer version, Seismic Edge 5.1.