What sound card for gaming?

[you2]

Hum - was going to get an audigy2 zs but then decide to post this note. Looking for a sound card for usage with head phones only for games/dvd. Any suggestions ?

From various reviews/board/comments/ it seems like chaintec av710 (which appears to not be supported) and mystique (which is about 10$ more) seems like alternatives people most suggest.

Any other suggestions or thoughts ? (note only headphones will be used so support for speakers is not important).

 

[PurdueRy]

First of all the chaintech is usually a card recommended for digital only connections. Second, Where are you seeing the mystique as only $10 more?

Lastly, and more importantly, what headphones are you using?

 

[you2]

head phones are ath-a700 or hd555 (have both - like them for different things).

I saw the mystique for around $85 and the oem of the audigy for around $75

 

[PurdueRy]

Oh I thought you were referring to the mystique being only $10 more than the chaintech.

Those are the same headphones I have. With those you are going to want a high quality D/A converter. Minimum I would recommend an audigy 2 ZS. I would, however consider a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic.

 

[you2]

x-fi seems extreme for headphones. Was hoping there was a quality cheap solution under the assumption creative over charges

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: you2
x-fi seems extreme for headphones. Was hoping there was a quality cheap solution under the assumption creative over charges

No, the X-fi is not extreme for headphones. There is a relationship between quality of speakers/headphones and level of sound card. Those are pretty high end headphones, they deserve a pretty high end card. The mystique is fairly pointless for your setup. But the Audigy 2 ZS would be the card I would look at with the X-fi XtremeMusic if you have a lil bit more money

 

[you2]

Well the extermemusic is on sale for $87 shipped so almost same price as the audigy.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: you2
Well the extermemusic is on sale for $87 shipped so almost same price as the audigy.

then go with that

 

[you2]

Anyone else have some comments/suggestions ? Btw this is an ultra-D board with karjan module. Perhaps I should just use the module?

 

[rudreshsj]

well .. maybe this dosent really concern you ... but y not go for a higher end Auzentech card like the HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect or the X-Fi Elite Pro ... hmmz ... actually i am thinking of either one of these cards for my PC which i am buying next month ... cant really decide ... maybe you could help me out .. hahaha ...

 

[you2]

Ack those are more expensive. *runs away and hide*.

 

[rudreshsj]

hahah a.. ok ok sorry man .. u can come out of hiding now ... if u happen to know which is better and how .. can u pls tell me .. i kinda wanna know ... or ifu know of a link which compares the two ... that would also b great ... THX

 

[SkAiN]

Well, it depends on how your speakers would be connected to your PC.

If you're going to connect your soundcard to a home theater receiver using a digital connection, I would go with the Xplosion. (I have one, and it works awesome for digital) Any 5.1 sources are encoded to DTS/Dolby Digital and passed to the receiver. It's the only way to get true surround on your games/DiVX files thru SP/DIF.

If you have analog 5.1 speakers or a receiver with analog 5.1 inputs, go with the Creative card. It supports newer EAX-surround versions than the Xplosion, and has nicer DACs. You get the best quality surround for gaming.

DVD's sound performance would be the same for either card using digital connection, because then you just pass the Dolby Digital soundtrack through untouched.

So it's really up to how the system will be connected.

 

[SkAiN]

Well, it depends on how your speakers would be connected to your PC.

If you're going to connect your soundcard to a home theater receiver using a digital connection, I would go with the Xplosion. (I have one, and it works awesome for digital) Any 5.1 sources are encoded to DTS/Dolby Digital and passed to the receiver. It's the only way to get true surround on your games/DiVX files thru SP/DIF.

If you have analog 5.1 speakers or a receiver with analog 5.1 inputs, go with the Creative card. It supports newer EAX-surround versions than the Xplosion, and has nicer DACs. You get the best quality surround for gaming.

DVD's sound performance would be the same for either card using digital connection, because then you just pass the Dolby Digital soundtrack through untouched.

So it's really up to how the system will be connected.

 

[SkAiN]

Sorry for the double post

 

[you2]

But SkAiN - per original subject I will be using headphones plugged into the sound card (no amp). From your description it sounds like creative is the way to go... now the question is which creative

 

[rudreshsj]

Hey SkAiN ... i will be using a creativeGigaworks S750 7.1 speaker system ... i think that would classify as a digital stream wouldnt it? so as you said for a digital stream an X-Plosion would perform better than an X-Fi ... am i right to say that ?

 

[rudreshsj]

http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=376&page=4

here the card has been tested with hardphones ... just what u were looking for you2...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: rudreshsj
Hey SkAiN ... i will be using a creativeGigaworks S750 7.1 speaker system ... i think that would classify as a digital stream wouldnt it? so as you said for a digital stream an X-Plosion would perform better than an X-Fi ... am i right to say that ?

No, not if you were to hook up via analog connections, the X-fi would win. The XPlosion is mainly for those with home theater receivers that don't want to run 6 cables to their receiver. It sucks, trust me. With a computer speaker system, just stick with the non DTS/DD encoding cards

 

[rudreshsj]

ummm .. would the connections available with the speaker system count as analog? ... i am not too sure ...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: rudreshsj
ummm .. would the connections available with the speaker system count as analog? ... i am not too sure ...

Those speakers have no digital input. So you could not even use the Auzentech's encoding abilities.

 

[rudreshsj]

ummm .. ok so which speakers would u recommend? ... i am lookong at something to put in my room ... preferably 7.1 ... and easy to connect to the HDA X-Plosion...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: rudreshsj
ummm .. ok so which speakers would u recommend? ... i am lookong at something to put in my room ... preferably 7.1 ... and easy to connect to the HDA X-Plosion...

Why are you so set on the HDA X-Plosion?

 

[rudreshsj]

well because it seems to be the only DTS connect card out there and from what i hav read ... the quality of sound is superior ... would u recommend anything else?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: rudreshsj
well because it seems to be the only DTS connect card out there and from what i hav read ... the quality of sound is superior ... would u recommend anything else?

DTS and/or DD encoding is a LOSSY method of sending 5.1 information. Analog is superior provided that it is well shielded, short, and uses high quality D/A converters. The auzentech X-Plosion, as I have said, is made for people with receivers who do not want the hassle of connecting analog inputs into a receiver. This takes 6 cables a 3 converters which is expensive and annoying.

Computer speaker systems are meant to handle analog inputs and the method of connection is easy. If you are going to be gaming, just get a Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic and you'll be happy.