PC Sound Card

AsSiMiLaTeD
AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
edited November 2006 in Electronics
I'm looking to upgrade my crappy Audigy 2 sound card, and am looking for suggestions.

I've looked at the new X-fi cards by Creative, wondering if there are any better options out there for around the same price.

Thanks
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
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Comments

  • lomic
    lomic Posts: 407
    edited November 2006
    If you're going to be playing games and want the hardware acceleration, definitely go for the X-Fi ExtremeMusic - not the less expensive ExtremeAudio which is software based.

    If you're looking from a purely music perspective, I've heard good things about the M-Audio boards, looks like their professional audio cards are in the $150 range.
    Dodd Audio ELP [ Tubes ] // Harman Kardon AVR330 // Parasound HCA-1203A // Denon DVD-2900
    Polk Audio LSi9, LSiC, LSi 7 // HSU STF-2 // Signal Cable Interconnects (SG BW/A2/MP)
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited November 2006
    Man, I guess I haven't looked at sound cards in a long time... when did Audigy 2's become crappy? :)
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited November 2006
    bobman1235 wrote:
    Man, I guess I haven't looked at sound cards in a long time... when did Audigy 2's become crappy? :)

    I'm over here thinking the same thing.
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  • just_visiting
    just_visiting Posts: 40
    edited November 2006
    Polkmaniac wrote:
    I'm looking to upgrade my crappy Audigy 2 sound card, and am looking for suggestions.

    I've looked at the new X-fi cards by Creative, wondering if there are any better options out there for around the same price.

    Thanks


    Get this one. Very nice board made by Onkyo.

    http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Onkyo_SE-150PCI_PC_Digital_Audio_Board.html
    Display: Sony XBR3 46"
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV7005
    Amplifiers: Anthem MCA20 / Anthem MCA30
    CD: Pioneer Elite PD59 / Sony XA20ES / Denon 755AE
    DVD: Denon 3930CI
    BD: Pioneer Elite 05FD
    Sat: Bell TV 9241HD
    Game: Sony PS3 60GB
    Media Streamer: WDTV Live Hub
    Power Console: Panamax 5300PM
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio v.3
    Subwoofer: SVS 16-46PC+

    Preamp: Parasound P3
    Amplifier: BAT VK60 Tube
    Sacd: Sony 777ES
    Power Console: Ultralink PGX-500
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.5
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  • ledhed
    ledhed Posts: 1,088
    edited November 2006
    Look at the M-audio audiophile cards

    http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces
    God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited November 2006
    I use the Chaintech and it serves it's purpose well. Soundcards in general including so called "pro" sound cards aren't all that great for serious music listening. Buy the Chaintech and get an inexpensive DAC. My set-up works very nicely. The Chaintech also allows for a direct bit stream that is basically a "pass through" of 0's and 1's without any processing etc. I believe the setting is something like TCP Kernel, it's been awhile but you get the idea.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited November 2006
    Thanks for the input guys. I've heard the X-fi already and it's much better than my Audigy 2, was wondering if there was a better option.

    My primary use is gaming, so I'll snag one of the S-fi cards, now I just gotta decide which one to get, there are several options.
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