Help with choosing a sound card

ezefosure · 08-30-2006, 08:41 PM

I know nothing about sound cards. I'm completely noob. And i'm not an audiophile. I can tell the difference between good quality sound and bad quality sound, and although i dont enjoy listening to bad quality sound, it doesnt bother me THAT much.

Still, I want to get a new sound card for my computer. I want one that I can hook up a 5.1 setup (onkyo HT-s590) probably through an optical cable and get actual surround sound (not the right and left channels being stretched). However, i might upgrade to 7.1 later on and the compatability would be appreciated.

I guess I don't need anything too hardcore tho. I'm not even sure about the prices of these things since I've looked into sound cards for a while but have never actually bought any. I understand these can be extremely expensive, or even 50 bucks or under. Nothing too expensive though.

ezefosure · 08-31-2006, 03:35 AM

anyone?

vroom_skies · 08-31-2006, 03:53 AM

Well it looks like you've already done your reasearch and know what your looking for. I'll try to help alittle bit.

Right now most everyone agrees that the xfi series are the best sound quality wise. Not as much price wise however. I have the xfi plat and it is pretty darn good.

Here is the entry level xfi:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102188

Now I don't know about the optical. I read up on it once since I wanted it. I ran into the channels being repeated and not true 5.1. It's ashame I never did find a correct way to do that. So right now I'm on the basic analog with a set of z-5500's.

You also might want to check out the M-audio for the optical settings. I have no idea with them, but it's worth a look.

M-Audio
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ice=&maxPrice=

Hope this helps
Bob

ezefosure · 08-31-2006, 10:52 PM

[quote=vroom_skies;418826]Right now most everyone agrees that the xfi series are the best sound quality wise. Not as much price wise however. /QUOTE]

Ok. So the sound blaster xfi is high quality but with a price that might be higher than its worth? As i stated above, I like high quality sound but its not a must. I kind of want a cheap solution. lol.

Also, someone on another forum was stressing to me how rare it is to find a sound card capable of encoding in true surround sound. They said maybe only half a dozen in the whole world are capable of doing so effectively. Also, since I am a noob, I'm not sure how true this is, but if the xfi's cant do it, maybe I might look into a cheaper sound card that might give close to the same amount of sound?

How are the sound blaster audigy 2's? I remember a few years back (or maybe it was even last yr. I don't remember) how they were extremely popular and were cutting edge technology. Would they be capable of at least utilizing all 5 or speakers on a setup and outputting sound through them? ANd how would I be able to hook up the sound card, any sound card, to a receiver if they don't have optical cable capability?

**DCIScouts** · 08-31-2006, 10:58 PM

Well, you should be able to find a Sound Blaster Audigy 2's for around $70 and I've got a few friends that highly recommend it for the price. In fact, a lot of them like it better than considerably more expensive one's, like the x-fi's, that they've messed with a bit. I would go with that model.

ezefosure · 09-01-2006, 04:54 AM

I saw a sound blaster audigy 2 se for $30 today. I am on vacation and probably can't go back to that store anyway, but would that have been a good buy?
Also, the sound card seemed to have the same connections that my on board sound has, except maybe two additional connections I didn't know what they were used for. How would I plug the sound card into an audio receiver? (onkyo ht-s590 is what i'm planning on buying) What cords would I need?

**DCIScouts** · 09-01-2006, 06:02 AM

Yeah that's a good price, it might be used, and even if so, just check their return policy and such so that you don't get stuck with a lemon...

ezefosure · 09-01-2006, 06:36 AM

Lol. But how do i connect it to the receiver? What cables?

dude · 09-03-2006, 12:50 AM

For those of you who might be interested, Amazon.com has the X-FI Xtreme Music card on sale right now for $79.00usd NEW! Theyre taking off a $50 instant rebate off the bat. It is currently 7:50pm EST Sept 2, '06 Oh yeah - free shipping too.

ezefosure · 09-03-2006, 03:24 AM

How do i connect the sound cards to a 5.1 or a 7.1 HT receiver?

08-30-2006, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	Help with choosing a sound card I know nothing about sound cards. I'm completely noob. And i'm not an audiophile. I can tell the difference between good quality sound and bad quality sound, and although i dont enjoy listening to bad quality sound, it doesnt bother me THAT much. Still, I want to get a new sound card for my computer. I want one that I can hook up a 5.1 setup (onkyo HT-s590) probably through an optical cable and get actual surround sound (not the right and left channels being stretched). However, i might upgrade to 7.1 later on and the compatability would be appreciated. I guess I don't need anything too hardcore tho. I'm not even sure about the prices of these things since I've looked into sound cards for a while but have never actually bought any. I understand these can be extremely expensive, or even 50 bucks or under. Nothing too expensive though. Last edited by ezefosure; 08-31-2006 at 04:00 AM.

08-31-2006, 03:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
vroom_skies Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 1,569	Well it looks like you've already done your reasearch and know what your looking for. I'll try to help alittle bit. Right now most everyone agrees that the xfi series are the best sound quality wise. Not as much price wise however. I have the xfi plat and it is pretty darn good. Here is the entry level xfi: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102188 Now I don't know about the optical. I read up on it once since I wanted it. I ran into the channels being repeated and not true 5.1. It's ashame I never did find a correct way to do that. So right now I'm on the basic analog with a set of z-5500's. You also might want to check out the M-audio for the optical settings. I have no idea with them, but it's worth a look. M-Audio http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ice=&maxPrice= Hope this helps Bob __________________ My Photography Website Winner of the photography tournament theme: Flowers, Sunsets, Water Scapes, Blurs 2.0, Lightning/Fireworks, Vivid, Flowers in an Abstract Art Form & Waterways.

08-31-2006, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 5,046	Well, you should be able to find a Sound Blaster Audigy 2's for around $70 and I've got a few friends that highly recommend it for the price. In fact, a lot of them like it better than considerably more expensive one's, like the x-fi's, that they've messed with a bit. I would go with that model. __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

09-01-2006, 06:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 5,046	Yeah that's a good price, it might be used, and even if so, just check their return policy and such so that you don't get stuck with a lemon... __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

09-03-2006, 12:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
dude New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 10	Creative SB X-FI XtrmeMusic SALE! For those of you who might be interested, Amazon.com has the X-FI Xtreme Music card on sale right now for $79.00usd NEW! Theyre taking off a $50 instant rebate off the bat. It is currently 7:50pm EST Sept 2, '06 Oh yeah - free shipping too. Last edited by dude; 09-03-2006 at 01:03 AM.

08-31-2006, 03:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	anyone?

08-31-2006, 10:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	[quote=vroom_skies;418826]Right now most everyone agrees that the xfi series are the best sound quality wise. Not as much price wise however. /QUOTE] Ok. So the sound blaster xfi is high quality but with a price that might be higher than its worth? As i stated above, I like high quality sound but its not a must. I kind of want a cheap solution. lol. Also, someone on another forum was stressing to me how rare it is to find a sound card capable of encoding in true surround sound. They said maybe only half a dozen in the whole world are capable of doing so effectively. Also, since I am a noob, I'm not sure how true this is, but if the xfi's cant do it, maybe I might look into a cheaper sound card that might give close to the same amount of sound? How are the sound blaster audigy 2's? I remember a few years back (or maybe it was even last yr. I don't remember) how they were extremely popular and were cutting edge technology. Would they be capable of at least utilizing all 5 or speakers on a setup and outputting sound through them? ANd how would I be able to hook up the sound card, any sound card, to a receiver if they don't have optical cable capability?

09-01-2006, 04:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	I saw a sound blaster audigy 2 se for $30 today. I am on vacation and probably can't go back to that store anyway, but would that have been a good buy? Also, the sound card seemed to have the same connections that my on board sound has, except maybe two additional connections I didn't know what they were used for. How would I plug the sound card into an audio receiver? (onkyo ht-s590 is what i'm planning on buying) What cords would I need?

09-01-2006, 06:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	Lol. But how do i connect it to the receiver? What cables?

09-03-2006, 03:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
ezefosure Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Jersey Age: 19 Posts: 360	How do i connect the sound cards to a 5.1 or a 7.1 HT receiver?

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