packardhell1

Hello all,

I finally have my PC where I want it and I can finally upgrade my sound. I've been reading about how much better sound cards are than onboard sound, so I'm going to take the dive.

I'll be honest - I haven't bought a sound card since the SoundBlaster AWE32 came out and I can still remember walking out of Best Buy with my first SoundBlaster 16. I've been reading reviews upon reviews, descriptions, pricing of new cards, and I'm about as confused as before I started.

Right now I'm using my sig rig's onboard audio (Realtek). I have Creative Inspire 5200 5.1 surround system (I bought it new, not sure how old it is, at least 4-5 years but they still work great). I also use Sennheiser HD-457 headphones occasionally.

I want to spend <$100. I rarely game (too much homework and not enough time with the wife ). I do listen to a lot of music, especially while doing homework - anything but country!! I watch 1-2 DVD movies on it a week. I will be watching TV soon with a TV tuner (both cable and HD antenna), so sound for that will be important. I'll be moving to Vista Ultimate 64-bit later this summer (~ July or August).

I'm not an audiophile and I know the high-end stuff is out of my price range - I just want good sound. I've looked at reviews for the Audigy and X-fi series of cards (all, what, 50 of them?), Auzentech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS-Connect, and a $99 M-Audio card (can't remember the model number).

I've read some posts on this part of OCN and the forum Head-Fi is mentioned occassionally, so I went there and found a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series sound card (with drivers) for $75 - I thought that was a pretty good price. I've also seen (on OCN) an Auzentech and a few Audigy cards for sale.

For my price range and what I use it for, what do you recommend?

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triggerc

Some people have stability issues with X-Fi in Vista, so I can't recommend them just in case that you got the sound card and it just BSODs constantly. The X-Plosion and the M-Audio Revolution you were looking at are both great cards, at $100, you should take a look at the b-Enspirer, which would be my recommendation.

For casual listening, you should also consider the Chaintech AV-710, probably THE best budget sound card. They are hard to find, but there's usually a couple of them on eBay.

pjlietz

Asus just came out with a sub $100 version of the Xonar, should fit the bill for ya. I love mine!

Here at newegg

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packardhell1

I've read that people have good luck with the Auzentech products and Vista, so I think I'll lean toward those. The Chaintech looks very good also!

I'm really liking the Asus card. I also have a free PCI-e slot, so it'd be nice to use that up since nothing else I have uses it.

Thank you both for the suggestions I'll review pricing/features for each and go from there. +rep to both!

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pjlietz

NP man, most people don't know it's out yet and for the money it's a great little card.

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hometoast

I haven't had any problems with my X-fi xtreme Music at all in Vista x64.

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Rythym

i have an Xtreme gamer and it performs flawlessly. I have had to do work-arounds on many creative products before, so I don't know if you're in to troubleshooting.

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packardhell1

I don't mind troubleshooting - as long as it works out in the end. I've read about some people using "special" drivers for their Creative stuff in Vista, so I may have to end up using those.

I like all the cards that you guys have suggested. I'm still drawn toward the X-Fi because of the price and because, if I want to game in the future, I'll already have the card for it. Hmm, decisions decisions...

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packardhell1

I've been reading Creative's forums and about what they've done to Daniel_K. I won't buy anything Creative again, so I'm going Asus (Xonar DX). It's a good price and it's gotten great reviews

Creative is the

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wfor1pilot

It's true Creative was the great new nice guy on the block (back when) but, too much popularity has swollen his head. Now he's the big bad prick on the block; take his $hit or go play some where else...

Their support has gone to crap! They still turn out a good product but the money is spent in research / production / shipping and yes manipulation! But as always greed leads to arrogance /apathy / slips / poor attentiveness / revolt / competition / failure / and eventually replacement.

The Asus was a great concept sound card (and they still produce the best mobo's) but, far from a good sound card. Zonar 2 was a better card but, still not the one. Not geared towards PC but, much more geared towards DVD playback! Try to find support/ new drivers for the sound cards on the ASUS website!

You have to (at this point) decide what's most important to you gaming / sound listening / DVD playback!

All of the sound cards are becoming very specialized. You have to consider if you only want 5.1 playback for gaming 7.1 for future digi "PC" home theater or just good stereo sound. And what connections / amplification you intend to use. And again, what what speaker configuration you intend to use. 5.1 rocks for DVD playback but, I still think 4.0 "FPS" four point surround worked best for games sans the cool EAX "bumps in the night" special sound effects. Do you intend to use 3.5 / rca or toslink sp/dif digital connectors....

Make sure the card you're looking at has the proper connectors you intend to use! ...and the software to drive them!

I'm not yet ready to do my review but, over the last few weeks I've been doing a lot of reading up / testing sound cards. I'll post once I'm done.

If you look at most of the user's rigs specs in the "OC" forums you will see that most "here" just use the on-board audio > shame / shame! Guys; come on!!!

All of the new mobo's are geared towards HTPC so gaming is (for now) out the window. Did no one else notice....? The 3d imaging (sound) > open AL will not work with on-board sound > not even the latest analog digital 8894 chip! So yeah, you're playing (you've overclocked quad 9800 Ultra X4) Crisis in 5.2 surround sound > all of you! That's 5 channels driven Bi-phonic stereo!!!

Whoa! ouch but, yeah it's true! Shame on all of you!!!

Do a little more research > hold off till the reviews come in or just settle on a sound blaster live for now. There are better cards then the "blaster" now but, a lot of them are seriously leaning towards HTPC sound and not gaming or stereo (audio) playback.

Stay tuned before you invest you're $$$ Someone had to do it so I'm working on it. The best Gaming; best listining; best HTPC sound cards review pending...!!!
Next test card: HT Omega Claro plus!!! And all of this testing ($170+) for the Claro out of my own pocket! ... someone had to do it!