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Best sound card + speakers for $300

post #1 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:35am
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Like the tittle says Im working with a $300 budget for this part of the rig. It is for mostly gaming and some streaming/music. Im thinking of going to Best Buy and get this:

482


Is that the Best I can do with my budget?
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post #2 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:39am
I have some Klipsch pr medias and let me tell you. for $150, they are a power house. Usually on audio, for an amp and 2 speakers + a woofer you would spend around $350-500 depending on how big you wanted to go.


$150 for that set is a little high, I got mine for $100 shipped. Still good deal though, and with that card you will see a large improvement over onboard, mainly in the upper and lower spectrum when things get loud, or distant.
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post #3 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:46am
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Thanks for quick response. I never had good speakers or sound cards so for me it will be a big increase in sound quality. Ill look around to see if I can get them for cheaper if not Ill go get them locally later today. +Rep
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post #4 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert Rat View Post

Thanks for quick response. I never had good speakers or sound cards so for me it will be a big increase in sound quality. Ill look around to see if I can get them for cheaper if not Ill go get them locally later today. +Rep

Sound card is very good, I'm not very knowledgeable on speakers though. Soundcards make a big difference to onboard though, noticed it going from onboard no my ASRock to Creative X-FI
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post #5 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:55am
I do believe the general consensus is that Asus Soundboards beat the socks off of Creative these days.

A little cheaper :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132007 but you lose the digital output
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post #6 of 12
5/4/12 at 7:57am
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I'd personally go with a xonar dx from Asus instead.

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515a using Tapatalk 2
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post #7 of 12
5/4/12 at 8:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Citra View Post

I'd personally go with a xonar dx from Asus instead.
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515a using Tapatalk 2

I linked him the d1, its priced at 81$ and the DX is 71$. If the DX is better you save 10 bucks thumb.gif

These speakers look fairly nice as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882121077
Edited by Bonkers - 5/4/12 at 8:03am
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post #8 of 12
5/4/12 at 8:06am
the pro medias are pretty nice with a lot of bass

theres always the

Swan M10's
which sound awesome just dont have a ton of bass
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post #9 of 12
5/4/12 at 8:08am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonkers View Post

I do believe the general consensus is that Asus Soundboards beat the socks off of Creative these days.

A little cheaper :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132007 but you lose the digital output

Actually according to the guide / sticky if Desert is mostly gaming (as he said he is), the Titanium is the preferred card.

If music suddenly became his preference the Xonar DX would be the better choice.

Looks like good choices, though... both could be had for less if you waited on sales, both the sound card and speaker system go on sale more often than not. Though now that you're looking to buy, Murphy's law will kick in and you'll never find a better price until after you buy.

Also, if you ship it to a Best Buy store, you can shave $10 off. They send you a little gift card or whatever. Deal Linky
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post #10 of 12
5/4/12 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Munkypoo7 View Post

Actually according to the guide / sticky if Desert is mostly gaming (as he said he is), the Titanium is the preferred card.
If music suddenly became his preference the Xonar DX would be the better choice.
Looks like good choices, though... both could be had for less if you waited on sales, both the sound card and speaker system go on sale more often than not. Though now that you're looking to buy, Murphy's law will kick in and you'll never find a better price until after you buy.
Also, if you ship it to a Best Buy store, you can shave $10 off. They send you a little gift card or whatever. Deal Linky

Guess it wouldve been better if I had of read it thoroughly instead of scanning really fast because I completely over looked where he said that. tongue.gif
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