A new sound-setup for my computer.

[rtcp]

I've bought the soundcard - Xi-fi extreme gamer. As for the speakers - I've ordered the Altec Lansing MX5021 but no shops in my country seem to have them in stock - the distributor can't even tell when they'll be back. So I've a little problem - what now? The FX5051 are available, but not so sure about those.

Gah... That's a gaming card... It would have been better to buy a card by a pro audio company like M-Audio.

 

[satish536]

Gah... That's a gaming card... It would have been better to buy a card by a pro audio company like M-Audio.

Go M-audio im certain you wont be disappointed.

 

[Skaldraig]

Gah... That's a gaming card... It would have been better to buy a card by a pro audio company like M-Audio.

Probably. My funds were somewhat limited, though.

Edit : Doh, just found out Prodigy7.1 HiFi sound card isn't that expensive. Oh well, I could still probably return the Xi-fi?

 

[crimsona]

My sister is using a FX6021, my friend is using a MX5021, both using Audigy 2 soundcards. I far prefer the MX line - the FX sounds shrill in comparison, and the midrange on the MX is a lot smoother.

 

[emorphien]

- The room, where the speakers will be placed, is very small (about 9 square meters).

This room sounds more like a closet!

 

[Skaldraig]

This room sounds more like a closet!

Uhm, okay? I don't even know why you wasted your time posting that.

 

[emorphien]

Uhm, okay? I don't even know why you wasted your time posting that.

I said that because it was late at night and I needed to go to bed. I misread meters as feet.

 

[dem beats]

to the OP

I don't know media cards.

I see 2 options here. I have had the most killer surround sound set up for a computer before. I great high end logitec(i beleive) with about 5" woofers and a dedicated midbass sub. It was called a sub, but I wouldn't.

For up close listening and surround sound in games it pwnt for a long long time. Then I got a pair of ear bud shure headphones. More bass (Couldn't feel it before anyway) to the ear when you have a good seal. I will never ever use anything else unless I am doing other things while playing. laundry etc.

They also play music 100 times better, they really show off crap recordings IMHO. And these are cheepies compaired to what is out there.

If you want to do some critical 2.1-2.0 listening off the computer and you will be getting up frequently I would get a great pair of bookshelves and an amp, use a y splitter or RCA if the sound card has that option. You will be SO happy you did and you can move it into a different room someday if you want.

If you don't want to go the bookshelf rout I would recomend the best most kick arse headphones you can buy. I will see if I can find a link for in ear headphones that are "teh BBQ sauce". I promise you don't settle for something inbetween either get some good speakers (guys think of a pair of b & w's sitting on the desk next to the 17" wide screan) and a real sub for tactile explosions "boom headshot!". Or know you are just going to be sitting anyway and get some great in ears. They also cancel out loud girlfriends at reasonable levels. "sorry hon I can't hear you... headphones you know.."


I'll post the link when i find it later.

 

[Skaldraig]

I said that because it was late at night and I needed to go to bed. I misread meters as feet.

Okay, that was pretty damn small ;P

So this is what I've ordered :
Xi-fi gamer
Altec Lansing FX6021.

 

[dem beats]

I don't know media cards.

I see 2 options here. I have had the most killer surround sound set up for a computer before. I great high end logitec...
blah blah blah


I'll post the link when i find it later.

Here is a link. Ultimate ears westone(sp) are some things to look at.

There are some great heaphones too, but I like in ear. Some other guys may know some great headphones with good long day listening gaskets.

 

[RelievedSimplet]

If it is possible RETURN THAT SOUNDCARD. Don't mean to shout, but Creative is a horrible brand, the only reason to buy one of their cards is if you are a heavy gamer and need their EAX effects, which won't help you with a 2.1 system. Their support for Vista is horrible, their drivers in general are horrible and glitchy, and if you ever plan on using the optical output, good luck, it doesn't work properly (like other sound cards do) unless you are using Creatives own speakers as well.
Now for a recommendation. Look into the Bluegears b-Enspirer 7.1 card. It is an amazing card, I have yet to see even a single negative review. Their support and drivers are great. It is just a higher quality card overall. If you don't want to go with the Bluegears then follow other's advice and go with M-Audio, however I would recommend the Bluegears card over their cards any day (except in certain cases.)
Also, I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever speakers you get, if not, return them and grab those Z-5500's, they are truly amazing speakers, for PC use. I had a set before I upgraded to my Klipsch RF-62 system, and I couldn't sell them, they are still sitting boxed up in my attic for that day that I decide to drag them out again, they truly are amazing.
So finally, Return that sound card, Creative is a horrible company with horrible products. I'd highly recommend that Bluegears card I spoke of, it's $94.99 currently at Newegg.com.
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829127002

 

[satish536]

personally the popularity creative has gained with the mainstream market is to an extent hype ans it is this popularity and brand recognition that allows the company to play stupid tricks like the one below.

their products are good but as a company creative is horrible as they dont support their products with latest drivers which i think is very wrong on the company role.

I have an Audigy 2 ZS Notebook for which creative only releases a beta driver for vista, which sounded like crap.
They dont even give decent driver support. They just want to discontinue product support for a new OS so that the consumer is forced to upgrade and not willing.

 

[Skaldraig]

I'm cosindering returning the Xi-fi and buying Audiotrak's Prodigy HD.

 

[WmAx]

If you are serious about sound quality, do not get any computer speakers. I have never come across one that I would rate better than below mediocre in sound quality. This includes the most highly regarded Logitech speakers often recommended. For at least an okay sound quality, go with a decent consumer level low price bookshelf two way speaker and a used stereo receiver off of ebay. I recommend an Infinity Primus 160(you might find a pair refurbished from factory for like $100-$120 a pair on ebay) or Primus 162 (the new version of 160 with updated cosmetics) and an old 30-50 watt per channel 80's vintage Onkyo or comparable brand receiver off of ebay. The receiver should cost you about 40 bucks plus shipping. This will result in far better quality than any computer speaker system of which I am aware. You can add a low priced by decent quality powered sub in the future. I usually recommend the Parts Express house brand(Dayton) powered subwoofers. Probably one of the best for performance in the price range.

-Chris

 

[Skaldraig]

Right. After some time I've decided to buy a new soundcard. I'll be selling my X-fi gamer. I was thinking about ESI Juli@ : http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=43&page=2.
Listening to music is my primary concern, but I also play games. So I've been wondering how this cards works in games.

 

[AlphaWolf]

Question - if you are going to use your computer for mostly audio listening, then why not use something better than midrange gaming speakers?

If you look at the newegg reviews on speakers like the logitech z530 and z5500 speakers, you can note that pretty much anybody who has done some critical listening with those will point out how they are very weak when it comes to details - in fact I have read more than one review which has stated that they are weaker than most TV speakers when it comes to this.

This is probably OK for most games, especially multiplayer games where there isn't much dialog to listen to other than maybe your buddies over ventrilo or something. But for anything else - movies in particular - you'll probably want something different.

Personally I am trying to build my setup to be versatile for pretty much anything, I've tried many different speakers so far, some great sounding, some not so great, but I am really after that bang for your buck setup that I just haven't quite found yet.

--

As for your soundcard, I would recommend taking a look at the Auzentech Prelude. It supports EAX 5 and dolby digital live and DTS connect, with future plans for an HDMI add on as well, and has much better analog components than any creative brand card.

Don't buy it just yet though as many of those features aren't there yet. Oddly enough they released it before including digital support in the drivers which raises a possible red flag. Just keep an eye on it and watch the review sites. I myself am keeping an eye on this one as it has the potential of becoming the holy grail of sound cards.

Regardless of which card and speakers you get, just remember that computers are all digital, and create a lot of EM interference with all of the devices running in there. For that reason, I recommend against using analog connections - keep it all digital until it reaches the receiver. Even though DDL and DTSc are a tad lossy, it still beats hearing your hard disk heads clicking away through your speakers like you get with the typical setup that does the digital to analog conversion on the soundcard itself.

 

[Skaldraig]

Mate, first of all I've already bought the speakers.
They are not Logitech either
I've Altec Lansing FX6021 (http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details.asp?pID=FX6021), and I must say that I'm very satisfied with them. So if you're wondering what to buy, I'd give them a try. If you're serious about music however, buy stereo speakers.

As for the soundcard - from what I've heard ESI Juli@ is one of the best soundcard for music listening, if not the best. Just been wondering how it works in games.
If I were to describe what I want to do with this setup it would go like this : 60 % music 30 % gaming 10 % movies.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Question - if you are going to use your computer for mostly audio listening, then why not use something better than midrange gaming speakers?

If you look at the newegg reviews on speakers like the logitech z530 and z5500 speakers, you can note that pretty much anybody who has done some critical listening with those will point out how they are very weak when it comes to details - in fact I have read more than one review which has stated that they are weaker than most TV speakers when it comes to this.

This is probably OK for most games, especially multiplayer games where there isn't much dialog to listen to other than maybe your buddies over ventrilo or something. But for anything else - movies in particular - you'll probably want something different.

Personally I am trying to build my setup to be versatile for pretty much anything, I've tried many different speakers so far, some great sounding, some not so great, but I am really after that bang for your buck setup that I just haven't quite found yet.

--

As for your soundcard, I would recommend taking a look at the Auzentech Prelude. It supports EAX 5 and dolby digital live and DTS connect, with future plans for an HDMI add on as well, and has much better analog components than any creative brand card.

Don't buy it just yet though as many of those features aren't there yet. Oddly enough they released it before including digital support in the drivers which raises a possible red flag. Just keep an eye on it and watch the review sites. I myself am keeping an eye on this one as it has the potential of becoming the holy grail of sound cards.

Regardless of which card and speakers you get, just remember that computers are all digital, and create a lot of EM interference with all of the devices running in there. For that reason, I recommend against using analog connections - keep it all digital until it reaches the receiver. Even though DDL and DTSc are a tad lossy, it still beats hearing your hard disk heads clicking away through your speakers like you get with the typical setup that does the digital to analog conversion on the soundcard itself.

That pretty much sums it up. I've got the Z5500, and they are pretty good for computer speakers, but nothing close to anything you hear in home theater. I used to think they sounded fantastic until I started getting into HT stuff.

The complaints I have about the Z5500 is that they get muddy and lots of detail is missing. They simply just aren't that clear. The subwoofer is boomy and doesn't sound tight.

That being said, these are awesome gaming speakers. If you connect your PC to an AVR and a good set of 5.1 speakers, it might be too revealing as all sounds in games are very compressed, so you will hear the compression. Plus, these are way cheaper than going the non-computer speaker route, so they're a great bang for your buck.

$325 is too expensive. I paid the same amount 2 years ago in canadian dollars. That means you could probably find it for about $250 in the USA.

Anyways, grats on your new AL Speakers. I hope you enjoy them.

 

[Skaldraig]

So, anyone here who has ESI Juli@ on board?