Computer Sound Cards

[Johnny Canuck]

I am buying a new computer. ( Dell Dimension 5100)What sound card do y'all recommend? I would assume a Soundblaster of some kind. The onboard is not sufficient. I think i will buy a soundcard later, the Soundblaster Audigy 2. Or is the Live good enough?

JC

 

[jaxvon]

I'd pick up an Audigy 2 or an M-Audio Revolution 7.1. The Creative does more processing, but the M-Audio won't make you install a bunch of useless software.

 

[Latent]

One new option that has just been released is the Creative X-Fi. It will be expensive right now as it has just come out but the bottom end one may be fine. There is lots of extra processing power built into this card but its hard to tell if it will be much use to the average person yet. However one feature that it has that applies very well to home thearter is a surround headphone mode. This would allow you to take 5.1 sound off DVD's (or games) and output it to 2 channel headphones with full surround effect. This feature is also available on some flagship receivers but this may be a cheaper way to add this feature if you don't have one of these few models.

Michael

 

[Azz123]

X-Mystique 7.1 Gold is what your after..........

This obviously is an Australian retailer, have a look about for what you can find local to yourself.

It is one of the only cards that will convert stereo source to Dolby Digital on the fly.

If your setting up a Media Center PC all sound is encoded to Dolby Digiital Live surround sound format. I don't believe any SB card will do this.

Manufacturer's Website

Good Luck!!

 

[WndrBr3d]

We've actually discussed sound cards and their role's in HTPC's here.

Basically, if your using it for Gaming and doing digital out, get a card that does Dolby Digital Live encoding.

If you're using it just to play Media (DVDs, MP3s, HTPC sorta stuff) and using digital out, it really doesn't matter what sound card you use, since you're be bypassing the DSP and DAC 99% of the time anyways.