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Sound Card

RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
Well, I am looking for a new sound card (because I am so damn sick of this crappy SBLive! Value card- Ive had nothing but problems), so I am asking what you guys would recommend. I have a 2.1 Boston Acustic Speaker system currently, but I might be getting a 5.1 system in the near future. So what would be a good card? I know Audigy 2 is good, but its pretty expensive. So let me know what your suggestions are (or even just what brand of card to get). Thanks!
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Comments

  • psycopsyco Ranger
    Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or a FortissimoIII
  • KeyanKeyan Ranger
    Audigy 2 rocks, smooth install, great performance and excellent sound quality...but yes, they are kinda pricy.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Phillips Acoustic Edge cards are great.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    So Biggles, something like [url=http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11176497&m=488&cat=521&scat=523]this [/url]would be good? Would it still work well with 2.1? Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming (I would like to get a Santa Cruz card but it is a little out of my price range). The only stores are: Circuit City, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Staples.
  • BekennBekenn Sinclair's Duck
    Asus A7N8X Deluxe!

    "Hey, lookee, it's a sound card with an integrated motherboard!"
  • BekennBekenn Sinclair's Duck
    Seriously, though, that Philips is pretty good.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    It is? And it would work with my current 2.1 setup? Cool...
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Im off to buy it now...
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Indeedy. I've been preaching Philips cards for ages!
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Well, I have a problem. I installed the card, downloaded the latest drivers, but not getting any sound. Well, Im overdue for a reformat, so I spend tonight reformmating my PC hoping that it will magically fix itself. No go. So now I am wondering, could these speakers be designed to only work with the gateway SBLive card? is that even possible? They are Boston Digital BA735, just the standard 2.1 speaker setup. The drivers installed fine, and windows recognizes the card, so I assume that the problem doesnt lie with the card (and yes, the volume levels are all turned up :) ). Suggestions would be welcome. I am running windows XP, with the most current drivers for the PSC605. I just installed service pack one and I am in the process of getting everything reinstalled, ect. Thanks in advance!
  • KeyanKeyan Ranger
    uuuh...those are digital speakers, which means you need a digital output on your audio card to make them work...

    I don't even remember if that model HAS an analog input, if it does, you'll need to hook it up that way..if they don't you are out of luck.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    More details please...
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    So where can I find the cheapest pair of compatable speakers...
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Cambridge Soundworks 2.1 speakers are great. They're usually marketed under the Creative brand (what with Creative owning Cambridge Soundworks and all). I think the basic model is the PC2100 or something.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    So how do I tell which speakers are going to be compatable with my sound card (since this set of 2.1 is not)? Any other suggestions for cheap speakers (up to a 5.1 setup, if you can find a cheap one)... Thanks again.
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Well, If I could get ahold of a set of Logitech Z-640 Speakers would that be good? And more importantly, would they work? Thanks.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Well, your sound card will have a frount out and rear out, both analogue. So you want speakers that take in single analogue. Then you connect the speakers to the front analogue out, tell the sound card that you have a 2 speaker setup and off you go. :)
    Basically, it's pretty rare for speakers not to have support for analogue in (ie a small stereo headphone plug).
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    All I know is that my speakers arent working (and I have tried out, in, and center ports). But will the speaker system listed above work? (I think the gateway speakers are made to only work with the older sound cards- SBLive Value, ect).
  • KeyanKeyan Ranger
    No, they are not made to work with OLDER sound cards, they are made to work with sound cards that have digital outputs. If you got the one you posted the link to, it DOES have a digital output, you just need to read the manual to figure out which output doubles as the digital output, and how to set the sound card to digital output mode in the various control panels for it, then just hook the speakers into it.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Yep.

    See, there are many different forms of output. Two of the more common can be described as being either Analog or Digital.

    Analog is just the pure electrical sound data coming out of the card, whereas digital is simply zeros and ones. THe nice thing about digital is that only one port is needed for however many speakers, as the data is decoded in the speakers or in a Pre-amplifier.

    As mentioned above, your card should have one connection that also serves the purpose of a digital output (in addition to whatever primary use it might have).
    If I remember correctly, this connecion *might* be the center/LFE output. In the philips control panel, there's an option to switch this betseen Center/LFE and digital output, but since my PC is in pieces, I cannot be of any more help. :P
  • I must say i'm a fan of onboard audio, though Sanfam h8s it and has reprimanded me many times for it. I honestly can't tell the difference, but then, i haven't really heard them side by side, and Sanfam's a goddamn audiophile. You and your crazy Klipsh's...

    The onboard on the MSI KT3 Ultra is jim dandy and worthy of admiration. Though I think some advancements must have been made since that board was released. I believe it uses an AC'97 in conjuntion with an Avance chip somewhere. I'm certain someone else can explain it better.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    I don't hate all of it, I hate most of it. :)

    Example: Asus A7N8X (Deluxe) and KT3Ultra.

    Their onboard audio is more than decent on each, although way too warm on the MSI board.
  • ...Warm? As in bassy?
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    Well, thanks for all of your help. I just ended up getting a new set of speakers (the Logitech Z640) and I am amazed at the difference. Even though I cant put the rear speakers behind me, there is a definate difference. Very cool. Not a bad purchase for $70...
  • A2597A2597 Fanboy
    I'm using my build in to the mobo AC97, works great on my 5.1 sound rig :)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Ug. I [b]hate[/b] AC97. It sounds so horrible next to a real sound card. The nvidia APU is pretty damn good for onboard, though. That's what I'm using at the moment.
  • C_MonC_Mon A Genuine Sucker
    I use my on board AC97! I got a MSI KT-3 Ultra ARU!
    I like it very much because I can use surround on it and it got a optical out that I can use to my Minidisk!!
    I tought of buying a amplifier and then ELTAX surround speakers!
  • A2597A2597 Fanboy
    Biggles: come over here and say that. it sounds great.
    OK....I'll admit, the bass is up a little high from games, buuut. :)
    (As in, Pachelbels cannon has a tendancy to knock items off the shelves...)
  • TyvarTyvar Next best thing to a St. Bernard
    Im running A Sound Blaster Audigy with a set of Altech Lansing 251's I wanted 5.1 and I was being cheap.. not all of us have the 300-400 bucks to blow on a set of Klipsch speakers ;)

    Although my next speaker purchase will probably be either the new big logitechs or the Klipsch 5.1 set up :)
  • BekennBekenn Sinclair's Duck
    I'm currently using an SB Audigy attached to Klipsch ProMedia v.2-400 speakers from back in the day when they only cost $250. I also happen to be running on an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe, but I figure since I already have the Audigy, might as well use that instead. Though I do love the voice POST messages the A7N8X has....
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