Sound Card - What is the best out there?

[kram 2.0]

Hey, what is your opinion on the best sound card out there? I've looked at the two primary ones, <b>Creative</b> and <b>Turtle Beach</b> and both seem to have thier ups and downs. I'm looking for one around 70~90 dollars. I'm looking for one that goes with a nice set of speakers (if possible, please tell me good speakers too - again, around 70 dollars, possibly less) with a base and surround sound (optimal for watching DVDs and periodical gaming).

Thanks - kram

[Alaron]

I'd go for the Audigy 2 OEM and some Logitech Z640s. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=z640

[kram 2.0]

What I'm kinda scared about Creative right now, is that some people on their forum said that the Sound Blasters do not work on XP...or something. And that is exactly what I am planning to do (with a partition of RedHat Linux + XP Pro). Does anyone know anything on that? That's kinda why I looked into turtle beach (which has good reviews). But for now, please vote on the <b>quality</b> of the sound card and if possible, post more speaker suggestions.
Thanks - kram

[lil Jimmie]

Audigy 2 & Logitech Z640s

[kram 2.0]

What's so different with the SB Audigy (s) and Turtle Beach? And also, how do you tell the quality of a sound card? Is it the amount of decibles it could go up to or something? Let me know-
Thanks - kram

[SonicVanguard]

The Audigy2 is the only consumer level sound card that can record @ 24 bit/96K resolution and playback 24 bit/192K (DVD-Audio quality). It also has the highest signal to noise ratio (106dB) of any consumer level card on the market.

Kram: The "amount of decibles" is not quite the correct term. When a soundcard (or amplifier) has a given dB rating in terms of signal to noise, simpley stated, that is how many decibles there are between the noise floor and it's output. 106dB is phenominal for a consumer level card. The Santa Cruz is only 96 dB - a signficant differance. Basically saying that if both sound cards were playing the same audio file at the same wattage output, the Audigy2 would be preceived as louder.

The Audigy2 is the best bang for the buck out there. The next step up would be the Delta DiO 24/96 from M-Audio (http://www.m-audio.net/products/m-audio/dio2496.php). But it is a professional card - some games don't play well on it for example. But it is a great card, I have it's little brother the Audiophile 24/96.

HTH.

[kram 2.0]

People,
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card (OEM) and the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum 6.1 PCI Sound Card are two different sound cards - the Audigy2 OEM is a 70 dollar sound card found here:<br>http://store6.yimg.com/I/svcompucycle_1755_25077364
<br>while the SB Audigy 2 Platinum 6.1 is seen here:<br>http://store6.yimg.com/I/svcompucycle_1755_25057821<br>Their prices are quite different. Does the Audigy Soundblaster 2 (70 dollar one) still have the audio power as said here:<br>The Audigy2 is the only consumer level sound card that can record @ 24 bit/96K resolution and playback 24 bit/192K (DVD-Audio quality). It also has the highest signal to noise ratio (106dB) of any consumer level card on the market.<br>Let me know
Thanks - kram

[lil Jimmie]

They are the same card only the "Platinum" has the front panel for added ports and remote.

[kram 2.0]

Would both of them support the Logitech Z640s you recommended earlier?
Thanks - kram

[lil Jimmie]

Originally posted by kram8806
Would both of them support the Logitech Z640s you recommended earlier?
Thanks - kram

Yes

[SonicVanguard]

kram: They are identical sound cards. The OEM verison does not have the front panel controls or any bundled software except a driver disk. But, as lil Jimmie pointed out, it is a FULL Audigy2 in every way.

[Furius92]

By the way, I run an SB Audigy in XP with no problems. And yes, the Audigy2 is definitely the best out of those three.

[Xayd]

M-Audio Revolution is the best sound card under 100 dollars for pure sound quality.

If it's the front panel you need, the Terratec DMX 6 Fire is better than the Platinum, imo.

[kram 2.0]

Tks people - I think I'll go with your recommendations and stick with Creative SB Audigy 2. Tks for your inputs :-).

---look below - I changed my pending system's sound system. If you see anything I should change (such as a recommendation for a graphic card ~100 dollars, please let me know.

Thanks - kram

[SonicVanguard]

Originally posted by Xayd
M-Audio Revolution is the best sound card under 100 dollars for pure sound quality.

If it's the front panel you need, the Terratec DMX 6 Fire is better than the Platinum, imo.

Sorry Mr. Moderator, I've heard the Revolution - it's junk. The execs at M-Audio should be shot for releasing that "thing". Latency problems up and down, unusually high noise floor at lower levels, and a poor S/PDIF pot makes for a bad preformer. It's got great specs on paper, but in real life, it's a dog. M-Audio needs to focus on pro audio - that's what put them on the map.

The Terratec is good, but it has latency issues. So recording can be problematic. But otherwise it compares well to the Audigy2 Platinum.

[Xayd]

I agree that their pro products are much better performers, notably the Delta 410 (which I currently use in my movie PC).

I think the only thing really holding the Revo back, however, is the somewhat immature drivers. They've got a house full of Mac driver programmers from what they say but Windows and specifically Direct X sound implementations are fairly new to them, I think they'll come along in due time. As for analog output, however, the one I've played with sounded every bit as good to my ears through my Klipsch speakers as the 410 I have.

But, on the related topic of low levels, meh, my PC has two sound settings, rattle the walls and off :p.

[glc]

I'd personally try the onboard 6 channel audio on that motherboard before buying a sound card. You may be pleasantly surprised - and if not, then you can buy a card.

[kram 2.0]

I'd personally try the onboard 6 channel audio on that motherboard before buying a sound card.

do you mean on the p4p800 motherboard, or motherboards in general?

[Xayd]

Not all on-board sound is created equal ;).

The nVidia Soundstorm is good, the 5.1 channel audio that's on recent Intel mobos is decent imo. They will be noticably better if output to digital speakers or the digital input on a receiver, running to analog speakers both leave a bit to be desired imo.

[kram 2.0]

then is the asus p4p800 good? I've had many recommendations on it and it is rather expensive for a motherboard

[Nuclear Krusader]

Creative SB Audigy 2 all the way.

I take it over the onboard 6 channel audio for several reasons:

+Audigy comes with a firewire port.
+Onboard audio does not support EAX so you won't enjoy your games to the fullest.
+Onboard audio lacks environmental presets. This isn't a really strong reason but some ppl like myself do find the environmental sound cool.
+Onboard audio has only three jacks, so you must disable the Audio-In or Mic jack in order to plug the rear and center speakers. Audigy sound cards have a jack for every thing.