I need a good cheap soundcard that does 5.1 well.

[shard]

Well I blew all my extra money on network equipment and my new headphones, but one problem, with these headphones, definatly proved that I need a new soundcard. So what I now need is a good soundcard that does 5.1 well and has good DAC's. Now I know that the Chaintech AV710 is damn good, but I have heard that it does 5.1 badly. Tell me a bit more about that. Or suggest something else.

My sound equipment is; Logitech Z-5500, and Sennheiser HD280. So thats the caliber of equipment that I am using.

My budget is around 40 or less. I was going to get the X-mystique, but I just cant afford that now since I quit my job.

Thanks guys.

[R4z0r4mu5 Pr|m3]

40 or less for good 5.1 is tough, only the hi-sample rate 2-channel is good on the AV710 - i tried

the X-mystique and TB montego would be ideal but out of budget, the only things i can think of for under 40 are the SB Live! 24-bit or possibly a used/refurbished audigy2/x-mystique/montego

[jonspd]

I would have to go with the creative lab sound blaster live.

[Avatar28]

I'd get a cheap OEM Audigy 2 of some flavor for analog outputs. Or possibly a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, but the Audigy will give you probably the best positional audio. PC Direct had an Audigy 2 ZS listed on Pricewatch for $50 shipped. I realize that's slightly more than your budget, but it should give you significantly better sound. I also found plain Audigy 2's for around $40 + shipping. If there's no way to swing that little bit extra then an Audigy 1 would still be better than a SB Live!. I didn't see it on pricewatch but you should be able to find one through pricegrabber or froogle or the like for closer to $30-35. And there's always ebay and the classifieds here of course too.

[shard]

Cant you mod the Audigy 1 to the Audigy 2zs, or even the Audigy 4?

[R4z0r4mu5 Pr|m3]

If there's no way to swing that little bit extra then an Audigy 1 would still be better than a SB Live!.too.

The SB Live! 24-bit uses the Audigy LS chip. It's only $25-30 for a new one.

[Cap'n Pedro]

I love the Audigy series; they have great sound quality!

[bapski]

i have a spare SOUND BLASTER LIVE 5.1 (sb0100)

[Avatar28]

The SB Live! 24-bit uses the Audigy LS chip. It's only $25-30 for a new one.

Ah, okay, didn't realize that. I thought it was still the same EMU 10K1 as the regular live but with a 24-bit DAC

[cornbread]

Now I know that the Chaintech AV710 is damn good, but I have heard that it does 5.1 badly.


I just purchased the 710, its a great card for music listening as far as headphones/2.1, but I have no clue how 5.1 works. Also if your a gamer this is not the card for you. I just found that out the hard way, a few games I play a lot are having sound issues like popping and crackling in the background, I have tried everything to clear it up and nothing works yet. I have read that some people like it for gaming and have no problems, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[shard]

I just purchased the 710, its a great card for music listening as far as headphones/2.1, but I have no clue how 5.1 works. Also if your a gamer this is not the card for you. I just found that out the hard way, a few games I play a lot are having sound issues like popping and crackling in the background, I have tried everything to clear it up and nothing works yet. I have read that some people like it for gaming and have no problems, but I wouldn't recommend it.


I am a big gamer, and I watch lots of movies also, so I guess not =/

[papercutout]

i'm using a audigy 2, thats pretty OK,a nd will produce better sound quality with better speakers than mine, even though i have the creative 6.1's...
i like the card, it comes with lots of bits and pices, software and stuff, and yeah, pick one off ebay, i did! cheaper....

[JCLW]

Well you've got the old digital/analog problem.

You're going to want 5.1 in games, which means if your card doesn't support DDLive! then you're going to have to use analog connections. But that means if you're watching movies the soundcard will be doing the decoding, not those nice expensive Z-5500s.

But if you go digital for movies, you'll only get stereo in games.

So you can pick one, swap the cables and/or driver settings all the time, or just use what you have and put a DDLive! card (like the X-mystique) on your Xmas list so you can use the equipment like it was meant to be used.

[Avatar28]

Yeah, myself, I'm waiting for the X-Raider (which ZZF has listed for about $70 right now). I spoke to a guy at Bluegears and he told me that they hoped to release the card before the end of the year. So it might be worth looking at one of those. Dolby Digital Live AND DTS realtime encoding.

[R4z0r4mu5 Pr|m3]

Yeah, myself, I'm waiting for the X-Raider (which ZZF has listed for about $70 right now). I spoke to a guy at Bluegears and he told me that they hoped to release the card before the end of the year. So it might be worth looking at one of those. Dolby Digital Live AND DTS realtime encoding.

would it better than the mystique, if so why would it cost less?

[Avatar28]

would it better than the mystique, if so why would it cost less?

Actually, it was $74 and the spec sheet can be found here (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/PDF/234500.pdf). As for why it's cheaper, my best guess is that it's probably cheaper because it doesn't have the replacable opamps and such that the X-Mystique has (they're not listed on the spec sheet for it, but if you look at a picture of the card, you'll see them. They're all those little DIPP chips in the sockets all over the card). They also have another new card, the X-plosion (spec sheet here (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/PDF/234502.pdf))), that DOES have them and it lists for $122 on ZZF right now (also not available yet). Far as I can tell, they both seem to be the exact same card except for the op-amp thing.

Here is specifically what it lists extra on the X-plosion sheet:

Swappable dual DIP type OPAMP controlled preamp circuit (4pcs output control OPAMP IC with DIY socket, 2pcs MIC input control OPAMP IC with DIY socket)
Max 2.8Vrms full swing analog output gain by unique preamp circuit / incredible powerfull analog output, improve dynamic range / SNR
Proper OPAMP control circuit (+8V, -8V dual power supply circuit) for high quality audio quality, prevent audio distortion at high volume level


The opamps would only be an issue for those using analog output. If you're going to be using it for realtime Dolby Digital or DTS encoding, it really wouldn't make any difference since you're using a digital output.

Interestingly, both spec sheets list "HDA X-Mystique 7.1 DTS Connect audio card," under package contents. So I don't know if it's basically the exact same card just with a different CMI chip or if that's a goof on their part.

[scoobydoo]

Philips Rhythmic Edge PSC703

http://www.digit-life.com/articles/philipsedge/

edited to add a link:)