New Speakers alone going to be enough?

[DarkAlexandr]

Well I got my tax return, and with my old CreativeLabs 5.1 speakers starting to deteriorate on me, I'm planning to purchase a new set of speakers; specifically, the Logitech Z-5500. Now im curious if I should endeavor to get a nice X-Fi platinum sound card as well, or if the onboard audio on my Mobo will be enough.

Recommendations? Also if anyone has a better option for speakers it would as well be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

-DarkAlexandr

[Banthur]

Well a good sound card is central to any quality sound system but you don't neccesarily need to go all out and get an X-Fi. While extremely nice if you're looking for something more budget range the Audigy 2 ZS series is still an excellent card. I would definitely choose a card over onboard though.

[shard]

If you are going to get those speakers (great BTW) I would definatly suggest getting the X-Mystique or X-Plosion, they are bolth digital soundcards, and support Dolby Digital Live output, wich the Z-5500's fully support! It will sound amazing, and work flawlessly, and the X-Mystique can be had for about 80-90, much less then a new X-fi card. I think www.zipzoomfly.com has them right now.

[Celeron_Phreak]

Is gaming your main priority with speakers, or is it music and movies? If it's gaming, go with an Audigy 2 ZS or the X-Fi. Both offer the latest in EAX support (the audigy requires a driver "mod"), but neither of them offer digital output which would take advantage of yoru speakers. It does offer a S/PDIF connector, which is 1/8" mono and requires an adapter to RCA to use with digital coax, but it will only give you output via two fronts and the sub unless you are watching a DDL/DTS encoded movie, since the card does not encode to digital.

I myself just upgraded to the X-Plosion from an X-Mystique because I don't game a whole lot. When I do game, I find the encoded 5.1 and surround sound to be better than EAX, but that's just my opinion. The X-Mystique and X-Plosion both offer EAX 2 support though, so gaming with EAX isn't eliminated.

So.....

Audigy 2 ZS/X-Fi -- Gaming
X-Mystique/X-Plosion -- Music & Movies

[DarkAlexandr]

It seems from the other posts I've read that the X-Plosion still sounds good with gaming, then I suppose I'll grab that one with my next paycheck. I'm fairly divided between gaming and the listening of music, but the music still gets slightly more playtime. That and 130 bucks, you can't really go wrong.
Thanks for the advice everybody

[Celeron_Phreak]

No problem, where here to help and be a team, not to be spectators and leaches. :)

Just remember, if you ever have a technical question, chances are there is at least one person on this forum who can answer it, be it computer or otherwise. Just be sure it's posted in the correct catagory.

Let us know what you think about the X-Plosion, I'd love to hear some other member's opinions on the card!

Today, now that I have the chance to listen to music at resonable volumes, I notice a significant increase in subwoofer volume compared to the X-Mystique. I'm saying a most about 25-30% increase at the same settings as before!