Sound Card to power Z-5500s

[sHape oF gReY]

Hey guys,

I just picked up a set of these cheap...$180 and wanted to use them with my gaming PC and also be able to hook them up to my theater system for badass 5.1 thater setup + projector.

Here's the problem, I haven't used anything but cheap 2.1 and onboard sound in the last 2-3 years, so I'm a bit out of the loop on standalone sound cards, was hoping you guys could lay down some hits and suggestions.

What soundcard would you guys suggest for a great mix of gaming/theater experience. Hoping for something under under 180-200$.

~cheers

[sHape oF gReY]

Ok I think I've narrowed it down to about 3 choices:

1: Auzen Prelude 7.1 - No DTS support atm, but higher quality build than SB
2: SB X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty - has EAX and supports DTS/THX, but plagued with driver issues and hardware is of lesser quality than the Auzen boards.
3: Auzen X-plosion 7.1 - DDL/DTS Conenctcertified, but no EAX

With auzen it looks like its either gaming or video, untill they add DTS support on the prelude anyway. I'm not entirely sure what EAX sounds like, because I've never had it heh. With SB you get everything EAX/DTS/THX but theres still diver issues and the hardware components aren't as good as the Auzen counterparts.

Right now leanign more towards Auzen Prelude, but still looking for more input from someone who's delt with all the features and cards before.

[Stillhouse]

It should be mentioned the the X-Fi cards only do DD/DTS in software via PowerDVD(free download).

That said, I would recommend either the Prelude or the XtremeMusic. The Prelude will be a bit better stock, but you pay about $100 more for it, and many agree it's not worth the difference.

The XtremeMusic can be modded for better sound, and can be had from Dell for $80:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=313-4369&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=25682&lid=585550

I advise against the Fatal1ty Pro. The 64MB of X-RAM provides little to no performance gain in the few games that support it, and sound quality will be the same as the XtremeMusic.

[nd4spdbh2]

Xtrememusic from dell... 80 bucks and its the same as the xtremegamer fatality (minus xram which makes no improvements) I absolutly love my XM music quality as well as gaming quality is amazing. Pluss if your a gamer your going to want EAX hardware acceleration, offloading that to the cpu could hinder performance.

Also driver issues, i have had none.

[sHape oF gReY]

Hmm look like XM is the way to go. Also, what "mods" can be done to the XM to make it better?

~cheers

[iii9ix3]

It should be mentioned the the X-Fi cards only do DD/DTS in software via PowerDVD(free download).

That said, I would recommend either the Prelude or the XtremeMusic. The Prelude will be a bit better stock, but you pay about $100 more for it, and many agree it's not worth the difference.

The XtremeMusic can be modded for better sound, and can be had from Dell for $80:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=313-4369&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=25682&lid=585550

I advise against the Fatal1ty Pro. The 64MB of X-RAM provides little to no performance gain in the few games that support it, and sound quality will be the same as the XtremeMusic.


Is this the same card that was on sale at Frys a few weeks ago?

[Stillhouse]

Yes, in that they are both OEM versions.

Hmm look like XM is the way to go. Also, what "mods" can be done to the XM to make it better?

~cheers

The opamps and caps can be switched to better quality ones:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/hotrodding-x-fi-laymans-guide-no-56k-226975/

[nd4spdbh2]

Yes, in that they are both OEM versions.



The opamps and caps can be switched to better quality ones:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/hotrodding-x-fi-laymans-guide-no-56k-226975/

ya the OPamps and caps can be switched but its a pain... the things are so damn small! The stock X-Fi xtremeMusic sounds amazing.

[sHape oF gReY]

XM sounds like a champ.

Got mine coming from dell. Also got 4x LM4562MA and a Blackgate cap, should be fun.

[Shiggity]

+1 for xtreme music

Also grats on that amazing deal you got on the Z5500s, those speakers are sick.

[Sir Barton]

As far as computer speakers go, the Z5500s are nice. For $180 I wouldve gone the bookshelf speaker route and picked up a used stereo amp or receiver. If you havent heard better, the Z5500s sound great.

[Theocnoob]

has EAX and supports DTS/THX

This is incorrect. THX is not a decoding technology or any type of technology.

THX is a series of incremental certifications regarding Sound quality, Signal Noise Ratio, etc.

Computer Speaker THX certification is the lowest level THX certivication and it ranges up all the way through $20 000+ THX ULTRA 2 certified systems.

[Theocnoob]

For Z 5500 Xtreme Music.

Xplosion's delicate attack/decay and organic harmonics will be lost and the Prelude's SNR will be too. Best bang/buck.