Advice for this tone deaf fool

[Biggilus]

Well not really tone deaf but you'd think I am based on my current (and older) setups. What I'm about to say may very well invoke the wrath of regulars here but it's due to pure ignorance:

I'm using the logitech Z906 speaker system with onboard sound on an old cheap motherboard (Z97-k).

What annoyed me the most about this but I never researched or investigated was that I went from a £50 logitech 5.1 setup to the Z906 setup thinking "x6 the price must be so much better" but my experience was identical. Seriously don't even think volume was louder when pushing it. Last time I bought a sound card was a creative sound blaster audigy I think just for 5.1 sound.. And since then as motherboards have 5.1 onboard sound that was all I needed.

Anyhow I'm building a new system imminently and definitely wish to redeem myself with the sounds. I'll be sticking with the Z906 setup in the first instance but the board I'm looking at I'm advised doesn't have great, potentially crappy sound quality (oh but it says 7.1, must be good I think...). I had a brief look at USB DACs which got me thinking - buy one of those or get a dedicated sound card. Or does that amount to the same thing? Will have a PCIe slot spare but also multiple fast USB slots. Already spec'd most of my new setup so wouldn't want to spend more than £100 on a card/DAC but I could stretch that if needed.

Help for a misguided fool please!

ETA: will be used for surround sound gaming and occasional Spotify.

 

[Biggilus]

Fair enough, was just a prayer that I may be able to get better performance out of them. I'll come back for advice once I've got everything else set up and ready to spend on a decent system.

Cheers

 

[Biggilus]

Sweet thanks. If I started with that could I add other bits to get surround? Don't mind investing more for a quality system, but it won't be until I've finished buying and building my new system

 

[Biggilus]

This.

Buy proper speakers secondhand rather than “gaming” speakers which are pretty generic and overpriced for the quality.

Definitely on my radar now. Didn't factor sound into my new system budget but it'll be the next thing I see to once it's up and running.

Would you consider getting headphones?

I will need a pair for when the wife is WFH.. Again happy to spend on a decent pair but not just yet. Also I definitely prefer speakers over headphones for general use.

You will get much better sound out of your Z906 with a sound card around £50, I did from Z5500 which are the earlier version of yours, went with a creative x-fi pci sound card.

Don't be pushed into new speakers as you already have decent speakers .

This is encouraging! Part of me wants to get a soundcard right now and plug that into my current system to see if I do notice anything.

Thanks all