Best music sound card?

GSDog · 20 Jun 2006 at 18:46

Hi all,

I am getting bored with my Audigy 2 ZS and I am thinking about buying a new sound card, it will be used mainly for music.

Do you think It'd worth upgrading my Audigy 2 ZS and getting a sound card for music? Will I see a good improvment?

I'm hoping to spend up to £80 and I like the "Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music" but would like your input first.

Thanks.

GSDog · 20 Jun 2006 at 21:53

It will be used with a hifi setup.

Arcam A75+ amp with Monitor Audio S6 speakers.

GSDog · 20 Jun 2006 at 22:11

Thanks.

I have found M-Audio Audiophile 192 for £93 which seems pretty good.
I probably won't be ordering untill Thursday, so keep the suggestions coming.

GSDog · 21 Jun 2006 at 11:47

babyface uk said:
Don't forget cables as well, I had to get a 6.3mm jack to RCA phono cable to connect the 192 to my amp. ( unless you already got one )

Babyface UK

I *think* at the moment I am using a 3.5mm jack to RCA phono to connect my Audigy 2 ZS to my Arcam amp?

I think I will buy a new cable anyway as this is not long enough.
Will I need a 6.3mm jack to RCA phono to connect the M-Audio card to my amp?

I really don't know much about cables etc, this is all chinese to me. What cable would I need to connect the M-Audio card to my Arcam amp?

GSDog · 21 Jun 2006 at 12:58

Thanks.

Will this do? http://www.decks.co.uk/products/accessories/cables/hq_ofc_phono_phono

GSDog · 21 Jun 2006 at 14:35

OK, thanks boys.

I think I will go for the 192, looks good and It's a nice price for £90 inc VAT.

I will try and sort out some nice speaker wire later on too, think the ones I am using at the moment is quite cheap.

GSDog · 21 Jun 2006 at 17:45

No problem.

I owned the Z-5500's before buying my hifi setup and used it with the Audigy 2 ZS.

It depends what you use the speakers for most, I guess? Music or games?
I will be keeping my Audigy 2 ZS for my 5.1 Medusa headphones which will be used for gaming and I will be getting the M-Audio for my hifi setup for music.

GSDog · 21 Jun 2006 at 18:04

Scott Salisbury said:
I would love to invest in a proper hifi set up but I don't know enough about audio or equipment and probably make a bunch of bad decisions.

To be honest, that's exactly what I did and I am over-the-moon with my hifi setup. Music is much clearer, I hear sounds I never heard on the Z-5500's and some songs actualy sound different!

I knew next to nothing about hifi setups either, but with the help from peeps on this forum in the Hifi section and a bit of reviews/research It didn't take long before I could choose my own equipment.

I now use my Medusa 5.1's + Audigy 2 ZS for games, which absolutely fantastic for games and I will use my hifi setup + M-audio for music.

GSDog · 26 Jun 2006 at 17:03

I have ordered the M-Audio Audiophile 192 sound card today with the cable.

Just making sure I can keep my Audigy 2 ZS installed with the M-Audio, right? They won't conflict and burn my house down will they? Is it ok to keep the Creative drivers installed?

Many thanks.

GSDog · 27 Jun 2006 at 11:49

Thanks a lot.

My card has just arrived with the XLR male > phono cable but nothing fits into the XLR male?! Where is it suposed to go exactly?!?!
You sure this is the right cable, because I can't see anything that this can plug into.

I ordered this cable: http://www.decks.co.uk/products/accessories/cables/cable_xlrm_phono

GSDog · 27 Jun 2006 at 18:52

Gaahh!

Cheers for the info lads, will try and get my hands on one of those cables now.
If you know anywhere that sells them I would be very thankful if you could email me the link.

Thanks again.