Best music sound card?

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.
 
Zildjian said:
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.
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Music mainly. I listen to music a lot more than playing games, and even when playing games I have game sounds muted or very low while listening to music.

I like the 5500's, but if I knew I could get even better sound from them with a beefier sound card then I would be interested.

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.
 
Scott Salisbury said:
Hi, sorry for thread hijack but I own logitech z5500 speakers, would I notice a difference if I change from my audidy2 ZS to the sound cards recommended here? M-Audio for example.

Or is it really just for hifi setups?
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No, these cards don't have 5.1 sound so you would loose surround sound, perhaps the M Audio Revolution 5.1 would be more up your street, you would see a good improvment over your current card for music playback. If your into games then an X-fi Would be the better bet.

Babyface UK
 
Scott Salisbury said:
Music mainly. I listen to music a lot more than playing games, and even when playing games I have game sounds muted or very low while listening to music.

I like the 5500's, but if I knew I could get even better sound from them with a beefier sound card then I would be interested.

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.
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You got there first, for advice on HIFi, see the Home Cinema & Hi-Fi forum for loads of advice.

Babyface UK
 
fish99 said:
Assuming Rambaud is right about the 192 having phono outputs. I don't quite understand why babyface is using a 6.3mm jack to phono cable if the card has phono outputs, maybe because he already had one of those cables.
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Sorry - I was talking rubbish. :o :o :o :o

They are 6.3mm jack plugs - I bought 2 x jack to phono adapters to connect to my 2 x phono to 3.5mm jack cable. I leave the adpaters in most of the time, so I had forgotten about them.

Also, I have been testing an external DAC, using the 192's coaxial output (it has no optical option), to my T-Amp. And the DAC has phonos.

Humble apologies. :o
 
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.
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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. :D
 
Rambaud said:
Sorry - I was talking rubbish.

They are 6.3mm jack plugs - I bought 2 x jack to phono adapters to connect to my 2 x phono to 3.5mm jack cable. I leave the adpaters in most of the time, so I had forgotten about them.

Also, I have been testing an external DAC, using the 192's coaxial output (it has no optical option), to my T-Amp. And the DAC has phonos.

Humble apologies. :o
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No Problems M8 ;)

Wants the Dac like for improving sound quality?

Babyface UK
 
FYI there isn't a vast amount of difference between the Audiophile 2496 and the 192 for playback.

There is a subtle improvement - but possibly not worth it unless you're using really nice amplification and speakers.

Recording wise you can record at 192k with the Audiophile 192 (although you would need a giant hard drive to do this regularly) and 96k with the 2496.
 
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.
 
Zildjian said:
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.
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I have an SBlive 5.1 and E-MU 0404 installed simultaneously, so can't see it being a problem

You just set up windows sounds for the default card and sometimes actual programs need a bit of help.


edit:
eg:

Kx= kxproject drivers for some creative cards, much better than original drivers.
 
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Zildjian said:
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
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Those are the wrong cables I'm afraid.

You need mono TRS (1/4" jack) to Phono (RCA) cables like these:
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~thepark/andy/36304i0.jpg
 
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.
 
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