New sound card or speakers?

The Mad One · 26 Jan 2006 at 23:30

I currently have an Audigy 2 Plat Ex which has connected to it Creative Megaworks 2.1 and then a rather old but semi decent stereo for the rear 2 sepeakers making it a 4.1 setup. I now have all my speakers set up really nicely but I'd like to upgrade my sound even further, but I'm not sure what I would benefit most from, an Creative X-Fi Elite Pro or the Logitech Z-5500. Any suggestions? In time I will upgrade both but I only have enough money for one at this time.

Apatche64 · 27 Jan 2006 at 01:38

i'd say dont bother with elite pro less you need the connecters, get a standard extreme edition one, then try that and see if you can live with your speakers. buy a decent set of headphones for your games, you'll notice the difference

The Mad One · 27 Jan 2006 at 12:59

Well I do need the extra connectors hence me already having the platinum version of the Audigy 2, plus I already have some medusas 5.1 but that wasn’t the original question. One of the problems is that there’s a quiet static type sound coming out of my back stereo speakers. It’s hard to tell what’s doing it whether it’s the stereo itself or the sound card since when my pc starts up the static sound comes out of all the speakers until windows starts up and loads the sound card drivers, which I find really odd.

So the original question what does everyone think would benefit me most based on my current set up? new speakers or new sound card?

Seirrah · 8 Feb 2006 at 16:52

You won't fully appreciate the card if using Medusas and some dodgy rear speakers. But you say you're going to upgrade everything so maybe consider it.
The Elite pro has better outputs for the rear than the other x-fi cards so better get rid of that stereo to appreciate it

james.miller · 8 Feb 2006 at 19:19

IMO (of course) there is no point in running anything better than an a2 if your using pc speakers. end of story (IMO).

I get far better results using an av amp and proper speakers with a budget sound card than you would with the most expensive pc speakers you could buy and an elite-pro. Anybody else with an av system would say the same thing. Im not saying go out and buy an av system, i'm saying dont bother upgrading your already more than adiquate soundcard.

something to think about

Seirrah · 9 Feb 2006 at 09:50

What's your exact setup James ?

badbob · 9 Feb 2006 at 12:09

I'm ditching my FPS 2000 also, I have a set of B&W 601 speakers spare and just need a amp. Nad 320 @ £100 second hand and it'll blow away those FPS's.

james.miller · 9 Feb 2006 at 16:18

Seirrah said:
What's your exact setup James ?

yamaha rx-v630rds
mission 71i's up front on atacama stands.
eltax ht-2 center
eltax ht-2 bipolar rears
denon pma100-m (100w RMS x2) stereo amp driving:
1x 12" Lightning audio strick DVC subwoofer in a custom 3 1/2 cu.ft box.
1x12" boss SVC subwoofer in a second custom built 3 1/2 cuft box

That lot is connected to my HTPC via a HDA x-mystique

All i'm missing is a nice stereo amp to drive the fronts now lol

james.miller · 9 Feb 2006 at 16:19

ooops double post