New to decent sound systems - need some advice

[Strife212]

I'm one of those people that has always kept up to date with the latest graphics cards and CPU's but just relied on integrated sound and a pair of £30 Creative 2.1 speakers. I'm currently using the Intel HD Audio on an nForce 680i.

I'm seriously thinking of ordering an X-Fi Prelude and Z-5500's. Would I notice a huge improvement? I've never really owned any brilliant PC speakers before, let alone decent Hi-Fi equipment.

 

[DavidQ]

I was in exactly the same situation as yourself not so long ago, I was fairly hesitant spending a lot of money on a soundcard and speakers and with no real knowledge of how it would turn out. I took a gamble and got myself an X-Fi and Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II, the difference is phenomenal and it's very noticable once you listen to your favourite songs. You will hear things you never heard before and it kinda brings a new lease of life to your favourite tunes.

 

[Leporello]

I have a Prelude in my system. Previously I had used the Sigmatel onboard sound on my Intel mobo. Due to immature drivers I removed the Prelude and went back to the onboard sound. I can tell you that the difference is substantial on my system.

I have the Prelude connected to a Denon AV 5.1 system, a set of Sennheiser HD650 cans amplified by a Graham Slee SOLO headphone amplifier. If you want a similar improvement in sound from the Prelude you'll have to invest some money. You could buy a second hand seperates to keep the cost down. If you use headphones a lot you could connect a headphone amplifier to the Prelude and get very decent sound with some reasonable headphones. You could look at the product ranges of companies like Sennheiser, Grado, AKG, ATH and a few others.

I've invested a fair sum in my sound set-up and I consider it money well spent. However, your priorities may be different. Have a browse of the AVforums, Headfi.org and others. Good luck with your researches. If I can be of any more help come back to me.

 

[nicmcv]

There are many options

You will here a diffrence using a good PCI soundcard with good speakers.
You have to go and listen to the kit you like, if you can. Make sure you get something that sounds good to you, that is the only thing that matters.

You could spend £50 on a soundcard £50 on a second hand amp and £50 on second hand speakers. Your PC would sound lovely. The x-fi will sound good too, however I'm a wee bit wary as to how musical they sound. Don't get me wrong, it will sound good, but as I've been involved with music for a while my ears have become slightly more sensitive to these things. I'm using an Audigy 2 at the mo with KX drivers, this is hooked up to a Rotel amp with Rogers Studio 1/Export speakers, it sounds pretty good to me (gotta get a new soundcard soon though).

Leporello sounds like he has a great setup (i'm green) you could go down this path too, but you have to get researching and listening.

Use your ears, they are one of the best bits of equipment ever.