Soec me a 5.1 USB soundcard for powered speakers

Skunkworks · 23 Aug 2024 at 18:45

I've been using a Soundblaster Z for years. It sounds great, but has annoying bugs, so I'm now looking to replace it. I've tried using onboard sound, but even on high-end boards it's noticably lower quality than the 10+ year old Soundblaster.

Any suggestions for something I can use with Logitech powered speakers? It will be just for speakers, as I already have a decent USB headset.

Skunkworks · 23 Aug 2024 at 21:37

The 3 3.5mm - Front, Back, Centre/Sub.

Edit - Logitech Z906.

Skunkworks · 23 Aug 2024 at 21:49

hornetstinger said:
Just use digital out from the PC (optical/coaxial) into the Logitech?

Onboard is never that great, even on my Crosshair 8 Formula.

I could go for another internal card, but thought I'd see if there were an appropriate external ones first.

Skunkworks · 23 Aug 2024 at 22:27

Interesting. I have an optical cable around here somewhere. I'll give it a try.

Skunkworks · 24 Aug 2024 at 16:08

I do use the surround, and the card is great other than the 2 annoying bugs. The first is at start-up the card will sometimes just vanish from Windows. The only way to fix this is to shut down the PC, cut the power via the PSU, then restart. This can happen several times or week, or be fine for months on end. The second bug is daily, and it's the front and rear channels swapping. I fix it by opening the SB software, switching to headphones, and then back to speakers, which resets it. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to either of these bugs.