Which sound card?

Groog

Groog

Groog

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Hoping to build up a new computer soonish.

Hadn't planned on getting a sound card just yet, but now I'm reconsidering.

I'll be using it to drive logitech 2.1 speakers and my 5.1 medusa headset. Preferably with 7.1 capability for the future.

Do I need to spend a lot for a decent improvement over on-board sound?
I haven't bought a sound card since my hercules game theatre XP!!
 
Not at all. Asus Xonar DS costs about £35, and is a great sound card if you don't want to spend a lot. Significantly better than onboard.
 
How does that card compare to one that costs £100?

Are higher spec sound cards for sound engineers/audiophiles or is there little point in paying more when I'll be listening to music/playing games mostly?
 
For £130, which may seem a lot for sound card, there is the Asus Xonar ST or STX. Both card are probably the best you can get for music. However they are stereo cards and are not aimed at gamers wanting 5.1 etc.

Normally with Creative for eg, their top of the line X-Fi Titanium range doesn't sound any better than the budget X-Fi I would bet, they just add more bells and whistles a fancy name, and charge more. But, Creative are aimed at gamers, the Asus cards beat them for music imo, especially Asus' top cards.

Unless you are going for either a Xonar ST/STX or an Auzentech Forte or Prelude, then I don't there will be any great audio improvement over something that cost £35-£50. It depends on what features you are looking for. A Xonar DS for eg, comes with features missing from it's more expensive brethren, hence the budget cost.

You could get a Xonar DX or D1 for £50 and it would be a great card for games, music and films.
 
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I got a D1 second hand last week for £35 and its a very decent sound card for what I do (like you I mainly game/listen to music/watch films on my pc). Just having the addition of things like Dolby Virtual Speaker make it sound miles better and it also just sounds a lot clearer, less distortion.

Its the only sound card Ive ever had though so cant compare it to more expensive models, you'll have to go off other peoples advice for that. But Im just saying you dont need to spend a lot to get a nice noticable difference :)
 
I can vouch for the Sonar Essence STX, a great card if you want the best sound quality for music.
Although it doesn't do gaming as well as the Creative cards you get an overall better sound, especially with quality headphones like Sennheiser 595's.
 
Cheers for the replies. I don't see myself spending £100 on a sound card. So something like the Xonar D1 is looking pretty good to me.

Reckon ill downgrade from a rampage II extreme mobo (was willing to pay lots because it comes with a sound card, which is apparently pish) to a P6TD or similar and get the Xonar D1, cheers guys!
 
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