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A/V Recommend me an audio card?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by RagingMadman, 13 Jul 2013.

  1. RagingMadman

    RagingMadman What's a Dremel?

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    Never had one, don't know where to start so I will heed advice.
    Budget is $120 USD

    I've heard a lot of complaints about Creative's drivers malfunctioning so I'll stay away from there.
     
  2. Stanley Tweedle

    Stanley Tweedle NO VR NO PLAY

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    I love my Auzentech X Meridian 2G but no PCIe sadly.

    I guess you'll go with one of the Asus Xonars. I would certainly steer clear of the creatives.
     
  3. eUphoria

    eUphoria What's a Dremel?

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    I've got an asus xonar D2X PCIe and it's great, wonderful clarity and was a lot better than my previous on board sound
     
  4. IvanIvanovich

    IvanIvanovich будет глотать вашу душу.

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    What will be your primary use? Media playback, gaming, recording? What speakers will you be using with, stereo or surround?
     
  5. teppic

    teppic What's a Dremel?

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    I've had no problems at all with the Creative Soundblaster Z - drivers installed without issue. A review said the same, they'd had problems with Creative cards but not this one.
     
  6. RagingMadman

    RagingMadman What's a Dremel?

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    Gaming and media. My home stereo will be the majority of playback except when gaming ill be using a pair of turtle beach x41s
     
  7. Sentinel-R1

    Sentinel-R1 Chaircrew

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    Creative SoundBlaster Z here too - No issues in Win7 x64. Works flawlessly.
     
  8. IvanIvanovich

    IvanIvanovich будет глотать вашу душу.

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    Does your stereo have spdif? If so I would just connect up with the onboard that way and forget it. The receiver does all the heavy lifting either way so a soundcard isn't serious benefit there. Otherwise if you are analogue only I would suggest HT Omega.
     
  9. Sentinel-R1

    Sentinel-R1 Chaircrew

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    I'd probably disagree with you there Ivan. I used to use onboard SPDIF on my Rampage 3 Extreme, outputting to a Bose home theatre system. I picked up my SoundBlaster Z a couple of weeks ago and the difference is very noticeable switching over to a discreet audio card.
     
  10. slaw

    slaw At Argos buying "gold"

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    Why not look at a usb cad. maybe one with a headphone amp built in too?
     

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