Sound Cards

[ketinkrad]

From the laptop thread it ended talking about a sound card. What is the best sound card under $1k and under $500.00. What specs do you need to evaluate. Recommendation's. Some other threads talked against sound cards.

[The Fugitive]

I paid $35 for my sound blaster a few years ago. It has 5.1 dolby surround sound.

[stran]

From the laptop thread it ended talking about a sound card. What is the best sound card under $1k and under $500.00. What specs do you need to evaluate. Recommendation's. Some other threads talked against sound cards.

if you want the best sound card, you're going to have to spend over 9000.

[llama]

Best for gaming? Best for DJ-ing? Best for connecting to your surround-sound home theater amplifier which itself is connected to $30,000 speakers?

-Llama

[Denholm]

I'm not aware of any decent laptop sound cards. Are you after a sound card for a desktop computer? If so, I would recommend the Audigy Sound Blaster 2 ZS:

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Blaster-Audigy-Internal/dp/B0000CG4DI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240671329&sr=8-1

[AirFlyer]

I use this " http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019 " except without the heat-sink/cover version. Unfortunately Newegg doesn't seem to have that one. Same card though and it works great.

[ketinkrad]

What about the
"HT Omega Claro Halo XT" sound card?

[Denholm]

I think the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS still has it beat by a few inches (might be more compatible with some more, "modern" cables, too). What do you intend to use the sound card for? Your use for the sound cards will determine which of the two is more suitable for you.

[BaldEagl]

What is it that you're doing that requires such an expensive sound card?

[expat]

Asus Zonar cards are worth looking at

[ketinkrad]

I have read many of the reviews. Creative labs and Asus has a lot of software problems and when they have bugs they do not build updates. Also their customer service has a lot of complaints.

[BaldEagl]

I have read many of the reviews. Creative labs and Asus has a lot of software problems and when they have bugs they do not build updates. Also their customer service has a lot of complaints.

I think most of Creative's issues are with Vista.  If you are running XP then you shouldn't have a problem.  I've got a X-Fi Fatailty Pro Gamer with XP and haven't had a single problem with it.

[Denholm]

Ketinkrad, the gamers here who have used the Audigy 2 ZS haven't complained. If you have XP and only install the drivers excluding any of the Creative Labs junk you should be fine.