Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: ketinkrad on April 24, 2009, 04:25:02 PM

Title: Sound Cards
Post by: ketinkrad on April 24, 2009, 04:25:02 PM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: The Fugitive on April 24, 2009, 04:38:12 PM

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

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: stran on April 24, 2009, 06:04:38 PM

Quote from: ketinkrad on April 24, 2009, 04:25:02 PM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: llama on April 24, 2009, 06:29:36 PM

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

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: Denholm on April 25, 2009, 10:26:24 AM

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

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: AirFlyer on April 25, 2009, 05:55:11 PM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: ketinkrad on April 28, 2009, 07:57:47 AM

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

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: Denholm on April 28, 2009, 03:27:24 PM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: BaldEagl on April 28, 2009, 11:42:24 PM

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

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: expat on April 29, 2009, 03:37:32 AM

Asus Zonar cards are worth looking at

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: ketinkrad on April 29, 2009, 07:27:13 AM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: BaldEagl on April 29, 2009, 08:19:44 AM

Quote from: ketinkrad on April 29, 2009, 07:27:13 AM

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.

Title: Re: Sound Cards
Post by: Denholm on April 29, 2009, 01:57:05 PM

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.