Best sound card for 2.0 stereo setup

[fcb]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to get some suggestions on what would be a good pairing. The speakers I currently have are Creative Gigaworks T40 Series II 2.0 Stereo speakers. My friend gave me his X-FI Surround 5.1 USB sound card, and I have the T40 SII hooked up.

Maybe by the end of this year, I'm hoping to replace the USB sound card with a dedicated sound card. What would be the best quality sound card for a speaker setup like mine? So far I don't really hear a noticeable difference from onboard as opposed to Creative's USB sound card.

I was looking at the Asus Xonar Essence STX earlier, but looking at the price tag was a bit discouraging. Should I be looking at something more for budget because there are mixed opinions on the T40 SII; some say they're great, others not so good. I find the bass a bit too heavy for my liking. Wondering if having a good dedicated sound card will be able to generate cleaner sounds?

I'd appreciate any suggestions for a sound card that provides quality sound for 2.0 stereo speakers; especially for the T40 SIIs.

Happy New Year~ ^__^

 

[benj3]

Onboard sound nowadays is more than enough if your only going to be using it for music etc especially 2.0 surround speakers so stick with your mobos integrated soundcard.

 

[Bocephus]

You didn't say what you use your PC for

are you an audiophile or heavy gamer?? If not you really dont need a sound card. Spend your money on better speakers or a great pair of headsets

 

[Ya93sin]

some motherboards are putting very good sound cards on board, along with other things.even though the motherboard will be more expensive, its probably worth it for the good sound card and added bonuses. should see this on more manufacturers mobos as well

 

[fcb]

Onboard sound nowadays is more than enough if your only going to be using it for music etc especially 2.0 surround speakers so stick with your mobos integrated soundcard.

You didn't say what you use your PC for

are you an audiophile or heavy gamer?? If not you really dont need a sound card. Spend your money on better speakers or a great pair of headsets

some motherboards are putting very good sound cards on board, along with other things.even though the motherboard will be more expensive, its probably worth it for the good sound card and added bonuses. should see this on more manufacturers mobos as well

I like listening to music, so quality sound is what I'm really interested in at the moment. I'm going to replace the onboard sound that I have on my other PC (gaming, movies) with the Creative X-Fi 5.1 Surround USB sound card. I have a Logitech X-540 so it will go nicely with that external sound card when I'm gaming and watching movies with my family at home or LAN partying at a friend's home.

Since the T40 SII is connected with my main PC I'll be looking for something that will last a long time. A PCI-E sound card would probably be the way to go, but which one would be best suited for my T40 SIIs? I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a new sound card by X'mas this year.

I just read OC3D's review on the Asus Xonar Essence STX and am thinking it should be a nice card to try out. My max budget would be around the range of this card. If I ever upgrade my system to the more current, as I'm still using a 775 system for my main PC, a PCI-E sound card shouldn't have many compatibility issues then.

All suggestions and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Cheers~ ^__^

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

what he uses his PC for is completely irrelevant in this situation as he is only looking for a stereo sound card. the xonar essence is as good as you can go. it will destroy anything creative has in all applications: games, music, and movies. with the exception of creative audiophile card which is still not better than the essence.

 

[dielbe]

what he uses his PC for is completely irrelevant in this situation as he is only looking for a stereo sound card. the xonar essence is as good as you can go. it will destroy anything creative has in all applications: games, music, and movies. with the exception of creative audiophile card which is still not better than the essence.

Good as you can go? He should get a Prism Sound ADA-8XR! That's as good as you can go!

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

Good as you can go? He should get a Prism Sound ADA-8XR! That's as good as you can go!

that is not a sound card!

 

[dielbe]

that is not a sound card!

What is it then?

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

it seems to be an AD/DA converter.

.

A sound card is something like this

 

[Stryker64]

The Asus Xonar Essence is probably the best sound card for music, It's 2.0 or 2.1 sound I believe.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

The Asus Xonar Essence is probably the best sound card for music, It's 2.0 or 2.1 sound I believe.

it supports 2.1 but also does virtual 7.1. and i could of sworn i have seen an attachment for the Essence STX than made it true 7.1!

 

[Stryker64]

2.1 is all you need for music, the Xonar isn't meant for gaming.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

2.1 is all you need for music, the Xonar isn't meant for gaming.

what makes you say that? it would be better for gaming than anything Creative makes. were not talking about tube amps, new digital amps can handle ANYTHING you through at them, especially like the ones the Xonars are equipped with.

 

[Stryker64]

what makes you say that? it would be better for gaming than anything Creative makes. were not talking about tube amps, new digital amps can handle ANYTHING you through at them, especially like the ones the Xonars are equipped with.

It's designed for audiophiles, so sound quality, not 3D sound; so I would think Creative might be better.

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

It's designed for audiophiles, so sound quality, not 3D sound; so I would think Creative might be better.

we are not talking about surround we are talking stereo.

 

[dielbe]

it seems to be an AD/DA converter.

.

A sound card is something like this

And what does a sound card do? Convert analogue to digital? Yes... yes it does

 

[dielbe]

Hello dude... I will write something useful now! With the speakers you currently have (Creative Gigaworks T40 Series II 2.0 Stereo speakers) I wouldn't worry to much about which card your going for... it's highly unlikely that you will be able to hear the differences in conversion quality from one card to the next unless you have a trained ear for it. I am a audio engineer and I know professional engineers who can't even hear the difference between something that costs £150 and something that costs £3000! So my advice would be go and listen to different converters if you can! They will all give at least a stereo output as mono died in the 60's.

I don't know much about commercial PCI sound cards being a recording professional, I just use really high end stuff. But anything by MOTU, RME, Prism, Apogee is all good!

But yeah... go listen, see if you can hear a difference to the ones built in your Mobo! If you can't, don't bother buying one!

 

[dielbe]

Onboard sound nowadays is more than enough if your only going to be using it for music etc especially 2.0 surround speakers so stick with your mobos integrated soundcard.

For the average listener for sure!

 

[KING_OF_SAND]

And what does a sound card do? Convert analogue to digital? Yes... yes it does

OMG "sound card" EMPHASES ON THE WORD CARD. that other converter is not a CARD!

again CARD CARD CARD!!!!