Decent cheap 7.1 sound card?

[Ty07allstar]

Whats a good 7.1 card that has a coax and optical input?

 

[FarFarAway]

Whats a good 7.1 card that has a coax and optical input?

Output?

HDA X-Mystique is pretty sweet

 

[Ares210]

Whats a good 7.1 card that has a coax and optical input?

You only have 5.1 speakers. So 7.1 = pointless

 

[Ty07allstar]

None of the 5.1 have coax. And if they have optical they arent that great of a card.

 

[jiffz]

Sound Blaster Audigy? 7.1 and it was £20 when I got it...

 

[Rastalovich]

The SBLive 5.1 w/Drive ir has coax and optical. (and remote control)

Very outdated, but works extremely well if u can find 1.

I can`t qualify whether the spdif is stereo or better tho, have a strange feeling it`s only stereo.

Any newer SB/X model has to be a great buy, check for the in/outputs tho.

EDIT: I will not be in the market for a soundcard until this dies tbh.

 

[Ty07allstar]

I will look into that card. Are the sound blaster the best cards out there?

 

[Rastalovich]

http://creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=1

If u look a fair way down u will see the 5.1 cards, they`re the type I have. I don`t think u can buy them new with the Drive (which is the front panel that goes in a 5.25 bay). Purely coz they`re outdated.

There is an X-fi Platium around the top section, if u click on it it shows the Drive and the remote, the Drive `looks` identical to the old 5.1 one that I have - are they the same ? I doubt it. But for sure the inputs and outputs are in exactly the same position and the same amount. The two phono looking sockets on the left are the coax and the 2 dark (almost not visible) connections are the spdif opticals (with protective covers, dust will eff them up)

I`d hazzard a guess that the SBLive Platinum is the X-fi Platinum of nearly 10 years ago - and the price of the X-fi will be $100++. It`ll be very very good - with very professional in/out including great game/film backup.

The outputs I have in their 5.1 DTT system of the time, and I stand by my statement that this card will only be replaced when it dies.

I can`t give u any opinion on other manufacturer cards as this was the 2nd sound setup I ever bought and I`ve had it ever since. Onboard sound is plain and simple unacceptable when u`ve had one.

EDIT: Correction, the 5.1 card they`re selling is a simplified version to the one I have. Atleast 2 jacks missing off it.

 

[Ty07allstar]

I see that the creative cards do not have optical out slots. What is a good card that is $100 or less that has optical output and will work well with my z-5500's.

 

[FragTek]

X-Plosion > Everything, period ---------> .

 

[Ty07allstar]

I'm gonna order when i get the money.

 

[Hyper]

I own a Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music, I am not sure if its a 7.1 or 5.1 card but I use it with my Logitech Z-5500 setup (5.1).

The X-Fi range is Creatives latest sound card range which makes it a little more pricy than the Audigy cards but mine can still be picked up for around £50

 

[Rastalovich]

£50 may sound alot to some of those who consider their onboard sound acceptable, but imo £50 for the years and years of excellent use I`d personally get out of it is outstanding value imo. (onboard sound gives me the shivers just thinking about it)

Is that with a Drive tho ? I don`t know if he`ll get the in/outs he`s after without it.

 

[FarFarAway]

X-Plosion > Everything, period ---------> .

My X-Fi kicks it's arse tbh

 

[FragTek]

My X-Fi kicks it's arse tbh

X-Fi = garbage tbh.

 

[FarFarAway]

X-Fi = garbage tbh.

Don't knock it till you try it. Easily outperformed the HDA in games

 

[glocktodahead]

What version of the X-FI do you have?

 

[FarFarAway]

What version of the X-FI do you have?

Fatal1ty FPS

 

[Ares210]

Fatal1ty FPS

I heard a lot of bad stuff about it. I have heard it isnt supported by a lot of motherboards and has little technical support. Also that it is unstable sometimes?

Idk, from what i have heard its either great or horrible.

 

[FarFarAway]

No problems here at all