Sound recommendations

[KuTz]

At home I listen to alot of music, I'm also into music production and use my pc for watching movies and gaming.

What would you recommend as a good all round speaker system including sound card? budget is tight tho set at £150 maximum. I currently run my sound through an external amp but im looking at cost saving on electricity

 

[llwyd]

I would say that with sound cards you get to a point where the sound quality doesn't improve much at all as the price goes up, maybe the £60 mark? Instead you start getting more and more special features and fancy bits. I have little experience with sound cards but my X-Fi XtremeMusic was great for the price.

As for speakers I would say go for the best Logitech 5.1 setup you can afford after the sound card (maybe leave a few £ for some sound sensitive cold-cathodes )

 

[FarFarAway]

I looked into this a while ago and came up with this

Not the best looking but has 5.1 surround sound with Dolby digital, DTS and Pro Logic and has Coax, Optical and RCA/phono connectors

Sound is pretty vibrant for a cheapo set of speakers and surround sound is immersive and certainly plenty loud enough for me.

Only thing I'd say is that the sub isn't stupid-loud...but plenty enough for a room full of bass

For the Sound card an X-fi Extreme Music or a HDA X-Mystique (the X-Mystique has decent outputs on it like Coax and Optical out)

 

[FragTek]

If ur in to music on a budget, there is no better card for the money than the Bluegears b-Enspirer... See if u can't get ur mits on one of those puppies.

It uses the same chipset as the Auzen X-Meridian without the frills such as swappable OPAMPS and gold plated connectors.