Soundcard recomendation?

[Sunner]

Im getting a tad tired of the relatively bad quality of the common consumer soundcards out there.

Have a Sonic Fury right now, thats what the Santa Cruz is called in Europe, it's the exact same card.

But Im looking at getting a card with focus on the output quality.
I dont care about 5.1 or anything, it would be nice to have EAX support, but it's not a must.

Any good recomendations?

 

[LanEvoVI]

I'll prolly get flamed for it...but I mean..the Soundbalster Live! Value is a nice cheap card that does the job for me...

 

[Soulkeeper]

yeah get one of the sound blaster Live! cards
-if you have the money spring for the Audigy chipset
you can get the Xgamer the Value Mp3 or Platinum your choice
the cards are the same but the stuff that comes with them is different ie. software/games and with the platinum you get a drive bay with controls or something
i got a sound blaster live! Xgamer it is great

 

[Dundain]

Oh yea, get a Soundblaster Live! card...that'll give you great quality with a VIA chipset. Dont get a Live, frankly the Santa Cruz has better quality than the Live card does and doesnt have near as many compatablity problems. I'd recommend the GameTheater Xp but its basicly the same card as the Santa Cruz just with a really nice breakout box. Supposadly the Audigy has good audio quality, but since its a Creative card it probably has most of the same problems as the Live! series does with VIA chipsets and Ive heard a couple people talking of problems with it. If you really want audio quality then I'd recommend looking above the consumer level cards at some professional soundcards.

 

[Mem]

<< But Im looking at getting a card with focus on the output quality.
I dont care about 5.1 or anything, it would be nice to have EAX support, but it's not a must. >>



Hmm if you are not happy with the Santa Cruz try the SB Audigy,either OEM or retail version depending on your cash,btw my Audigy is working great with WinXP in a VIA board.

 

[Sunner]

I have two SB Lives, and I've heard the Audigy, the Cruz has better sound quality than any of the Soundblasters IMO.

But Im looking more towards various prosumer boards.
I was looking at the Terratec EWX 24/96, anyone know anything about this board?

 

[Sunner]

And here comes a bump.
Where are all the Audiophiles when you need them?

 

[murphy55d]

Hercules Game Theatre.

 

[Biggs]

I know exactly where you're coming from, mate. I have the same problem! I'm almost all set in getting a VideoLogic SonicFury(just like yours) due to reading other people's opinions of how it has an edge in music quality over Creative cards. However, from what I've deducted so far, to have excellent quality, you should be targetting the semi-pro/pro sound cards. I hear the Midiman Audiophile are quite good price/performance wise. Also, here is a good site that reviews professional sound cards. Though it may be quite dated, it still gives you an idea of how much better quality a "high-end" sound card can offer.

http://www.pcavtech.com/soundcards/compare/index.htm

I must warn you though, these cards cost at least 4 or 5 times a consumer level sound card.

 

[Sunner]

Murphy
I thought about the GTXP, but it's still based on the same sound chip as the Cruz/Fury, and from what I've heard, quality is comparable between these cards.

Biggs
The Cruz is pretty decent, no doubt, just not good enough
As for price, I know they're a tad more expensive, the Terratec card will run me around $200.

 

[Tung]

another vote for the Hercules Game Theatre.

 

[olin]

 

[olin]

Well,
I've been thru a number of sound cards and this is the best I've run across for the money. Its in the same price range of the best creative
labs card and eventhough its not the best card for gaming (pretty good for gaming anyway), it shines if your into music with it's true 24Bit/96 kHz in both recording and playback. Made in Germany, Terratec DMX 6Fire 24/96.
A good budget card is the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz at around 79.00
Best wishes,
olin

 

[madthumbs]

I like the Acoustic Edge. How come no one mentions this card? The SB Live sounds like crap in comparison.

 

[technogeeky]

I have had a Game Theater XP for about a year and a half now.

Last month, they finally released drivers that work for it. It works in all games and in Windows too!

I'm so happy!

*sigh*

 

[Huma]

Better question is what you're using to listen with. (speakers? headphones?)

If sound quality is a big issue, use outboard dacs and amplification instead of soundcard based ones.

The santa cruz is already one of the better/best consumer sound cards for audio quality, and not much under an Maudio Audiophile 2496 is gonna be any better.

 

[irrigating]

For audiophile on a budget:


M-Audio

TerraTec

Seasound SoloEX

CardDeluxe

Hoontech/STAudio

Echo Audio

RME Audio

Tracertek

Carillon Music Computers

I have two of the Seasound Solos. They were $900 apiece but now $125 because the company went under.

The M-Audio Audiophile card retails for about $160, as does the Terratec 24/96. Both support 24/96 recording.

Terratec, M-Audio,Hoontech/STAudio, and Seasound, all use the same IC Ensemble Envy24 chip. (Ensemble has been aquired by VIA to develop thier sound stuff).

The RME and CardDeluxe are the top pro units followed by the Echo.

Toms Hardware has a shootout between the Terratec and the Audigy.

Go to recording.org, and post the question in the computing forum of DAWorld.

 

[Sunner]

Thanks, some interesting stuff showing up now

Im using a Marantz reciever with a set of JVC speakers, about to replace the speakers as they're very underpowered compared to the Marantz.

Looks like waiting for the 6Fire might be a good idea, I guess the store that carries the EWX 24/96 just haven't gotten the 6Fire yet.

I'll have a look at the other links you provided Irrigating, thanks

 

[technogeeky]

<< For audiophile on a budget:


M-Audio

TerraTec

Seasound SoloEX

CardDeluxe

Hoontech/STAudio

Echo Audio

RME Audio

Tracertek

Carillon Music Computers

I have two of the Seasound Solos. They were $900 apiece but now $125 because the company went under.

The M-Audio Audiophile card retails for about $160, as does the Terratec 24/96. Both support 24/96 recording.

Terratec, M-Audio,Hoontech/STAudio, and Seasound, all use the same IC Ensemble Envy24 chip. (Ensemble has been aquired by VIA to develop thier sound stuff).

The RME and CardDeluxe are the top pro units followed by the Echo.

Toms Hardware has a shootout between the Terratec and the Audigy.

Go to recording.org, and post the question in the computing forum of DAWorld. >>








Oooohhh. I didn't read the thread, and still haven't.


But, I also have a M-Audio Audiophile 2496 and it's absolutely incredible. I use it for Music Production and it is a dream - speedy, loud, crisp.

Definately great buy.