Suggest a Soundcard

[puns]

I have a Marantz PM4400 stereo amplifier & 2 telome mX-m speakers .
Which soundcard in the market will get me the best performance for my system.

Im more into music & movies than gaming.

Thanks

 

[PurdueRy]

Chaintech AV-710 is all you will need

 

[Cobolman]

Chaintech AV-710 is all you will need

QFT. Quality card...only reason to pick something else is if you're recording.

 

[Geomagick]

I haven't heard of your speakers, but assuming they are a good match for your AMP then something with an excellent signal to noise ratio like the Xfi music would be sweet. Just avoid most on board audio.

I use an X-fi Fatality with my Sony Amp and monitor audio silver 5 floorstanders and it is awesome.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: George Powell
I haven't heard of your speakers, but assuming they are a good match for your AMP then something with an excellent signal to noise ratio like the Xfi music would be sweet. Just avoid most on board audio.

I use an X-fi Fatality with my Sony Amp and monitor audio silver 5 floorstanders and it is awesome.

Did you connect via a miniplug to stereo adapter?

 

[puns]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Chaintech AV-710 is all you will need

thanks , but im from a country where u dont get that

the options for me are xfi ( extreme & platinum ) / audigy 4 / e-mu 0404

im impressed with the e-mu card & its specifications , will that be the ideal card or new gen xfi

Originally posted by: George Powell
I haven't heard of your speakers, but assuming they are a good match for your AMP then something with an excellent signal to noise ratio like the Xfi music would be sweet. Just avoid most on board audio.

I use an X-fi Fatality with my Sony Amp and monitor audio silver 5 floorstanders and it is awesome.

can u post how u setup your connection ( souncard > amp> speakers ) ?

 

[Geomagick]

I use to a 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable.


This is the cable

I use QED orignal to biwire my speakers.

The sound quality is a great improvement compared to onboard sound and marginally better than the Audigy 2 ZS I had previously.

 

[fire400]

I've said this like 10 times, I'll say it again:

X-fi Music

you can turn up all the sound settings and you won't notice a decrease in system performance becuz of this, BF2 sound settings on hardware X-fi at Ultra High, not even a glitch

 

[PurdueRy]

Personally, I don't think you should use a cards analog out. I would get a simple card that is reliable and use the digital out and let your Marantz do the D/A conversion. I trust marantz more with SQ much more than Creative.

 

[Geomagick]

The Marantz amplifier that he has has only got analog inputs.

It is not an AV amp.

The setup he is running is very similar in concept to my own and as far as I'm concerned the analog output in stereo from the X-fi is superb.

 

[puns]

Originally posted by: George Powell
I use to a 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable.


This is the cable

I use QED orignal to biwire my speakers.

The sound quality is a great improvement compared to onboard sound and marginally better than the Audigy 2 ZS I had previously.

so i need just one of these to connect my soundcard to the amp ?

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Personally, I don't think you should use a cards analog out. I would get a simple card that is reliable and use the digital out and let your Marantz do the D/A conversion. I trust marantz more with SQ much more than Creative.

is using digital possible for my amp ? you mean to say i use s/pdif to connect the soundcard to the amp ... what conenctors would i need for that

this is my amp URL http://www.mennegat.nl/pdf/pm4400pro.pdf

 

[Cobolman]

so i need just one of these to connect my soundcard to the amp ?

Yep, because...

is using digital possible for my amp ? you mean to say i use s/pdif to connect the soundcard to the amp ... what conenctors would i need for that

it looks like your amp doesn't accept digital input.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Cobolman

so i need just one of these to connect my soundcard to the amp ?

Yep, because...

is using digital possible for my amp ? you mean to say i use s/pdif to connect the soundcard to the amp ... what conenctors would i need for that

it looks like your amp doesn't accept digital input.

Yup can't use a digital connection, my bad I was not exactly familiar with that exact model of Marantz amplfier.

Because of this, I would recommend a X-fi Xtreme Music and depending on the length of cable you need, finding the appropriate cable. The cable should not run you more than $40 depending on length, if it does, you are being ripped off.

 

[puns]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Cobolman

so i need just one of these to connect my soundcard to the amp ?

Yep, because...

is using digital possible for my amp ? you mean to say i use s/pdif to connect the soundcard to the amp ... what conenctors would i need for that

it looks like your amp doesn't accept digital input.

Yup can't use a digital connection, my bad I was not exactly familiar with that exact model of Marantz amplfier.

Because of this, I would recommend a X-fi Xtreme Music and depending on the length of cable you need, finding the appropriate cable. The cable should not run you more than $40 depending on length, if it does, you are being ripped off.

thanks , one more question since im new at this ... Xfi extreme has following options for connections

Creative's proprietary 26 pin connector (for use with an X-Fi I/O console, aftermarket option), Rear speakers, Centre/Sub speakers, Front speakers, and finally the FlexiJack (Line In, Microphone, and Digital I/O) http://www.overclockersonline.com/image...ative/X-Fi_Xtreme_Music/Connectors.jpg

So this cable http://www.qed.co.uk/i120c170-158/QED_Cables/Audio_Interconnects/Qunex_J2P.htm will connect to which option on the Xfi ?

 

[NanoStuff]

That's a standard Y-cable. It will connect to the plain old stereo output jack.

From those options, there's absolutely no doubt that the 0404 is the best choice for output quality. It's not a capable gaming card so an X-Fi is a good compromise between sound quality and gaming functionality. If you game on that computer, X-Fi, if you don't, 0404.