Soundcard needed
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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 18:57    Post subject: Soundcard needed
Just got my Logitech Z 5500 Speakers and now I need a good sound card with Digital output. Been looking at the Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio OEM for £26. Is this any good and how good is the Optical output on it (can you use optical output to play back all audio or just digital audio?)

Preferably I would like a card with Coax output but I can get an Optical to Coax converter for £15. Oh and I dont want to spend more than £30 for a Optical output only one, will pay upto £45 for a Coax out put one as I wont need the £15 converter then Very Happy

Thanks


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CaptainCox
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 19:03    Post subject:
Check out the

ASUS Xonar D2

LINK
or
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1

LINK

Creative (though I have a X-Fi Fatality myself)...blew it when they fuked up that guy doing the drivers
Full Story


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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 19:21    Post subject:
Thanks, Just found out my Motherboard has a Coax out on it so might not need one now Very Happy

That Asus card looks very nice but my wallet has just been raped paying for the Logitech Z5500 speakers so cant afford one of them Smile

wtf, why did creative do that? He was helping them out plus drivers are free anyway so he wasnt making money out of it!! Still personally it wouldnt put me off buying one of there cards.


Thanks


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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 19:38    Post subject:
balls, its not a coax on the mobo, its an Optical... Damn, now I need an Optical lead, Converter and Coax lead Sad


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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 19:52    Post subject:
can someone answer a quick question?

Is there any need for a soundcard if my mobo (ASUS A8N-SLI) already has optical out (running 5.1 from HTPC to receiver)?


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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 20:25    Post subject:
nouseforaname wrote:
can someone answer a quick question?

Is there any need for a soundcard if my mobo (ASUS A8N-SLI) already has optical out (running 5.1 from HTPC to receiver)?


No, you don't really need one. It has a decent onboard soundcard. Though, if games begin getting a bit CPU intensive you will hear some sound hiccups as it tries to render the sound along side, which is one of the benefits of a dedicated soundcard.


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LeoNatan
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 21:14    Post subject:
Not only that, but you won't have EAX in games as well. On that issue, however, if you haven't got used to EAX, you won't really miss it.
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nouseforaname
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 21:39    Post subject:
gaming is irrelevant Razz

I guess my concern would be the sound quality from hd rips...


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LeoNatan
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PostPosted: Fri, 4th Jul 2008 21:46    Post subject:
Nah, it's all decoded in software anyway with ffdshow/AC3 filter, so no worries about that. Onboard sound "cards" can often cause static noise on the analog channels because of small voltage fluctuations and and CPU switching states (and many other reasons), but I don't think this will happen on the digital channel.
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MistressDeath




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PostPosted: Sat, 5th Jul 2008 21:41    Post subject:
ASUS Xonar D2, nuff said

MD


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SpykeZ




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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 00:18    Post subject:
I was actually going to post that Asus card lol


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Mussolinka
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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 00:47    Post subject:
Quote:
ASUS Xonar D2, nuff said

MD


For Z5500, You can use any sb crap for any creative product up to 300$


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MistressDeath




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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 04:04    Post subject:
SpykeZ wrote:
I was actually going to post that Asus card lol

Nice!!! Smile

Yes, it's a great card with incredible clarity! My ears haven't worked in years until I got the Xonar!

MD


Intel C2D E6600 @ 3gHZ - EVGA 680i (P24) - Sapphire HD4870 775/4200 - 2x1GB OCZ XTC Platinum @ 808mHZ - ASUS Xonar D2 PCI Ultra Fidelity - Logitec Z5500 - Windows 7 Ultimate RTM - Corsair TX750 PSU - Plextor SATA 16X 755SA - "Death is only the beginning"
PS3 80GB
X360 1.61 IXtreme Banned Edition
Wii Homebrewed!
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MistressDeath




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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 04:05    Post subject:
Mussolinka wrote:
Quote:
ASUS Xonar D2, nuff said

MD


For Z5500, You can use any sb crap for any creative product up to 300$

Totally true! The Z5500s are great! I got the Xonar and the Z5500s a week later. I never use my head phones anymore! Smile

MD


Intel C2D E6600 @ 3gHZ - EVGA 680i (P24) - Sapphire HD4870 775/4200 - 2x1GB OCZ XTC Platinum @ 808mHZ - ASUS Xonar D2 PCI Ultra Fidelity - Logitec Z5500 - Windows 7 Ultimate RTM - Corsair TX750 PSU - Plextor SATA 16X 755SA - "Death is only the beginning"
PS3 80GB
X360 1.61 IXtreme Banned Edition
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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 04:33    Post subject:
All this Z5500 talk... I WANT NOW.


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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 14:00    Post subject:
They are amazing. But The sub is big so make sure you have room for it Smile -



Just wondering, has anyone tried the Trust Sound Expert Optical 514DX Soundcard? Has Optical and Coax ins and outs and only costs £20!!!

Or should I just Stick with the onboard optical that the MSI Nforce 4 board has?


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Nui
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PostPosted: Sun, 6th Jul 2008 14:22    Post subject:
You should listen to Animusic 2. 1 might be great as well, but since i dont have that, i dont know Razz
animated video, computergenerated music (surround sound),creative, EPIC! http://www.animusic.com/


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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 00:01    Post subject:
ahh ffs, just spent £17 on all the stuff to convert the Optical connection to Coaxial and just found out that I do have a Coaxial output on the mother board already but not in the location of all the other onboard sound connections (thats why I didnt see it)!!!

will check that animusic out Smile


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Kamikaze666




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 00:23    Post subject:
the z-5500 is a sweet setup for games, but music al best listened with some bookshelf speakers.


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Nui
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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 01:52    Post subject:
You could also look at Teufel speakers. They dont waste as much time and money on looks, although i think teufel speaker look way better Razz


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upstart_69




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 05:52    Post subject:
I just recently got the Xifi Fatality Titanium(pcie) and am planning to set it up with my set of sweet sweet Z5500's as well(still have those in the box as we are moving but got a great deal on em). Anyways I know the Xifi doesnt have all the high-end output that the audiophiles drool over in the Asus and Auzentech cards, but meh. I figure since I am a gamer first and foremost, the Xifi's edge in EAX processing and general dominance over gaming sound technologies trumpets any other factor. Plus, even with the asshole factor of creative, they will still be around while alot of companies have completely bailed out of the soundcard game soon after realizing its a losing game..

Plus getting rid of a big bulky pci card for a compact pcie express card was well worth it. The card has an actual optical out, too. Was using a convertor from digital to optical going to my onkyo receiver before this, kinda a pain, heh.


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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 09:37    Post subject:
Well I really want to get some good surround sound speakers. I have some old floor speakers and a decent receiver, but its just not cutting it lately. The tweeters are crackly and the subs are flat...

http://www.tecomputers.ca/product_info.php?pName=z5500-digital-51-surround-w-dolby-dts-decoder

That a good deal? everything ive seen is way more expensive.


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Kamikaze666




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 14:18    Post subject:
If you have a receiver, you should put some decent fronts on it first, then maybe later some surrounds...


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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 14:48    Post subject:
Kamikaze666 wrote:
If you have a receiver, you should put some decent fronts on it first, then maybe later some surrounds...

Its oooollllllllllld. As are the speakers.

I don't have the cash to put together exactly what I want.


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Nui
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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 15:10    Post subject:
Nui wrote:
You could also look at Teufel speakers. They dont waste as much time and money on looks, although i think teufel speaker look way better Razz

i often read that teufels better and less expensive, dont know whether you can even buy them, though.
http://www.teufel.de/de/PC-Systeme/Concept-E-Magnum.cfm
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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 20:25    Post subject:
Considering I live in the UK that looks a VERY good price. In the UK the cheapest I found were £180 which is about $360!!

managed to get a refund on the converter so Im only about £3.60 down now so not that bad. At least I have a spare optical cable now Smile

Will get a pic of them setup when my room is all sorted. I will have my Sony 32" LCD on the Wall and my HP 19" LCD below it with the speakers either side of the LCD etc and all the cables ran through the walls so theres no mess Smile Plus considering my room is small these speakers are overkill lol, even on 1/3 its more than loud enough Very Happy . Cant wait to get a HD film on the LCD and the sound going through these Very Happy Very Happy


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Steve-O 2004




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PostPosted: Mon, 7th Jul 2008 21:46    Post subject:
omg these speakers kick ass!!! Just played the start of Terminator 2 via the 360 and set to DTS and the sound was just like the Cinema especially the explosions that make your whole body vibrate!!!!

They are definatly one of the best small home cinema speaker kits. Virtually the same quality as my big Yamaha setup in the main room (but maybe not as loud) !!

10 out of 10


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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Tue, 8th Jul 2008 02:21    Post subject:
Well shit Steve... you're really making me want to get them... How many inputs do they have? Like they have optical in, co-ax in and what else?

I'm wanting to put my PC, PS3 and HD Cable box into them, is that possible?


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upstart_69




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PostPosted: Tue, 8th Jul 2008 03:19    Post subject:
You should be fine. The pc can use the 3 analogue mini-inputs, the cable can use the co-ax, and ps3 the optical. Those are the distinct channel inputs, besides aux stereo and having the mini inputs as 3 stereo devices...

It doesn't have a plethora like an actual receiver but hell, I'm kinda tired of my receiver being on all the time what with the heat and extra cabling nightmare. But yeah, for a pc/console system I think the variety of inputs is pretty much perfect. If not, you could always use a switching box for multiple opticals or something..


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Phluxed
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PostPosted: Tue, 8th Jul 2008 03:20    Post subject:
upstart_69 wrote:
You should be fine. The pc can use the 3 analogue mini-inputs, the cable can use the co-ax, and ps3 the optical. Those are the distinct channel inputs, besides aux stereo and having the mini inputs as 3 stereo devices...

It doesn't have a plethora like an actual receiver but hell, I'm kinda tired of my receiver being on all the time what with the heat and extra cabling nightmare. But yeah, for a pc/console system I think the variety of inputs is pretty much perfect. If not, you could always use a switching box for multiple opticals or something..


I was hoping for some digital outs on the PC... probably a switching box for the optical then?


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