Best Sound Card and Speakers?

[therock001]

I'm having trouble deciding what sound card and speakers to buy,since i only want what's best.

For the card i'm between Asus Sonar and Auzentech x-fi prelude.I've read some reviews of Sonar being the complete package but its lack of EAX 5.1 is bothering me!

On the other hand as for speakers i'm Between logitch 5500 5.1 and Creative Gigaworks 7.1 .

I've heard some really mixed reviewes there for whats better and for what reason.As far as stats go logitech can go as far as 116db against 90db,and 5052 against 700w.

I want the louder,and as clear as possible sound,both for games,music and videos,so i'm really looking forward to a definite answer so i can proceed with purchasing them cause i can hardly wait.

[Krispy Kritter]

I've neither used or heard of the sound cards you are looking at. I'm currently using audio chipset of my new MB and I am very pleased with the performance/sound. I've also used the Creative Audigy/Audigy 2 in my older system without any issues (though I know there are many here that don't like Creative and you are wanting EAX support).

As for speakers, I currently have the Logitech Z5500 speakers. That are quite nice and more than loud enough for PC use. I'm sure the Gigaworks speakers are the same. It will mostly boil down to which you can get cheaper. As I said, they are more than loud enough.

[jagabo]

If you want decent sounding speakers forget Creative and Logitech. Look into http://www.m-audio.com/

[Krispy Kritter]

If you want decent sounding speakers forget Creative and Logitech. Look into http://www.m-audio.com/

While those look nice, and likely sound good, you won't get a 5.1 surround sound system from them in the same price range. But everything is relative. If you want to make the jump (quality sound AND price) from computer speakers, then look at home theater surround systems.

[stiltman]

If you want decent sounding speakers forget Creative and Logitech. Look into http://www.m-audio.com/

Yes M-Audio (aka Avid) makes great monitors (aka speakers), but I think they are a bit over priced.

Now this system is only 2.1, it is inexpensive and sounds VERY good. The PC I use with this setup is only for video editing.

I'm not a gamer and I rarely listen to anything that has 5.1 or better on my PC. If I want true 5.1 or better sound, I use my surround sound system.

[Nelson37]

I have been running the PC audio thru the surround amp for some time now. I already had the investment in speakers and amp.

This is kinda like getting a large LCD for the PC for games and video when you already have a large TV. The TV, and the HT sound system, blows away anything I've heard or seen for the PC, for less money. The only drawback is for general PC use, for that I have a secondary monitor and a secondary PC.

I got the Creative X-fi, mainly for SPDIF capture. It does do a good job for music, as well and is better than mobo-based sound.

It's really all a matter of where you want to put the dollars, for me I put them into the Home Theater and got good-but-not-great for regular PC use. The Home theater parts for sound and video are more cost-effective, and more versatile.

[vcdlover]

I've neither used or heard of the sound cards you are looking at. I'm currently using audio chipset of my new MB and I am very pleased with the performance/sound. I've also used the Creative Audigy/Audigy 2 in my older system without any issues (though I know there are many here that don't like Creative and you are wanting EAX support).

As for speakers, I currently have the Logitech Z5500 speakers. That are quite nice and more than loud enough for PC use. I'm sure the Gigaworks speakers are the same. It will mostly boil down to which you can get cheaper. As I said, they are more than loud enough.

I second to Creative Audigy. Two of my three PCs at home have Creative Audigy with Logitech 5.1 speakers and another has Creative Audigy2 with Logitech 6.1 system. You can shake the entire room by cranking up the bass from the sub. I'm not a gamer and these systems are good enough for video editing and listening to music.

vcdlover

[adcvideo]

I purchased the Seanix AF-21 amplified speakers. They are dirt cheap for the performance, great for music, and have an output for a sub for gaming. See: http://www.seanix.com/CEPage.asp These are available in Canada, don't know about availability in the USA.

I also have a computer with optical out to a home surround receiver, and it sounds better than my DVD player. I should mention that the optical out on all the Creative cards I have owned are unable to send Dolby surround correctly to my home surround receiver.

Cheers

[rallynavvie]

its lack of EAX 5.1 is bothering me!

So I'm assuming this is a gaming rig then? EAX is pretty useless for home audio or theater work. M-Audio does make phenomenal audio cards that are certainly up there with the best but you're not going to find anything with EAX unless you use a Creative Labs chipset. They're letting others build cards on their chipset such as Asus is doing but it's still a Sound Blaster underneath. So I guess it'll depend on what you want the better sound from: games or audio/video. You're still pretty safe with the high-end Creative Labs cards even with home theater but the M-Audio big-boys will walk on it when run through a good receiver and speakers.

That's the other side. The best speakers are going to be behind a good stereo receiver. Why run package speakers against something like that? I have good Klipsch speakers for my workstation but they're only turned on when I'm using the computer in general like web browsing with iTunes running in the background. The SPDIF to my receiver is where my audio goes when I'm gaming or watching TV on that HTPC. If you mean the best speakers without a receiver then the Klipsch would get my vote. However opening up your rig to pro audio will allow you much more options.

I personally use an M-Audio 192 for digital output to my receiver. It works OK with games but those using the heavier EAX options are missing a little bit from when I had an Audigy. I didn't think it was too noticeable though.