Recommended Sound Card

[Blackthorn]

I'm looking into buying a new sound card, as the crackling on my Audigy SE is really distracting for someone raised to be an audiophile. So what's recommended as the best value for money? I have some quality speakers and I want to get the best from them. I'm running Vista by the way, just in case there's any compatibility issues. Don't suggest anything too crazy, my budget's quite humble.

 

[The Brick]

X-Fi xtreme music. If you're a true audiophile, you should consider modding it. It's pretty easy to replace the opamps on this thing. Replace each with a LM4562 or LM4572 (same thing) and you'll love it.

 

[Vegeta897]

Maybe don't go with a consumer brand audio card like Creative.

Try M-Audio.

 

[CrazyHarij]

RME hammerfall

 

[G(ordon)-man]

They had this USB - sound card. Silverstone or something and it got really high reviews.

 

[Sanada]

The Asus Xonar may be right for you but they are quite expensive. I think the D1 would be perfect for your needs though. It really depends on how much you like you music to sound and how much you're prepared to pay for it.

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=xonar&x=0&y=0

M-Audio are great but they're more suited for professional recording than just playback.

 

[Adabiviak]

...don't suppose your motherboard has onboard audio? Quite a few people are rabidly against it, but I never had a problem with my Realtek onboard system, for example. (For the record, I do use an external sound card.)

 

[Qonfused]

Maybe don't go with a consumer brand audio card like Creative.

Try M-Audio.

hurrrr m audio suck derpderphurr

 

[Vegeta897]

It's true M-Audio is the low-end of midi keyboards, but professional sound cards are expensive, so M-Audio is about the only affordable yet big brand out there.

 

[Pulse]

...don't suppose your motherboard has onboard audio? Quite a few people are rabidly against it, but I never had a problem with my Realtek onboard system, for example. (For the record, I do use an external sound card.)

You'll have problems if you try to use it with XP SP3, good old Microsoft and their lack of HD audio support. Good thing I had a back-up card from my old rig.

 

[Adabiviak]

SP3 kills it? I haven't used it since that particular upgrade. Is it 'fixed' in Vista?

 

[TCfromBN]

hurrrr m audio suck derpderphurr

This. If you're an audiophile, you're going to want to do a little research on the cards before you buy.

In an unrelated note, I can't wait for my Echo Audiofire8.

 

[Asus]

If you are on XP and a gamer 1st then Creative is your choice. Pretty simple.

For music the higher end Creative cards are good but that means you are spending more money too. AuzenTech X-fi prelude uses a creative chip although better electronics. The other models in their line use C-media chips which have great sound although don't support the newest EAX (games). But then again under Vista that probably is not as big of a priority since fewer games support the only hardware sound acceleration in Vista (OpenAL).
I have a b-enspirer which has good sound and drivers. HT omega is a pretty good card. Both of these use different C-Media chips. Asus' Xonar cards are also good (but pricey).

Between the higher end X-Fis and cards with the Cmedia chips they are all good but different in sound. Seemed like all the reviews I read came to the conclusion that the X-Fis made voices more clear but the other cards made the sound stage better.

I've heard M-audio has terrible driver support with different OSs and cards.

 

[Vegeta897]

Windows XP x64 drivers for my Audiophile 24/96

\o/

You're not talking about people who buy sound cards without making sure there are drivers for their OS, right?

 

[Viperidae]

Right.

Audiophiles? Please tell me your current speaker (Oh right, it's monitors for audiophiles. You knew that, right?) set up before we continue this discussion.

 

[TCfromBN]

I run my pc out through my Yamaha PA amp into a pair of Wharfedale Pros.

I guess that doesn't really help much.

 

[kineaesth]

I'm running three cables, two of copper and one of ivory, directly from a pin on my CPU into a speaker cone from one of Hitler's very early rallies sunk in a bucket of tea tree honey from Matamata.

I get lovely sound out of that, but it's quite a set up.