5.1 sound card

[anarchy0x]

Hi, I wanted to know which sound card should i buy for a 5.1 system. Please gimme the exact model names if possible, thanks

[desiibond]

http://us.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=1

[anarchy0x]

Thanks a lot bond, but they seem to be pretty expensive..
would u recommend me a budget card considering that I am buying Edifer 5.1 M3500 ? Since my speakers will cost me around 3300 the card should cost me like maximum 2,000
Also whats the difference in terms of features between low & high end cards? If the difference isnt much, I'd rather buy a cheap card

PS- how can i thank this thread so that it shows in ur profile?

[desiibond]

The more you pay, the more features you get like better SNR, dolby/DTS support, THX certification.

For basic card, go for Creative Live! 5.1 for 1k.

under 2k, Audigy Value is good choice for 1.4k

Both these cards does not support Dolby/DTS. For that you need Audigy 2 cards or Audigy 4.

[anarchy0x]

Thanks for replying, I dunno what Audigy, SNR, dolby/DTS support, THX certification exactly mean so I'll Google it later.
hmm yeah the Creative SB X-FI seems like a good option but is more expensive than my speakers itself lol

[desiibond]

yes. And you will definitely have a theatrical experience if you have good set of speakers coupled with a good sound card.

DTS/Dolby is a must for crystal clear audio output from sound card.

Also, Better buy Logitech X-530 or X-540 instead of Edifier. They are much better when it comes to sheer audio quality and price is pretty much the same.

One more decent speaker set is Creative t6060 for 3.5k

Edifier, being chinese company, I would never ever buy their products. Just my opinion. There are much better players like Logitech, Creative, Altec Lansing which offer lot better products for similar price.

[anarchy0x]

Thanks again for ur valuable advices!
The reason I opted for edifier was that I thought it gave more output (by output I mean volume) than other speakers of the same cost. Is it true?

[desiibond]

output or volume level is the least important. What's more important is how balanced the sound there.

1) Low frequency sound (bass delivered by subwoofer)
2) mids (delivered by satellite's drivers)
3) highs (delivered by tiny drivers knows as tweeters).

The speaker set that gives more balanced sound gives best music quality.

That is why I prefer Logitech, Altec Lansing, Creative (preference in same order).

Just try to get a demo of Logitech X-540 or X-530 and you will not look at other option.

[axxo]

I have tested ATP-3, Creative Inspire 5300, Logitech X-540. SOund quality of x-540 is uncomparable and stands unique out of these three...tight and crisp...
go for Logitech X-540.

[anarchy0x]

thanks axxo & thanks a lot again, desi. It can get really confusing sometimes & our shopkeepres here dont know much anyway.

[mayanksharma]

^^Theoretically, they may, but not practically!
Look, what i meant was, the quality of amplifier built into subwoofer units actually set the difference. Look, u are going for a 5.1 speaker system. There are things u may want to consider like, set of frequencies and better satellites to reproduce them. Plus, the overall power of speakers are better judged by RMS ratings instead of PMPO! Creative, Logitech,Altec Lansing and Philips cover all the required warranty and after sale services in India. Plus, they are reputed. Look, a 5.1 speaker should have right set of Center and Surround speakers along with a LFE to create a theatrical effect in your living room. By that, the system will require proper power distribution to all speakers i.e. Front L/R, Surround L/R, Center/LFE!
Look, as Desii suggested those models, they are nice. Just add one more to list: Philips 5.1 MMS460. From my experience, this set excel while in Gaming than others in its category.
And regarding soundcard, if u cant go for X-Fi then go for Audigy 4. I heard, Audigy and SB series have driver issues in Vista, though. So, choose accordingly.

[dOm1naTOr]

Dun shell out more than 2k if u have speakers less than 6k.
X530 nd X540 are the best speakers out there at the price points[4.2k and 5k].
And audigy 2 value is a gud choice @ 1.7k, nd it supports Dolby/DTS nd EAX.
It far better than SB 5.1 and Audigy value.

And Creative T6060 is no way balanced set. Logitech is much better option, coz i myself own T6060 nd it sux, though better than most local brands.

[anarchy0x]

thanks for the info dom & mayank

[desiibond]

Originally Posted by mayanksharma

^^Theoretically, they may, but not practically!
Look, what i meant was, the quality of amplifier built into subwoofer units actually set the difference. Look, u are going for a 5.1 speaker system. There are things u may want to consider like, set of frequencies and better satellites to reproduce them. Plus, the overall power of speakers are better judged by RMS ratings instead of PMPO! Creative, Logitech,Altec Lansing and Philips cover all the required warranty and after sale services in India. Plus, they are reputed. Look, a 5.1 speaker should have right set of Center and Surround speakers along with a LFE to create a theatrical effect in your living room. By that, the system will require proper power distribution to all speakers i.e. Front L/R, Surround L/R, Center/LFE!
Look, as Desii suggested those models, they are nice. Just add one more to list: Philips 5.1 MMS460. From my experience, this set excel while in Gaming than others in its category.
And regarding soundcard, if u cant go for X-Fi then go for Audigy 4. I heard, Audigy and SB series have driver issues in Vista, though. So, choose accordingly.

This is very nice explaination. Hell, why did I forget Philips MMS460. I have used MMS430 (2.1) and they were neck to neck with ATP3 while playing music or high quality movie. I would always trust Philips when it comes to audio and video.

Anyways, from my experience and when I also take a look at online reviews, recommendations, Logitech X-540 is the best set available. One huge adv. with this set is that you can connect mp3 player like ipod or a FM radio and get sound from all 5 satellites ( virtual surround ). This is not available in any other speaker set inside 5k price tag.

brands that I would seriously stay away from are:

1) intex
2) mercury
3) edifier
4) iball
5) frontech

[mayanksharma]

^^Even I have MMS 430 as one of the speaker set in my 24 Sound System!! From sound to looks, they are just perfect.

[gary4gar]

isn't Onboard cards good enough ?

[desiibond]

^^nope. They are good for listening to music and doing basic things.

[m-jeri]

how abt those audigy 4 value or entry level series???

[deathvirus_me]

Originally Posted by dOm1naTOr

And Creative T6060 is no way balanced set. Logitech is much better option, coz i myself own T6060 nd it sux, though better than most local brands.

Eeh ?? Seriously , coz i seem to like this set a lot .. maybe its the sound card + music player that i use ..

[vivekbabbudelhi]

hmm... alot of people are confused regarding sound cards

first of all creative has discontinued ..audigy 2 value,audigy 2zs,audigy 4

although u can find audigy 4 oem if u are lucky..

currently available sub 3.5k creative cards are

sblive 24bit----DAC CS4382
audigy value -----DAC WM8768GEDS
xifi xtreme audio---DAC CS4382

CS4382 is superior to WM8768 DAC..
basically xifi xtreme audio is audigy value PCB with CS4382 DAC..

live 24bit & audigy value can easily be soft modded to xtreme audio(i have done it)....

if u have basic multimedia speakers then u are better off in getting sblive 24bit for 900bucks and then soft modding it to xifi xtreme audio

[m-jeri]

and the cost....????? ther is no thread anywhere for sound card and speakers....

[desiibond]

yes. but isn't it better to get soundcard that can decode DTS/Dolby stream??

as anarchy0x said that he has to buy soundcard+speakers, it's better to get a dolby/DTS setup as there isn't much difference in price and have theatrical experience.

[gxsaurav]

For Sound card to be used in Windows Vista, go for X-Fi Xtreme Audio.

[m-jeri]

cost????

[gxsaurav]

Rs 4.8k in Golcha Intertrade, Bangalore. I inquired for my Use.

[desiibond]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Rs 4.8k in Golcha Intertrade, Bangalore. I inquired for my Use.

DOn't buy it there.

GEt it from Vishal Infotech.

Once I bought a soundcard at Golcha. ONe CD and a cable were missing along with screws. Called them and they gave software/drivers burned on a CD.

Vishal Infotech is a authorized dealer for Creative and Canon and is very trustworthy.

Bought camera, speakers, sound card here and he also gives very good price and has good contacts with Canon and Creative service centers.

[vivekbabbudelhi]

Originally Posted by desiibond

yes. but isn't it better to get soundcard that can decode DTS/Dolby stream??

as anarchy0x said that he has to buy soundcard+speakers, it's better to get a dolby/DTS setup as there isn't much difference in price and have theatrical experience.

even if soundcard doesn't have options for dolby prologic or other surround effects u always have option of using powerdvd encoders/decoders to get desired surround effect..& anyways most importantly creative soundcards sound better with their effects being turned off...

secondly buying xifi xtreme audio is like "bashing ur own head with a damn sledgehammer"..

guys xifi xtreme audio is nothing but a rebadged audigy value/SE with xifi drivers..& IS NOT WORTH A SINGLE PENNY over audigy value/live 24bit...heck modded xifi xtreme audio drivers work very nicely with live 24bit/value/SE...

basically by hardware xifi xtreme audio is a audigy value/SE PCB with same layout with changed DAC from wolfson WM8768GEDS in audigy value to cirrus logic CS4382 in xifi xtreme audio..

live24bit/audigy value/xifi xtreme audio are based on similar P17 design...there is no virtual improvement in sound quality for that money in xifi xtreme audio over live24bit/value/SE....& hence xifi xtreme audio is a P.O.S

[mayanksharma]

^^Point Noted !

[desiibond]

Originally Posted by vivekbabbudelhi

even if soundcard doesn't have options for dolby prologic or other surround effects u always have option of using powerdvd encoders/decoders to get desired surround effect..& anyways most importantly creative soundcards sound better with their effects being turned off...

secondly buying xifi xtreme audio is like "bashing ur own head with a damn sledgehammer"..

guys xifi xtreme audio is nothing but a rebadged audigy value/SE with xifi drivers..& IS NOT WORTH A SINGLE PENNY over audigy value/live 24bit...heck modded xifi xtreme audio drivers work very nicely with live 24bit/value/SE...

basically by hardware xifi xtreme audio is a audigy value/SE PCB with same layout with changed DAC from wolfson WM8768GEDS in audigy value to cirrus logic CS4382 in xifi xtreme audio..

live24bit/audigy value/xifi xtreme audio are based on similar P17 design...there is no virtual improvement in sound quality for that money in xifi xtreme audio over live24bit/value/SE....& hence xifi xtreme audio is a P.O.S

that's a nice find.

[vivekbabbudelhi]

there is something very neat & sweet for people who just want pristine analog output..

it is M-AUDIO REVOLUTION 5.1

this card has professional quality AKM 4358 as DAC...

analog sound quality wise it kicks most audigy cards & even outperforms previously most famous creative XIFI XTREME MUSIC soundcard..

M-AUDIO has released vista 32bit drivers for this card on 1st april 2008

one thing more revolution 5.1 version has better DAC than revolution 7.1 version,so unless u have 7.1 speakers don't go for revolution 7.1

currently this card is for 70$ at newegg but locally this card costs 5-5.5k with aditya infotech