sound card

[kevplumb]

hi guys
quick one for you
how much should i be spending on a decent six channel sound card


kev

 

[Igorian]

I feel the debate coming on...

 

[breezer]

I feel the debate coming on...

so lets stop it before it starts.


same old answer to same old "how much is question" item 9

depends on: which brand, where you get it, where you are, try shopping around

 

[kevplumb]

fair comment guys
ive found loads on the net but no prices
not worried about the cost just need to know what im looking at
wont hold you to it (promise)

 

[2scoops0406]

Well, ok, not really a recommendation 'cos I've never used it. However the cards below have always worked well for me in the past, and I think they're probably still the market leaders.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/61890/creative-sound-blaster-audigy-2-zs-platinum-pro.htm

 

[AdamW]

When you say "six channel soundcard", is this because you have a home cinema system/multichannel computer speaker system?

If so, then use a digital interconnection if you have one available on the speakers.

 

[kevplumb]

1 thanks eddie didnt help (im thick)
2 adam how?

 

[Igorian]

Kev,

What sort of application/quality are you after?

 

[kevplumb]

reasonable quality to run a 5;1 speaker system

 

[2scoops0406]

Kev,

Sorry if that was of no help. Ok, I'm making some assumptions.

1) When you say sound card, I'm assuming a PC sound card? If so, what operating system are you using?

2) When you say to drive a 5:1 speaker system, do you mean an existing 5:1 home cinema system? If so what is it (Make/ Model)

Based on this, and obviously in the absence of the above info, have a look here.

http://uk.europe.creative.com/shop/product.asp?prod=264

Hope this makes a little more sense.

 

[kevplumb]

thanks eddie
1 yes windows xp
2 yes logitech

 

[kevplumb]

thanks guys one is winging its way here as i type
cheers

 

[2scoops0406]

How's it going, plugged it in yet?

 

[AdamW]

Soundcard is a much overlooked part of a PC. I read an article once where they showed that a good soundcard would result in a better performance gain per pound spent than a more powerful processor or extra memory, when running a game.

 

[ZenStalinist]

I have to agree with you in once sense AdamW, sound is an important factor. If you're spending more than fifty quid on speakers, or if you use a decent pair of headphones, you'll notice a huge difference if you buy a £100 soundcard compared to an onboard one or a £10 card. That said, if you run dirt cheap speakers, you need to upgrade those. You should typically spend just under twice as much on your sound card as you do on your speakers for maximum sound quality in my experience (with a few rules to break, like you probably want to spend a bit less than twice as much on your soundcard, maybe 1.3 times).