Best sound card for the buck?

I've ariived at the point to where I can no longer stand my onboard card. So not to take up too much of your time whats the best sound card I can get for around $150? Thanks in advance.

I've ariived at the point to where I can no longer stand my onboard card. So not to take up too much of your time whats the best sound card I can get for around $150? Thanks in advance.

Iced_Earth_Rulz

Well, first of all, what speakers/headphones do you use? That way we'll know if you'll actually benefit from a new sound card or not.

[QUOTE="Iced_Earth_Rulz"]

I've ariived at the point to where I can no longer stand my onboard card. So not to take up too much of your time whats the best sound card I can get for around $150? Thanks in advance.

ravenguard90

Well, first of all, what speakers/headphones do you use? That way we'll know if you'll actually benefit from a new sound card or not.

I'm gonna be using my home theatre system and not sure about the headphones just yet. Still looking around. So is the Asus still a good choice?

Also, the main reason I want a new card is the get rid of the hissing and popping that goes along with a stock card. I've read some reviews and it looks like the Xonar seems to do a better job of getting rid of that than any Creative card. Still not sure though because the Xonar doesn't seem to be made for gaming.

Also, the main reason I want a new card is the get rid of the hissing and popping that goes along with a stock card. I've read some reviews and it looks like the Xonar seems to do a better job of getting rid of that than any Creative card. Still not sure though because the Xonar doesn't seem to be made for gaming.

Iced_Earth_Rulz

this would be my pick anyday.. simply put the best sound card since 2005 :P

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019&cm_re=titanium-_-29-102-019-_-Product

this would be my pick anyday.. simply put the best sound card since 2005 :P

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019&cm_re=titanium-_-29-102-019-_-Product

aura_enchanted

I don't know about Creative's own X-Fi cards, but Auzentech-built X-Fi cards apparently are less wonky on the driver side of things (despite still being Creative drivers) while rivalling Asus' Xonar line in sound quality (though the Xonar Essence STX is still regarded to be top-of-the-line regarding sound quality for headphone users). Generally speaking, the way to go is Xonar for music and Auzentech X-Fi for gaming. Movies would probably go either way. [QUOTE="aura_enchanted"]

this would be my pick anyday.. simply put the best sound card since 2005 :P

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019&cm_re=titanium-_-29-102-019-_-Product

NamelessPlayer

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

9mmSpliff

Your HD motherboard....

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

9mmSpliff

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

Also, the main reason I want a new card is the get rid of the hissing and popping that goes along with a stock card. I've read some reviews and it looks like the Xonar seems to do a better job of getting rid of that than any Creative card. Still not sure though because the Xonar doesn't seem to be made for gaming.

Iced_Earth_Rulz

Depends on what you want, a gaming card or a music card. I own both cards In question and a slew of others.

The Asus cards have not typically been good gaming cards at all, they are getting better with each driver release and the latest one seems to be golden, but time will tell.

You can't go wrong with any of the Xfi cards for gaming or for general music use.

The Auzentech cards I can't recommend at all at this time as they rely on Creative for their drivers and are very slooowww to turn around the new Creative drivers, and the cards also have all the same Issues as any Xfi card. So If you want Xfi just stick with Creative.

I'll sum It up for you.

Asus: Very good sound quality and somewhat sketchy game support, but otherwise very good.

Xfi: Awsome game support (duh) and decent sound quality, but still the best for gaming and for EAX support if you play allot of games that use that.

If I were you I might wait for this though.

[QUOTE="9mmSpliff"]

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

ktseymour

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

[QUOTE="ktseymour"]

[QUOTE="9mmSpliff"]

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

KHAndAnime

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

Auzentech Is a resailer, they "do not" right their own software. All they do Is put an Auzentech stamp on Creative's drivers, and you've always had the choice of what parts of the drivers you want with Creative also.

I never said the Forte was a bad card, your trying to read Into something that's not there; but all the same Issues that Creative has are going to happen with anything Auzentech sells because It's creative's hardware and software. The reason Auzentech does not put out new drivers Is because....they don't write them, not because there are no Issues. So to say their drivers are better than Creative's Is really naive, as they are Creative's drivers.

My buddy has this card and he loves it, though I can't say for sure if it is the best on the market (I'm not too up on sound cards because I've never used one).General_X

Those are really good cards from a really good company with great support. The only Issue Is they also do not write their own drivers but rely on C-Media to write drivers for them, but they are on the ball with their drivers when C-Media releases them.

Not to many Issues with those cards I'm aware of, but If I remember right they have Issues with Direct Sound but not a big deal as the sound still works fine It just does not come out In 5.1 sometimes. This could be a non Issue by now but It's worth looking Into.

[QUOTE="9mmSpliff"]

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

Your HD motherboard....

Modbetto

I use Realtek, it works fine for me too... but only if I had the money to burn otherwise.

[QUOTE="ktseymour"]

[QUOTE="9mmSpliff"]

you cant go wrong with Auzentech. That is who will be the maker of my new sound card when I am back. Im not dropping $150 though, just grabbing me the Forte for $75

9mmSpliff

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

C'mon man! Auzentech "DOES NOT MAKE THEIR OWN DRIVERS"! Auzen's Win 7 drivers are "Creatives drivers", not Auzen's. I think you'd better do a little research before posting stuff like this.

Please Read

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"][QUOTE="ktseymour"]

You better read this before putting money on a Forte.

ktseymour

Auzentech Is a resailer, they "do not" right their own software. All they do Is put an Auzentech stamp on Creative's drivers, and you've always had the choice of what parts of the drivers you want with Creative also.

I never said the Forte was a bad card, your trying to read Into something that's not there; but all the same Issues that Creative has are going to happen with anything Auzentech sells because It's creative's hardware and software. The reason Auzentech does not put out new drivers Is because....they don't write them, not because there are no Issues. So to say their drivers are better than Creative's Is really naive, as they are Creative's drivers.

I'm gonna be using my home theatre system and not sure about the headphones just yet. Still looking around. So is the Asus still a good choice?

Iced_Earth_Rulz

Do you mean when you are using headphones through the computer case's audio jack? If so then the fault is with the case.Mr_NoName111