5.1 & headphones audio help

daphatgrant

daphatgrant

Fi-yah!
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Hey [H], I need some audio help. I’ve currently got a SoundBlaster Z that I am using with a set of Logitech Z5500’s and some AD900 headphones. The sound card is starting to give me issues, I’ll have to restart the pc to get it to work or uninstall and reinstall it on occasion. I’d like to move in another direction and am thinking about going the dac and amp route if I can? I don’t really see any options for 5.1 DAC’s though? Should I just get the SoundBlasterX AE-5?


I’d really like to keep my Z5500’s in use but be able to use the headphones when I need it to be quieter. I’m pretty clueless when it comes to PC audio (or audio in general) so I’ll take whatever help I can get, I appreciate the support.


I’d like to spend $300 or less if possible to get a working setup.
 
Chances are that your sound card has nothing wrong with it but Windows 10 is fucking up your drivers randomly.
 
daphatgrant said:
Should I just get the SoundBlasterX AE-5?
Click to expand...

Well, this is a DAC/Amp combo, and if you're going for ease of replacement, then it would be the most direct route.

I also had enough issues with an SBZ (within the return period!) that I wound up sending it back. Don't know if it was software or hardware, OS or drivers, and it was enough that I didn't care.
 
I have the AE-5 and it's super nice for 5.1 sound. I haven't really pushed it much for my headphones yet as my lazy ass uses a different wireless headphone set rather then plugging in my Vmoda M100's now. I think you would like it, but you could get away with onboard sound and also a dac if you wanted. I ended up doing that with another pc when my SBZ's center channel fritzed out, and I've been fine with it on my 5.1 system on my wife's pc.
 
AE-5 is held in high regard for its DAC quality and the headphone amp isnt bad either.
Its a great solution for the price and is very convenient for PC users.
You will pay much more to beat it using external components and thats just to get stereo.

5.1 external that will beat the quality of the AE-5 will cost considerably more, the cheaper versions of which are becoming rare after the collapse of Oppo.
You also need an amplifier to match the DAC quality.
A high end AV amp is probably the simplest way, DAC and amp in one unit. But is costly and it depends on the quality level you want to achieve.

The AE-5 is a real bargain when it can fit the way you use your sound system.
 
B00nie said:
Chances are that your sound card has nothing wrong with it but Windows 10 is fucking up your drivers randomly.
Click to expand...
You are probably right, I previously I had to uninstall the device through "Device Manager", reinstall it, and then restart the PC. That went on for a while and then it started working again until recently. I do believe that Win 10 my be causing the issue, I'll try following the guide here and see if that fixes the issue. https://www.tenforums.com/drivers-h...test-windows-10-update-sound-blaster-z-3.html

I definitely want to keep my Z5500's in the loop so if I do look to upgrade I'll probably get the AE-5. I've been using SoundBlaster stuff for a long time, since the ISA days and while the hardware has typically been great the software is crap, it's been crap for a long time. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that's been building PC's for a while, bloated garbage. Fortunately for them (SB) they still make audio cards good enough to overcome their crap software.
 
Haha, I've been given a new title
"You have not picked your own. You are stupid."
I agree.
 
Nenu said:
Haha, I've been given a new title
"You have not picked your own. You are stupid."
I agree.
Click to expand...
Congrats I guess! I've debated over changing mine, I'm kind of attached to my current title, already having one kind of takes me off the radar I guess.
 
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I ended up getting the X AE-5, seems like a good card thus far. I... installed the light strip that came with it... apparently white light isn't an option, more of a light blue.
 
daphatgrant said:
I ended up getting the X AE-5, seems like a good card thus far. I... installed the light strip that came with it... apparently white light isn't an option, more of a light blue.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you might need to play with the color channels to get ~white. I've had this problem with all RGB gadgets so far- none bought specifically for RGB!- and I prefer a diffused white lighting overall myself.
 
IdiotInCharge said:
Yeah, you might need to play with the color channels to get ~white. I've had this problem with all RGB gadgets so far- none bought specifically for RGB!- and I prefer a diffused white lighting overall myself.
Click to expand...
I took the strip out, added in some led strip lights connected with a molex plug, I wanted true white light. I left the sound card molex plugged in mostly to covert the hideous white plug on the side.

IMG_2951b.jpg

Pic doesn't do it justice.
 
I actually really did creative Aurora pattern on their led strips. Ended up buying three more strips and love how smooth it is.
 
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