audiophile PC audio?

[beefcurtains]

Opinions are requested here. I am new to the forums, and to PC based audio in general.

basic question: IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE "HIGH FIDELITY" FROM PC AUDIO?


i want to build a simple 2.1 audio system around my PC. I have a soundblaster live value, and do my listening thru a pair of Grado SR60 headphones. Tucked away, I have a rotel integrated amplifier (warm, solid, musical) and old paradigm 7's, which were good, but the bass drivers need replacing, and they are too large for my space.

I need:
1. a new card ...2 channel stereo is all i need really, 5.1 and more will not be used. but interested in the highest fidelity. Does anyone make a high fidelity soundcard built for music systems? other suggestions?

2. New, smaller speakers. under $400. tight, detailed, accurate...suggestions? Or would I be better off paying the $150 paradigm wants to replace the woofers, and use them, even if they crowd me?

3. Maybe a musical sub (no home theatre boom boxes), for under $400 Suggestions?

thanks a lot, will look forward to hearing your opinions.

 

[magnetik]

if you don't need processing for games.. then stick with the digital outs to an amp and push some studio monitors. I have some cheap Alesis Studio Monitor 1's and they sound better than any computer speakers I have used. don't even need a sub... but I got one anyways.. you can still play your games in stereo..

as far as subs.. I don't know.. I built my own sealed Adire Tempest 15" for music..

here's my build process if you want to think about a diy sub instead of a store bought one.
http://txraves.org/~magnetik/diy/Page.html

[..::magnetik::..]

 

[BO(V)BZ]

1) Sound card of choice is probably the Emu 1212M, which will run you 200.
2) For speakers, look at perhaps a set of Rocket RS250's [600, so above your budget] or ELT CSE's [http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=39.1 , 100 below your budget]
There's lots of other choices, but I'm familiar with several products from AV123, and I really like their gear and their service, so I don't think you can go wrong. Worse comes to worse, you get a 30day return policy, you're just out the shipping back, so you can play with the speakers for a month for only ~40$. That's assuming you don't buy big heavy speakers like the Ref2's.. those cost me 172$ to ship

3) For a sub, I'd look at the SVS PB10-ISD. It's a 'big box' sub, but rest assured, that has nothing to do with sound quality, as this sub has great linearity and deep extension. If you don't want something as large as that, look at the Rocket UFW-10. The latter has less power and less extension, but is sealed [so some would argue is more 'musical,' and I'm not sure what my stance on this is yet. I've got a pair of UFW-12's on order, the UFW-10's much larger brother, so I'll run those two against my SVS PB12-Plus/2 and see if I notice any real difference for 'musicality'] However, the UFW-10 does have a 1band parametric EQ, so it'll let you tame a bad spot with your room response.

PB10-ISD - 430$ http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pb10_isd.htm
UFW-10 - 600$ http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=subwoofers&product=1.1

 

[GodsMadClown]

Just about any onboard sound has digital output, or even inexpensive onboard cards like the AV-710 have digital outputs. Would it be better to output a digital signal to a modded Art D/IO or some such other bargain DAC? An outboard DAC would useful in many more contexts than simply the soundcard. I have no answers, only questions. I'm strictly a bargain audio kinda guy, and even a $200 DAC is well out of my price range.

 

[draconius]

I have the AV-710 hooked up via optical to my logitech z680's, and it sounds great. hooking it up via the standard 6ch direct connections, it still sounds great...so if you are looking for a decent bargain soundcard, check out the av-710