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Currently I have an MSI K8N Neo4 SLI Platinum, which has onboard SB Live! 24-bit. This was mainly the reason I bought the board (aside from being SLI), otherwise I probably would've gone with a mobo roughly $50 or so cheaper. Afterwards I found out the issues the Live! chip has with certain games, EAX, etc. I can't enable 'hardware audio' in games like BF2, I also had sound issues in Trackmania Nations (to name 2). I'm almost kicking myself now for buying this board over buying a less expensive one and buying a nice sound card, but what's done is done, not a big enough hassle to change boards with the ever-changing tech.
So, I'm looking for a good sound card, most likely Creative, because I do more gaming than anything, and I've read EAX tends to help quite a bit with in-game audio effects. I do listen to music (and an occasional movie) as well, but it's not as high on the list as gaming with this system. At home sound is run through headphones (see below) or through a Yamaha HTR-5590 6.1 receiver (DD, DTS, 100x6), and it has individual analog inputs on the rear. Currently I only have a pair of satellite speakers on the desk (+ JBL PB12 sub) until I get a set of wall/ceiling mounts to mount the satellites around the room (in-wall wiring).
I'm also looking into a set of headphones, since my last set more or less fell apart on me. I had thought of getting a set that were capable of surround sound, but I'm not sure which ones would be best on a budget. I've looked into Razer, Zalman, and Turtle Beach. I wouldn't be surprised if Sennheiser made a set, but all I could find on their site are stereo sets. As before, they're primarily for gaming, so a mic is required, and occasionally I watch a movie, but typically I don't wear headphones for movies.
So, I'm looking for a good sound card, most likely Creative, because I do more gaming than anything, and I've read EAX tends to help quite a bit with in-game audio effects. I do listen to music (and an occasional movie) as well, but it's not as high on the list as gaming with this system. At home sound is run through headphones (see below) or through a Yamaha HTR-5590 6.1 receiver (DD, DTS, 100x6), and it has individual analog inputs on the rear. Currently I only have a pair of satellite speakers on the desk (+ JBL PB12 sub) until I get a set of wall/ceiling mounts to mount the satellites around the room (in-wall wiring).
I'm also looking into a set of headphones, since my last set more or less fell apart on me. I had thought of getting a set that were capable of surround sound, but I'm not sure which ones would be best on a budget. I've looked into Razer, Zalman, and Turtle Beach. I wouldn't be surprised if Sennheiser made a set, but all I could find on their site are stereo sets. As before, they're primarily for gaming, so a mic is required, and occasionally I watch a movie, but typically I don't wear headphones for movies.
