Need a better Soundcard....

[Ashton]

Ok... I rearanged my room and moved my Panasonic Technic 5x speaker 800watt stereo close enough to my PC to run the AUX input to my soundcard...

It was both amazing and painful at the same instant... My $75 speakers couldnt compare...

BUT...

My soundcard is an AL USB sound device I paid $5 for...

Anyone have suggestions for a better card? I dont want to drop $200 or anything, but I'm thinking like the Soundblaster Extegy they seem to be going for $50-$75 right now. (REALLY need it to be external as this is set up as a thinclient with the server around 200 feet away)

Also realize this is an older Stereo that doesnt have optical input (though it does have full DDS support)

 

[Redshirt #24]

External-only? That really limits your choices...honestly, the Extigy might be your only halfway decent alternative.

 

[Uncle Jim]

Extigy is kinda old. It is good and all, but i think it is USB 1.1 only - not sure but it might limit the badwidth if you want 5.1 sound in high quality for example. Have a look on these two:

Sound Blaster Surround 5.1:
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=207&product=15912&nav=0&listby=

Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=17751&nav=-1&listby=

The X-Fi comes with a remote - handy if you have all that distance there, costs about as much as that Extigy you found.

 

[450]

What inputs does the receiver have? Is it being used for stereo music or surround applications? Does the stereo have Dolby Digital 5.1 support or 5.1 analog inputs?

 

[Frraksurred]

If your PC has an available PCI-E X1 slot, and your Technic's a S/PDIF input (with Dolby Digital decoding), then the ASUS Xonar D2X is probably the best sound quality card available, but it is $240.

For a lower cost option that still retains most the sound quality, the original Xonar D1 is a reasonalbe $90 and fits any PCI slot.

If you are primarily a gamer then I'd recommend the X-Fi Titanium. Excellent all around card, but adds the EAX 5.0 HD that games use almost exclusively. Under $125 usually.