look for a nice soundcard under $40.

[quasar923]

im looking to upgrade from my stock asus mobo realteck HD audio. i listen to a lot of music on my computer and i use a cable with a headphone jack on each end to run my 2.1, 530 watt stereo system from my PC. im looking for somthing that can give me more bass,mids, and highs and clearer sound. im partially satisfied with the onboard sound but i want somthing that sounds really good and ive heard that sound cards make music and stuff sound much better than onboard. any suggestions on what card to buy for under $40 is greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[erocker]

Under $40 bucks there isn't much. SB audigy perhaps?

 

[quasar923]

Under $40 bucks there isn't much. SB audigy perhaps?

how much will a decent sound card cost that will give me a good boost up from my stock audio?

 

[btarunr]

This makes for a good one, features Dolby decode and DTS:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829270003

 

[erocker]

Bta's suggestion is a good one. I use a "X-fi" Xtreme Audio card, which is much like the Audigy and I noticed a significant improvement over onboard audio, deffinitely in the lower end and overall sound quality.

 

[UnkAsn93]

I have a audigy SE I picked up from Walmart. They're pretty nice for $30

 

[btarunr]

The important thing you end up losing on is SPDIF connectivity with Creative's entry-level cards. That SIIG card connects to an AV receiver for Dolby Digital decode. I think it's based on the VIA Envy24? Co-ax outs are right on the card.

 

[quasar923]

wat is dolby digital decode? and do you have to have an AV receiver or watever to make it work?

 

[mullered07]

i have a xfi extreme audio i could ship you for $40

im in the uk btw, so not too sure on the price of thos over there

 

[quasar923]

ha no thanks. i see how your specs say POS next to your sound card

 

[btarunr]

wat is dolby digital decode? and do you have to have an AV receiver or watever to make it work?

Learn about Dolby here.

Your sound-card gives out audio in two ways:

• Analog, where you connect speakers/headphones directly to the card's 3.5mm jacks.
• Digital, where by either optical or coaxial media transfer the signal as a bit-stream, which apart from raw audio, also include information relating to positioning, effects, etc. So you connect a co-axial (looks like the TV cable) between the card and a home-theater receiver. A receiver which supports Dolby Digital or DTS will be able to receive these commands from the card and process audio in the box for the lowest-latency output (with which the receivers' higher quality DAC's provide better output).

For a < $40 card to support Dolby decode is a great feat. These are good times for electronics-shopping.

 

[suraswami]

I have this Diamond card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829111001

Cheap and best. Have it hooked to my Denon A/V receiver. DTS sound is awesome in movies. Only problem is Diamond doesn't update their drivers. You have to get some open source drivers to bring out the full potential of this card (which I did).