I have a THX-certified Creative Sound Blaster Titanium HD X-Fi sound card. I got it when I orignally planned to use my gaming PC as both my stereo and home theater. It was hooked up to a THX-certified Logitech Z-623 speaker system. One of the RCA ports was damaged when I disconnected the cables in order to upgrade my video card. As an interim solution, I may use my THX-certified Sound Blaster X-Fi Go Pro! USB sound card until I am ready to purchase a replacement sound card this summer. However, the type of sound system that I may purchase this summer might impact the type of sound card I would need. I would like to ask for input on possible sound card choices to meet my needs. I would like to point out that I use my PC for gaming. I also stream some shows on Netflix, Hulu, and CBS . I also rip music audio CDs and both store and listen to them in FLAC format using default audio settings to retain CD quality audio. I am trying to find a sound card that would suit my audio needs for gaming, music and movies, such as providing surround sound capability for movies and games and equalizer and environmental settings for music. To a small degree, I can tell the difference in audio quality between a CD and a 320 kbps MP3 file, but I am no audio engineer and would like to avoid overkill on the card.
First of all I have some questions on certain card features:
1. Do I need a sample rate of 192 KHz?
2. Do I need 24-bit rate audio?
3. Should I go with 5.1, 7.1, or 8 surround sound?
3. Do I need THX-certification?
4. Would I be better off with an internal or external sound card?
I may be pursuing one of two possible sound system setups this summer. The sound system may either be a home theater unit or a surround sound computer/home theater speaker unit. Again, the setup that I choose may impact the type of sound card that I need. Since I use Samsung products, including their Blu-ray players and TVs, I am considering purchasing a Samsung home theater system such as the HT-J4100, HT-J4500, or HT-J5500W as the first possible choice. From my understanding and experience, I would have to shutdown most of the audio features and enhancements on the sound card and control the audio settings on the home theater's receiver. This leads me to believe that I do not need a super expensive sound card if it is going to be connected to the home theater most of the time. This also leads me to question if I need THX capability on the sound card. However, I would still like the sound card to have the following capabilities if for some reason I had to connect it to regular speakers or headphones:
1. Surround sound capability for gaming
2. Surround sound capability for movies and streaming
3. Equalizer and environmental settings for music
4. Have a digital optical connection or digital optical cable adapter
5. Cost around $100 or less
I have already found possible sound card candidates for this scenario:
1. ASUS Xonar U7 Sound Card
2. ASUS Xonar DSX PCIe 7.1 GX2.5 Audio Engine 192K/24bit Playback Support Sound Cards
3. Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp and Integrated Beam Forming Microphone
Would these sound cards meet my needs? If you have any additional sound card suggestions please let me know.
The second possible scenario is that I purchase a speaker system such as the Logitech Z-906. Since this is a THX-certified speaker system, I believe it would be worth investing in another THX-certified or other higher quality sound card. The capabilities that I would like for a card in this category are as followed:
1. THX-Certified or some other sound capability that meets or exceeds THX-certification
2. Surround sound capability for gaming
3. Surround sound capability for movies and streaming
4. Equalizer and environmental settings for music
5. Coaxial audio input capability or some other input with some type of coaxial cable adapter to route audio from my Samsung BD-J5700 Blu-ray player to the sound card.
6. Cost around $150 or less
I know there is controversy about THX-certification. I also know that Creative is the only manufacturer of THX-certified sound cards. I am open to suggestions for non-THX-certified sound cards that can do just as good a job or better than a THX-certified card.
I would appreciate your suggestions for my research on a new card. Thanks in advance.
First of all I have some questions on certain card features:
1. Do I need a sample rate of 192 KHz?
2. Do I need 24-bit rate audio?
3. Should I go with 5.1, 7.1, or 8 surround sound?
3. Do I need THX-certification?
4. Would I be better off with an internal or external sound card?
I may be pursuing one of two possible sound system setups this summer. The sound system may either be a home theater unit or a surround sound computer/home theater speaker unit. Again, the setup that I choose may impact the type of sound card that I need. Since I use Samsung products, including their Blu-ray players and TVs, I am considering purchasing a Samsung home theater system such as the HT-J4100, HT-J4500, or HT-J5500W as the first possible choice. From my understanding and experience, I would have to shutdown most of the audio features and enhancements on the sound card and control the audio settings on the home theater's receiver. This leads me to believe that I do not need a super expensive sound card if it is going to be connected to the home theater most of the time. This also leads me to question if I need THX capability on the sound card. However, I would still like the sound card to have the following capabilities if for some reason I had to connect it to regular speakers or headphones:
1. Surround sound capability for gaming
2. Surround sound capability for movies and streaming
3. Equalizer and environmental settings for music
4. Have a digital optical connection or digital optical cable adapter
5. Cost around $100 or less
I have already found possible sound card candidates for this scenario:
1. ASUS Xonar U7 Sound Card
2. ASUS Xonar DSX PCIe 7.1 GX2.5 Audio Engine 192K/24bit Playback Support Sound Cards
3. Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB Sound Card with High Performance Headphone Amp and Integrated Beam Forming Microphone
Would these sound cards meet my needs? If you have any additional sound card suggestions please let me know.
The second possible scenario is that I purchase a speaker system such as the Logitech Z-906. Since this is a THX-certified speaker system, I believe it would be worth investing in another THX-certified or other higher quality sound card. The capabilities that I would like for a card in this category are as followed:
1. THX-Certified or some other sound capability that meets or exceeds THX-certification
2. Surround sound capability for gaming
3. Surround sound capability for movies and streaming
4. Equalizer and environmental settings for music
5. Coaxial audio input capability or some other input with some type of coaxial cable adapter to route audio from my Samsung BD-J5700 Blu-ray player to the sound card.
6. Cost around $150 or less
I know there is controversy about THX-certification. I also know that Creative is the only manufacturer of THX-certified sound cards. I am open to suggestions for non-THX-certified sound cards that can do just as good a job or better than a THX-certified card.
I would appreciate your suggestions for my research on a new card. Thanks in advance.
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