Sound card. Worth it for me?

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glytch5

glytch5

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So I remember back in the late 90s, when my father and I were building gaming PCs, we had to have our own sound card for audio!
I think I still have a PCI soundblaster 512 sitting around somewhere.

Currently I am running a MSI X370 Pro carbon motherboard, with an "audioboost 3" on board card.

I have a 2 speaker and sub woofer set up, but they are not an expensive set by any means. Some old Altec Lansings. Not your typical audiophile stuff.

The speakers are my normal drivers, and for gaming at night, I like to use my Razer Kraken USB headphones... my question is simple.


Would buying a sub 100 dollar sound card be worth it for these playback devices over the stock on board audio? I don't want anything extremely high end or costly... and would prefer something standard PCI, and not the mini PCIe slot. Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
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I wouldn't bother with a soundcard unless you want to use good headphones needing an amp or higher end speakers. Onboard audio is decent now and fine for most people.

I have a Xonar Essence STX with Sennheiser HD 600s and HD 650s.
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Deleted member 217926

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I wouldn't bother with a soundcard unless you want to use good headphones needing an amp or higher end speakers. Onboard audio is decent now and fine for most people.

I have a Xonar Essence STX with Sennheiser HD 600s and HD 650s.
 
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glytch5

glytch5

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Am I 5.1? probably not... these speakers were a gift someone gave me like 8 years ago. They sound pretty good but are nothing special.
The headphones do say virtual surround 7.1?
Starting to sound like I should not get a sound card...
So if I get a sound device that is 5.1 or better, get a sound card? I really don't know much about audio stuff. Before these speakers I had a set of Creative Labs, designed by Klaus or something like that. I still wish I wasn't too lazy to have the drivers fixed in that system... because it was amazing.

Any good recommendations for a 2 speakers and sub set that would have nice enough sound to require a sound card? How much money would I be looking at getting into for something decent?
 
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Speakers? On the lower end something like Klipsch Promedia 2.1 would benefit but not require one. You can find them for $100 pretty often.

http://www.klipsch.com/products/klipsch-promedia-2-1-computer-speakers

Subjectively better ( all audio is subjective ) something like Audioengine A2s or A5s would certainly benefit but they don't have a sub.

http://audioengineusa.com/shop/poweredspeakers/


I rarely use speakers with my computer as I have a pretty decent stereo in another room but I sure like good headphones. What kind of budget are you looking at? There are really only 2 high end soundcards with audiophile headphone amps. The Xonar Essence STX II ( newer version of the one I have ) and the Soundblaster ZXR. Either will run you about $250.

Edit: I knew I saw these on sale recently.

https://slickdeals.net/f/10469712-klipsch-promedia-2-1-thx-speaker-system-w-sub-15-newegg-gift-card-100-w-masterpass-checkout?src=SiteSearch

For $100 you won't get better speakers. They have a tremendously good sub for the price. You don't 'need' a soundcard either.
 
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glytch5

glytch5

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I'm mainly just looking at speakers... I use my headphones but not very often, and I like being a douchy razer fanboy, I just got these headphones about a week ago so i'm still enjoying them.

So soundcards really don't do much, unless its high end headphones, or extreme audio speaker systems?
 
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Deleted member 217926

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My advice is to try something like the ProMedia 2.1s with your onboard and see how you like it.

High end audio is a DEEP and expensive rabbit hole. Once you start it's hard to stop. It's also almost totally subjective. You might find that you can tell a huge difference with a soundcard ( or a separate DAC ) and speakers like the ProMedias where as another person might not be able to tell at all.

I will say that if you were to try good cans with a good soundcard or DAC/amp you would throw those Razers out the window. :p
 
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