Best sound card with z-5500's?

What about the Z-5500s have you read that are better for gaming than the Z-5300s? The two sets from an acoustic standpoint aren't all that dissimilar.

I would say the X-Fi XtremeMusic for pure gaming. Or if you are the DIY type and wan't to save some cash, get an Audigy 2 ZS and hack it for functionality with the X-Fi EAX5 drivers, as the two systems use identical DACs.

I didn't hear that anywhere, all I know is they use EAX5 instead of EAX4, and for many gamers, this abstract piece of information alone is enough for them to assume its better for gaming [for them].

I also know DDL as a format is essentially 128kbps/channel encoding. That's not exactly a lossless encoding format. I do know the cleaner the source, generally the better the output.

Also, you haven't told me what you have heard about the Z-5300s makes them less of a "gaming" loudspeaker. You also ask me where I heard the X-Fi was good for "gaming." Could you elucidate your understanding and/or your expectations of the term "good for gaming?"

It's a bit nebulous right now, and your questions could be answered alot clearer if you could clear that up.

Yeah get the X-fi Extreme Music, its the best sound card you can buy these days.

I personally have the Z-5500 speaker set along with an X-Fi Xtreme Music, they make for a good match. I think you can get an X-fi for around $115.

"Since the channels in a matrix surround sound system are not discrete (totally separate), they tend to interact with one another and bleed into one another". That isn't a good thing for gamers since you want to hear exactly where the gun fire is coming from whether that be front-left, back-right, back-left ect.. Not the just general direction of left or right. Bottom line- leave it on for music and movies and off for gaming."

Coops07--

I think you are confused here. Maxtrixed surround is an OPTION on the Z-5300s. You can still play sources discretely. In fact, the X-Fi also doubles with with that being a software option, called "stereo mirroing." I generally don't think its good for either music OR gaming, since its just taking 2-channel content (stereo) and copy and pasting it. All you would get is a messy soundstage. Slightly more volume sure (+3db?), if that's all you are aiming for.

As far as the speakers themselves, I believe the Z-5300s use 2.5inch one-way drivers and the Z-5500s use 3-inch one-way drivers. The difference is rather minor here. Both a 3-inch and a 2.5inch one-way will suffer from a lower midrange hole between where the satellite stops playing frequencies and where the sub starts playing. The hole might be less obvious on a 3-inch. However on the whole, a 2.5inch and a 3-inch one way driver are going to behave very similarly in a full range setting. The Z-5500s have a much larger subwoofer than the Z-5300s.

However, to my understanding (and personal experience with owning the Z-540s and Z-560s), with Logitech subs, sometimes bigger isn't better (since the subs are a bit noisy and don't blend well with the satellites). You'll have to decide if the differences are enough for you to spring for one or the other, either by auditioning, or just randomly choosing based on what other people say.